2005 Bayou City Arts Festival

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" background="05bfd5a3.jpg"> <div> <B>Bayou City Art Festival</B></div> <div> <B>6260 N.W. 19 Street, Sunrise, Fl. 33313 Toll Free 1-877-512-3333    Email: </B><A HREF="mailto:mike@mikealbin.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:mike@mikealbin.com"><U><B>mike@mikealbin.com</B></U></A></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="05cd2043.jpg"> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mike Albin.Com "><U>Mike Albin.Com </U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="wd.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Web design"><U>Web design</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="ma.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Marketing Articles"><U>Marketing Articles</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="sr.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Show Reviews"><U>Show Reviews</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="mt.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Marketing Tools"><U>Marketing Tools</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="l.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U>Links</U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#777777" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <div> <B>October 8-9, Bayou City Art Festival, Houston.</B> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="ITC-NewBaskerville" >Contact: Lynette Coomes-Wallace, executive director, Art Colony Association, Inc., PO Box 66650, Houston, TX 77266; phone 713-521-0133, fax 713-521-0013. E-mail: bayoucityartfest@aol.com. Application fee: $30 (through Zapplication, www.zapplication.org). Web site: www.bayoucityartfestival.com. Space fee: $400-$1,100. Space size: 10x10 to 10x30. Attendance: 25,000 (gate). Admission: $8.</FONT></div> <div> This show runs twice a year: The fall Festival is in downtown Houston, while the spring event is held in Memorial Park, five miles from the city center. The October show is laid out over several streets and in Tranquility Park. Crowds generally cover the entire show site, so there are no bad spots. This was our first time doing this show, and we had heard all kinds of rumors - both good and bad. </div> <div> Setup was Friday after 7 p.m., and our booth was on the street. We encountered a typical street setup, where you unload your artwork, park your vehicle and then set up. The process was fairly well organized and not too bad. Parking was abundant several blocks away and cost $5 a day. </div> <div> The weather was perfect both days - blue skies and cool temperatures. Hurricane Rita barely missed Houston just two weeks before the show, and everyone was nervous about how the hurricane would affect sales. I spoke with several artists who had done the show for 10 years or more, and all said this was the most inconsistent show they have done. They said that one year they would have great sales but barely make expenses the following year. </div> <div> Patty and I sold two pieces on Saturday, with an average ticket of $1,500, and thought that was a good start. If just a few of the be-backs actually come back on Sunday we'd be in good shape, we said to ourselves. However, Sunday was one of those weird show days where lots of people walk around but no one buys. We didn't sell anything on that last day and ended up with about half of what we consider an average show. </div> <div> I spoke with two painters. One sold two originals and a few matted prints, and had a slightly below-average show. The other sold four originals and did slightly above-average business. A glass artist had a well-above-average show, saying his mailing list really paid off. A bronze sculptor had an average show but said that a few follow-up appointments could make it very good. Finally, a wood artist selling pieces in the $40-$120 range had a well-above-average show and was very happy. </div> <div> Breakdown was about as hectic as your typical street fair could be. We ended up finding a parking space just outside the show and dollied about two blocks. Street fairs like this are much more hectic and require more work than shows in a park. So be prepared to dolly and have a little patience, and you should do just fine.</div> </td> </tr></table></body>