Cold to my bones!

                                    

I'm ALMOST thawed out from this past weekend.

Standing around outside in 40 degree weather waiting for promised art fair shoppers to materialize is not my idea of a good time or good business practice.



Yes, welcome to my world!

Just last weekend I had conversation with a fellow artist about participating in smaller art shows. Usually the booth fees are less (under $200.00 rather than above $400.00) Buyers are buyers, give me a few good buyers rather than herds of browsers any day. Spending more to make more isn't necessarily the case anymore.



This being said... I applied to a small show in Bloomington IL. A show I thought could be a fill in between bigger shows on my calender. Only a short drive & not many expenses ( ended up with a free place to stay).



Since it rained for the duration of my 3 hour drive I wasn't too surprised that even though the rain had stopped I was setting up in the mud.

I noticed there weren't too many other booths being set up. Come to find out this was a VERY small show, only 25 artists.



Show hours 9-4 both days, OK somewhat civilized, although the 9AM on Sunday was a mystery, especially since the show was on the campus of a church based university.



Long story short... We had at the most 100 shoppers on Sat. & by Sunday five fewer artists & probably 10 shoppers!



The promoter, who shall remain nameless, promised never to do this venue again. She does put on several successful shows in the Chicago area. This was homecoming weekend at this University & I guess it seemed like a good idea.

She closed the show at 1:30 on Sunday after buying work from several of us freezing artists & brought in pizza for all.



All in all I didn't do too badly(did I really say that? My how my standards have fallen!!) considering the # of shoppers.

I'd have to say most artists sold nothing.



Deciding to try & absorb some warmth through the phone I called my friend Sally doing the St. Armand's show in Sarasota FL.

She said it was so HOT that no one was out except the artists.

Didn't really feel the warmth , just added a third pair of socks to my feet!!



OH well!

Next... Destin Fl