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KJ Lyons Jan 14, 2008

Now that I live ALL the way out in Seattle I have to make careful decisions about shows. I guess I'm used to two to three day shows. Now there seems to be a lot of one day shows. I know many of us complained that Sunday at a show was hardly worth it, sometimes, but now with one day??.... I think of all the work of packing, flying across country, setting-up (usually exhausted). THen it's all over in 6 hours! No dinner, little time to talk and socialize. Then I started thinking of it from a collector's view. Would a collector spend all the money to come to a 6 hour show and fly home again? No dinner, special events, not even much time to meet with the artists? Have any artists, here, traveled a long distance to do a 6 hour show? Do you get the same crowd as when the show was 2 days? How exhausting was the "fly in, fly out" whirlwind?

Daphne Jan 14, 2008

Sunday shows seem to be quite common actually. And one day shows are also quite common and have been for at least the past 8 years I've been in the industry. I'd also venture to guess that a lot of artists, most in fact, do the one day shows closer to home over flying to the 2 and 3 day shows. There are a number of shows out there to choose from, no matter where you live... might be a long drive or short flight but you don't necessarily have to fly across the country.

Interestingly... many artists (having polled many at my shows) don't want a multi-day show with events because it costs so much more to do... the collectors who come for that weekend are there for the whole weekend so it's not like you get many different collectors from Saturday to Sunday to increase sales.

I have to agree that there SHOULD be an evening event the night before a Sunday show...open to artists and collectors. But there goes the show fee again and many artists seem to think shows are too expensive to begin with.

I did a one day show here on the east coast last fall that had artists from as far away a Cali. It was a Sunday show and was well attended and bears were flying out the door. There was a reception for artists the night before which was nice and relaxed. I met a few collectors who had traveled to the show in the bar the night before. We had a great time. I flew... won't do that again... much too exhausting.... I'll do the 8 hour drive! Having said that, no I don't think I'd fly to a 6 hour show if I didn't have plans to stay a couple extra days with friends or other artists and do some sight-seeing or something.

It depends in large part on the quality of the show. There are some 2 day shows out there I'll never travel to again as they aren't worth even a short plane ride!

I'm not so sure I'm helping, Karen.... babbling, yes!

DebbieD Jan 14, 2008

I don't ever recommend just flying to a show and needing to rely on the airlines to get you there just for that day and then fly out immediately.  There are too many things that can and do go wrong, and if the plane needs a mechanical emergency fix, there goes your timeframe, and there goes your stresslevels right through the roof!! 

I do exactly as Daphne suggests, making it a longer trip for yourself, getting to see some sights and connect with other artists and bear friends in the area. 

And I'm not a good example, because I've only done one show, but the show I attended was a one day only event.  I LOVED it!!!  The buyers were more committed.  There was no wishy washy, 'I'll come back tomorrow and see if its still here'.  They had only a few hours to buy or not, so they were better with their decisions. LOL, not that it would be an issue with your lovely creations Karen!! 

Turnout was pretty steady all day long, and a good flow of people.  I liked it because I was pretty tired by the end of the day.  I'm not sure how fresh I would look after a two or three day event.   

Tami E Jan 15, 2008

If I have to travel a good distance to a show I want it to be an event. Not necessarily two days of show, but dinner w/collectors or charity auctions or some thing else.

Little Bear Guy Jan 15, 2008

Hi Karen,  yes we will fly in for a one day show, if we can get the flights cheap enough, we are doing Daphne's show which is a one day show, but we certainly would not fly home the same day , we usually always stay over and fly out the next morning.  I am way to tired after a show to even think about flying and for my own health I think it's worth the cost. 

I am not real fond of shows that have banquets (granted I love TBAI and have no problem paying for the banquet there, I am going out on a limb here to say they likely put on one of the best events that I have attended).  But for us since only one of us is considered the artist and the other a helper we always wind up having to pay for everything extra.  This really adds up and when you sometimes don't have a choice and are forced to pay for a breakfast that you don't want it really burns me, or only one of us can attend an event because the cost is so high for the other to attend and everyone is wondering where the other one is.

So Karen you just have to be choosy about the ones you think are worth going to, yes you might have to pay for two nights hotel but it is worth it.  I mean whether you stay over or you fly home, if you fly home you are going to be so whipped the next day you likely are not going to be able to do anything anyway.

Just my two cents with,  big hugs

Shane

KJ Lyons Jan 15, 2008

Shane,
First, Miss you! Haven't seen you in a long time! Actually, I'm more concerned about collectors than myself. I keep thinking "if this would be so hard on me what does it mean for a collector"? What is the incentive for them to go through all the expensive of visiting a show if there are no events? I believe that catering to the collector is very important and we have to look at their side. THere was a survey, I think it was by TB&F? Anyway, the consensus was that the most important factor for collectors visiting a show was that they got to meet and talk with the artists. I don't know about youse guys, wait I do know ;-> like me, during a show you are soo busy it's very difficult to have a conversation with your collectors. I meet many of my collectors during events or in the evening after a show. Still just thoughts..... I haven't attended many one day shows so that's why I'm asking?
Karen

All Bear Jan 15, 2008

I think all our shows in the UK are one day these days ... we do have quite a few regular attendees from overseas at Kensington though, twice yearly.  I often wonder how the travelling versus sales works out for them.  I guess if they keep coming back they must think it's worthwhile.  However, there really is no time for exhibitors to socialise during these shows, it is a no frills bear selling day and there's no evening entertainment organised ... to be honest, most of us are quite content with the arrangments and just want to drive home and collapse straight after the show anyway.  The best we manage during the show is to dash off to friend's stands in between busy periods and risk missing a sale while we say a quick hello!

Little Bear Guy Jan 15, 2008

Karen we miss you too, hopefully somewhere this yr our paths will cross.  We really wanted to do Nevada City but we just couldn't swing it this yr, but next yr bet your butt that we will be there.

I agree Karen yes  for the collectors I know how much they want to meet up with the artist and have a chance to talk with us before the show.  That's why I like TBAI so much, they have a reception on the Thursday evening and collectors and artist get together for some wine and nibbles, and each artist brings in a bear to place on the table as a preview for the show. 

I think something like that works really well and it would be nice if more promoters did something like that.  It doesn't have to be anything fancy but just a chance for artist and collectors to get together and and chat and you get a better chance to meet new collectors.  During the show it is very difficult to get to talk with collectors when you have so many people around your table at once.  Even after the reception lots of us sat in the lounge and socialized and even collectors came and sat with us and we had a blast.

Hmmmm are you hearing us Daphne LOL, all the artist coming to your show want a big  party the night before the show   :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup: .  Just teasing you sweetie.

The Maryland christmas show was very nice and the wine and cheese reception was a great idea and I think everyone enjoyed themselves (ok except it was the weekend that the clocks went back and the hotels system didn't do that and we were all getting wake up calls an hour before we were suppose to and some of us didn't even get our wake up calls it was really scary  )

But Karen to really answer your question, we have found it was worth while doing a one day show.  What I found was that the sales are the same whether it's a one day sale or a two day sale, granted you might could sell one or two on a second day but if a collector knows it's only one day then they will buy anyway.

big hugs   

Shane

Daphne Jan 15, 2008

Yes, Shane I hear you. I've been working on a plan for Friday night since last fall. Once show registration has closed you'll get a letter with all the details!

And if you come back this summer to the Maine show you can join our beach party/ice cream social the night before! Last year's was a blast.... everyone had a great time... and how can you beat going to a reception barefoot and it only costing the price of an ice cream cone!!??

But that isn't necessarily solving Karen's concern on collector/artist interaction outside show hours.

Funny though, out of all the feedback I get from show attendees not one has ever mentioned a before/after social event with artists or the need for more interaction with them. A couple have requested workshops with some of the artists the day before or after but that's it and I've sought out as much feedback as possible as that's the only way I'm going to improve my shows. But... I've only been at this a couple of years.... still plenty to learn.... so I'll continue to keep my ears open....