Weather@*?!!**

There are only a few things in life more powerful than weather. One is a toddler with a permanent marker. Another is a group text among artists at 5:12 a.m. asking whether the show is “still happening” because there is a cloud visible on the horizon (or god forbid on Apple Weather).

Festival weather has its own ecosystem. Scientists claim weather is caused by atmospheric conditions, but this is clearly false. Weather at an art festival is caused by one thing only: the moment an artist finishes setting up an impossibly complicated display involving fragile ceramics, handblown glass, and approximately 472 zip ties.

At that exact moment, the atmosphere says: “You know what would be funny? Wind.”

Wind at an art festival is not normal wind. Regular wind gently moves tree branches. Festival wind is emotionally invested. It arrives with purpose. It waits until the artist is opening the final bin of ceramic mugs before producing a 40 mile per hour gust aimed directly at the only unsecured ProPanel.

Artists respond to wind in fascinating ways. Jewelry artists immediately become structural engineers. Painters begin frantically moving their entire booth around. Ceramic artists stare into the middle distance with the hollow expression of people who know exactly what replacement inventory costs.

Meanwhile, patrons react to weather as though they are wildlife encountering climate for the first time.

A single raindrop hits the pavement and half the crowd vanishes instantly, apparently returning to their natural habitat - inside. The remaining patrons become divided into two categories:

1. People desperately buying art before the storm worsens.
2. People who stand inside an artist’s booth for forty-five minutes saying: “Wow, you must really hate this weather.”

No artist has ever responded: “Yes, thank you for noticing. I especially enjoy watching my tent attempt to relocate itself to Delaware.”

Then there is heat.

Heat transforms an elegant outdoor arts festival into a slow moving documentary about human endurance. By noon, every artist looks like they have crossed a desert carrying handcrafted cutting boards.

Festival directors during a heat wave enter what medical experts probably describe as “advanced stress blinking.” They walk the site clutching radios while repeatedly asking:

• “Is everyone drinking water?”
• “Has anyone seen the artist in Booth 117?”
• “Why is the inflatable sponsor arch moving?”

The true breaking point for every festival director is surprise rain. Not forecast rain. Forecast rain is manageable. People prepare for forecast rain. Surprise rain is different. Surprise rain appears out of nowhere like an angry magician.

One minute the sky is blue. The next minute artists are wrapping inventory in plastic while simultaneously trying to lower tent walls, protect displays, save paperwork, hold onto tablecloths, and reassure customers that yes, technically this is still a relaxing shopping experience.

Festival directors during surprise rain enter full survival mode. Their brains become entirely occupied with questions such as:

• “Did everyone weight their tents?”
• “Which sponsor banner is airborne?”
• “Why is someone trying to use a beach umbrella as structural support?”

And yet somehow the most stressful weather of all is perfect weather. Perfect weather creates immediate suspicion.

Artists begin saying things like:

• “This feels too good.”
• “Something is coming.”
• “Check the radar.”

Patrons stroll leisurely carrying iced coffee while complimenting booths. Sales happen. Music plays. Everyone smiles nervously as though trapped in the first ten minutes of a disaster movie.

Because veteran festival people know one universal truth: No outdoor art festival ever ends without at least one completely unnecessary weather event.

Somewhere, always, there is a tent trying to escape.

Author: Robin Markowitz

Protect Yourself From Scammers

The modern art festival world offers artists more opportunities than ever before. Unfortunately, it has also created more opportunities for scammers. Every year artists lose money, personal information, and even inventory because someone sounded professional, used a familiar festival name, or created a convincing social media account.

The difficult part is that scams rarely look like scams at first glance. They often look urgent, flattering, or “too good to pass up.” Professional artists are busy juggling applications, deadlines, travel, inventory, and production schedules, which makes it easy to overlook warning signs.



Here are some of the most common scams currently targeting artists and how to protect yourself.

The Fake Acceptance Email

One of the fastest-growing scams involves fraudulent acceptance emails for legitimate art festivals. An artist receives a message saying they have been accepted and must immediately send booth payment through Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, PayPal, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency.

The email often includes:

• A copied festival logo
• Real show dates
• Professional wording
• Fake urgency such as:
• “Your booth will be released within 2 hours if payment is not received.”

Red Flags

• Payment is requested outside of the official application platform.
• The sender email address is slightly incorrect.
• Example:
• realshow@gmail.com instead of director@realshow.org
• The show asks for payment before jury notifications have officially gone out.
• The festival requests Friends & Family payments.

Protect Yourself

• Always verify through the official festival website.
• Log directly into ZAPP, Juried Art Services, EntryThingy, or the show’s official portal.
• Never pay through unsecured methods unless you personally know the director.
• If uncertain, contact the show using the phone number or email listed on the official website — not the one inside the suspicious email.

Fake Social Media Accounts

Scammers routinely create duplicate Facebook and Instagram accounts pretending to be art festivals, artist groups, or even established directors.

These accounts often:

• Announce “vendor opportunities”
• Claim artists were selected in a “special round”
• Offer discounted booths
• Send direct messages requesting deposits

Sometimes they even steal entire posts and graphics from legitimate festivals.

Red Flags

• Recently created accounts
• Very low follower counts
• Poor grammar or strange wording
• Requests for immediate payment through DM
• Comments disabled on posts
• Generic responses when questioned

Protect Yourself

• Follow verified or long-established accounts only.
• Double-check the website URL connected to the social media profile.
• Message the real organization directly if something feels off.
• Never send money through social media messaging apps.

The Fake Patron or Commission Scam

This classic scam still appears regularly, especially through emails, contracts through the artist websites and Instagram accounts. A “collector” contacts an artist wanting to buy several expensive pieces immediately. They often:

• Refuse to discuss details about the work
• Offer to overpay
• Ask the artist to pay the “shipper”
• Send fake checks
• Claim an assistant will arrange pickup

The artist deposits the check, sends money to the “shipper,” and days later the check bounces.

Red Flags

• Buyer shows no real interest in your process or artwork
• Poorly written emails
• Overpayment offers
• Strange shipping arrangements
• Pressure to move quickly

Protect Yourself

• Ignore and delete these emails
• If you have gone down this road. Wait until checks fully clear — not just “appear deposited.”
• Use secure payment systems and make sure you document your sales completely.
• Trust your instincts if the communication feels unnatural.

The Fake Art Fair Directory

Some companies advertise “exclusive artist directories,” “VIP show lists,” or “guaranteed application opportunities” for high fees. In reality, they may simply scrape public information from legitimate websites and resell it.

Red Flags

• Guarantees of acceptance
• Claims of “secret insider access”
• No clear company history
• No testimonials from respected artists
• Pressure sales tactics

Protect Yourself

• Research the company carefully.
• Ask fellow artists if they have used the service.
• Remember that no legitimate organization can guarantee acceptance into a juried show.

Hotel Booking Scams

Artists are increasingly targeted with fake hotel booking agencies before large festivals.

The scammer claims:

• “We are the official housing partner.”
• “Only a few rooms remain.”
• “Festival rates expire tonight.”

Artists provide credit card information and later discover the reservation never existed.

Protect Yourself

• Book only through links provided on the festival’s official website.
• Call hotels directly if uncertain.
• Avoid third-party booking calls you did not initiate.

Fake Equipment and Tent Sales

After storms or windy weekends, scammers often target artists selling “discounted” tent weights, Trimlines, panels, and display systems online.

Red Flags

• Prices far below market value
• Refusal to provide additional photos
• Requests for wire transfers
• Newly created Facebook Marketplace accounts

Protect Yourself

• Use payment methods with buyer protection.
• Ask for timestamped photos.
• Buy from known artists or reputable dealers whenever possible.

Protecting Your Personal Information

Artists often share enormous amounts of personal information during application season:

• Addresses
• Tax IDs
• Phone numbers
• Banking information
• Credit card numbers
• Travel schedules

Treat your business information with the same care as your artwork.

Good Habits

• Use strong passwords.
• Avoid public Wi-Fi when making payments.
• Keep separate credit cards for business expenses.
• Monitor bank statements regularly.
• Enable two-factor authentication whenever possible.

The Most Important Protection: Slow Down

Scams succeed because they create urgency.

• “Pay now.”
• “Last booth available.”
• “You have been specially selected.”
• “Today only.”
• “Your space will be forfeited.”

If something feels rushed, confusing, or unusually aggressive, pause before responding. A few extra minutes of verification can save you money and a tremendous amount of stress.

The art festival community is remarkably connected. Artists talk. Directors talk. If you are unsure about something, ask trusted colleagues before sending money or personal information.

The best protection against scams is still a combination of caution, community, and common sense.