Union Square, New York City: Cold weather is a cause for little business amongst Union Square Artists.
“It’s very cold, there is a recession in New York and there is not a lot of business at this time,” says Esteban Kremen, a local and regular vendor in the Union Square Arts Scene. Originally from Buenos Aries, Kremen has lived in New York for eight years and supports himself largely off what he makes in Union Square. Like many other artists, Kremen uses Union Square as his main place of business.
“After December you can keep working until about half of January and its very good because a lot of people get bonuses from their jobs and keep buying” Kremen continues,” the city is still full of tourists who want to bring gifts back home.”
The Holiday Market at Union Square, which is open November 27th-through Christmas Eve, is a major source of profit for many artists but also a big expense. A booth alone runs an artist $12,000, $6,000 if they don’t mind a smaller space. Esteban shares a booth and with the help of his assistant, works hard to sell what he can, make connections, get exposure and do more than break-even.
After the Christmas rush has ended Union Square seems to come to halt and pause for all of a New York minute; if not simply freeze over. The only vendors who are entirely consistent are those of the farmer’s market variety; a faithful folk who can often be found serving hot cups of apple and pear cider to walkers and shoppers.
“I use from February to April to make my production for the rest of the year. It’s a very long period of time, so it’s a great time to be creative. Take vacations and prepare for the busy season,” Kremen says. He adds that often during the Christmas rush he gets a lot of requests for special pieces. He uses his off-season to fulfill such duties. Not all Union Square Artists are lucky enough to have their art in galleries or cater to private buyers as Kremen does, so there are a few who wait-it-out in the cold to pay their rents.
“Artists started to sell their art in Union square less than 5 years ago. The best place was Soho on Broadway. That was the place to be. But, like everything in New York, it changed and now Union Square is much better,” Kremen reminiscences.
For a Union Square Vendor, weather has a direct affect on business, but for the artist who can afford the time off like Kremen, winter may come with a welcome.
“You’ve gotta’ remember that first and foremost I am an artist. Sure, I like to get paid for my work but I also enjoy producing it.” Kremen responds speaking about the extra time winter provides to catch up with his creativity.
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Good. The lede, though, is not a news lede. Just so you know, you almost never start with a quote - unless you ahvea really good reason to. I would say in this case you don't. Remember, in that first graph you want who, what, where, when and why. What you have belongs as the second or third graph. What is the news? That's what you ask yourself, and the essentials of that news need to be in the first paragraph
ReplyDeleteIt + is = it's, not its
I like the graph with how much it costs to get a booth. that's good reporting. interesting.
Also , you only have one source here. The assignment was to have two.