A.E. Backus Art 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>A.E. Backus 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"> <div> 2004 A.E. Backus Art Festival</div> <div> March 6-7, 16th Annual A.E. Backus Art Festival in Fort Pierce, Fl. Contact: Backus Gallery, 500 Indian River Drive, Fort Pierce, Fl. 34950  772-465-0630.  </div> <div> This is a small show, 70 artists, in a park located next to the Backus gallery.  The show is put on by the gallery with lots of community support and volunteers.  Set-up is on Friday and was very easy going and laid back.  The staff was friendly and glad you were there.  The booth space here is $115.00 and there are inexpensive hotels nearby.  There is a reception Friday night for artists to mingle with patrons, $3000.00 in awards and another several thousand in purchase awards.  There's a huge Sunday brunch, free to the artists, with over 700 attendees this year.  Most veteran artists of the show we spoke with said Sunday afternoon the patrons come to the brunch then walk the show and buy artwork.   </div> <div> Booth spaces are 10x12 with room for storage behind each tent.  Some booths are in the sun, others are in the shade.  Parking is plentiful and close by.  In the middle of the show there was a mock stage with guitar players singing Jimmy Buffett and John Denver type music.  The volume was at an acceptable level.  </div> <div> Attendance at this show is somewhere between 5000-7000.  We sold three fairly good size pieces, all to people that lived on nearby Hutchenson Island with second homes somewhere up north.  There are people walking the show  with money, if you get lucky you can do pretty well.  For us it was a slightly below average show but with very little in expenses we felt we came out ok and will probably give this show another try.  A glass sculptor, first year at the show, said he had an above average show and was very happy.  A wood worker said he did poorly there last year but was such a pleasant show to do he did return and did better this year.  He was very happy and planned on returning next year.  One painter I spoke with did not make expenses and would not be back, another painted did ok and was not sure about returning.  A mixed media artist said she did well, about an average show for her.  There aren't thousands of people here so it's a pretty relaxing show to do.  The people that do come do spend money and buy larger pieces.  If you sell inexpensive items and need big crowds to make your fortune this is probably not the show for you.  </div> <div> Break down was as laid back and as easy as set-up.  You could park either very or fairly close to your booth and load up.   This is a good little filler show, easy and pleasant to do.</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>