Saint Cloud Art Crawl: A Quiet Corner & Lessons Learned

Alright, everyone, time for another behind-the-scenes look at the rollercoaster of show life! A month or so ago, after the whirlwind of Stone Arch Festival, I participated in the a Saint Cloud Art Crawl and honestly? For Lumps of Clay Studios, it was a bit of a bust. And I was so shocked, to be completely honest! I usually have such a great time. I love our little downtown!

Normally, I'm right there on the main strip, catching all the hustle and bustle, and getting a really great flow of traffic. To be fair, I did ask to be placed somewhere new this time – I've had fun in other spots at different shows before, and I was really hoping to be nestled in with a new group of artists.

Well, I definitely got somewhere new! I ended up on a side street, off the main action, and to top it off, on the second floor. Unfortunately, that meant foot traffic was incredibly sparse. We counted, and only about nine people came through the whole time. Nine! I also wasn’t listed on the map so if people were trying to find me, it would’ve been hard.

Luckily, I had this little premonition that it might not be as busy there, so I actually brought some clay to make with during the downtime. It certainly came in handy! We were also contending with some serious heat that day, so I think a lot of people who normally walk the entire thing just didn't this time. And I totally get it – walking around in that kind of heat can be brutal!

I'm not really mad at anyone, it's just a little bit of a "kick in the curtains" when you're geared up for a show and it doesn't pan out. Every experience is a lesson, right? Onwards and upwards to the next one!