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I'm Trying Not To Be Angry But


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A show I was signed up for this weekend was just canceled, 4:30 in the afternoon on Thursday before the two day Saturday & Sunday show. At 2:30 the director sent out a query to see who was available the next weekend if they moved it. I was actually driving to their offices (2 hour drive round trip, because I was told by the director that I had to pick it up because it had the parking pass. The parking pass was paper and obviously could have been emailed). I responded to the email query no because I'm booked the next two weekends. I was driving so couldn't say anything else.

 

At 4:30 when I got back from this wasted 2 hour drive I get an email:

 

A decision has been made to postpone the event and move it to the following weekend, December 10 and 11, same times.  I know many of you stated that you are unable to attend the event if it was postponed, it was also decided to cancel the xxxxx xxxxx Fair due to a lot of vendors being unavailable. We will make refunds to each of you.

 

They have been doing this park fair for 30 years so it's not a case of being new and working out the kinks. It was also supposedly juried. Is this as bazaar as I think it is. I started to respond and after writing a half a page stopped myself because I am new to this community and don't want to start making enemies right off the bat.

 

Because I just moved my studio and had to restart my inventory from scratch I was unable to do shows until starting this weekend so I booked 3 straight show which will constitute my entire Christmas income. To say its an inconvenience is a huge understatement.

 

I know life is short and since I very much doubt I can now book this weekend tomorrow I will just tuck my head down and try to make the next two shows even better. Besides they obviously didn't spend a dime on advertising.

 

Boy I so wish I could tell them what I really think. It would be a bad business move but would sure make me feel better B)  

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I am so sorry to hear that!

Similarly, our college holds the ceramics sale twice a year, once in fall and in spring for the last 30 years. When I participated three years ago with a different professor he was very on top of informing the students of the upcoming sale, the paperwork needed, and when to show up to put out your work. This year I had no warning, no information, and despite my questions and inquiries found out the DAY BEFORE the sale I needed to set up my work! Needless to say I was quite rushed after getting off of work and having to set up everything. I had thought the sale was much later (mid December).  <_<

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That is super rotten and down right rude. They should realize when they put on shows and get artists lined up that we are often making decisions to do THEIR show and not a different show on the same weekend, that we also will be booking many shows over many weeks and just shifting the dates will bring it all down like a house of cards. Asking them to also understand it's how we make a living is often beyond their understanding, to many, though they need us we are worse than carnival drifters. Ill planned shows are a huge pet peeve of mine, but you are right there is no benefit to you to confront them as they might be involved in other shows that you want to do and that could make things difficult for you going forward. Just mark it down as a " no do" and find a different venue for next year on that weekend.

 

I'm sorry you lost the income, I hope your other festivals more than make up for it.

 

T

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I think you should write an anonymous letter, stating calmly and clearly why you are angry, and tell them you are being anonymous as you do not want your personal anger to influence the future, but you do want your views taken into account.

 

If no-one tells the organisers how they feel, there can be no improvement in the future.

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What a great idea Chilly, I'm going to do that. They really should get some push back as their arbitrary decision cost many folks many thousands of dollars that I'm sure was needed this time of year and with 1 day notice I doubt few if any could line up a replacement show.

 

I almost didn't book next weekends show thinking I should concentrate on this one and the one on the 17th and 18th with enough time in between to push an extra couple of kiln loads through but in the end decided to go for it. So glad I did. That last weekend, with so many having already completed their Xmas shopping is likely not going to be stellar so next weekend may be my best opportunity to move some pots. 

 

Thanks everyone for the words of encouragement and letting me vent.

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Anonymous letters will not make a difference with the organizers; signed ones, yes -- anonymous ones go straight to the circular file. 

 

If you think it is worth the effort, a letter signed by multiple vendors would likely be effective.  They expect anger, so don't give them what they expect. 

 

It would be nice to know the reasons for the cancellation . . . and whether they are legitimate or spurious. 

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Well the email on Thursday afternoon really gave no reason at all and certainly seemed more spurious than not:

 

 

Good afternoon!

 

We are thinking of moving xxxx Fair next weekend, will you be available to still participate at the xxxxx  xxxx Fair?

 

The new dates are:

Saturday, Dec. 10 from 10 am- 6 pm

Sunday, Dec. 11 from 1 pm- 6 pm

 

Please let me know quickly if you are able to move next weekend or not. A determination will be made by the end of today if the event is moved to next weekend.

 

Thank you!

 

Just sounds to me like they wanted to do a quick count to see how many vendors they would have if they moved it. If you read the two there is not a single explanation or apology at all. To me it seemed like they really didn't give a crap how it affected the artist. I didn't hold anything back, that is the totality of the two emails.

 

Keep in mind this was sent Thursday afternoon at 2:30 and 2 hours later the above move/cancellation. I am sure many artist got both at the same time and many were likely like me running around getting ready for the weekend. I can't imagine how angry the food vendors are as I'm sure many had already bought perishable supplies. 

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Well the email on Thursday afternoon really gave no reason at all and certainly seemed more spurious than not:

 

 

Good afternoon!

 

We are thinking of moving xxxx Fair next weekend, will you be available to still participate at the xxxxx  xxxx Fair?

 

The new dates are:

Saturday, Dec. 10 from 10 am- 6 pm

Sunday, Dec. 11 from 1 pm- 6 pm

 

Please let me know quickly if you are able to move next weekend or not. A determination will be made by the end of today if the event is moved to next weekend.

 

Thank you!

 

 

Keep in mind this was sent Thursday afternoon at 2:30 and 2 hours later the above move/cancellation. I am sure many artist got both at the same time and many were likely like me running around getting ready for the weekend. I can't imagine how angry the food vendors are as I'm sure many had already bought perishable supplies. 

 

You can't help but wonder who is writing these emails and if they have any sort of sympathy or regard for their vendors. Late-sent emails are a peeve of mine. Oh, you need me do this thing an hour before you need it done?  <_<

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Well, that email from the organizers left a lot to be desired.  So, a first email might be to find out why they decided to move the event . . . if there is no good reason (hey, at least consider the possibility this was not something they wanted to do but had to do for reasons beyond their control), follow up with a reply to the effect that your decision on whether to apply to their event next year will depend on whether or not you can fit their event into your schedule, your need to have reliable and dependable venues for your customers to shop, etc.   Maybe close with something along the line that their decision to cancel at the last minute is causing you -- and many other vendors you have spoken with -- to reconsider their event for next year or to find alternative events.  They have to think many will not return; a single vendor not coming back -- to them that is the cost of business and they deal with that every year.  Strength is in numbers. 

 

Unfortunately, there is often a greater demand for shows by artists/craftspersons than vice versa.  Many organizers think/know they can always find someone to replace you (and they usually can).  The organizers get their money up front, whether turnout is good or bad. Organizers will think nothing of dropping you or wait listing you to bring in someone else -- and then you get to explain to your repeat customers why you weren't at a venue when they showed up to buy from you. 

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What do they mean by 'due to vendors not being available'? Didn't they jury the show and sign people up in advance? They should know exactly how many vendors they have weeks in advance. And how are they going to get out the advertising for the new date in such a short time? This is messed up. I'd call them and get a real answer. Make them talk to you so they're really uncomfortable. Letters and email are too easy.

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What do they mean by 'due to vendors not being available'? Didn't they jury the show and sign people up in advance? They should know exactly how many vendors they have weeks in advance. And how are they going to get out the advertising for the new date in such a short time? This is messed up. I'd call them and get a real answer. Make them talk to you so they're really uncomfortable. Letters and email are too easy.

Pretty sure they just canceled the art side of the event because almost no one was available the next weekend. They are still doing the rest of the Xmas event sans the art booths.

 

bciskepottery is sure seems that one of the emails would have spelled out the reason and said they were sorry if in fact it was a reasonable reason. Why withhold the information. This is the same director that a week before decided arbitrarily to move all the artist under a big tent and insisted I had to drive 2 hours to pick up a paper parking pass that could have been emailed. Was there a reason? I assume so but she decided not to even mention it. The email simply said:

 

    We are thinking of moving xxxx Fair to next weekend, will you be available to still participate at the xxxxx  xxxx Fair?

 

sounded pretty arbitrary to me.

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I'm sorry this happened to you Stephen. You have every right to be angry. After reading the correspondence from the show organizers, I would not bother reaching out to them. I would just drop them like a hot potato. It's clear that art was not their main focus, and they don't care how much they impacted you. When organizers do things THIS weird and dumb, they aren't going to be around for long. Focus your energy on your remaining shows.

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Why would any organizer worth the name change a date so very last minute? That's right weird. And unprofessional in the extreme. I think you're correct about the inefficient parking pass demands as well, there was no reason to make you pick it up in person. They look like they have some internal issues that scream to me "run the other way!"

I wouldn't waste any energy responding to them, even though I'm sure you'd love to let them have it. They're either too scattered, don't care, or are potential scam artists. I hope you get your booth fee back. I'd save any correspondence with them, just in case.

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This was really crummy Stephen.   If you want the satisfaction of letting them know in person that their actions are inappropriate, then yep, give them a call.  But I have to agree with Diesel and GEP, you would be much better off without them.  I have  participated in a few shows ONCE.  My work did not fit in the venue, or they didn't line up good advertising, or the event simply did not bring in good crowds, ready to shop.  I also have helped organize events.  Much smaller than what you were planning on participating in, but still, as an organizer, I do listen to comments on how to improve.  But your event planners sound rather fly by night!!  I hope you sell well at the next venue!!  Best of luck to you!!

 

Roberta

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While I was going to just let it go. I had to exchange emails because the director wanted a W9 to issue a refund. I questioned this and she replied that in fact it wasn't needed and they had already begun refunds (of course without letting anyone know they didn't need to deal with it). It just got the best of me so I sent her this note when she replied that I didn't need to send in the W9. I didn't feel a need to spend much time on it so the grammar is probably lacking and I assume will hit the trash folder anyway but thought it worth the effort to make her reconsider in the future some of her actions and how they affect others. I also think I should point out that this is a city employee and possibly has no experience running an event. The show has been a 35 year fixture so its a shame if they lose some good vendors out of this.

 

Hi Katie,

 

That's great, thanks.

 

Katie I have no idea if you got a lot of push back from other vendors on how this was handled but I thought I would share a few thoughts in what I hope is a friendly and constructive manner. While I assume there were extreme circumstances that caused such a big decision to be made, none were shared with me so I have no idea what they were. As a full time artist this is how I make my living and the weekends prior to Christmas are extremely important to me financially. Having an open weekend on one of the busiest gift buying weekends of the year caused me a financial loss that can not be recovered. By doing this essentially with one days notice there was absolutely no time to replace your venue on my schedule. Also lacking in the correspondence was any apology or even acknowledgement of this hardship as well as the time and energy that had already been put into show preparations in order to make my booth, and your show, as special as possible.

 

Two other things that I feel are worth mentioning.

 

1) The arbitrary decision to move from individual tents to one big tent at the last minute. The displays for each take different preparations and I felt the decision was made with no regard for this planning.

 

2) The paper parking pass and hand-out could have been scanned and emailed. Requiring a vendor to pick this up in person was an unnecessary inconvenience and in my case cost me two valuable hours of studio time.

 

In closing I would like to say that while I have no intention of applying to your venue in the future I do wish you well and hope my input might be somewhat productive in the future. Your show, all shows, are a partnership that offers the community something special to participate in and at the end of the day that is why I chose to retire from a much more financially secure programming career to be a part of shows such as xxxx xxx xxx in the first place.

 

Best regards and I hope you and yours have a nice holiday season.

 

Stephen

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