Left of Centerfest 2016.

 Centerfest (Durham) was this past weekend, 9.17 and 9.18, and it was less than great. I an rating it as just 'OK'. And if it had not been for a LARGE sale at the close of Sunday's show it would probably rate as a 'Dud' for Left Behind photography.

 I feel the reason why was that I, as a new artist this year, was put at the end of a street with other new artists and left to sink-or-swim on our own. My neighbors were ALL new this year to Centerfest and we were not happy with our booth spaces. In fact one artist was supposed to be in Space A1. She saw where it was and threw such a fit that she got move closer to the CENTER of the festival. Good for her. I wish I had done the same. I was given A7&9, my first double booth ever! I thought that the 'A section' would be the first street visitors would travel. Not so. In fact not many people went up this street (Morris St.). There were bigger crowds down at the center where the street met. 

  These should be a way that the organizer can mix new artists with established artist who have been doing this show for years. I realize I was a newbie and should have to 'pay my dues' by being in that section in the beginning. But how many of my fellow new artists are likely to return with poor or average sales. Not many. 

 Another bad thing about this show was that downtown Durham smelled like RAW SEWAGE all weekend! I am not making this up! The wind would change direction and you would catch a strong wiff and it was horrible. So much so that my one neighbor called her friend who lives in Durham and asked "Why does Durham smell like POO"? At the end of Sunday I was getting a headache and nauseous from it. 

  On the plus side: HALF of my sales were from Metal Prints, prints on aluminum! Customers are loving this new medium. Every metal I get fom my lab now gives me chills. They are THAT GOOD. 

MOAR METAL !!1  \m/ O_O \m/

 A couple more pluses were the gourmet lunches that were delivered to our booth were fantastic and the load-in and load-out was a breeze. I do not often do I say that? 

>K