Craft Artists Lose When Shows Are Cancelled

s small business owners, often operating on very small profit margins, craft artists dread hearing that a show in which they plan to exhibit is to be cancelled. Non-refundable show fees, travel and hotel expenses and sales revenue are all likely lost.

The show promoters are also faced with losses in these circumstances and their scramble to return to upright position varies from event to event. In some instances, the show contracts clearly spell out the process for some compensation to the artists. In other cases, promoters address the events on a case-by-case basis as and when they occur and the circumstances dictate. (See related story this issue).

In 2001, the craft industry, like many others, had possibly the worst year for cancelled events since World War II, especially in New York City. Promoters in those cases offered compensation ranging from credit on booth space in future shows to waived sales commissions. At least two promoters found alternative sites and dates for their shows, and one offered full refunds to artists who could not reschedule. (See TCR, February 2002).

In 2002, promoters in two separate locations again found it necessary to cancel shows on short notice because of what they stated were sudden and unavoidable circumstances.

Laura Hudson from Plan It Washington, promoter of the Bethesda Row Arts Festival in Maryland, faced a situation she never previously considered when the decision was made to cancel that show in the fall of 2002 due to the threats from the D.C.-area snipers.

Hudson reports that a majority of the exhibitors in that show took advantage of the promoter’s offer of free booth space in the 2003 Festival. For the few who did not, Plan It Washington gave full refunds.

Virginia jewelry artist Quinn McDonald appreciated the promoter’s actions in this case. “They called people instead of just sending an e-mail blast,” says McDonald. “They had thought it through before they made the calls. They handled it well.”

In November, Matt Alperin and Sandy D’Andrade, directors of MASD Inc., cancelled all three weekends of their Media D’Arte Holiday Spectacular crafts shows. Alperin said the cancellation of the shows, which were to be held between Dec. 6 and Dec. 22 at the 69th Regiment Armory in New York City, came after he learned that the space was needed for a military function on one weekend. For this reason, and because the Armory “is imposing additional security requirements that are very stringent … that we have only now been advised of,” Alperin told exhibitors he was cancelling all three weekends of shows.

Alperin added that he was consulting with advisors but “due to the … circumstances and the total lack of cash-flow, MASD Inc. is unable to satisfy or refund any of the monies previously paid” by exhibitors.

Unfortunately, this is not the first time MASD has been faced with this business crisis. Family illness in 2000 and September 11 in 2001, caused MASD to cancel this same series of shows. In at least some cases, artists scheduled to exhibit in those two years were given credit for booth space in the following year’s show.

What compensation, if any, the promoters will provide this time is uncertain. In preparing this article, the editorial staff of The Crafts Report made repeated attempts to interview Alperin by phone and also faxed a list of questions to him at his request. Shortly before press time, he declined all comment, citing the advice of an attorney.

According to Qiydaar Singh, the assistant event planner for the Armory, Alperin forfeited the non-refundable deposit for use of the Armory in 2002, but adds that MASD never paid the rental fees, which the Armory always refunds. Singh adds Alperin was not caught by surprise and knew that extra security requirements have been part of the Armory’s rental package since shortly after Sept. 11, 2001.

Scott Sandman, the spokesperson for the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs, the agency that owns the Armory and oversees all rental agreements, says that an offer of an alternative, non-military location was made to Alperin, but the promoter never contacted the Armory to accept it.

As of press deadline, artists scheduled for these shows were still hoping for some compensation. Nancy Tang, a Maine-based craftsperson who was scheduled to exhibit on two weekends in 2002 because of credit from the two prior cancelled shows says that she thinks Alperin “does the best he can.” Tang adds, however, that cancellations three years in a row “is a very disturbing trend.”

At least two exhibitors, who did not want their names published, have already received full refunds for the most recent shows after considering legal action.