I actually have time for a couple of posts.

I had two shows last year in Old City and sold well at both but it could have been a lot better. I had a chance to talk to a lot of people and yes some were drunk and most were more worried about their drinking allowance then their spending allowance. Over the last couple of years I watched as galleries closed or moved, art work get stolen and damaged and it turn into a venue for public intoxication rather than about the arts. It's very sad what it's become and I can only hope it self corrects but that's doubtful from what I hearing about a couple of long time galleries getting ready to move out of the area.

That is the most messed up thing I've ever heard about first fridays. I think I just got depressed off that one line. The arseholes probably woke up and didn't even appreciate their booty.

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Magellan2's prescription:
ATTENTION ALL READERS...
DISCLAIMER: Alesis is a South Street business owner
(keep that in mind when reading his or her responses)

Its(one reason) why artist really never stay around hot spots for long.

Old City really doesn't need the artist to thrive anymore.

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Old City: Suburban Paradise in the city. Only a couple of years away.

First Friday sucks. Simply put. I was too young to care when First Friday actually mattered, but in my observation, what happens is that little pseuod-cool hipsters (and I think real "hipsters" are lame too) come out to look at art that they don't understand or care to, much less have an interest in purchasing, and have more alcohol than they ever drink on any other night. Hey, I love alcohol and I hope everyone enjoys it responsibly. But these kids and not-so-kids drink 3 or 4 glasses of wine, and decide to scream on the street or piss all over the place. And I'm not just talking about the guys.

I am not an artist and don't try to be, probably because they can express their feelings with a picture, sculpture, or performance better than they actually communicate with people (sorry for the dig) verbally, but then again, they don't understand how Sunday afternoons for me are always reserved for a multitude of sporting events and how the results of such events make our city "matter" on a national scale (trust me, a Phillies playoff berth means much, MUCH more to us that any new restaurant, band, or whatever exhibit is at the Art Museum). With that in mind, this "artist" thing has gone just a little bit too far. Its not a hippie convention. The sidewalks don't need to be crowded with dreadlocked college chicks without bras tripping on ecstacy listening to weak ass folk/african music by their boyfriends. And then use their parents' cash to get a train or cab home.

1) Stop giving alcohol out for free for entering any gallery, unless you would like to share a glass of wine with a buyer, who may just be a new fan. Just as in music, if someone buys one piece of work, they will probably like something else you've created, whatever it is.

2) Reserve space, like those stupid parking lots on 3rd between Market and Arch, Market and Chestnut, and 2nd between Market and Chestnut on First Fridays for all the artists that just set up shop wherever they want on the ground. Yeah, this sucks, but its gotten to the point where its so crowded on the sidewalk, just to walk through, you can't see all the pieces anyway. Lets kill the parking lots on FF and let people set up tents/booths for their work. If you can't afford the $200 to have a tent/booth, you shouldn't be lying out your crappy **** anyway. No matter how hipster you are.

3) Charge admission. Yeah, it will definitely kill the spirit, but if you charged just $10 to enter at 3rd and market, 95% of the problems would go away. The only people that would enter would be people that were interested in making a purchase, people that really appreciated the art, or people that didn't fall in either of those categories, but were genuinely interested in learning.

I live adjunct to the Wood St grassy area that is pretty much the domain of the Old City Dog Clique, and last night I watched 2 ladies drop a squat underneath a tree because they had to piss. Needless to say, I made it as uncomfortable for them as possible and I'm sure that one of them was so surprised she fell backwards into her own puddle. These "ladies" were of the ridiculous chino-shorts-with-heels type, and I hope they sprinkled on said heels. To add, I'm 100% sure this isn't the market that FF was intended to attract.

Lets just kill FF. Its already over anyway, considering that there is a SWEAT gym up 3rd. I'm not sure if SWEAT gym(s) are serious about themselves, or its just a 15 year running Saturday Night Live skit about skeevey gyms, with dudes that have spandex workout gear and chicks that like to wear full makeup to "work out".

Thanks for reading my rant. Screw you hipsters, you're not as cool as you think. But definitely more hip than those chicks with chino shorts and high heels, crouching to pee on all of it.

Are galleries that open up there really expecting to be successful based off their First Friday sales?

If I opened a gallery there, I would treat FF like advertising ... a means to an end, not the holy grail.

I just think you don't like it period, so I would recommend not going and stop pissing in everyone else's cheerios.

The fact you are basing most of your argument on the hipsters attendance ...

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Ward 29 Chairman - Republican

Sarah Palin: http://www.google.com/search?source=...=Google+Search
Sarah Palin is the Governor of Alaska ... read the link.

I am a "birds fan", as well as an art fan.

I don't enjoy purses, therefore I have no idea how to advise the "pickle handbag" place my wife adores so much in old city. Art galleries? Different story.

Unless the art galleries are installing la-z-boys, you would be better off giving no advice.

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Magellan2's prescription:
ATTENTION ALL READERS...
DISCLAIMER: Alesis is a South Street business owner
(keep that in mind when reading his or her responses)

There was a time when galleries sold enough on one First Friday to pay their bills for at least a month.

That's right.

I was involved with some of the first first fridays many, many moons ago and I used to make beaucoup cash. These days, I can unfortunately only think of two galleries I would be able to make money in-mainly because they market beyond first fridays.

I've been debating about trying it again. First friday really is a clusterf&*# that always leaves me rather stressed out instead of having fun. I usually go to the galleries on a wed. or thurs., have some lunch, and end up being able to appreciate the artwork far more.

__________________
Magellan2's prescription:
ATTENTION ALL READERS...
DISCLAIMER: Alesis is a South Street business owner
(keep that in mind when reading his or her responses)

Not saying it wasn't the case at some point. I am saying now that obviously isn't the case and a business plan for new galleries probably shouldn't count on that.

__________________
Ward 29 Chairman - Republican

Sarah Palin: http://www.google.com/search?source=...=Google+Search
Sarah Palin is the Governor of Alaska ... read the link.