Let's Talk About Weather Challenges Artists Share What They Do To Prepare
During the past five years, artists who do outdoor shows have been affected by everything from thunderstorms and hurricanes to extreme heat and snow. Learn how they prepare for whatever may come their way.
Evan Reinheimer
Photography
How long have you been participating in shows?
Eighteen years.
What type of weather impacted the hours of your outdoor shows during the past five years?
Rain, wind, thunderstorm, hurricane.
What decisions did promoters make due to the weather?
Closed early. Canceled (a day or entire show).
How do you prepare for the weather and protect your work?
I set up my booth in a way that I can quickly close the sidewalls to protect from rain. I am able to drop the sidewalls down and zip up in minutes.
What are your top recommendations for other artists?
Keep a full rainsuit with your show supplies. I have these neat shoe/boot covers that slip on over my shoes and basically turn whatever footwear I have on into rain boots. Also, always check the weather before a show for an idea of what to expect but be ready for all possible conditions.
Rebecca Browning
Ceramics
How long have you been participating in shows?
Five years.
What type of weather impacted the hours of your outdoor shows during the past five years?
Rain, wind, thunderstorm, snow.
What decisions did promoters make due to the weather?
Remain open. Close early. Cancel (a day or entire show).
How do you prepare for the weather and protect your work?
I don’t have to worry about my work getting wet because water doesn’t ruin ceramics. Wind is my enemy! I use two 35-pound weights on each corner, and my setup lets me move all my pieces down to table height, so they are less likely to blow over. I also put up my tent sides if I know wind is forecasted.
What are your top recommendations for other artists?
Watch the weather forecast and plan accordingly. Bring white plastic garbage bags to cover anything that water will destroy.
Do you have any other comments on this topic?
I think shows should give artists partial refunds of their booth fees for a canceled day or for a day in which patronage is extremely low.
Brigit Kowalczyk
Leather
How long have you been participating in shows?
Four years.
What type of weather impacted the hours of your outdoor shows during the past four years?
Rain, wind, thunderstorm, extreme heat.
What decisions did promoters make due to the weather?
Remain open. Start later. Close early.
How do you prepare for the weather and protect your work?
A tent with half door in front that has a mesh window, 40-pound sandbags on each leg minimum, and then rachet strap the tent to the bottom of the weight.
What are your top recommendations for other artists?
Anything that works for them, but I would like to state … some artists don’t even bother weighting tents, which makes it more dangerous for patrons and other artists alike.
Do you have any other comments on this topic?
One show decided to stay open, and I opted to not open as did about 60% of the artists due to the torrential rains and wind. I was surprised they proceeded with it but glad they stated they won’t penalize us for next year.
Robin Barnard
Metal‑Steel
How long have you been participating in shows?
Four years.
What type of weather impacted the hours of your outdoor shows during the past four years?
Rain, wind, extreme heat.
What decisions did promoters make due to the weather?
Cancel (a day or entire show).
How do you prepare for the weather and protect your work?
We bring heavy stakes if we’re in grass and sides for rain. We try not to get into rain because our items will rust.
What are your top recommendations for other artists?
You have to adapt for area weather conditions.
Do you have any other comments on this topic?
Heat is a big one for me. Most promoters won’t cancel for heat, but if a heat advisory is issued, vendors should not be penalized for withdrawing.
Alan Dungey
Leather/Handwoven Fabrics
How long have you been participating in shows?
Two years.
What type of weather impacted the hours of your outdoor shows during the past two years?
Rain, wind, extreme heat.
What decisions did promoters make due to the weather?
Remain open.
How do you prepare for the weather and protect your work?
I had fans for the heat, made sure everything was tied down and covered for the wind and the rain. I also made sure things were well off the ground, so the wet/damp ground beneath wouldn’t damage the product or my display.
What are your top recommendations for other artists?
Always prepare for the worst possible weather.
Bill Schafer
Photography
How long have you been participating in shows?
Thirteen years.
What type of weather impacted the hours of your outdoor shows during the past five years?
Rain, wind, thunderstorm.
What decisions did promoters make due to the weather?
Close early.
How do you prepare for the weather and protect your work?
One show had hail and high winds. We had to hold the tent down. Several easy up tents were destroyed. They should be banned, as when they collapse, they can hit other tents nearby and damage them.
What are your top recommendations for other artists?
Use a good tent. Watch the weather on your phone. The hailstorm I mentioned turned north at the last minute and caught everyone off guard. We lost three pieces of art.
Do you have any other comments on this topic?
Weather changes day to day. Weeklong forecasts are highly inaccurate.
Laurel Astor
Acrylic Painting
How long have you been participating in shows?
Twenty-plus years.
What type of weather impacted the hours of your outdoor shows during the past five years?
Rain, wind, thunderstorm.
What decisions did promoters make due to the weather?
Remain open.
How do you prepare for the weather and protect your work?
Big tarps and big weights.
What are your top recommendations for other artists?
If it looks like it will rain, cover your art overnight. I have had moisture come in and drop all over things.
Do you have any other comments on this topic?
This year was better than last year. We had so much rain in almost every event. This year, it has only decided to rain when we are getting to break down.
Don McCullough
Sculptor
How long have you been participating in shows?
Thirty years.
How do you prepare for the weather and protect your work?
Plastic coverings, tarps.
What are your top recommendations for other artists?
Keep tarps and covers with you.
Do you have any other comments on this topic?
Pay close attention to incoming weather and prepare yourself. You’re going to experience weather issues sooner or later.
Kathy Garrett
Fiber
How long have you been participating in shows?
Fifteen years.
What type of weather impacted the hours of your outdoor shows during the past five years?
Rain, wind, thunderstorm, hurricane, extreme heat.
What decisions did promoters make due to the weather?
Remain open. Cancel (a day or entire show).
How do you prepare for the weather and protect your work?
We have an upgraded tent with sides that will close in a few zips.
What are your top recommendations for other artists?
Keep an eye on the weather. Don’t rely on the promoter to watch the weather. That might get you in trouble.
Dawn Thorp
Fabric Art
How long have you been participating in shows?
Thirty-five years.
What type of weather impacted the hours of your outdoor shows during the past five years?
Rain, wind, thunderstorm, extreme heat.
What decisions did promoters make due to the weather?
Remain open. Cancel (a day or entire show).
How do you prepare for the weather and protect your work?
Plastic sheeting.
What are your top recommendations for other artists?
Always prepare for anything.
Barb Cara
Clay
How long have you been participating in shows?
Eight years.
What type of weather impacted the hours of your outdoor shows during the past five years?
Rain, wind, thunderstorm, hurricane.
What decisions did promoters make due to the weather?
Remain open. Start later. Close early. Cancel (a day or entire show).
How do you prepare for the weather and protect your work?
I weight each tent leg with 80-pound weights, use my side flaps when needed. I have boots along for rain or snow, a towel to dry water off, and sunscreen and a raincoat come in handy. I try to set my chair in the shady part of the tent for afternoon hours. If bad weather is expected during the night, I pack my goods up and put them under the tables and lower the tent height. The most important thing is the weights. Up to 60 pounds a leg still can allow a tent to walk and will require a person to hold it down in high winds. Eighty pounds a leg securely fastened allows the tent to stay in place. Bring layers and a blanket in colder weather, as it is always colder in your shady tent. Also, if your tent collects rainwater, be sure you have pool noodles along.
What are your top recommendations for other artists?
Be prepared for any weather, use good weights, and secure them.
Jacque Crable
Metal Sculptures
How long have you been participating in shows?
Twenty-seven years.
What type of weather impacted the hours of your outdoor shows during the past five years?
Wind, thunderstorm.
What decisions did promoters make due to the weather?
Close early. Cancel (a day or entire show).
How do you prepare for the weather and protect your work?
We purchased an extra room for stormy weather and attached extra weights for wind. Hats, gloves, boots, change of clothes.
What are your top recommendations for other artists?
Weights, weights, weights! And don’t leave your artwork on shelves overnight. It is not just your tent and work being destroyed — the artist next to you doing everything right may be damaged by your foolishness.
Do you have any other comments on this topic?
We need shows to move inside. Too many artists lose artwork, tents, and equipment to pop-up storms. Also, artists shouldn’t have to be submitted to crazy weather, storms, extreme heat, or cold.
Kathy Morrow
Painting
How long have you been participating in shows?
Fifty years.
How do you prepare for the weather and protect your work?
A well-designed tent — 60 pounds weight on each corner. Awnings. Insulation foil bags that are waterproof for the art. Prayer.
What are your top recommendations for other artists?
I buy the insulation foil at Lowe’s and the special tape. The foil is like bubble wrap on steroids. It’s easy to make bags. I include a flap that folds over and tucks in. If it’s raining, we load them on the dolly with the flap down, so rain can’t get in and then off to the van.
Do you have any other comments on this topic?
I’m cutting out several outdoor shows. I can’t trust the weather anymore, so inside is best. My last October show should have been in the mid-80s, and it was 105. No customers, and we were fried.
Mary Spector
Pen and Ink
How long have you been participating in shows?
Seventeen years.
What type of weather impacted the hours of your outdoor shows during the past five years?
Rain, wind, thunderstorm, extreme heat, cold.
What decisions did promoters make due to the weather?
Remain open. Close early. Cancel (a day or entire show).
How do you prepare for the weather and protect your work?
Weights on tent poles. Panels behind work.
What are your top recommendations for other artists?
Always use weight on tent poles. Use as much as you can bring. Monitor the weather situation before and during the event.
Do you have any other comments on this topic?
Even if the first day of a show is canceled, show up the second day. It was one of my best days ever. People were anxious to get out and support the artists. Once I was told by the organizer that they had to remove someone sleeping in my tent the previous night (it was cold). I thanked them for not calling me at 2 a.m.
Nikki Parenti
Fiber
How long have you been participating in shows?
Four years.
What type of weather impacted the hours of your outdoor shows during the past four years?
Rain, wind, thunderstorm, hurricane.
What decisions did promoters make due to the weather?
Remain open. Close early. Cancel (a day or entire show).
How do you prepare for the weather and protect your work?
Allow for airflow in the booth by raising sides about a foot; sunscreen is a must; bring tarps to put over artwork on tables; extra weights, stakes, and straps for windy days; use a cool towel to stay cool; liquid IV packets for hydration.
Do you have any other comments on this topic?
I wish when the event coordinators cancel the event completely due to weather that they would refund the artists or at least a partial refund.
Timothy Moran
Clay
How long have you been participating in shows?
Twenty-five years.
What type of weather impacted the hours of your outdoor shows during the past four years?
Rain, wind, thunderstorm.
What decisions did promoters make due to the weather?
Remain open. Close early. Cancel (a day or entire show).
How do you prepare for the weather and protect your work?
Extra weights for the light dome. Booth is already designed to lock it secure for high wind and rain.
Do you have any other comments on this topic?
Do an indoor show if possible.