2008 Yellow Daisy 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>2008 Yellow Daisy 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> <B>September 4-7, Yellow Daisy Festival, Stone Mountain. </B>Contact: Jeanine Battle, Stone Mountain Park Special Events Department, PO Box 778, Stone Mountain, GA 30086; phone 770-498-5633. E-mail: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="ITC-NewBaskerville" ><U>jmcdonald@stonemountainpark.com</U></FONT>. Web site: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="ITC-NewBaskerville" ><U>www.stonemountainpark.com</U></FONT>. Application fee: $40. Space fee: $525-$1,100. Space size: 10x20 to 20x20. Exhibitors: 500. 100% outdoors. Attendance: 200,000 (2007 staff estimate). Admission: $10 park entrance fee. </div> <bR> <div> This is the show Patty and I look forward to every year! This was our eighth year participating, and the Festival is usually our best event of the year for sales. It’s in a beautiful park among the pine trees, setup is the day before, we can pull right next to our booth to unload, and we're in the same spot every year. And it's kind of like a reunion for us, as we visit with all of the other artists who have been our booth neighbors here before.</div> <div> This year we almost changed our plans and canceled because of the threat of hurricane Hanna, which had Atlanta in her sights. Luckily, several days before the show, Hanna changed course and we had beautiful weather all weekend. I should really know by now to never trust a weatherman! </div> <div> The economy has hit some of our shows this year pretty hard, but Yellow Daisy has never let us down! Until this year! We sold only two pictures at the 40th annual show: one large piece for $5,500 and one small one for $1,000. Last year we sold 12. I came close to a few more sales but just could not close. I'm still trying to figure out another comeback to: "We need to go home and measure." I heard that phrase a few times and, of course, none of them came back! This was by far our worst year here. Patty and I left shaking our heads and hoping for better SOON! </div> <div> I spoke with only one artist who said he did better this year than last. The exhibitor was selling kids tents; last year there were several people selling tents for kids, but this year he was the only one. He said he did better than last year but still not as good as he had done several years ago.</div> <div> A soapmaker said this was still an above-average show but sales were down from previous years. A painter and a calligrapher both said this was their worst year here. A jeweler and a woodworker reported that sales were down but they still still OK. A potter and a fiber artist both said sales were so bad they were not sure if they would be back next year. </div> <div> If you are considering participating, here are a few things you should know before hand. If it doesn’t rain, it gets VERY dusty here. We clean our pictures two or three times a day, and it's still not enough. If dust is a problem for your artwork, this is not the place for you. Second, bring a helper, as crowds are large and it's crowded all day long! Third, it can be a bit of a walk to the restrooms and food, and there are usually lines for everything. Fourth, bring lots of inventory, as artists have been known to sell out completely, pack up and go home early. Fifth, bring lights for your booth and pay the extra fee for electricity. It's so shady under the thick pine trees that even on a sunny day it's still dark in most booths. Sixth, bring your Christmas list, as there are lots of neat, unusual things to buy here. Get your shopping done early!</div> <div> Breaking down can be the toughest part of this show. The park is secure, so some choose to come back on Monday and avoid the crowds. Patty and I go out to dinner and come back at 10 p.m. It's dark, but we have lights and it's cool and quiet. We usually can park next to our booth and finish up in less than an hour. If you choose to break down right after the show, you have to break down your entire display and get a gate pass to come and load up. There's also quite a line of exhibitors waiting to get in.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>