52nd City

Hi, I really like the RRCS so I hate to bring this up, but I feel like it should be discussed. It seems to me as though RRCS is in the process of selling out. I don't mind the fact that everyone now knows about it, but do mind the fact that RRCS is now charging money at the door and charging artists a crapload of money just to apply to be in the show. I realize that charging artists to submit works is standard practice for many arts venues ("we don't just believe in starving artists, we help produce them!") but RRCS likes to promote this image of sticking up for the local gritty artists and so should be held to a higher standard. For artists who really don't have much money, it doesn't make a lot of sense to pay large fees just for the "chance" of being considered. Thus, setups like this basically exclude low-income artists and hence limits the likelihood of seeing genuinely "edgy" work. I realize the creators of the event had a great idea and would like to cash in, but it seems like there are plenty of ways to make money that don't depend on charging high fees for artists to submit works.

Hi ajshrive, this is Meghan, one of the organizers of the RRCS.

I am so sorry you think we're selling out!

Were you a participating vendor? If so, please call us—we’d love to get more detailed feedback from you…

But anyway, in response to your comment, let me say this:

I can tell you that we, in no way, are attempting to cash in on this event, take money from artists, or exploit the general public. The show is quite costly to run, from the credit card machines (we're talking thousands for the computer software to run our check-out system), to advertising, to insurance, to heaters, tents, etc. etc. One of the things we work the hardest for and love the most is our system for selling merchandise; attendees do not need to carry cash, do not need to utilize multiple pay points, etc. Furthermore, vendors do not need to sit in a booth all weekend. We, the organizers and several awesome volunteers, do all of the work, start to finish, for set up, break down, merchandising, selling, etc. Vendors even have the option of not attending at all. This is quite unique. Most of our feedback from vendors has been that they love participating and that their participation is virtually painless.

This year, the application fee was $35, which was lowered from last year's $50 fee. We did retain 10% of sales to help defray costs. And yes, there was a $2 door fee, which we felt was in line with almost all other craft and art events.

Our goal is to feature the handmade items of people who dedicate their energy and love to crafting. We try to keep the show young, fresh, and fun. We work for about 6 months to put each show on, and we learn something every time. But it costs us money to try to put on something that we feel is worthwhile. We couldn’t pay out of pocket to do this, and we felt that our costs are quite low, considering the time, work, and energy we expend, and the lack of time and work it takes vendors to participate.

We're totally grateful for our participants and attendees, and we love doing this. If you have suggestions for improvement, we'd love to hear them! Please email info@rocknrollcraftshow.com.

Thanks!
Meghan

Megan,

Thanks for the amazingly quick response. I am not an artist but just heard about the application process through other people. Its great that you lowered the application fee to $35 from $50 last year (and I assume that last year, like this year, the fee has to be paid even if the artist is not accepted). But still I personally think this is not enough. In my opinion it is a scam that artists have to pay at all to have their works looked at when they may turn out to not even be accepted. This problem is obviously much bigger than just the RRCS (since many, if not most, shows charge fees for application), but given the general "aura" of RRCS, it would be nice if you could make yourself more artist-friendly than the status quo. In fact, since $35 + 10 % seems a little high to me, you might even be behind the status quo.

In my opinion, it should be the people purchasing art who bear the burden of costs more than struggling artists. With this in mind, I wonder why the entry fee couldn't be eliminated or restricted to those who are accepted, with maybe a greater percentage taken from sales. Or, why not charge more at the door or make more money from advertising at the event? And isn't there enough money left over from one year to spend on advertising the next year? I guess I just find it a little implausible that the *only* way to cover costs is to charge $35 for entry fees (in addition to the door charge and percent from sales).

As I said, I have no problem from the organizers making money from the event (though I appreciate that you are not interested in doing so), and I realize this isn't a problem just with RRCS, but still I feel like the way that money is generated should put less of a burden on artists trying to "break in" to the market.

hmmm, given past experience of comments on the internet being read as more harsh than the author intended, I'm going to massively qualify my last post. When I said "scam," I in no way intend to suggest that RRCS is maliciously trying to grab money from artists. Rather, I meant that it is a scam that the system has evolved in such a way that the current status quo requires artists to pay.

I don't attribute any negative motives to you or the other organizers; in fact, I would be surprised if any of you were scrooges. It's probably fair to say that the decision to charge is quite understandable in today's climate. However, I think there is a better way and I take myself to be making suggestions as to how that can be achieved.