Bayou City Spring 2008

<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 Spring 2008</B></div> <bR> <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> <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>March 28-30, Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park, Houston. </B>Contact: Kim Stoilis, Art Colony Association, 1418 Sul Ross Road, Houston, TX 77006; phone 713-521-0133, fax 713-521-0013. E-mail: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="ITC-NewBaskerville" ><U>info@bayoucityartfestival.com</U></FONT>. Web site: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="ITC-NewBaskerville" ><U>www.bayoucityartfestival.com</U></FONT>. Application fee: $30 (through Zapplication). Space fee: $400-$1,200. Space size: 10x12 to 10x20. 100% outdoors. Exhibitors: 300. Attendance: 30,000 (2007 gate). Admission: $10. Hours: 10-6.</div> <bR> <div> If you like art shows in really nice park settings, surrounded by trees and an enthusiastic, art-loving crowd, this could be the show you are looking for! This was our third year for doing this show, and once you learn its little ins and outs, it’s really a nice event in which to participate. The first trick Patty and I learned is to arrive two days before the show starts and set up on Wednesday. By doing that, you avoid the crowds and are able to load in with lots of room and very few people. Regular setup starts on Thursday and can be quite hectic with the remaining 300 artists all trying to get in, unload and set up at the same time. </div> <div> Show hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. all three days, and with a $10 admission fee, this show draws a pretty good art-savvy crowd. Parking is not very close by, so be ready to offer delivery or shipping if you have large items. This is usually a slightly above-average show for us, and the economy in Texas has been good, so we were hoping for more of the same this year. Patty and I ended up selling five pieces in three days, which is about our average; however, this year they were all smaller pieces. Our average sale was just under $1,200, although we’re still hoping for a few follow-up sales to raise that average!</div> <div> I spoke with four woodworkers, and three of them reported above-average sales while one said he more than doubled his average. The fourth reported slightly below-average sales. Two sculptors both reported above-average sales but said business was down from previous years here. A mixed media artist said her sales were about average but that she was saved by one large sale late Sunday. Two jewelers gave their feedback, with one making twice what he/she makes at an average show and the other reporting about an average show. A photographer reported slightly below-average sales but said he was still happy, and a painter reported above-average profits. I spoke with only one artist, a potter, who said her sales were disappointing enough to not warrant a return.</div> <div> The threat of rain hung over the show all three days, and it did sprinkle a little on Friday and Saturday. Sunday stayed clear all day except for right at the end while we were breaking down. Don’t you just love putting your gear away wet! We did have the option of coming back on Monday to break down, a wise move for those who were able to stick around. If you do choose to break down on Sunday night, bring a good dolly. A small amount of spaces have parking available close by, but others must dolly quite a distance. </div> <div> The staff are very friendly and do a good job organizing and promoting such a large event. The quality of work is also really good, and treatment of the artists is topnotch, with awards, booth sitters and a hot breakfast on all three days. </div> <div> Artists can do very well here, and I would recommend trying this show to anyone, even if you do have to drive a great distance to get here.</div> <div> <I>Editor’s note: </I><I><B>SA</B></I><I> received FastAudits from nine exhibitors, and seven said they planned to return. A painter who made just $125 gave low marks to everything and won’t be back while a pastel artist with an undisclosed said the show wasn’t worth doing if you weren’t on the main loop. However, those two were in the minority at this well-regarded festival that came in at a lofty #3 on the last 200 Best. Although it appears that weather might hurt the 2008 show’s placement slightly, enough artists were impressed with both sales and organization to proclaim the event a success.</I></div> <div> <I>The highest auditor total was $7,300 on average sales of $325. “Customers are diverse, and enough people come to the show and purchase,” the jeweler said. Other responding artists included a mixed media exhibitor ($4,200 total sales/$250 average item sold), a jeweler ($3,300/$59), a photographer ($2,800/$95) and a sculptor ($1,920/$240). </I></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>