Would anyone be interested in a holiday art fest

I'd be interested in helping set this up. Sadly, my artistic abilities are sorely lacking, but I do have expertise in event management and marketing, so let me if you plan to do this and I'd love to help with sponsorship, etc.

sounds fun.. are we thinking late octoberish or early novemberish?

I love this idea, Elizabeth, and considered organizing some sort of Biznik holiday craft/art fair last winter, but I simply had too much on my plate.

There's a large number of Biznik crafters who are also members of the Urban Craft Mafia, and who participate in the monthly I Heart Rummage craft fairs at the Crocodile Cafe, and the annual Urban Craft Uprising.

Biznik member Cassandra Lanning organizes a number of these events. You may want to ping Cassandra to throw some dates out by her, so that you don't choose a day that conflicts with a larger more well known event. She may also be able to advise you on how to get the Biznik crafters to participate.

Cassandra's I Heart Rummage site can be found here: http://www.iheartindie.com

I would be interested. Unfortunately the deadline has passed for Cassandra's I Heart Rummage application. I would have loved to participate. So, if anyone decides to get a biznik holiday event going, I would be happy to sell jewelry. I could help with a little bit of the planning, but will be out of town until the 15th of October. I was an event planner in a former life, so may have ideas to contribute.

I'd be interested in helping. I can contribute a couple of things, especially if part of the $$$ go to charity. That's how I enjoy dealing with all the extra things I make, LOL!

Just let us know.

Warmly,

Lynn www.CoachWithLynn.com

I can offer to host the event at My Day Office after work or over a weekend, maybe before Thanksgiving?

I would be interested in this as well. I was actually thinking of a simialr project: one not only products (art) focused but also promotion-focused. So even people who offer services can join. What do you guys think? Should we keep it art/craft focused or service as well?

Ouch Elizabeth. That can't be fun. So sorry about this. Maybe someone else would like to take it over. If so, I'm still interested and I don't see why this couldn't be promotion focused as well. Could it be a Biznik event?

Thanks for the concept and being willing to step up to the plate.

Warmly,

Lynn www.CoachWithLynn.com

I too have a bit too much on my plate to actually project-manage this, but I could help a bit with promoting it. Nectar was a great place to work with when I had a benefit. Monday and Tuesday nights are somewhat open there. Maybe we could have the art/craft event in the upstairs area there, combined with performance (music/performance art/spoken word) later in the evening? If that sounds appealing, I bet it would be a mix that would be appealing to Nectar in terms of getting it booked. And I bet there would be a few Biznikers who would be into the performance part. Plus I know some other DJs. Another option (if anyone who has a studio would be open to it) would be to have a Biznik art/craft event for the December First Thursday. I know I've seen a few posts about Biznik people who do have studios, I just don't remember who they are.

All great ideas, Karen. Hopefully someone will step up to honcho it.

Warmly,

Lynn www.CoachWithLynn.com

I'd love to participate with some small, ready-to-hang paintings. I have the sense that we could probably regroup after the holidays i.e. January or March even, to plan this for 2008. It always takes much more planning to create a multiple-person event than you think. Unless it's

a) solo b) at your own house c) involving chocolate or sleep

So I'll put my vote in to help organize....for next year. Then by September we'll have the wheels greased and ready to roll.....

Any interest in doing this on a smaller, simpler scale? Say, like a Biznik networking event but which happens to include art and crafts, rather than a full-blown art fest? I'm thinking Super Simple. Some tables and walls and libations--a chance for Biznik artists and crafters to display their wares to other Bizniks, but not necessarily a large open-to and promoted-to the general public kind of affair.

One year, a couple of friends and I whipped together a little pre-holiday-season craft fair, just three of us, invited our friends, and actually generated enough cash to cover the bills that were gnawing us at the time. And this was before Evites!

I do think this could be interesting and fun as something even very simple. Of course, as Hannah points out, mentioning and including chocolate, well that nigh-on guarantees response :)

Sounds great Leila, ring me up and I'll bring chocolate ;-)

Elizabeth, actually, I think this could be a sweet event for all the introverts :-) Things to look at and use as conversation starters, well-lit so we can see the merchandise (and each other), likely not too loud, likely not too crowded ...

Thanks for the compliment about the photo. The color one is Pmatt Freedman's. The B&W one I use is Randy James'.

I would be interested in that as well Leila. ~b

well - if someone - leila? - is going to pick up the ball on this... where is it gonna be held?

what's the date for it to happen?

and who's calling Tiberio for the choco?

:)

I made an inquiry at a venue that I think would be compatible and conducive to something like this. We are "comparing notes". I'm still thinking in the realm of low-key/simple. Sierra, if this flies, are you "in"? :-)

"In" would entail showing up with art/craft wares and festive grins.

This sounds like so much fun! Im a portrait photographer and I would love to participate in something like this! :-)

Ive been watching this thread.... depending on the where and when I may be interested in vending!

I'm not sure the right place to address this, but here seems a natural spot.

Lara, an event such as this would be different than others so far: there would likely be no charge at-the-door; there may or may not be a charge to vendors for participating, and, there would be sales of product walking out the door. At other events, if there is money changing hands, it's usually a flat fee for the event, and Biznik gets a cut of that. Do you imagine Biznik would want a cut of gross sales or that there ought to be a mandatory vendor fee a portion of which goes to Biznik?

Or could you imagine this might be more along the lines of how a restaurant or lounge which hosts an event gets to keep all the proceeds from sale of food and libations, and in the case of an Arts/Craft Fest the vendors could be seen as providing service similar to a restaurant or bar--attraction and entertainment for the visitors--and no portion of their sales would be expected by Biznik?

Of course there would also be issues of business licensing and sales tax to address, but I'd like to hear Biznik's perspective on what would be a fair arrangement here. Cool. Thanks.

I think this is a great idea, and I've messaged Leila about it. We'll keep you all posted!