This weekend (May 17 and 18) I will be participating in an arts festival.  This arts festival will have 170 artists who have been juried in.  Last year they were 2 woodcarvers.  This year I believe there will be 4woodcarvers.  This is the first arts show/sale that I have ever participated in.  The only other shows, have been carving club shows.  I have set up and carved at shops and sold carvings at those shops.  I am posting on this Forum as a way to achieve several results.  I will write about what I had to do to get ready, what I am exhibiting, how I displayed the stuff, how I priced the stuff, etc.  Since this is the first time at a true arts festival, I know I am making lots of mistakes.  I am in hopes of obtaining some valuable tips, advice, whatever; from you all.

 

I hope to make my first real submission later tonight.

 

Thanks

 

Tom H

Okay! round 2!

 

The arts festival is held out doors rain or shine.  Town closes off 2 main streets. 

$10.00 non refundable fee to have your work juried. 

Slides and/or photoes used for the jury.

If approved $125 fee due

 

I went in with another carver from our local carving group, to share the costs.

 

We will accept credit cards, local checks , and cash.  We will be adding on 6.75 % sales tax.

 

I will be exhibiting for sale the following:

 

Noah's Arks, with pairs of carved animals.  The Arks and animals will be several different sizes.

4 Arks are smaller with 9 pairs of animals.  These animals are stained and polished.

3 Arks are medium sized with 15 pairs of animals. These animals are painted and waxed.

1 Ark that is larger.  18 pairs of natural finished animals.

 

Once I figure out how to post a photo I will.

 

lots of carved small, medium, and large Santa Christmas tree ornaments  and pins.

 

Carved Wizard "switchblade" knives for the kids.

 

3 minute owls and carved wizards free to kids.

 

Carved Cottonwood bark gnome home Christmas tree ornaments.

 

 

Tomorrow I will attempt to post photos of these items, so you can see and determine how bad I may screw up the pricing, not to mention the carvings themselves.

 

Tom H

I should have tried the photos before I started this forum entry, sorry!  Cannot make any sense out of the feature.

 

Tom H

Hey Tom - curious to hear about your experience at this Arts festival. How'd you do?  I hope you had a great time and sold lot's of your carvings.

 

ChuckT

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Profile of a Newbie

I'll give another try without a photo.  I tried to post here several hours ago, but the site was so slow in responding that I lost the posting!

 

The Arts Festival went off as planned.  It was the 35th year, so the crowds were very good.  It was a two day event, with the first day being the best.  The weather cooperated with no rain, but the winds were awful.  15 to 20 mph with gusts up to at least 50 mph.  Your can imagine the problems that the participants had with the 10 x 10 EZ-UP tents.  Several tents were destroyed.  Some folks had art pieces wrecked too.  But all in all it was worth while and even fun.  Our tent was well weighted at the bases of the poles, but the top was in danger of twisting in the wind.  These EZ-UPS need the stabilizer bars for sure.

 

It was fun and just a wee bit profitable too.  I sold three Noahs Arks with animals, and got two additional commissions for Arks and animals.  One commission Ark is to the chairman of a very prestigious arts festival in a neighboring city.  She "juried" me in to that festival on the spot, for next year.  I was also "juried" into an additional arts festival for next year, by someone incharge there. In addition to the Ark sales I sold about $350 worth of small Santa pins and ornaments.

 

I'll probably do this festival again, but could do without the wind.

 

Tom H

Tom.... I got your show information...guess you can not post pictures here..

it has quick insert above..but I am lost as to what that will do.

Do hope that the show was a winner for you.

Maybe you can just e-mail me direct.. Have a nice Memorial Day weekend.. SALUTE!!

Will 

Sounds like you did wonderfully at the fair.  Only problem with the fair is that it depletes your supply of carvings so now you need to carve, carve, carve.  get busy.

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Carving In NYC