THE WINTER ART FESTIVAL SURVEY

I want to thank you all for taking the time to answer the survey. (My comments are in parenthesis.) Not surprisingly, 55% of you thought attendance was down, as were your sales. Load in/out was about what you expected and 98.8% of you found the staff and volunteers friendly and helpful.

Your three favorite music acts were Stan Godfrieux and Laurie Lang, the LFQ string quartet and the Sparetime Bluegrass Band.

Those of you who stopped by for the Holiday Fashion Show had this to say:
Great idea!!
This could be the beginning of a tradition!
It's good to keep things light and cheerful. Also it builds fellowship among us.
It was fun!

This sparked the question if we should have a Sunday breakfast next year, and 56.7% of you would like
something simple and healthy or, actually, Eggs Benedict, steak, and lobster would be nice.
Sure. A brunch or pastries would entice me to come earlier and maybe attend the fashion show.

Your biggest concern on both Saturday and Sunday morning was that we ran out of coffee too soon. (Sorry, I'm not a coffee drinker; I will try to do better next year.)

You like doing this show because:
High quality of the art work
Lovely Monona Terrace setting
Very friendly staff
Other artists
Good feeling of cooperation
How helpful everyone is, and on and on...
WAAC artists are great!
Load in and out efficient
Artists treated very well
Well organized
Quality arts and crafts

What one improvement, either with the shows or the organization, would you like to see?
Sandhill Bill needs some help with loading and unloading.
(I can't argue with that.)
A dinner with all artists Saturday night or Sunday morning breakfasts...awards?
I would love to work with someone on the Website. WAAC could offer more, i.e.: Expanded gallery with pictures and links. An online holiday show during December. Videos of artists working, discussion board, assistance for artists about business.
(Whoever you are please contact me [Ed Note: No, contact Clarence or 608-256-0444, Noon to Midnight.] Your help is eagerly desired)

More diverse advertising not only to increase attendance but also demographics. (If you have advertising ideas you
think might work, please pass them on to Lee Hill to investigate.)

We will look into many of these ideas but, if you want Eggs Benedict, you should probably eat before you come to the show.

This year's attendance was 4,580, which was 200 higher than last year, 100 less than '09 and 300 over our record low of 4,216 in '08. Our record attendance, since moving to Monona Terrace in 1996, is 7,600 in '98.[Ed Note: That was the first year for the show in this facility and many were eager to see Monona Terrace]

Of the 4,500 people who came in November, almost 1,400 used the coupons that you e-mailed or mailed out. I didn't keep count, but it seemed to me, that the printed-at-home e-mail coupons were about two thirds of what was redeemed.

Remember to maintain and use your e-mail and snail mail lists to help increase attendance at all of your shows.

See our blog-master, Susan Lukas' informative reviews, event listings, and other opportunities for Wisconsin artists that have come to the attention of our office. Our policy is to mention each of these items (at the WAAC Executive Director's discretion) once per year in the order in which they are received. Any follow-up inquiry should be directed to the event organizer, not to WAAC. Publication of these events and opportunities does not imply endorsement by Wisconsin Alliance of Artists and Craftspeople, Inc.

You can get to the blog by going to WAAC's public Web site at www.artcraftwis.org and clicking on Resources on the far right of the menu bar.