Pack Up - But Not Too Early Promoters Share Their Policies, Procedures
The number of artists who pack up before an art show ends is minimal, but their decision to do so affects those around them and often results in the artists not being invited back to the event.
“We take pictures of vendor spaces that are empty or closed down early. If they depart on the first day, we will be waiting for them early on the second day with a Georgia state patrolman,” said Nancy Kring-Rowan, Jekyll Island State Park Authority’s event operations manager.
They show them the picture of their empty booth from the previous night, as well as a copy of their signed agreement to vend at the festival, with the clause to stay open highlighted, she said. “Then the vendor must clean up their belongings and is escorted off the festival grounds. They are also put on a ‘do not accept’ list for the next year. Word gets around to all the other vendors if this takes place,” Kring-Rowan said. “If they leave early on the second day, the photo of their empty space is kept on file, and they are put on the ‘do not accept’ list for the next year.”
Kring-Rowan said she is seeing more artists pack up early, compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic. She estimates 5% of the artists are leaving early.
Like many promoters, Kring-Rowan said they have a policy in place to prevent artists from packing up early. The four pages of requirements and regulations for those who exhibit at the Jekyll Island Shrimp & Grits Festival include the following:
- Vendors must be present at their booth and stay for the duration of the festival, including after sundown.
- Vendors who break down displays or depart before closing time on any day of the festival will not be allowed to return the following day or to future shows.
She said their policy works very well. “We have only had to escort one vendor off the property in 15 years,” Kring-Rowan said. “It was a shock that we had 5% leave early on the last day of the festival last year. None of those vendors were accepted into this year’s festival and were told why.”