2005 Las Olas Art Fair

<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>2005 Sept. Las Olas Art Fair</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> Sept. 4-5 18th Annual Las Olas Art Fair.  Contact: Howard Alan Events, 9695 West Broward Blvd, Plantation, Fl. 33324. 954-472-3755.  Web: www.artfestival.com  Booth size 10x10, app fee: 15.00, booth fee: 325.00 </div> <div> This is a local show for us that we now choose not to participate in.  The weather is usually brutally hot and sales for 2-D work is generally not that strong.  We did participate several years ago and did not make expenses.  This year we had the weekend off so I decided to visit with fellow artists on Sunday late in the day to see how well they did.  The weather for the weekend was really not good, thunderstorms both days and when it wasn‘t raining it was hot!  Combined with the shock the country was feeling after Katrina and most artists were not doing well.  </div> <div> Set-up for this show is a nightmare, tight spaces, early 5:oo am beginning and limited parking make this very tough.  Bring a good dolly!  </div> <div> The good news is if you were selling 3-D work this turned out to be a good weekend for you.  I spoke with four sculptors, two had  well above average shows and one came close to selling out Saturday and went home that night to make more pieces.  On Sunday when I got there he only had three pieces left in his entire booth!  The other sculptor reported a below average show. </div> <div> I spoke with four painters, one had an above average show, one reported sales as average for Las Olas but he wasn’t expecting a lot, one reported about ½ an average show, the other did not make expenses.  I spoke with five different photographers, none of which were happy.  One reported a below average show, the others ranged from worst ever to please, shoot me now!  Two of the five did not make expenses.  Three mixed media artists reporting, one way down, one did not make expenses and one reporting decent sales for Las Olas but still a below average show.  One jeweler reported sales as below average.  </div> <div> Most artists I spoke with blamed poor sales on the combination of weather and shock from Katrina.  50% said they would return and try again next year.  </div> <div> Break-down here can be pretty hectic also, be prepared to dolly or go out and eat and come back later after the madness calms down.</div> </td> </tr></table></body>