Bayou City Art Festival Downtown Fall Show Reviews.

Medium: 2D mixed media
Year you most recently exhibited at this Show: 2016
Your Estimated Sales at this Show: $5,001 - $10,000
Price Range of your Work: $450 - $2,100
Number of Years You have Exhibited in this Show:
1st time
Number of Years You have been doing Art Fairs overall:
1st year
Attendance: (1 is poor, 5 is great) 4
Location: 5
Facilities: 4
Ease of Participating: 4
Sales: 4
Overall: 4
Booth Fee vs. Your Sales Ratio: Good
Estimated Attendance: 50,001+ people

Good Things about this Art Fair:
Very well publicized. Downtown Houston is a very pretty area to hold an art festival of this caliber. Lot's of parking.

The weather was absolutely perfect! Cool mornings and mild temps during the day. Juror's did a great job of selecting a more diverse array of artists in many different mediums as well as bringing in new talent.

And the art buying crowd noticed! The staff was very attentive and easy to work with. Volunteers came around quite often to hand out cold bottled water.

This show exceeded my expectations!

What could this Art Fair have done better?:
The artist relief tent was not as good as the year's prior to this. Not really a place to sit & relax. Offered water and a few snacks.

Advice to Other Artists Considering this Show:
Sometimes the weather in Houston isn't cooperative, but when it does, it's perfect.

This festival is worth getting into. I plan to apply again for 2017.

The URL of your profile on ArtFairInsiders.com.
http://www.artfairinsiders.com/profile/DarSchafer591

Posted by: Dar Schafer | 02/22/2017 at 10:59 PM

Medium: Drawing
Year you most recently exhibited at this Show: 2016
Your Estimated Sales at this Show: $2001-$5000
Price Range of your Work: $75 - $1,000
Number of Years You have Exhibited in this Show:
2-3 times
Number of Years You have been doing Art Fairs overall:
2-3 years
Attendance: (1 is poor, 5 is great) 4
Location: 4
Facilities: 4
Ease of Participating: 3
Sales: 4
Overall: 4
Booth Fee vs. Your Sales Ratio: Good
Estimated Attendance: Not really sure.

Good Things about this Art Fair:
Well publicized and Houston has a lot of art buyers. Lovely setting in downtown Houston. Lots of parking for patrons near-by. Staff of festival are very responsive and helpful.

Bad Things about this Art Fair:
Set-up and take-down continue to be complicated.

Posted by: Angie Spears | 01/31/2017 at 06:36 PM

Show Name: Bayou City Art Festival
City and State: Houston, TX
Your Medium: Sculpture
Year you most recently exhibited at this Show: 2013
Your Estimated Sales at this Show: $2001-$5000
Number of Years You have Exhibited in this Show: 1st time
Attendance: (1 is poor, 5 is great) 2
Location: 4
Facilities: 4
Ease of Participating: 3
Sales: 4
Overall: 4
Booth Fee vs. Your Sales Ratio: Good
Estimated Attendance: 501-10,000 people

Good Things about this Art Fair:
Sales were better than anticipated.
Once you have participated and know the "ropes" set up and tear down are easy.
Ability to select desired location (once you know the best locations) They request this upon acceptance/payment of your booth space, so do not delay! I was lucky and selected a good location even though it was a wild guess.

Bad Things about this Art Fair:
Load in beginning at 8:30 the night before the show.
I am slow to set up and super early completion the morning of the show made for a long day. But, good sales made up for that.
Rain off and on kept buyers away, and it was steamy with lots of flys and mosquitoes.

Advice to Other Artists Considering this Show:
I would recommend a street selection. The park gets muddy, and the "cement pond" is not great even with early load in, their pay back is in the load out, as well as having to trolley in and out. Bring bug spray, flash light, and rain boots in case you are in a "flooding" location during rain. Bring bug repellent. Lots of mosquitoes and flies.

Great underground parking at the Theater District for $7 per day. Exits to Walker and a short walk to our booth. Artist parking is really removed from the show, and no shuttle was provided.
Crown Plaza was an acceptable hotel, although a bit pricey. Even with "free valet parking" be prepared to tip the valet, frequently. There is no other parking at the hotel.
Bring a fan. It can be hot in October.

Additional Commentary on this Show:
I encountered no problems during the show. Staff came by frequently to provide water, snacks, and relief as needed. If you make prior arrangements, lunch is delivered for a fee. Portable pottys are located conveniently. Judges made their usual "fly by" and did not deign to talk to me. But that was OK, I had a great show.

Posted by: Carole Fleischman | 12/13/2013 at 09:08 AM

Show Name: Bayou City Downtown Houston - Fall
City and State: Houston, TX
Your Medium: Jewelry
Year you most recently exhibited at this Show: 2013
Your Estimated Sales at this Show: $501-$2000
Number of Years You have Exhibited in this Show: 3-5 times
Attendance: (1 is poor, 5 is great) 2
Location: 4
Facilities: 4
Ease of Participating: 2
Sales: 2
Overall: 3
Booth Fee vs. Your Sales Ratio: Poor
Estimated Attendance: 501-10,000 people
Good Things about this Art Fair: This fair has High Quality Artists and Loyal Customers in an Urban setting. This is a magic combination for me. I plan to be there on a year when the weather is perfect too!

Lots of volunteers. Pre-ordered lunches were healthy and yummy! They delivered them to the booth!

Communication with the director/staff has been detailed and I enjoy working with them. I know there were some complaints this year, but I read everything and knew what to do. Not a problem for me.

Bad Things about this Art Fair:
UGh. the weather and the set up is brutal. It has had significant rain on Sun for the last 3 years. While people still come out, there are many less opportunity for $ales.

Nighttime set up with significant slope towards the back of the booth. Can't have enough shims. and if it rains that is where the water drains. Plan ahead.

The humidity is rough, I always get electric ($150 I think) for fans. You need to have hydration drinks. This doesn't stop shopping, but artists need to be prepared.

Sam Houston park was muddy this year. really muddy, I was surprised that the director didn't put straw or something down. I really felt bad for artists in this area.

Advice to Other Artists Considering this Show:
I like this show, I just wish the weather would cut the artists a break so we can do what we do best and to a large crowd of happy shoppers.

This show is a 17 hour drive and like any show in an urban setting parking, hotels etc can be costly. For me this 2 day show only works if I can combine with another solid show. The other show saved my bacon this year.

People have disposable income here, so if they like it they 'Can" buy. My work is mid price.

Posted by: Kay Cummins | 10/29/2013 at 09:03 PM

Show Name: Bayou City Art Fair Downtown
City and State: Houston, TX
Your Medium: Drawing
Year you most recently exhibited at this Show: 2012
Your Estimated Sales at this Show: $501-$2000
Number of Years You have Exhibited in this Show: 1st time
Attendance: (1 is poor, 5 is great) 1 (poor)
Location: 2
Facilities: 3
Ease of Participating: 4
Sales: 1 (poor)
Overall: 1 (poor)
Booth Fee vs. Your Sales Ratio: Poor
Estimated Attendance: 501-10,000 people

Good Things about this Art Fair: The weather

Bad Things about this Art Fair: I don't know what happened at this show...The weather was great! And the spring show in Memorial Park was good, but people just didn't come out for this show...I will not go back.:( Parking is complicated...

Advice to Other Artists Considering this Show: Do the sprint show and skip the downtown one.

Posted by: Helen Gotlib | 01/12/2013 at 09:14 AM

Show Name: Bayou City Arts Festival Downtown Houston
City and State: Houston, TX
Your Medium: Jewelry
Year you most recently exhibited at this Show: 2012
Your Estimated Sales at this Show: $2001-$5000
Number of Years You have Exhibited in this Show: 2-3 times
Attendance: (1 is poor, 5 is great) 3
Location: 4
Facilities: 4
Ease of Participating: 3
Sales: 3
Overall: 3
Booth Fee vs. Your Sales Ratio: Okay
Estimated Attendance: 10,001-50,000 people

Good Things about this Art Fair: The show is well advertised and people come every year. Well juried bring a group of quality artists together. Educated art patrons with some money in their pockets. The staff treats artists well. This year you could preorder a lunch (healthy choices too!) and have it delivered to the booth. This show doesn't have as much food available so this was perfect!

Bad Things about this Art Fair: It rained on Sunday for the last 2 years. Weather in Oct. is tricky in TX. Booth set up is tricky. Dark set up and take down. Bring your head lamps!

Advice to Other Artists Considering this Show: I think sales where really affected by weather this year. I was down $1K and was really planning on being up $2k this year. Collectors come and they will look for you, so if you do this show commit for a few years to see full potential. Being in a Downtown urban area, hotel and parking are more expensive.

Additional Commentary on this Show: I will be back in 2013.

Posted by: Kay Cummins | 10/26/2012 at 06:09 PM

Show Name: Bayou Art Festival Downtown.
City and State: Houston, TX
Your Medium: Printmaking
Year you most recently exhibited at this Show: 2012
Your Estimated Sales at this Show: $5001-$10,000
Number of Years You have Exhibited in this Show: 3-5 times
Attendance: (1 is poor, 5 is great) 2
Location: 4
Facilities: 2
Ease of Participating: 3
Sales: 4
Overall: 3
Booth Fee vs. Your Sales Ratio: Good
Estimated Attendance: Not really sure.

Good Things about this Art Fair: If you got a collector you will have him/her back every year.

Bad Things about this Art Fair: This show does not have big crowds, but this year attendance was even worse.

Posted by: Marina Teauds | 10/20/2012 at 01:00 AM

Show Name: Bayou City Festival Downtown Houston
City and State: Houston, TX
Your Medium: Jewelry
Year you most recently exhibited at this Show: 2011
Your Estimated Sales at this Show: $2001-$5000
Number of Years You have Exhibited in this Show: 1st time
Attendance: (1 is poor, 5 is great) 3
Location: 3
Facilities: 3
Ease of Participating: 3
Sales: 4
Overall: 3
Booth Fee vs. Your Sales Ratio: Good
Estimated Attendance: 501-10,000 people

Good Things about this Art Fair: This is an established show, well advertised and the people that come out are savvy and love unique work. There is a $12 entry and I feel that weeds out the lookers.

Bad Things about this Art Fair: The set up is a bit tricky as the streets have a significant slope (maybe a 6" drop) towards the curb. I had modifications and got by, but leaning up hill all day was a challenge physically.

No ones fault... Houston has had a drought but the skies opened on Sunday and it rained 3" and while much cooler - traffic was minimal and the show closed early at 3 pm.

Advice to Other Artists Considering this Show: Bring your "A" game. Be ready for the heat and the tricky set up. Always have a fan.

Stay at the Doubletree for easy show access. It is worth the $$

Texans are great and there is still cash flow there.

Posted by: Kay Cummins | 10/22/2011 at 12:34 AM

Both of the Bayou City Art Festivals are very well promoted and managed. Good volunteer base, high quality art and sales have been good, even in this recession. Wonderful artist hospitality. Stay at the Doubletree Downtown - it is within walking distance on safe streets and offers artist rates. Some booths have very little storage behind.

Biggest drawback of the downtown show is the late night setup in the dark. Confusion (particularly for newbies) for navigating the downtown with barricades and one-ways. This show needs to close at 5pm NOT 6pm. With a 7pm sunset, it is pitch dark as you are trying to load your vehicle.

Posted by: Ginny Herzog | 11/01/2010 at 09:59 AM

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