ONB Magic City 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>ONB Magic City  2008</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 25-27, ONB Magic City Art Connection, Birmingham.</B> Contact: Operation New Birmingham (ONB), Eileen Kunzman, 1128 Glen View Road, Birmingham, AL 35222; phone 205-595-6306, fax 205-595-3563. E-mail: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="ITC-NewBaskerville" ><U>findart@bham.rr.com</U></FONT>. Web site: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="ITC-NewBaskerville" ><U>www.magiccityart.com</U></FONT>. Application fee: $25. Space fee: $125-$225, plus 10% commission. Space size: 10x12 to 12x20. 100% outdoors. Exhibitors: 215. Hours: 10-6.</div> <bR> <div> This is one of the most organized shows Patty and I have exhibited at in a while. The staff gives each artist very detailed instructions regarding load-in time, where to unload, directions on how to get to the event and what to do once you are there. Setup was on Thursday, the day before the show, and it ran very smoothly thanks to the good organization.</div> <div> Spaces are located in Linn Park, which is divided into five sections. Each section has its own loading/unloading zone. Parking is close by, but I would still advise bringing a dolly. </div> <div> On Friday night, there was a very nice dinner/party, at which award winners were announced. In addition to dinner, the show provided breakfast with bagels, coffee and juice all three days. And a very energetic staff of volunteers helped out in any way they could and really made this a nice show to do. </div> <div> Sales at the 25th annual show ran the gamut. Some artists had average sales while others did not make expenses. Patty and I sold three pieces, with our average sale right at $1,000. We have the possibility of a larger piece being ordered later, so if that comes through, the show will end up being an above-average one for us. As it stands now, the Art Connection is less than half what we usually make.</div> <div> I spoke with three painters: One reported sales about average and will return, one reported below-average sales, and one did not make expenses. The last two were not sure if they would return.</div> <div> This show is stacked with primitive folk-art paintings by local artists, and one painter commented on the large amount of local, part-time painters who were selling their work well below what full-time artists need to charge to make a living. “It made making sales very hard when my prices were two to three times higher for the same-size paintings,” said the artist.</div> <div> A metal worker, a photographer and a ceramic artist all reported average sales, and all three said they would return. A jeweler reported about half of what an average show usually brings him and was unsure whether to return. </div> <div> Breakdown was a little more hectic than setup. With 215 artists all leaving at the same time, it was a bit more of a challenge at the end of the show. It was very easy to park trucks and vans close to the loading area. However, artists with trailers, like me, had a bit more dollying to do. </div> <div> All in all, this is a very well run show with enthusiastic patrons. If you are close by and do not have to travel a great distance, this is an event I would recommend.</div> <div> <I>Editor’s note: An oil painter ($8,500 total sales/$63 average item sold) was even more enthusiastic than our reporter. He gave high marks to all categories except layout and plans to return.</I></div> <div> <I>“Loading and setup was OK,” said the artist. “Help was offered by the staff. Staff had Gator Utility Vehicles to move stuff to the booth locations. Parking for exhibitors was [within] walking distance.</I></div> <div> <I>“Friday sales were OK,” continued the painter. “Saturday sales were strong, and Sunday sales were somewhere in the middle. We were in the back close to the library and had very good sales. This was the first time for us in this area, and most of the time our booth was full of people.”</I></div> <div> <I>Regarding setup, the artist had some advice: “Take some wood along to level the Pro-Panels and tent. Our location (under a tree) was quite dusty. We bought some mulch to keep the dust down.”</I></div> <div> <I>Lastly, the artist complimented the hospitality tent but offered a warning about hotel rates and what he described as a poor layout: “Hotels were expensive due to the NASCAR weekend. But this kept the wrong people away and left the parking for the people that looked for art. … The worst part was the layout, but you can overcome this a bit by working your mailing list and doing a good setup that draws the people in. We sold originals [and] framed and unframed giclee prints. We were happy, and we will apply again.”</I></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>