Art / Craft Show help!

[Jess Wetherhold]

What is the best way of finding craft shows in advance? I recently relocated and cannot seem to find any far enough in advance to register for. I have seen several sites on-line (have to pay to join) that have show listings but there must be a better way. What am I not doing?? I am somewhat desperate since I need to do about 12 a year to get by. Any help please.........................

[Harvey M. Taylor]

You buy a dictionary to find words, you get an Auto trader to find a vehicle, you use a phone book to find people. Unless you are thoroughly familiar with the area, you have to get a book or directory. If the only ones available cost money, you have to buy it. A show directory is a great help in planning to exhibit now and in the future.Local people might not know about a show 50 miles from you that you could qualify to show at. Some are juried so you have to apply way in advance to send pictures to see if you are accepted. Flea markets and lesser shows will not be worth your time to attend.In short, BUY THE BOOK.

[Paul Engle]

Well, county and state fairs, most craft shows I looked at were juried and 20 to 150 $ fee for jury with no gaureenteee you get in,( good fund raiser) google it I guess but no hard fast rule for finding that i know of.

[Blake McCully]

Jess, I'll try to give you a straight answer. I subscribe to craflister.com. It costs $40 for six months. I find it very useful. Also google, or your favorite search engine, for craft show listings. You will more than likely have to pay a nominal fee for a good listing place. Why? Because they do all the research for you, they have promotor contacts, and they put everything in a nice package for you.

If you don't want to go that route, then contact friends and relatives who live in areas that you may want to work. I do no shows in my immediate area, it is very econimically depressed and nobody wants to spend money.

Check out craflister.com, no charge for a temporary package. That's what I did the first year before we went on the road. I would look at the shows we might like to do, jot down their info/web sites, contacted them for the next year. With the service I have, you will only get one month's worth of shows, usually the current month, if you do not register and pay the $40.

If you are serious about doing this, you probably should enlist the help of a listing service. After all, the cost of the service is a business expense.

Let me know how things work out for you.

[Jess Wetherhold]

Harvey, I am not sure what book you are referring to or where I can find one.
Blake, I have googled my brains out with hardly any luck. I actually do have the "free" account with craftlister and have been jotting down future shows. Problem is that I need to show in 2 months and most deadlines are past. I wouldn't mind selling Christmas ornaments at church bizarres at this point but I can't even find those.
I recently moved from DE to CA and am quite lost here.
Thanks for our help. I was wondering if anyone else used craftlister.

[Wes Bischel]

Jess,
Find the local or state craft guild. They can usually help out. Also, our local craft stores have a small book of all the area shows printed by the guild I think. Also, ask at the craft stores in town where to get the info.

Good luck,
Wes

[Greg Savage]

Here are a few sources of info for ya.....


http://www.jolaf.com/resources/index.html

Link to artfairsourcebookdotcom forum removed. Sorry, Greg - it a rule thing.

http://www.artandcraftshows.net/

http://www.craftsreport.com/

[Curt Fuller]

You might also check out the local woodcraft store and other woodworking supply outlets along with just regular craft stores. Many usually have a bulletin board with flyers anouncing upcoming events.

[Randy Rhine]

The magazine Woodworker West (http://www.woodwest.com/) always has a section on upcoming shows in the western US. That alone makes it worth the subscription. They also always have an article or two on wood turning.

randy




What is the best way of finding craft shows in advance? I recently relocated and cannot seem to find any far enough in advance to register for. I have seen several sites on-line (have to pay to join) that have show listings but there must be a better way. What am I not doing?? I am somewhat desperate since I need to do about 12 a year to get by. Any help please.........................

[Paul Heely]

You might also call the local chamber of commerce. In my town we also have an "arts council", see if your town has something similar. Not sure if what you do is more crafty than artsy but these 2 are worth looking into.

Also, in some places I think shows need local permits. If your area is one such place check with your, and surrounding areas, town hall and see if anything is upcoming.

Good Luck.

[Blake McCully]

Jess,
Good luck on your search. My only comment right now is that from what I've seen looking around, most of the application deadlines have passed for the summer and possibly for the early fall shows. If you can find the phone numbers or emails for the organizers for some of these shows, you may be able to get on a "wait" list.

Also try festivalnet.com. I just joined that site. They charge $49 per year, pretty good price. Again, you could probably just look for something in your area and see if you can get in. If I read correctly that you are in San Diego, should have a lot of stuff there???

Good luck.

[Jess Wetherhold]

I think I am on my way. Thanks for all of the replies. Much appreciated.

[Tim Fitzgibbon]

Pick a town and google it with art festival, fair, etc. I am in Indiana (know nothing about your area) and quick search of San Diego turned up the American Art Fetival in Oct. I could not find the application deadline but I am sure it has passed. Also look on city web pages. They always list their festivals. Find the exact name of the event and then search for a dedicated web page. Most of these things are on-line now.

Looked smaller. Escondido has something in May and October. The Escondido Downtown Street Faire. The app is at http://www.kennedyfaires.com/escondido.htm Perhaps those are just buy your way in. Doesn't meet your two month situation.

From what I have seen looking in my area, most apps for art type shows are about six or so months in advance depending on the size of the venue. While most of that type of thing happens in the late spring to early fall here in the north, it seems to me that there would be some fall/winter snowbird related stuff inland. You must be soooo tired of sunny and 70s...just kidding but jealous...seems there would be year-round stuff in the area.

Surely LA has plenty. Search through these: http://www.laokay.com/EventsFestivals.htm

http://www.harvestfestival.com is six or eight cities up the coast in Sept - Dec. Special consideration for first time never juried applicants. These things hardly ever have an up front visible and bold app deadline. From what I can tell for this one, it is sort of Aug 6 for best chances...better consideration for early applicants.

Also found this: http://www.beachcalifornia.com/california-fairs-festivals-august.html Other months are linked at top of page.

Don't think I am of much help but my 2 cents. Good luck.

Tim

[Reed Gray]

Don't know if this is proper or not, but I used Greg Lawler's Art Fair Source Book. He and some people that work for him travel to shows and interview the vendors to get information on what sells, how much sells, how the shows are run, jurying info, fees, etc. They are done regionally. I found it helpful in picking out a few shows to do. About $100. greg@artfairsourcebook.com
robo hippy

[Jess Wetherhold]

Thanks Tim for searching for that info. It was very helpful. I am actually scheduled to do the Escondido street fair but it is mostly retail and food stands. You can't beat the $125 fee though. The harvest festivals run $800 for the space. That's a bit steep for me as a woodworker/turner.
Now if the local chambers of commerce would just return my calls http://www.sawmillcreek.org/images/icons/icon9.gif