06 The Delray Affair

<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>The Delray Affair</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"> <div> <B>April 21-23, The Delray Affair, Delray Beach.</B> Contact: The Delray Chamber of Commerce, 64-A Southeast Fifth Ave., Delray Beach, FL 33483; phone 561-278-0424. Web site: www.delrayaffair.com. Application fee: $30. Space fee: $310. Space size: 10x10. 100% outdoors. Exhibitors: 600. Attendance: 250,000 (staff estimate).</div> <bR> <div> The Delray Affair is always held on the weekend after Easter, so the dates change from year to year. This year's show was bit later in the month, and that usually means warmer temperatures. It also means that some of the snowbirds have headed home already, so attendance and sales are a bit sparse. </div> <div> This year, the heat was downright brutal on the asphalt: plenty of sun and very little shade. The booths that were on grass in Veterans' Park did have some shade from nearby trees, but traffic and sales in the park are usually lighter. We're here to make money, and more traffic usually translates into more sales. We're not wimps! Put us on the street - we'll take the heat and hope to make a bit more money! </div> <div> This was the seventh year for Patty and me at this show, and we are usually in the same spot, or very close. Most of our neighboring artists were back in their spots also. It's a reunion of sorts!</div> <div> Setup starts at 5 a.m. on Friday morning; the exact time usually depends on where your booth is. Some artists have to dolly, while others can unload right in front of their spot. Breakdown also depends heavily on booth location. Some artists have to dolly several blocks, while others can park across from their booth. </div> <div> There are usually big crowds that come to shop. There are also crowds of retirees that come to walk and get a little exercise. For artists selling low-end items, sales are usually pretty strong. Higher-end items are hit or miss, and artists with large-ticket items need to use their mailing list to create sales. </div> <div> Quality of work is all over the place, with obvious buy/sell and mass-produced items on display next to art-show regulars. This year's Affair was on the same weekend as the Melbourne and Mainsail Art Festivals, so there were booths at Delray being manned by sales people instead of artists. If you are upset at these kinds of things, this may not be a show for you. Patty and I will pretty much go anywhere our work will sell. </div> <div> We had to wait until one hour before the show closed on Sunday to make a sale that satisfied us. Until then, we had sold only one small piece and had barely made expenses. Our $12 magnets were not even selling. Overall, we were down from last year, but last year had been our best ever here. The Affair is usually a slightly below-average show for us, but it's a local event, which means fewer expenses. </div> <div> We received mixed reviews from many artists. A whimsical painter selling low-end items was slightly up from previous years, while a metal artist was slightly down. Two clay artists gave their input: One had an average show, the other below average. Wearable artists reported sales way below average and said that smaller crowds were to blame for their poor weekend. Stained-glass exhibitors said this was their worst show here in 12 years. A decorative artist said sales at the show were usually slightly above average but they were down this year. Finally, a photographer reported average sales but said no large items sold. </div> <div> I would recommend this show if you do not have far to drive or if you have low-end items that sell very well to retirees. Those artists can clean up here!</div> </td> </tr></table></body>