Festival considerations

[Bonnie Gibson]

I posted this on another site after a discussion about a festival that is being discontinued.

 

This would be a good forum for feedback from the various places around the country.  Do you agree? Disagree?  Why?  Could be very useful info for show organizers.

 

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All festivals are cyclical, with up and down trends.  It's not just the economy, it's a lot of other factors as well.  When the first few festivals started 15 or so years ago, they had little competition.  The Indiana festival, Welburn Festival, or the North Carolina festival didn't get competition from a million other shows - they were the only thing, they were new, they were well attended - and they succeeded. 

 

Fast forward to the present day.  There are now a ton of shows.  The numbers of shows out there mean that locals can attend much easier, BUT, now the vendors and instructors have little reason to attend and the shows get progressively smaller.  Why?  When you have so many shows, the vendors and instructors can't afford to travel to all of them as it isn't cost effective for them to attend a small show that attracts just a few hundred people instead of a few thousand.  So, they pick and choose and eventually they only attend the biggest shows or the ones that are closest to them.  (Keep in mind that vendors and classes are a big reason why you want to attend a show - if the vendors and instructors can't afford to travel to a show and still make a profit, then they will stop coming, and so will the attendees!)

 

Also, shows are only as good as the people putting them on.  Some shows are terrific because the volunteers/organizers put a ton of time and effort into promotion, securing a good facility, publicizing, etc.  Have ONE down year where something goes wrong - and attendance drops dramatically the next year.  Overcharging for admission or parking or for booths and classes, not having enough vendors or classes, bad weather, etc., any of these can drastically affect the numbers that return the following year.  For regular festival goers, - give them a good product and they come back, but if there are frequent problems they stop coming.

 

I've long been an advocate of fewer shows nationwide, possibly having rotating regional shows so that each state doesn't have the burden of a big show every year.  Some groups don't want to give up their "OWN" show, but they've seen what has happened over the last few years. Attendance has dropped drastically, vendors have stopped coming and their show is failing.   Unless you offer a good product, there is no reason for people to keep coming.  And if people don't come, then vendors and instructors aren't going to come either!  It's a vicious, downward spiral.  Only the very best shows will succeed - or those that have little regional competition.

 

The shows that are succeeding are doing it for these reasons:  Good location, good facilities, well run and organized event, less competition from other nearby shows, reasonable costs to participate as a vendor and as a festival goer, a fun atmosphere, extra activities available as part of their admission, opportunities for competition, and a good product (vendors and classes). 

 

The shows that are failing are doing so for these reasons:  Poor location - hard to get to or in an area with little else to do nearby.  Poor facility - not enough space, poor lighting, bad parking, expensive rental costs, etc.   Poorly run or organized.  Too expensive - charges the attendees too much for parking and admission, or charges the vendors/instructors an excessive amount.  Just not fun - poor food choices, no activities other than wandering the show (and not much in the show!) unfriendly conditions (grouchy ticket takers, organizers, volunteers, etc.)  It just doesn't take much to drive a show into the ground.

 

Check your calendar sometime and see how many shows are now available across the country.  Years ago, there were maybe 4-6 good shows total per year.  Now there are a lot of festivals, retreats and classes, with some overlapping on the same weekend or one weekend after another in neighboring states.  We've reached the point of oversaturation and only the best will survive. 

 

Bonnie Gibson - Tucson, Arizona

http://ArizonaGourds.com

[Cathy Toot]

You are very correct there Bonnie. I dont think it is all totally Economy but people like too grab that as an excuse. I had one show that was awesome and people magnet. People would drive 4 hrs for the day just to come. They all got burn out that put it on because the community was small and those were the only workers. It will be totally missed. Some people just wont look at themselves as well. They only want to blame the shows and the attendances but not the way they look or how they are set up. So much is a factor not just the shows or the economy. Choose shows that suit you, and, you and they work well together. So much for discussion here. For Montana there isnt enough shows and things are so far apart that you cant fit them all in for the prime times of the year (meaning good weather for travel etc.)

[Heather Steinman]

Its too bad that Welburns couldn't take a good look at what you have written. You have described them to a Tee. They destroyed a good thing. They should have looked at Wuertz and taken some notes on a well run festival. I live in California about 50 minutes from Welburns and given the choice I would rather drive to Wuertz , a six hour drive, then do the 50 minutes to Welburns. I think THEY and not the economy drove them selves out of business. Welburns has the patent on grumpy .

[Bonnie Gibson]

Please note that this discussion wasn't directed towards any one festival or event. It's general thoughts about all festivals. However, you are free to interpret it any way you like. ;)

Also, grower festivals are different than state sponsored festivals. Some states (such as CA and AZ) have been fortunate to have growers that run the festival, leaving the state organization only the competition to worry about. Other festivals (most of the rest of the country) have state run festivals that are all volunteer, and they do everything. It's a huge job for state groups. That's why I think some of them might want to pool their resources and combine for a bigger, better show instead of a few small ones. This is just MY opinion. I look forward to seeing other people's thoughts on the subject.

[joyce kay lipsett]

Running shows is a trickey business as you have to have good products, good people to put them together and good tact with people to keep everyone happy and repeat the shows every year or they will fall apart. I was very very lucky while living in the Sacramento Valley to be involved for 20yrs with the Lodi Art Center and Eggery groups that where good with these. I loved working at every aspect of them where I was needed and learned Judgeing from watching am one who believes using the star rating and my reason is I like to use the coment section and tell why I rate the way I do threw the views I learned threw all of those years of work and studing under one of the best art teachers in California. At no time do I ever intend to hurt anyone and hope only to help those who need some help to get a better piece of art work and believe me I still Need Lots Of It.. ....Thank you Bonnie for this wonderful site.

[Barbara Moore]

I think you may have quite a good insight into what it takes to run a good festival. People like myself live quite a ways from the really big festivals. I'm rather new to Gourd Art but I'm having a ball doing it and have already sold several pieces and have had two pieces commissioned. Unless you grow your own gourds or know someone who will grow for you, I have to drive 4 1/2 to 5 hours one way to purchase gourds and it's very expensive to purchase gourds from out West, 1- the cost of the gourds and 2- the shipping costs, I live in North/Central Arkansas.

[Myrna Grigsby]

I gave my reply. It can be found on fourgourdnesssakes. I can cut and copy it and put it on GAE also.

[Bonnie Gibson]

Sure, why don't you post it here - a lot of people are not on that site.

[Myrna Grigsby]

Interesting topics on festivals. I would like to add my 2 cents worth. Not every festival has to be as big as others to be successful. To arbitrarily limit festivals and combine area's is fine on paper, but rather unrealistic. It would be a logistical nightmare for those trying to decide where it should be located, when it should be held, splitting up the expense along with the work load, advertising, and who is going to "run" it and son on. Gourd Farmers depend on being able to sell their gourds at the states gourd festival. Not everyone has access to unlimited funds to travel to area's outside of their own. Let's look at Wuertz. Fabulous festival. The best of the best. I know many people in our area that would love to be able to attend a festival in Arizona but for many reasons they are not able to. What about these folks? Are they not deserving of great Teachers and Vendors in their area? Let's look at Idaho. I just returned home from teaching and judging at their festival in Boise. This festival is small, very small, but did it pack a punch? You bet it did. The people I saw leaving had bags full of gourds and goodies. I was the only teacher. Listening to the students, they were beside themselves that they were able to take a class from someone outside their area. They were able to see some fabulous gourd art, talk with gourd artists and learn from demonstrations that were being offered. They did not offer food or entertainment, but the people that came, left happy and are looking forward to next years festival. Are these people not as deserving as those that can affor to travel the "circuit"? Why does everything always come down to the final and almight buck? What happened to friends helping friends? What happened to sharing knowledge without choking on the words "copyright"? If a Vendor cannot make it to a festival because it doesn't pay it's way, then that's okay. There are other Vendors that can make it and find they leave with a loyal customer that will probably in the future make their purchases on line from those that have websites. Not every venue is going to have an attendance of 10,000, so what???? They are still successful! If a Vendor has to make a choice to attend a festival with a huge attendance over another one that is not in the same class, that's life, but it does not diminish the importance of those smaller festivals that cater to some great local folk. Do some us attend the bigger shows to purchase tools and supplies? Of course we do. However, we live in a world with up to the second technology and those same tools and supplies can be purchased on line. Is it as much fun? Heck no!, but there is something to be said about being in your pj's with a cup of jo searching the web for that perfect tool in the middle of the night. Competition is what built America folks. That is called free enterprise. If you want to be fair and equitable then as a teacher and/or vendor, be competitive with your stock and knowledge. We are willing to pay for that class and that tool, but when one person thinks they are above the rest and a festival will rise or fall based on whether they choose to attend or not, my friends, is where the trouble begins. Let's not criticize or penalize or take away from those that may not have the best locations with a major airport near by or cannot afford top of the line entertainment or who cannot afford to spend $300.00 for a tool or take a class from someone that has priced themselves above and beyond what the market calls for. In this economy this is the very reason why these smaller festivals are needed more than ever. Let's get back to what this is about; support our communities, support our gourd farmers, making new friends, learning a new technique, sharing a new technique. When I was invited to come to Idaho to judge, I told them I would love to come but would have to teach so I could afford to make the trip. If I couldn't teach I would be unable to attend. That's the truth and that's the way it is. I put it out there, the ball was in their court. If they felt it wasn't the right time or venue, that's okay!!..then it's back on me, can I affort it or will I have to pass this time? Bigger is not always better. Did those 6 vendors in Idaho come away satisfied with their sales? Absolutely. Did the "big guns" show up? No. Was their festival a success? You bet it was! Instead of looking at why all these festivals are "flooding" the market, let's look at what they all have to offer and how many people benfitted from have a gourd festival in their backyard! My fondest memory is of taking a class in the middle of nowhere, in the desert of Arizona, no airconditioning, and donkeys all around and the best teacher a gal could ask for! Thank you Shelley Fletcher!

[Bonnie Gibson]

Thanks, Myrna - this is a very good point of view. I'm not advocating for the
elimination of any shows, but suggesting that areas that have a lot of shows
close together (such as midwestern states and some southern states) consider
doing a group event in order to offer a better product and less work for all.


Certainly areas such as WA and ID and TX are far enough from other events that
they'll probably want to continue having their own events. But small shows can have a hard time rounding up teachers, vendors and volunteers each
year. Just something to think about.

And no, it isn't about the almighty dollar - but for many people they do have to
make expenses or they don't go. Just like some people can attend a festival and
some can't for one reason or another.

Just having this discussion is a good thing. Everyone has an opinion but
bringing them out here for all to read will help festival organizers think about
their future direction. If a group wants to have a small gathering of 20
people, nothing wrong with that at all. However, if they want to have a bigger
event with more to offer but can still only attract 20 people, then that's a
problem.

[joyce kay lipsett]

Bonnie: I agree with your anology of the festivals and what happens as have seen this happen many times in California, also some small shows grow so big that the policeing the public almost became immpossible in very small areas where the show will all of sudden end because of too many public problems.

[Debbie Wilson/Visions in Wood]

This is just my 2 cents, but I think everyone has made some good points. I live in Montana, we don't have any gourd patches or gourd events. I am a member of both Idaho and Washington gourd groups. It has been my absolute pleasure to attend Bonnie Gibson classes in Boise and I went to the Mosses Lake festival last summer. I consider myself extremely fortunate to have attended these wonderful events and met people I had only known on line. Because of distance, cost, job and life commitments, I can not travel as far as I would like to attend more events. I have sent gourds to competitions through the mail and now those costs are getting difficult. So any opportunity to be able to attend an event closer to home is most welcomed. One of the things that I have so enjoyed about the gourd community is the willingness to share and genuine love of the art form. I am not a club/group person as eventually the group seems to lose sight of what made the group so wonderful to begin with. I hate infighting, power struggles and truly hope this will not happen here. After all we all love our gourds and the wonderful friendships we make through them. It seems to me that all this will work it's self out. Either something will fly or it won't. I do agree that working together when possible is a very good thing. But please lets not lose sight of why we all got involved in the first place.

[Cathy Toot]

So very well said........ and sharing goes both ways. Very important. So when are you going to start one in Montana? Let us old Montana gourd timers know. Looking forward to it.