Today we’d like to introduce you to David Baker.
Hi David, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
DMF is an event started by creatives for creatives. We are dedicated to showcasing the talent of local Dallas Fort Worth small businesses. Our mission is to celebrate the creative minds in our community by providing space for our fellow makers, musicians, and businesses to succeed.
We (David Baker and Madison Mercer) always wanted to host an art event. Madison and I had participated in art festivals and worked at a venue where shows were regularly hosted. So, when the most popular of the events, FOLD Fest, announced its retirement in 2019, we jumped at the opportunity to bring our dream of having an event to fruition. With the blessing of the founder of FOLD, we set out to expand and rebrand our predecessor into what became Denton Makers Fest.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
After hundreds of man-hours branding and planning, we finally had a date for a 25-vendor event in mid-2020. We all know where this story is going. The pandemic shut us down for over two years and caused the permanent closure of our primary venue. During that time, however, our team grew from 2 to 5, we expanded the show to have 60+ artists, 3 Live bands, 2 DJs, Food trucks, flash tattoos, and an entirely separate venue for a juried art show. The show was more successful than any of us could have imagined.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Madison and I happened to have skills that were perfect for organizing a successful show. We were both art students who understood the struggle of finding a place to sell your work and promote your small business. In addition to our understanding of the community, our professional abilities also aided in creating a successful event. Madison works as a project manager at an engineering firm, and I work in advertising as a graphic designer. Because of our professional skills and individual creative businesses, we have the organization, marketing, and visual needs it takes to run a unique and successful show.
What sets us apart from other events is that we identified an untapped market of up-and-coming creatives. These small business owners can’t always afford the high fees associated with typical art festivals but want somewhere more established to sell their work than some of the more homegrown shows. We provide the scale and organization of the large state festivals, with a cost closer to that of a small local show.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dentonfest.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denton_makers_fest/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dentonfest/
Image Credits
Emma Saldivar
David Baker
