Va. Festival Invite w/brisket

[Doug Sheridan]

Hello all,

There is still room for new exhibitors to attend The 5th Annual Va. Hot Glass Festival, April 28, 29.

Steve Stadelman and Gary Guydosh of Hot Block Tools will be in attendance as well as tool samples from other vendors like Cutting Edge, Wale, CR, Jim Moore etc.

If you wish to exhibit and sell your artwork contact us asap at info@sunspots.com

We get about 3,000 patrons and have 25-30 hot glass and 20 flamework artists exhibiting.

New this year, BRISKET, yes brisket will be for sale to the public and offered to the exhibitors. Everyone is welcome to come and check out the tools and eat and drink and help in the hot shop.

http://picasaweb.google.com/Sunspotsstudios/VirginiaHotGlassFestival2006 Photos from last year.

[Brian Gingras]

how about a little more about the festival? Activities? I was looking and it's only a 9 hour drive for us...is this something that takes 2 days to see? details details!!!

[Ben Rosenfield]

I think I should get royalties for every helping of brisket sold.

[Doug Sheridan]

Festival web page (http://www.sunspots.com/VA_Hot_Glass_Fest.htm)

For the visiting artists and exhibitors, the most appealling part of the event has always been the action in the hot shop. The contests have been so much fun to watch that we've decided to hold a few for the public instead of always after the doors are locked.

Last year we chose teams of five or so, and each team was given a theme project to design and execute, I'll post pictures of the results soon. The theme was aliens from elemental planets, stone, ice, gas, and water. The gas one looks like an inflatable date's head....

Retail sales are moderate for exhibitors but usually enough to pay for the weekend. The booths are set up in a well spot-lighted gallery setting. There are best of show prizes for exhibitors judged by two board members from Corning that live in the area, $300, $200 and $100. Lunches are provided, and Saturday night beer and brisket. We'll have some food vendors in the parking lot with good coffee this year.

It would not take two days to "do" this event, but you are welcome to come Friday (set up day), through Sunday.

Doug

[Brian Gingras]

I emailed for info also, but how about booth costs?Size? Minimum retail prices? etc?

[Doug Sheridan]

The biggest booth is 10' X 10' down to 4' X 6', and some odd shaped sites. Cost for a booth is $250 in finished work. That work is then sold all year, and half of that $ is donated to our local art center for art classes. This year, we are considering a $ deposit with the application, to be returned to you at the show to cut down on last minute cancellations.

As far as a minimum price? None, but this show is hungry for very low-end items and very high-end work. You'd do well with either. This community is slowly learning about art glass and these festivals educate them a great deal. There are very few retail art shows that are just glass. We do get the odd collectors from Richmond and D.C., we do advertise in both. Each year more publications and broadcasts feature this show.

Weather has never been a problem, but it can still get quite cold or even snow that time of year.

Rooms are very cheap, like $45, and they aren't bad, it's a fairly new Hojo three blocks up. Top of the line is the Stonewall Jackson Hotel, quite nice for $120, four blocks away. 25 sweet B&B's in old Victorian homes within walking distance.
So come and hang out if you want, won't cost you much.

Anything else?

[Rosanna Gusler]

well, the brisket was the deal maker. joe and i will be there with kiln formed glass. rosanna

[Franklin Sankar]

Thanks to Tom I now know what a Brisket is. Never had any , never seen one, but now I believe it is real and they exist and Ben is the Brisket king. Not sure about Henry.

Is there a program for the VA fest. do you have classes or is it demos only. Can someone from a strange country just wander in and look around, maybe ask some questions , take some pictures of the demos and lime with the people.

Franklin

[Brody Shaw]

yah but if you show up frankin, your gonna hafta make something!

[Doug Sheridan]

By all means, that is encouraged and is a great time to see dozens of different artists at work, all different. No formal classes, but everyone learns something from everyone else. Secrets exposed.

[Franklin Sankar]

Thanks Doug and how about if I show up with a case of Carib beers. You drink the beers and I play with the bottles.
Franklin

[Brian Gingras]

I'm hoping to make it, we are playing with details now...like who watches the igauna for 4 days if the entire crews comes with us...little stuff to decide...but I'm thinking we may be heading to the festival.

[Brody Shaw]

doug, I think I might make it as well...I gotta figgure a fer things out as far as dates go........could you email me any more info you may have?



thanks

[Doug Sheridan]

Great to hear more are thinking of coming. email info@sunspots.com include your mailing address and I'll send you the exhibitor packet. Also I will answer any burning questions.

[Doug Sheridan]

Franklin, bring the beer and your bag of bottle tricks...We'd love to see that.

[Doug Sheridan]

I was just contacted by the local Commissioner of Revenure and exhibitors must show their business license at the show, no matter where they are from. She wants proof that we pay taxes somewhere, imagine that.

[Brian Gingras]

license? as in Tax certificate? Thats all we have here...a certificate showing we collect Sales tax...but will we also have to register in vA for sales tax anyway?

[Doug Sheridan]

I'll ask her, but I think she wants a bizz license from your city or county. She's new, and going by the letter of the code atm.

[Rosanna Gusler]

huh. all i have is a tax number with nc. no licence required here. rosanna

[Brian Gingras]

Originally posted by Doug Sheridan
I'll ask her, but I think she wants a bizz license from your city or county. She's new, and going by the letter of the code atm.

We don't have one, don't need one...home hobby thing...if they require it I guess we are staying home :(

I had planned to file for a VA sales tax ID, but if thats not good enough for them then I dunno what else to do.

[Doug Sheridan]

I don't think this is a deal killer at all Brian. We are still negotiating this thing with her. Worst case atm for those with no license would be we'd have to run sales through Sunspots till, then pay you at the end. She just wants proof that you count it as income somewhere, that's all.

Jeesh, I'm feeling ripped off, my license costs me about $1k a year locally, goes by gross sales on top of a set fee.

[Steve Stadelman]

Yeah, I have a Fed tax I.D.

[Brian Gingras]

Originally posted by Doug Sheridan
I don't think this is a deal killer at all Brian. We are still negotiating this thing with her. Worst case atm for those with no license would be we'd have to run sales through Sunspots till, then pay you at the end. She just wants proof that you count it as income somewhere, that's all.

Jeesh, I'm feeling ripped off, my license costs me about $1k a year locally, goes by gross sales on top of a set fee.

Gee, VA sounds like a lot of fun to work in...well hopefully we can get everything worked out, as I could have 5 people, including 3 blowers with me.

Next thing they are going to want to see copies of our tax returns and sign over our first born :)

[Doug Sheridan]

dont' apply for va. tax yet, I'll let you know when we resolve this thing. The Commissioner is doing her best to make it easy for us, so we'll see what the decree will be soon.

[Brody Shaw]

I know I did a show last yr in Md.(i'm from Pa)...all I had to do was file sales tax with maryland's controller, I believe.

[Doug Sheridan]

You may be right Brody but she will find that out for us. She's only been in office one month (the last one was run out of town so this one's under the microscope) and we've never done anything other years, and I'm sorry this just came up. Most of it is worked out but this town never did know what to do with this event. Details later.

[Greg Frankhouser]

Any chance of camping out on site? With 2 dogs and a new puppy, hotels are kind of out. Have a nice 14ft yurt, very presentable, and the dogs are comfy there.

Thanks

Greg

[Franklin Sankar]

Yeah, I have a Fed tax I.D.

What is Fed tax, is it what you pay when you get fed up with the Govt.?
Franklin

[Doug Sheridan]

every time, yes.

What is your tax there Frankin?

[Gary Guydosh]

To get a VA trans. vendors Tax ID # is not a big thing. You can go the their web page and sign up, and tell them what months you will be selling in VA . That is the only time they will look for anything. It took me 5 min. to do it last year, and they give you your ID # at the end of the form. I think that we have a tax ID # for every state on the east cost now. Gov. paperwork is never done, start you own shop and be your own boss-------right and do your own paperwork.......I do not make glass or tools any more I fill out papers.

[Pete VanderLaan]

Originally posted by Greg Frankhouser
Any chance of camping out on site? With 2 dogs and a new puppy, hotels are kind of out. Have a nice 14ft yurt, very presentable, and the dogs are comfy there.

Thanks

Greg
***************************
Hey man, I crossed the country in an Isuzu Trooper with two St Bernards and a Bernese Mt Dog towing a sixteen foot trailer with the MGB on it and every motel was happy to have me for ten bucks extra per night. God knows why. ( I was not happy). That was the grossest single trip I have ever made anywhere anytime. Three days with those drooling shedding heavy breathing, farting little buddies. Then, one and a half hours from home, one of them shits the whole car while I'm in a gas station paying for that last tank of fuel. It was just such a thrill. I could go on but I get sort of apoplectic. There I was with a car full of crap, rain pouring down with man's best friend looking a little doubtful about the likely longevity of the relationship.

[Rick Sherbert]

The aformentioned HoJo's takes dogs (or did 2 years ago) and it's close enough for walkies

[Steve Stadelman]

Hey Rick, my geography of the whole area is a bit sketchy, is this close for you? will you be there?

[Rick Sherbert]

It's a few hours south of me. It's a real good time and Doug is an excellent host. I have been there several years, but missed last year. I'm still trying to get my schedule together. I got into a show in Fla that weekend, but the reports I'm hearing about it aren't that great and I have 3 more in the following 3 weeks so I may just chill and go to Dougs.

The festival really seems to be ramping up from year to year. Doug be careful what you ask for, this thing could really go somewhere!

(Chris, my son, wanted me to add this: )

:feathers:

[Steve Stadelman]

I am looking forward to this thing.

[Rick Sherbert]

Originally posted by Steve Stadelman
I am looking forward to this thing.
as opposed to "that thing" ...

[Steve Stadelman]

Yes, already had "that thing" and it was not worth capitalizing.

[Pete VanderLaan]

Antibiotics aren't very effective on "that thing" anymore. Sorry.

[Ben Rosenfield]

He's had so many injections that his ass is frequently mistaken for a pincushion.

[Steve Stadelman]

I had Chihulies one time and it took pills the size of twinkies to get rid of them!

[Ben Rosenfield]

Originally posted by Steve Stadelman
I had Chihulies one time and it took pills the size of twinkies to get rid of them! Good to hear you got that patched up.

[Rick Sherbert]

Originally posted by Ben Rosenfield
Good to hear you got that patched up.

Groan... Barf...

[Doug Sheridan]

The photo album (link in the first post) now has pics of the aliens created last year, check em out. Earth, fire, ice and water. These were designed and created by teams. Gotta come up with more joint projects for this year,, any ideas?

[Randy Kaltenbach]

You could do a "in the style of artistX" where you pick a bunch of artists who DON'T blow glass. Would work best with abstract, impressionist, etc. Toss into hat. Pick. Voila.

[Doug Sheridan]

Excellent idea Randy, Dali comes to mind..

[Doug Sheridan]

Ok, the Commissioner says she only wants a SS# or a Fed Tax ID on file for this show. Not bad considering what she could have done. She's in our camp. She owns a wine shop four doors down, so she has a good understanding about retail.

[Doug Sheridan]

We have received several tools and pipes from Jim Moore, CR Machine, Cutting Edge and Hot Block tools to be the prizes for the skills competitions this weekend. My thanks to all these vendors for being so generous!! CR Machine will not be at GAS so I feel fortunate to offer his work at our event. The competition will be brutal.

[Franklin Sankar]

I guess its all over now. If you recovered enough how about sharing any pic or other interesting stories for those who wanted to go but could not make it?
Franklin

[Doug Sheridan]

Recovery is slow but I'll post pics and stories soon.

[Edward Dluzen]

I think a good time was had by all. I was on the third floor and things were busy a lot of time. Pretty good turnout.

Several types of Brisket... all good, all were sampled.

Contests for tools was interesting.... longest drip, etc. I think it was 11 ft. +

Making things without tools, only the marver, no jacks, etc. That was interesting to see what was done and how it was done.

e
d

[Ben Rosenfield]

Originally posted by Edward Dluzen
Several types of Brisket... all good, all were sampled. Why am I not surprised?