Gail Phillips on tue 4 oct 05
Hi, all -
Well, I thought it was pretty bad when Jeff Weiland got shot at with plastic
bb's at the fair he did in Cambridge City, much worse, in fact, than having
a piece of corn dog chucked into my booth overnight in Martinsville last
year. Last weekend, I did the first annual Circle City Classic Art Fair,
which is to be avoided at all costs. First red flag I ignored - it was in a
mall. I sent my money, anyway, since it was only $50. After they had the
artist's cash, the list of rules and regs came out - no outside food or
drink, no eating or drinking at your booth, no sound systems (which makes
sense if you are in a mall), no electricity available, NO, NO, NO, etc.
Okay, not fun, but I can live with that. What they didn't mention was that
not all of us would actually be in the mall per se. Seven of us were put
into a vacant storefront which was almost impossible to see the entrance to,
and when I asked the organizing director if they could put up a couple of
signs to point people our way (we had NO foot traffic for the first two
hours at least), she replied, "People know you're down here, they just don't
want to come and see your stuff." We were all in shock, and didn't reply,
and then she continued - "You can go out on the sidewalk and yell for people
to come in, if you want." We all just sat there with our mouths open. I
should have packed up right then and there. But I thought I'd stick it out -
we were supposed to be there for the entire operational day of the mall - 10
until 9. They didn't tell us we would not have our mall parking validated,
so that was $12 for my car, and $1.50 for my husband's (he came to help me
set up, and left early to go to work). No booth sitters provided, no
amenities at all. Out of the thousands of people that were in the mall that
day, maybe 100 came through the room we were all in, and most of them came
in off of the street and used our room as a shortcut to somewhere else -
didn't even slow down. My total sales for the day - $5. Wow.
As an extra added bonus, I was in a big crowd getting out of there at the
end of the day, and mistakenly ended up between two young women who were
about to get into a fight. I tried to stop them, and one of them socked me
in the jaw when I wasn't looking. What a great day.
I wonder how long it will take before Indiana residents can walk upright.
- Gail Phillips, Praying Mantis Pottery
"Sanity calms, but madness is more interesting." - John Russell
"I am moving to Oblivia." - Terry McClain, Greenwood, IN
Steve Slatin on tue 4 oct 05
Gail --
They can, they can ... they just don't *want* to.
(Joke! Joke!)
There are always a few bad shows mixed in with the
good ones. The first one I did last year was poorly
scheduled (same day and 2 blocks away from a later
announced but better advertised show, and just a
little too early for the Christmas crowd) and the few
people who showed up were rather ... inpecunious.
I did poorly and sold more than the guy on my left
(all Xmas-specific stuff, some nice, all cheap) and
the woman at my right (glass and metal jewelry and
boxes, some really nice and all cheap).
If the sale was poorly managed, though, I'd give a
shot to writing a letter of complaint to the organizer
asking for a refund. You paid $50 for exposure, plus
parking, and got about 3 cents worth, and it wasn't
your fault that they handled things so badly, it was
theirs. And given that you've already got some time
(12 hours, probably) and cash ($63.50 counting
parking) invested in the deal, I'd say they owe you.
Best wishes -- Steve S
--- Gail Phillips wrote:
> I wonder how long it will take before Indiana
> residents can walk upright.
>
>
Steve Slatin --
Drove downtown in the rain
9:30 on a Tuesday night
Just to check out the
Late night record shop
__________________________________
Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005
http://mail.yahoo.com
syrylyn on wed 5 oct 05
I'm really sorry you had a bad time in Indiana at your art fair, but please
do not blame all Indiana citizens for your bad experience. I have lived
here all my life and just like any other city, we have bad and good. I
think your comment about walking upright was totally uncalled for. I am
offended.
Sandy Meadors
syrylyn@iq.quik.com
http://syrylynrainbowdragon.tripod.com/arts.html
"Magic Happens"
----- Original Message ----- >
....a piece of corn dog chucked into my booth overnight in Martinsville last
> year. Last weekend, I did the first annual Circle City Classic Art Fair,
> which is to be avoided at all costs. First red flag I ignored - it was in
a
> mall. I sent my money, anyway, since it was only $50. After they had the
> artist's cash, the list of rules and regs came out - no outside food or
> drink, no eating or drinking at your booth, no sound systems (which makes
> sense if you are in a mall), no electricity available, NO, NO, NO, etc.
> Okay, not fun, but I can live with that. What they didn't mention was that
> not all of us would actually be in the mall per se. Seven of us were put
> into a vacant storefront which was almost impossible to see the entrance
to,
> and when I asked the organizing director if they could put up a couple of
> signs to point people our way (we had NO foot traffic for the first two
> hours at least), she replied, "People know you're down here, they just
don't
> want to come and see your stuff." We were all in shock, and didn't reply,
> and then she continued - "You can go out on the sidewalk and yell for
people
> to come in, if you want." We all just sat there with our mouths open. I
> should have packed up right then and there. But I thought I'd stick it
out -
> we were supposed to be there for the entire operational day of the mall -
10
> until 9. They didn't tell us we would not have our mall parking validated,
> so that was $12 for my car, and $1.50 for my husband's (he came to help me
> set up, and left early to go to work). No booth sitters provided, no
> amenities at all. Out of the thousands of people that were in the mall
that
> day, maybe 100 came through the room we were all in, and most of them came
> in off of the street and used our room as a shortcut to somewhere else -
> didn't even slow down. My total sales for the day - $5. Wow.
>
>
>
> As an extra added bonus, I was in a big crowd getting out of there at the
> end of the day, and mistakenly ended up between two young women who were
> about to get into a fight. I tried to stop them, and one of them socked me
> in the jaw when I wasn't looking. What a great day.
>
>
>
> I wonder how long it will take before Indiana residents can walk upright.
>
>
>
> - Gail Phillips, Praying Mantis Pottery
>
>
>
Gail Phillips on wed 5 oct 05
sorry it offends you. I live here, too. Sometimes THAT offends ME.
- gail
-------------- Original message from syrylyn : --------------
> I'm really sorry you had a bad time in Indiana at your art fair, but please
> do not blame all Indiana citizens for your bad experience. I have lived
> here all my life and just like any other city, we have bad and good. I
> think your comment about walking upright was totally uncalled for. I am
> offended.
> Sandy Meadors
> syrylyn@iq.quik.com
> http://syrylynrainbowdragon.tripod.com/arts.html
> "Magic Happens"
> ----- Original Message ----- >
> ....a piece of corn dog chucked into my booth overnight in Martinsville last
> > year. Last weekend, I did the first annual Circle City Classic Art Fair,
> > which is to be avoided at all costs. First red flag I ignored - it was in
> a
> > mall. I sent my money, anyway, since it was only $50. After they had the
> > artist's cash, the list of rules and regs came out - no outside food or
> > drink, no eating or drinking at your booth, no sound systems (which makes
> > sense if you are in a mall), no electricity available, NO, NO, NO, etc.
> > Okay, not fun, but I can live with that. What they didn't mention was that
> > not all of us would actually be in the mall per se. Seven of us were put
> > into a vacant storefront which was almost impossible to see the entrance
> to,
> > and when I asked the organizing director if they could put up a couple of
> > signs to point people our way (we had NO foot traffic for the first two
> > hours at least), she replied, "People know you're down here, they just
> don't
> > want to come and see your stuff." We were all in shock, and didn't reply,
> > and then she continued - "You can go out on the sidewalk and yell for
> people
> > to come in, if you want." We all just sat there with our mouths open. I
> > should have packed up right then and there. But I thought I'd stick it
> out -
> > we were supposed to be there for the entire operational day of the mall -
> 10
> > until 9. They didn't tell us we would not have our mall parking validated,
> > so that was $12 for my car, and $1.50 for my husband's (he came to help me
> > set up, and left early to go to work). No booth sitters provided, no
> > amenities at all. Out of the thousands of people that were in the mall
> that
> > day, maybe 100 came through the room we were all in, and most of them came
> > in off of the street and used our room as a shortcut to somewhere else -
> > didn't even slow down. My total sales for the day - $5. Wow.
> >
> >
> >
> > As an extra added bonus, I was in a big crowd getting out of there at the
> > end of the day, and mistakenly ended up between two young women who were
> > about to get into a fight. I tried to stop them, and one of them socked me
> > in the jaw when I wasn't looking. What a great day.
> >
> >
> >
> > I wonder how long it will take before Indiana residents can walk upright.
> >
> >
> >
> > - Gail Phillips, Praying Mantis Pottery
> >
> >
> >
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
June Kinsinger on wed 5 oct 05
Gail & Sandy,
Thanks for sticking up for us hoosiers......there is more in Indiana than basketball. I have personally attended several of the local festivals in IN and OH. We can't control what others children do or what the parents allow them to do, just like we, artists, can not direct every show so no one has bad feelings. What I have noticed most is the economy around central IN and OH. People are just not spending money....therefore, we all feel it.
Hope these past comments do not keep people from visiting Indiana, besides, if everyone was as perfect as us....life would be so boring. :-)
Have a great day
June Kinsinger
Richmond, IN
-----Original Message-----
From: Gail Phillips
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Sent: Wed, 5 Oct 2005 14:40:11 +0000
Subject: Re: another reason to avoid Indiana...
sorry it offends you. I live here, too. Sometimes THAT offends ME.
- gail
-------------- Original message from syrylyn :
--------------
> I'm really sorry you had a bad time in Indiana at your art fair, but please
> do not blame all Indiana citizens for your bad experience. I have lived
> here all my life and just like any other city, we have bad and good. I
> think your comment about walking upright was totally uncalled for. I am
> offended.
> Sandy Meadors
> syrylyn@iq.quik.com
> http://syrylynrainbowdragon.tripod.com/arts.html
> "Magic Happens"
> ----- Original Message ----- >
> ....a piece of corn dog chucked into my booth overnight in Martinsville last
> > year. Last weekend, I did the first annual Circle City Classic Art Fair,
> > which is to be avoided at all costs. First red flag I ignored - it was in
> a
> > mall. I sent my money, anyway, since it was only $50. After they had the
> > artist's cash, the list of rules and regs came out - no outside food or
> > drink, no eating or drinking at your booth, no sound systems (which makes
> > sense if you are in a mall), no electricity available, NO, NO, NO, etc.
> > Okay, not fun, but I can live with that. What they didn't mention was that
> > not all of us would actually be in the mall per se. Seven of us were put
> > into a vacant storefront which was almost impossible to see the entrance
> to,
> > and when I asked the organizing director if they could put up a couple of
> > signs to point people our way (we had NO foot traffic for the first two
> > hours at least), she replied, "People know you're down here, they just
> don't
> > want to come and see your stuff." We were all in shock, and didn't reply,
> > and then she continued - "You can go out on the sidewalk and yell for
> people
> > to come in, if you want." We all just sat there with our mouths open. I
> > should have packed up right then and there. But I thought I'd stick it
> out -
> > we were supposed to be there for the entire operational day of the mall -
> 10
> > until 9. They didn't tell us we would not have our mall parking validated,
> > so that was $12 for my car, and $1.50 for my husband's (he came to help me
> > set up, and left early to go to work). No booth sitters provided, no
> > amenities at all. Out of the thousands of people that were in the mall
> that
> > day, maybe 100 came through the room we were all in, and most of them came
> > in off of the street and used our room as a shortcut to somewhere else -
> > didn't even slow down. My total sales for the day - $5. Wow.
> >
> >
> >
> > As an extra added bonus, I was in a big crowd getting out of there at the
> > end of the day, and mistakenly ended up between two young women who were
> > about to get into a fight. I tried to stop them, and one of them socked me
> > in the jaw when I wasn't looking. What a great day.
> >
> >
> >
> > I wonder how long it will take before Indiana residents can walk upright.
> >
> >
> >
> > - Gail Phillips, Praying Mantis Pottery
> >
> >
> >
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
______________________________________________________________________________
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
Gary Navarre on thu 6 oct 05
On Tue, 4 Oct 2005 11:28:27 -0500, Gail Phillips wrote:
>Hi, all -
>and when I asked the organizing director if they could put up a couple of
>signs to point people our way (we had NO foot traffic for the first two
>hours at least), she replied, "People know you're down here, they just
don't
>want to come and see your stuff." We were all in shock, and didn't reply,
>and then she continued - "You can go out on the sidewalk and yell for
people
>to come in, if you want."
Next year take me along. The first job I ever had at 12 years old was
hawking the Detroit News, Times, and Free Press in Northland Shopping
Center, Southfield, Mi. It was on Saturday after noon till the stores
closed and we had to learn to "yell". I can invision it now, "Step right
up, folks, only the people who can fit into the 10' half circle in front of
this booth can have a chance to witness their purchase of one of this
lovely ladys creations from the earth, fire, water, and air that are the
constituants of this universe and, as stated in Genesis, man itself!" Hell,
I'm so good I can sell dirt to a farmer.
Stay in there!
G in da UP
Weiland, Jeff on fri 7 oct 05
In regards to all of the opinions and stories about Indiana, the
BB gun story I told was true but needs to be kept in perspective. I am
sure that most of us can tell of both good and bad shows in any given
area of the country. Gail, myself, and other Clayarters here in Indiana
just happen to want to tell it to the world when we get irritated. The
point...there is a great deal of quality art being both produced and
sold here. I wish I could get to Ft.Wayne for the party at Charlie
Cummings place!!! I assume that all of you are wise enough to understand
that every place in the country has its positives and negatives. I am
not trying to become a tourism promoter here. We have to get away from
getting bent out of shape over the little stuff.=20
By the way, next weekend is the Fall Studio Tour in south west
Wisconsin area. There is a lot of great work that is going to sold. The
best part...well, not the best but a great bonus is all of the studios
have food and drinks. It is kind of a "eat all day, all weekend" type
of thing. The little town of Mineral Point is a great stop along with
the old Brewery Pottery Studio home of Tom and Diana Johnston. Good
Stuff. Check out their web site!!!
http://www.fallarttour.com/
Gotta quit for now. The students are coming in and we have to get
started on throwing Greek forms with earthenware. I just love this
job!!!
Jeff Weiland
Greenfield-Central High School
810 North Broadway
Greenfield, Indiana 46140
317-462-9211
jweiland@gcsc.k12.in.us
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of June
Kinsinger
Sent: Wednesday, October 05, 2005 1:07 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: another reason to avoid Indiana...
Gail & Sandy,
Thanks for sticking up for us hoosiers......there is more in Indiana
than basketball. I have personally attended several of the local
festivals in IN and OH. We can't control what others children do or
what the parents allow them to do, just like we, artists, can not direct
every show so no one has bad feelings. What I have noticed most is the
economy around central IN and OH. People are just not spending
money....therefore, we all feel it.
Hope these past comments do not keep people from visiting Indiana,
besides, if everyone was as perfect as us....life would be so boring.
:-) Have a great day June Kinsinger Richmond, IN
-----Original Message-----
From: Gail Phillips
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Sent: Wed, 5 Oct 2005 14:40:11 +0000
Subject: Re: another reason to avoid Indiana...
sorry it offends you. I live here, too. Sometimes THAT offends ME.
- gail
-------------- Original message from syrylyn :
--------------
> I'm really sorry you had a bad time in Indiana at your art fair, but=20
> please do not blame all Indiana citizens for your bad experience. I=20
> have lived here all my life and just like any other city, we have bad=20
> and good. I think your comment about walking upright was totally=20
> uncalled for. I am offended.
> Sandy Meadors
> syrylyn@iq.quik.com
> http://syrylynrainbowdragon.tripod.com/arts.html
> "Magic Happens"
> ----- Original Message ----- >
> ....a piece of corn dog chucked into my booth overnight in=20
> Martinsville last
> > year. Last weekend, I did the first annual Circle City Classic Art=20
> > Fair, which is to be avoided at all costs. First red flag I ignored=20
> > - it was in
> a
> > mall. I sent my money, anyway, since it was only $50. After they had
> > the artist's cash, the list of rules and regs came out - no outside=20
> > food or drink, no eating or drinking at your booth, no sound systems
> > (which makes sense if you are in a mall), no electricity available,
NO, NO, NO, etc.
> > Okay, not fun, but I can live with that. What they didn't mention=20
> > was that not all of us would actually be in the mall per se. Seven=20
> > of us were put into a vacant storefront which was almost impossible=20
> > to see the entrance
> to,
> > and when I asked the organizing director if they could put up a=20
> > couple of signs to point people our way (we had NO foot traffic for=20
> > the first two hours at least), she replied, "People know you're down
> > here, they just
> don't
> > want to come and see your stuff." We were all in shock, and didn't=20
> > reply, and then she continued - "You can go out on the sidewalk and=20
> > yell for
> people
> > to come in, if you want." We all just sat there with our mouths=20
> > open. I should have packed up right then and there. But I thought=20
> > I'd stick it
> out -
> > we were supposed to be there for the entire operational day of the=20
> > mall -
> 10
> > until 9. They didn't tell us we would not have our mall parking=20
> > validated, so that was $12 for my car, and $1.50 for my husband's=20
> > (he came to help me set up, and left early to go to work). No booth=20
> > sitters provided, no amenities at all. Out of the thousands of=20
> > people that were in the mall
> that
> > day, maybe 100 came through the room we were all in, and most of=20
> > them came in off of the street and used our room as a shortcut to=20
> > somewhere else - didn't even slow down. My total sales for the day -
$5. Wow.
> >
> >
> >
> > As an extra added bonus, I was in a big crowd getting out of there=20
> > at the end of the day, and mistakenly ended up between two young=20
> > women who were about to get into a fight. I tried to stop them, and=20
> > one of them socked me in the jaw when I wasn't looking. What a great
day.
> >
> >
> >
> > I wonder how long it will take before Indiana residents can walk
upright.
> >
> >
> >
> > - Gail Phillips, Praying Mantis Pottery
> >
> >
> >
>
> ______________________________________________________________________
> ________ Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription=20
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
________________________________________________________________________
______
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
________________________________________________________________________
______
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
Gail Phillips on wed 12 oct 05
Good idea, Steve -
I have almost finally cleared enough time to write a well-thought-out
letter.
Did you read Patrick Green's post about his show experience? Much worse.
Poor kid.
Y'know, I just realized that I don't have your picture yet for the yearbook
website! Do you have one you could send?
- Gail
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Steve Slatin
Sent: Tuesday, October 04, 2005 7:47 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: another reason to avoid Indiana...
Gail --
They can, they can ... they just don't *want* to.
(Joke! Joke!)
There are always a few bad shows mixed in with the
good ones. The first one I did last year was poorly
scheduled (same day and 2 blocks away from a later
announced but better advertised show, and just a
little too early for the Christmas crowd) and the few
people who showed up were rather ... inpecunious.
I did poorly and sold more than the guy on my left
(all Xmas-specific stuff, some nice, all cheap) and
the woman at my right (glass and metal jewelry and
boxes, some really nice and all cheap).
If the sale was poorly managed, though, I'd give a
shot to writing a letter of complaint to the organizer
asking for a refund. You paid $50 for exposure, plus
parking, and got about 3 cents worth, and it wasn't
your fault that they handled things so badly, it was
theirs. And given that you've already got some time
(12 hours, probably) and cash ($63.50 counting
parking) invested in the deal, I'd say they owe you.
Best wishes -- Steve S
--- Gail Phillips wrote:
> I wonder how long it will take before Indiana
> residents can walk upright.
>
>
Steve Slatin --
Drove downtown in the rain
9:30 on a Tuesday night
Just to check out the
Late night record shop
__________________________________
Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005
http://mail.yahoo.com
____________________________________________________________________________
__
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
Steve Slatin on wed 12 oct 05
Gail --
The peach-pit basket story? Priceless! I almost fell
out of my chair (and it's a recliner).
I'm an experienced writer of complaint letters (yeah,
like you hadn't already suspected ...) and what I find
to be the key is to explain that you are annoyed at
what happened but not engage in angry writing.
Admire the organizer's skill at getting participants;
point out that you weren't advised that the numbers of
participants exceeded the space available, note that
your expectation was legitimately that for a mall
event you'd be in the mall, and close with the idea
that since the organizer certainly met their expenses
and then some with the participation fees of the
vendors who were in the mall proper, it would be only
fair that your fee, paid in the expectation that you'd
be IN the event be returned, since you manifestly were
NOT.
I've hardly got any pictures; in my family I take them
and others are in them. I'll see if I can find one,
but I've got lots more pictures of just-opened kilns
than of myself ...
-- Steve S.
--- Gail Phillips wrote:
> Good idea, Steve -
>
> I have almost finally cleared enough time to write a
> well-thought-out
> letter.
>
> Did you read Patrick Green's post about his show
> experience? Much worse.
> Poor kid.
>
> Y'know, I just realized that I don't have your
> picture yet for the yearbook
> website! Do you have one you could send?
>
Steve Slatin --
Drove downtown in the rain
9:30 on a Tuesday night
Just to check out the
Late night record shop
__________________________________
Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005
http://mail.yahoo.com
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