The Michigan Crafter Magazine Presents

Meet Mark Loeb

I first met Mark Loeb some time in 1997 or 1998 at Chelsea High School.  He had just taken over from another promoter, Linda Brzezinski, who was no longer promoting events. 

Mark promotes Art Fairs.  The ones I have attended have been well juried, with great diversity, high quality and in good locations.   His Art Fairs do get crowded.   The Sunshine Artist magazine has ranked his June Royal Oak Clay and Glass show in their Sunshine Artist 100. 

Here is Mark, some of his history and thoughts.  

George:  Where did you get your start promoting events? 

Mark:   George, My first event was at Cobo Hall in 1982.  I had no idea what I was getting into.  My brother sent me down there to run a 200 booth 100,000 square foot union show, with no real clue.  From that he and I grew to a $20 million dollar a year company producing in 49 States, DC, Puerto Rico and Canada. 

George:  When did you start promoting Art Fairs? 

In 1997 I left my brother’s company and started Integrity Shows, with the goal of producing quality art events.  My mother and and father were both artists and my degree is in Arts Management.

George:  In your opinion, what is involved in building and branding an Art Fair? 

Mark:  I try to do something new and different at every show.  If you come to my shows in Ferndale, Chelsea and Royal Oak, each will have their own look, and most people would have no clue that they are all produced by the same company.  I work with the local organizations and businesses to assure that they will also be successful.  Building a show requires hours of discussion and planning, and a real understanding of the many folks that are affected.

George:  What advice would you give to Artists that would help them to be more successful? 

Mark:  One way that artists could help themselves further is by understanding their pricing.  Some people say that selling out at a show is a great success.  My feeling is that it just proves that your pricing is to low. Essentially selling out is leaving more money on the table than you would at the slowest of all shows.  At that slow one, there was little or no money to be had. At the busy one, you clearly could have cleared additional funds. 

Experiment with your pricing.  Raise prices on a few items and see what happens.  Even if your paintings are virtually the same, pricing one $50 more may increase your sales. Some folks may break down and buy the lower priced one thinking that they are getting a bargain.  Others may want the better painting.  Of course the content, style and all of your artistic endeavors make the major difference, I am just talking about a way to encourage action.  People don't necessarily trust their own judgment on art, so price differential is just one of many ways to help establish value.

Mark’s Art Fair schedule for 2012 is as follows:

Date:  February 3-5, 2012     City: Battle Creek Battle Creek Invitational Art Fair(Adjacent to Home Shows) Kellogg Arena  Address for Application/Phone:   Mary Strope l PO Box 1070 l Ann Arbor, MI  48106  Phone:  (734) 552-1015    Website:  www.ArtfromtheHeartShow.com:   E-Mail Address:  mary@integrityshows.com      DL: Nov. 30   I/O: I  Yr: 1 SP: 45  Admission : Free   Juried?:Yes  Jury Fmt: Jury all after deadline   Photos  3 of work, 1 of setup  Notif: Oct. 1   Fees: 10'x10'($225) Set up: TBD Hrs: TBD  Misc: EL, M, F, B, EL, LU, LR, RV, H  Flea Mkt: NO Mfr Items: NO  Comments:  Updated by e-mail  1/5/2012. 

There are still two spots available for this Art Fair as of today, January 17.  Contact Mark for specifics regarding the jurying process.

Date:  May 19-20, 2012     City: Chelsea   Chelsea Invitational Fine Art and Craft Fair    Location:  Chelsea Fairgrounds  Event Type: Art Fair  Address for Application/Phone:   Mary Strope l PO Box 1070 l Ann Arbor, MI  48106  Phone:  (734) 552-1015    Website:  www.chelseashows.com:   E-Mail Address:  mary@integrityshows.com   Apps Sent: Sept. 30   Admission:  Free  Attendance: 3,500  DL: Jan. 15   I/O: O  Yr: 1 SP: 40 : ADM: Free   Juried?:Yes  Jury Fmt: Jury all after deadline   Photos  3 of work, 1 of setup  Notif: Oct. 1   Fees: 10'x10'($225) App fee: $15. Set up: TBD Hrs: TBD  Misc: EL, M, F, B, RV, H  Flea Mkt: NO Mfr Items: NO  Comments:  Updated by e-mail 1/5/2012.

June 9-10, 2012   City of Event:  Royal Oak  Royal Oak Clay Glass and Metal Show   Loc: Washington St. , between Fourth & Lincoln  Event Type:Clay, Glass and Metal l Mark Loeb l PO Box 1070 l Ann Arbor, MI  48106  Phone:    (734) 216-3958  Website:    www.royaloakchamber.com: E-Mail Address: mark@integrityshows.com   Apps Sent: Sept. 15  DL: Feb. 1 I/O:O Yr: 18 SP: 135   ATTENDANCE: 50000 ADM: Free  Last Year Priority: YES  Juried?: Yes  Jury Fmt: Jury all after deadline  Photos  3 of work, 1 of setup  Notif: Feb. 15  Fees: 10'x10'($325)   Set up: Fri. eve., Sat. am  Hrs: TBD  Misc: EL, M, F, B, EL, LU, LR, RV, H  Flea Mkt: NO Mfr Items:  NO  Comments:  In Sunshine Artist Top 100 Shows.   Updated by e-mail 1/5/2012.  

Date: Sept. 14-16, 2012    City of Event:  Ferndale  Funky Ferndale Art Fair  Loc: Nine Mile at Woodward  Event Type:Fine Art & Crafts  Address for Application/Phone:   l Mary Strope l PO Box 1070  l Ann Arbor, MI  48106 l (734) 552-1015 Website:   www.funkyferndaleartfair.com   E-Mail Address:  mary@integrityshows.com  Fax #:  (866) 735-2293   Apps Sent: March   DL: May 15 I/O: O Yr:  10 SP: 120   ATTENDANCE:  25,000 ADM: Free  Last Year Priority: YES  Juried?:Yes  Jury Fmt: Zapplication.org   Photos  3 of work, 1 of setup  Notif: June 1  Fees: 10'x10'($225) Set up: Fri. eve., Sat. am  Hrs: TBD  Misc: EL, M, F, B, EL, LU, LR, RV, H  Flea Mkt: NO Mfr Items: NO Comments: Updated by e-mail  1/5/2012.

Date: Nov. 16-26, 2012    City: Detroit    Detroit Christmas Wonderfest   Campus Martius Park, Downtown  Event Type: Arts & Specialty Retail  Address for Application/Phone:   Mark Loeb l PO Box 1070 l Ann Arbor, MI  48106  Phone:  (734) 216-3958    Website:  www.MichiganChristmasMarket.com:   E-Mail Address:  markloeb@aol.com  Fax #: (866) 735-2293    Apps Sent: June   DL: May 15 I/O: O  Yr: 1 SP: 45 : Free   Juried?:Yes  Jury Fmt: Jury all after deadline   Photos  3 of work, 1 of setup  Notif: Oct. 1   Fees: 10'x10'($275) Set up: TBD Hrs: TBD  Misc: EL, M, F, B, EL, LU, LR, RV, H  Flea Mkt: NO Mfr Items: NO   Comments:  Updated by e-mail  1/5/2012.

Date:   Dec. 14-24, 2012   City:   Grand Rapids  Grand Rapids Christmas Wonderfest   Location To be announced   Address for Application/Phone:   Mark Loeb l PO Box 1070 l Ann Arbor, MI  48106  Phone:  (734) 216-3958    Website:  www.MichiganChristmasMarket.com:   E-Mail Address:  markloeb@aol.com  Fax #: (866) 735-2293     Apps Sent: June   DL: May 15 I/O: O  Yr: 1 SP: 45 : Free   Juried?:Yes  Jury Fmt: Jury all after deadline   Photos  3 of work, 1 of setup  Notif: Oct. 1   Fees: 10'x10'($275) Set up: TBD Hrs: TBD  Misc: EL, M, F, B, EL, LU, LR, RV, H  Flea Mkt: NO Mfr Items: NO   Comments:  Updated by e-mail 1/5/2012.