Naples Invitational 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>2008 Naples Invitational</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>January 26-27, Naples Invitational Art Fest, Naples.</B> Contact: Jill Spanbauer, Eden Florida Institute for Autism, PO Box 955, Naples, FL 34106; phone 239-263-1667, fax 239-263-3545. E-mail: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="ITC-NewBaskerville" ><U>naplesedenfest02@aol.com</U></FONT>. Web site: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="ITC-NewBaskerville" ><U>www.edenartfest.com</U></FONT>. Application fee: $35. Space fee: $395. 100% outdoors. Exhibitors: 230. Attendance: 30,000 (2007 staff estimate). Admission: $3.</div> <div> Setup for the Naples Invitational lasts all day on Friday and is very laid back. Booths are scattered around Fleischmann Park, which is a very nice location, and some spill over onto a baseball field. Bring a dolly for this show, as your booth location will determine just how far you have to cart your art.</div> <div> The park has been under construction, and layout changes from year to year. There are still some really bad booth spaces that receive very little traffic. I spoke to a group of six artists on Saturday night who were very unhappy; one artist was sticking around late and moving his tent to a different location. </div> <div> The weather, with temperatures in the mid 70s, was perfect except for a shower early on Sunday morning. It cleared up in time for the show, and the crowds came out.</div> <div> A huge wine festival on this same weekend has stolen some of the attention and thunder from the Invitational. All day long on Friday during setup for the art show, you could see and hear privately owned or corporate jets screaming overhead to land at the nearby Naples Municipal Airport. The local newspaper reported auction sales at the Naples Wine Festival on Saturday totaling $14 million in just four hours. So there is lots of money here! </div> <div> This can be a very high-end show, as most of our customers have two homes: one here and another somewhere up north. You can do better if you offer to ship your work.</div> <div> The show is run by lots of friendly and smiling volunteers, and most of the patrons come here because they know someone involved with the Fest. There’s much more of a connected atmosphere than at other events, as patrons are glad you are here and eagerly support the show. And award money totaling $15,000 helps as well. </div> <div> This was our third year here, and Patty and I got a wonderful spot right up in front. We sold four pieces, with an average ticket of $2,250, making this our best show in some time. I received very mixed reviews from other artists, though. A woodworker reported above-average sales and would return. Two glass artists reported slightly below-average sales and were unsure about returning. I also spoke with two painters, one doing slightly below-average business and the other zeroing. The slightly below-average artist said she would be back, but the painter who reported zero sales said she had done this show six or seven times and would give it a rest at least for a year, if she would come back at all. </div> <div> Breakdown was pretty much a free-for-all, but most of the artists here were veterans who knew how to act and were courteous. Again, bring a dolly — you’re going to need it! </div> <div> It’s hard to recommend this show if you are traveling very far. If you get a good spot, you can do very well. If not, it can be a long weekend. The good news is if you want to come down and enjoy South Florida weather in January and get out of the cold, this is the place!</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>