4 Bridges Arts Festival Reviews.

Medium: Wood
Year you most recently exhibited at this Show:
2017
Your Estimated Sales at this Show: $501 - $2,000
Price Range of your Work: $45 - $2,100
Number of Years You have Exhibited in this Show:
1st time
Number of Years You have been doing Art Fairs overall: 2-3 years
Attendance: (1 is poor, 5 is great) 4
Location: 3
Facilities: 3
Ease of Participating: 3
Sales: 2
Overall: 3
Booth Fee vs. Your Sales Ratio: Okay
Estimated Attendance: 501 - 10,000 people

Good Things about this Art Fair:
Seems like a good core of customers that know about the show and attend every year. Bridge Bucks Patron program ensures that people have money to spend, I had one bridge bucks customer.

There was a high level of artist quality. Lots of photographers. Cash awards are given. Emerging artist program lowers the cost for new artists.

There seemed to be on-site parking-lot camping for rv's available. The show does provide meals for artists, though the quantity and quality is varied.

What could this Art Fair have done better?:
The location is under a large pavilion, but it should be considered an outdoor show depending on your booth location.

I'd say the outer perimeter booths all had problems with rain from either the sides, top, or pooling on the floor. Not a problem if you are used to outdoor shows.

I found the cost to be too high relative to my sales and lodging fees. The attendance seemed low, maybe due to bad weather. Customers park a block away outdoors.

Advice to Other Artists Considering this Show:
Prepare for high wind and storms, common this time of year. Have a wide range of prices.

The location is very dusty and gritty, your floor material will get very dirty, consider skipping flooring.

I made about $900 in sales, this was my first time attending, I was an emerging artist.

Posted by: Alicia Williams | 07/25/2017 at 11:43 PM

Medium: Fiber
Year you most recently exhibited at this Show: 2017
Your Estimated Sales at this Show: $2,001 - $5,000
Price Range of your Work: $95 - $695
Number of Years You have Exhibited in this Show:
2-3 times
Number of Years You have been doing Art Fairs overall: 3-5 years
Attendance: (1 is poor, 5 is great) 4
Location: 4
Facilities: 4
Ease of Participating: 4
Sales: 4
Overall: 5
Booth Fee vs. Your Sales Ratio: Good
Estimated Attendance: 10,001 - 50,000

Good Things about this Art Fair:
Just about everything is good about this show. Michelle, the director of AVA and the show is very organized and communicates well before and during the show.

The show is held in an old pavilion. Easy load in and out with free parking on the perimeter. Meals served to the artists all weekend.

Great art. Good attendance, and sales reflect both. I did 9X booth fee. Patrons are appreciative and very friendly.

What could this Art Fair have done better?:
This is a petty comment, but the food this year wasn't like last year. Plus, they only provide for the artist, not the assistants. I wish they would allow us to pay for a second person.

Advice to Other Artists Considering this Show:
Apply. This is a great show in a great city where art is appreciated and bought.

Posted by: Jeri Vitello | 04/28/2017 at 09:42 PM

Medium: Photography
Year you most recently exhibited at this Show:
2016
Your Estimated Sales at this Show: $5001-$10,000
Price Range of your Work: $30-$750
Number of Years You have Exhibited in this Show:
1st time
Number of Years You have been doing Art Fairs overall: 2-3 years
Attendance: (1 is poor, 5 is great) 5
Location: 5
Facilities: 4
Ease of Participating: 3
Sales: 5
Overall: 5
Booth Fee vs. Your Sales Ratio: Great
Estimated Attendance: 10,001-50,000 people

Good Things about this Art Fair:
Relatively new artist and the "Emerging Artist" category/scholarship is an amazing opportunity for those who qualify!

Excellent covered venue, high quality artists, excellent buying crowd who are knowledgeable about art.

Extremely generous cash awards. Great amenities for the artists. VIP party and patron "bucks" program is very nice and paid out promptly.

Bad Things about this Art Fair:
Great location except for client parking space.

Volunteer booth sitter kept trying to advise me how to interact with clients (just a minor nuisance)!

Advice to Other Artists Considering this Show:
Even though venue is covered, use your tent as there are lots of birds and the "mess" they can create.

Also, make sure you have a dolly/hand truck as load in can be tough at peak times.

Additional Commentary on this Show:
Best show I've ever participated in.

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

Posted by: Donald Golden | 05/07/2016 at 02:30 PM

Medium: Fiber
Year you most recently exhibited at this Show:
2016
Your Estimated Sales at this Show: $2001-$5000
Price Range of your Work: 55-450
Number of Years You have Exhibited in this Show:
1st time
Number of Years You have been doing Art Fairs overall: 3-5 years
Attendance: (1 is poor, 5 is great) 4
Location: 5
Facilities: 5
Ease of Participating: 5
Sales: 4
Overall: 4
Booth Fee vs. Your Sales Ratio: Good
Estimated Attendance: 501-10,000 people

Good Things about this Art Fair:
Venue was ideal for art show. Committee did an excellent job communicating and providing for artist.

Sales for me (wearable fiber artist) was approx. 6x booth fee.

Bad Things about this Art Fair:
Nothing

Advice to Other Artists Considering this Show:
Seriously consider applying.

Posted by: Jeri Vitello | 04/25/2016 at 12:08 AM

Show Name: 4 Bridges Art Festival
City and State: Chattanooga, TN
Your Medium: Photography
Year you most recently exhibited at this Show: 2014
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) 3
Location: 5 (great)
Facilities: 5 (great)
Ease of Participating: 5 (great)
Sales: 4
Overall: 4
Booth Fee vs. Your Sales Ratio: Good
Estimated Attendance: 10,001-50,000 people

Good Things about this Art Fair:
Great staff and facility

Bad Things about this Art Fair:
Crowds come in waves

Advice to Other Artists Considering this Show:
Try it out, it's worth while. Have a variety of price points
Additional Commentary on this Show:
I wasn't sure how my work would be received, I have mostly nudes. The crowd was mostly receptive, and fairly art educated.

Posted by: Kate Tillman | 04/23/2014 at 12:55 PM

Show Name: * 4 Bridges
City and State: Chattanooga, TN
Your Medium: Pottery
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: 5 (great)
Ease of Participating: 5 (great)
Sales: 3
Overall: 3
Booth Fee vs. Your Sales Ratio: Okay
Estimated Attendance: 501-10,000 people

Good Things about this Art Fair: covered pavilion gives some protection from weather, easy load in and out, all booth spaces paved and level, convenient artist parking, excellent hotel facilities at Staybridge 1 block away, artist hospitality open all weekend, dinner friday night and lunch saturday and sunday provided.

Posted by: Jim Dalton | 04/25/2012 at 10:49 AM

Show Name: 4-Bridges
City and State: Chattanooga, Tennessee
Your Medium: Photography
Year you most recently exhibited at this Show: 2011
Your Estimated Sales at this Show: $5001-$10,000
Number of Years You have Exhibited in this Show: 5-10 times
Attendance: (1 is poor, 5 is great) 3
Location: 5 (great)
Facilities: 5 (great)
Ease of Participating: 5 (great)
Sales: 3
Overall: 4
Booth Fee vs. Your Sales Ratio: Good
Estimated Attendance: 10,001-50,000 people

Good Things about this Art Fair:
-great artist hospitality
-covered, but open facility (protection from weather)
-helpful staff
-solid sales for many

Bad Things about this Art Fair:
-due to crowd, sales do decline after multiple participation

Advice to Other Artists Considering this Show:
-more or less conservative market, but a crowd who does buy what they like.

Posted by: Approved Reviewer; name withheld by request | 07/30/2011 at 08:25 PM

Show Name: 4 Bridges
City and State: Chattanooga, TN
Your Medium: 3D mixed media
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: 5 (great)
Facilities: 5 (great)
Ease of Participating: 5 (great)
Sales: 3
Overall: 4
Booth Fee vs. Your Sales Ratio: Okay
Estimated Attendance: 5001-10,000 people

Good Things about this Art Fair:
Takes place in a covered pavilion--an old foundry I think--and having a roof over your head is priceless. Without it, we'd have been drowned, as spring weather in the south can be (and was) very volatile. You don't even need to set up a tent if you prefer not to.

Organizers are extremely friendly and responsive, and the artists' party was great, if too brief.

Bad Things about this Art Fair:
Overall quality of work was very high, but I was surprised to see those buy/sell Bolivian wood watches there, as well as cheap airplanes made out of Coke cans.

Advice to Other Artists Considering this Show:
Sales best for traditional work--those gallery-wrapped photos of Tuscany were just FLYING off our neighbor's walls. Try to avoid booths around the perimeter, as these take the brunt of any bad weather, and are subject to high winds and large puddles.

Additional Commentary on this Show:
Keep in mind that my guess at estimated attendance is just that--a total guess, as I'm completely dyslexic with numbers!

Posted by: Amy Flynn | 05/23/2011 at 10:50 AM

I had a great show. We make glass and sold well in the 500.00 to $1,000.00 price range. Our designs are mostly best described as elegant and traditional, but some of our new more contemporary work sold too. I know of two other glass artists who did not do well. This is a pleasant and easy show to do. Come prepared for an outdoor show. If it rains you are not ptotected on the outside row.

Posted by: Paul willsea | 05/06/2011 at 09:20 AM

Show Name: Chattanooga Four Bridges Art Festival
City and State: Chattanooga, TN
Your Medium: Digital Art
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) 4
Location: 4
Facilities: 4
Ease of Participating: 4
Sales: 4
Overall: 4
Booth Fee vs. Your Sales Ratio: Okay
Estimated Attendance: 10,001-25,000 people

Good Things about this Art Fair:
Took place in an open-air, covered pavilion so weather was less of an issue.

Friday set-up.

Dinner on Friday provided to artists as well as lunch on Saturday and Sunday.

Parking was convenient. Just outside the pavilion.

Excellent collection of artists.

Savvy clientel.

Bad Things about this Art Fair:
It rained very hard on Friday night, flooding areas of the pavilion that were around the outside walls. It took most of Saturday to dry out these areas, but many artists had to contend with puddles. The organizers worked hard to vacuum up the water, but it could have been much worse if the event was held outdoors.

Advice to Other Artists Considering this Show:
Good show. I recommend it. If possible, request a booth on the inside, away from the outside walls in case it rains like it did in 2011.

It is also important to request electricity and to bring lights. Being under a pavilion, you really need some extra light.

Some artists did not use their canopies, so the overhead lights in the pavilion helped light their booth. But, some of those artists had to worry about water dripping from a leaky ceiling during the rain on Friday night.

For more of my commentary on this show please click on my name below to visit my blog on ArtFairInsiders.com.

Posted by: John Leben | 04/27/2011 at 06:40 PM

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