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Post by davejs on Aug 18, 2009 17:16:52 GMT -5
Please provide reviews, etc., of Oregon and Wasington events for the week of Aug 22-23. Provide separate thread FOR EACH WEEK.
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Post by abaworld on Aug 18, 2009 18:01:26 GMT -5
Blackberry Arts Festival - Downtown Coos Bay, Oregon
I wasn't sure that they would accept me, but they did cash my check. I still haven't actually heard from them, so I will be calling Monday morning to confirm.
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Post by abaworld on Aug 19, 2009 10:46:15 GMT -5
It's confirmed - I will be at the Blackberry Arts Festival, this weekend.
I have never attended the event as a vendor or a customer, so I have no idea how it will be. The input from others clearly points to an excellent event with good attendance.
I will let you know all about it on Saturday night...
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Post by abaworld on Aug 20, 2009 22:07:02 GMT -5
Big winds forecast for this weekend - like that never happens on the Oregon Coast...
I hope I'm not facing North. It will be quite the challenge if the wind is coming straight through the front door.
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Post by davejs on Aug 20, 2009 22:24:39 GMT -5
Winds? They don't have winds in Oregon. The Yankees are blowing into town tomorrow and we've got our brooms ready. Sox lineup intact (I think). Ortiz ready to explode. Only problems are that we have Penny throwing on Fri and Tarzawa on Sat. Great matchup on Sunday.
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Post by davejs on Aug 21, 2009 21:01:34 GMT -5
Pete: I'll give you my two cents worth on Penny...... he stinks. I guess we really have to concentrate our efforts in beating out the Rangers for the wild card. I hope you aren't watching the game. I turned it off in the 5th inning. Watching the Giants right now. They are looking good. Best of luck this weekend. Doing the Salida Town and Country Parade and Festival 65 miles from here and it's not going to be a big money maker. Might be on the border of Dooziedom. www.starvingvendors.com/Events_2009_Salida_Town_and_Country_Festival.htmLooks like a quiet day on the board. Not too many guests. BTW Been thinking about next year's Oregon trip. Probably go back to Winchester Bay but I have heard several good reports on Cottage Grove. Even though the weather is rough there, I don't really mind going to Winchester Bay. Been looking at the fair schedule for next year and it looks like I might have to do Jackson County and Klamath Falls along with Coos Bay. If gas prices reach $5.00, that will probably keep me home.
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Post by abaworld on Aug 22, 2009 0:02:12 GMT -5
Unfortunately, I missed the game. We were setting up for the show, tomorrow. Setup started at 6pm, so game was over by the time we got home. My wife was outside and came running inside, asking what happened. Must have had something to do with that rather loud, "Whoop" that she thought she heard. Funny, it was at the exact same time as when I checked the score... ;D I haven't looked into next year, yet. I will probably do Ocean Fest, next year. Winchester Bay turned me down for "Art by the Bay" for this Labor Day weekend. May just stay home and do a garage sale that we have been putting off all summer. I could be in trouble this weekend --- jewelry booth that my wife found at the Seafood Festival is right next to us and the Optimist Club Ice Cream booth is on the other side. I will be hard-pressed in keeping her out of both of those...
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Post by abaworld on Aug 22, 2009 22:57:26 GMT -5
Dave, looks like Boston got a little revenge, today. Big game tomorrow...
Oh my. The Blackberry Festival started at 9am. It remained slow until about 10am.
I had people in my booth until about 5pm and it remained slow until the 6pm close.
7 hours of non-stop sales! and I think that a few people were just hiding out from the wind - but still buying...
In other words - a fantastic day!
The wind was unbelievable. It would be calm (steady wind) and then all of a sudden it would BLAST down the street -- just like a tornado passing through. This occurred roughly every 15 minutes.
We heard things crashing and breaking with every wind outburst. A number of vendors closed shop. I don't know if any canopies became airborne. We had a couple of vendors come in and look at our setup, praising the gridwall and the ceiling (Thanks, Paula!!!).
I will have to downgrade my thoughts on the Charleston Seafood Festival. Instead of 9/10, I would go with 8/10 and Blackberry gets 10/10, even with the wind.
Setting up wasn't perfect. Each block had vendors trying to setup, trying to get in and trying to get out - all at the same time - in limited space. But everyone was pretty good about it or it could have been much worse.
Reports had the vendor count at 80-100.
Around 8:30am, a vendor showed up on my doorstep and declared in a "not too courteous manner" that I would have to remove my cord from "his" power outlet.
I asked him how he had determined that the outlet was his. The response was that he paid for electricity and the outlet was right behind his tent. I informed him that the outlets were placed every 50-60 feet and not designated to anyone in particular.
Walking off in a huff, he said that he would get someone to make me remove my plug.
Soon, one of his partners came over to chat. He gave me the impression that his buddy had told him that I was a very rude and basically, an ass. We talked and I let him know that his friend was the one with the attitude and that I was sure that we could find a solution.
One of the event people brought a power strip over, not too long after that. No electricity issues the rest of the day.
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Post by davejs on Aug 22, 2009 23:53:50 GMT -5
Red Sox win......THHHHHEEEEEEEE RED SOX WIN.
Glad to see that you had a great day over there despite the winds and the one gumpy idiot who tried to ruin your day. Looks like you are having a good run on the shows. Keep it up.
I guess I picked another doozey for this weekend, but no problem. Cost only $75. I needed a show and I went for pot luck. We don't have anything inexpensive this weekend and I did a crapshoot and my number didn't come up. Should be okay next few weeks. What do you have coming up next?
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Post by abaworld on Aug 23, 2009 0:59:29 GMT -5
Yeah, it certainly looks like the show selection process can be a major factor in the bottom line.
I have two open weeks coming up. I may still try to get something for Labor Day weekend (after the no-accept from Winchester Bay's, Art by the Bay). I've looked at WA and CA, as well as OR, but nothing has jumped out at me, yet.
Next show is the Cranberry Festival in Bandon on 9/12, followed by the Bay Area Fun Festival in Coos Bay on 9/19. That will pretty much be it for local events until the end of November.
The jewelry vendor next to us (they had a fantastic day, also) mentioned a show in Myrtle Point at the end of September. I haven't found any info yet.
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Post by abaworld on Aug 23, 2009 1:24:36 GMT -5
More on the Blackberry Festival.
They provided free doughnuts, coffee and soda for the vendors. I don't know if that is normal, but I sure appreciated it...
At the Seafood Festival, people were pretty much just buying one of my personalized arts. At Blackberry, they were buying 2 or more.
Early on, folks were saying, "we'll be back later" and of course I would take that as "thanks, but no thanks". However, I was wrong! They all came back and purchased. I was very surprised.
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Post by susien on Aug 23, 2009 22:30:25 GMT -5
Sounds like you had a great show. Hope it continues being that way for you.
Susie
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Post by abaworld on Aug 24, 2009 22:08:30 GMT -5
Thanks Dave, Susie and Paula.
Sunday was much slower than Saturday, as is the typical event. Did just under half of my Saturday haul.
I would gladly accept it as a normal day for any event, though - so, it was a good day.
Wind was a bit easier, but still some banging, crashing and breaking going on during the "wind outbursts".
According to my wife, there were a number of empty spaces from those that didn't want to contend with a second day of wind. Unfortunately, I can't leave the booth because my wife can't run the software, so I can't get any first hand info unless they come to me.
The wind did become an issue once we started to take down our booth. The "wind outbursts" seemed to occur every 5 minutes in stead of every 15 minutes. Go figure...
Must have looked pretty funny watching me running around in circles trying to catch up with my "bouncing canopy"!
This might put that wind in perspective.
I've mentioned that I use two file cabinets for weight (and storage). Well, they are strapped to the legs and the gridwall and provide about 390lbs of weight (along with the gridwall) on the wind side.
Both of those file cabinets, along with the wall, ended up moving about 5 inches! Simply Amazing!
Total vendor count was 101 with 25 of those being food vendors. I don't know how many remained for Sunday.
Ended the day with an exciting moment.
I had most of my stuff loaded into the van. It was parked across the road where others had already departed so as to not block the road for anyone else trying to get to their stuff.
Just after I started to carry my table across, I caught movement out of the corner of my eye and turned to see a van moving slowly towards my former booth space. Well, that wouldn't have bothered me -- if my space had been empty!!!
Fortunately, my yelling "Whoa, Whoa!" (I guess I thought he was a horse or well, part of a horse...) stopped him before he drove completely over my canopy which was encased in its roller bag.
After he backed off of it, a full inspection showed no damage. He did come over and apologize.
I kept my tongue and didn't blast him for being stupid. I mean, he sees me walking away with the table. Could it be that there might be more stuff on the ground?
Great weekend and a lot of fun.
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Post by susien on Aug 24, 2009 22:56:20 GMT -5
Well..... if he had driven over it, that would have solved your zipper problems!!!! Seriously, I am glad that he stopped in time. Sorry the winds were so bad but glad you had a good show.
Susie
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Post by abaworld on Aug 24, 2009 23:19:11 GMT -5
Thanks, Susie - I busted up, laughing at your response! ;D
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