Labor Day weekend events fuel Seattle-area economy
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Labor Day weekend could prove to be a big money-maker for the Seattle area thanks to several big events happening around town and organizers say all the sunny weather helps.
It’s a gamers' dream come true - surrounded by tens of thousands of fans all dressed the part during the three-day-long PAX Prime video game conference at the Washington State Convention Center. Organizers say the annual event brings people from as far away as Australia. Kami Karris made the trip this weekend to check out all the action and she says Seattle swept her off her feet.
“I just don't come down here a lot,” she said.
Karris only lives 20 minutes away in Lynnwood and she admits she rarely heads to Seattle but she says that’s going to change now that she's been able to explore the convention and the city.
“It got to be lunchtime and we were like – ‘let's go wander around, see if there's anything’ - and we actually found a cool Thai place and on the way there we found these other cool things. We were like, ‘we should come here more often’ and we definitely are going to,” said Karris.
Not too far from the convention center, hundreds of thousands of people spent Sunday enjoying the dozens of musical acts at Bumbershoot. Organizers say 30 percent of people coming to the city’s yearly music and arts festival are from outside King County, and even the state.
“I've been to Seattle a lot of times, but I've never been to Bumbershoot,” said Maryland resident Jeann Hudson.
Hudson is one of many expected to spend money in Seattle over the next couple days, but when asked just how much, she replied: Now come on, you know I don't know that right now. It just depends on what I see.”
The executive director for Bumbershoot estimates the event brings $250 to $500 million to the local economy. Visitors can enjoy one more day of entertainment at Bumbershoot on Labor Day. The PAX Prime convention ended Sunday night but organizers say next year's event is growing from three to four days.
It’s a gamers' dream come true - surrounded by tens of thousands of fans all dressed the part during the three-day-long PAX Prime video game conference at the Washington State Convention Center. Organizers say the annual event brings people from as far away as Australia. Kami Karris made the trip this weekend to check out all the action and she says Seattle swept her off her feet.
“I just don't come down here a lot,” she said.
Karris only lives 20 minutes away in Lynnwood and she admits she rarely heads to Seattle but she says that’s going to change now that she's been able to explore the convention and the city.
“It got to be lunchtime and we were like – ‘let's go wander around, see if there's anything’ - and we actually found a cool Thai place and on the way there we found these other cool things. We were like, ‘we should come here more often’ and we definitely are going to,” said Karris.
Not too far from the convention center, hundreds of thousands of people spent Sunday enjoying the dozens of musical acts at Bumbershoot. Organizers say 30 percent of people coming to the city’s yearly music and arts festival are from outside King County, and even the state.
“I've been to Seattle a lot of times, but I've never been to Bumbershoot,” said Maryland resident Jeann Hudson.
Hudson is one of many expected to spend money in Seattle over the next couple days, but when asked just how much, she replied: Now come on, you know I don't know that right now. It just depends on what I see.”
The executive director for Bumbershoot estimates the event brings $250 to $500 million to the local economy. Visitors can enjoy one more day of entertainment at Bumbershoot on Labor Day. The PAX Prime convention ended Sunday night but organizers say next year's event is growing from three to four days.
Four days of PAX?
Yer gonna need a lot more enforcers.
The internet is buzzing with naming tomorrow the unofficial "Empty Chair Day."Â People all over the country are encoraged to put an empty chair on their lawn (with an appropriate sign if desired.)Â
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Sounds like a good idea and a bit of fun in which Americans can participate.
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You are right Opus...the Empty chair day is gonna happen for sure in many areas around the Country. We will join in too!!
 @My opinion is Make it a good chair - so it will bring more on eBay...
 @Opus8no5 On CNN, a political commentator mused that the "empty chair" could be for the one who didn't comeback from Iraq or Afghanistan, or the single mother who has to work two jobs so that her kids can have a home and eat, for the victims of cancer, Alzheimer's, child abuse, DUI...
So, yes, put that chair out in the yard - just do it for the right reason...
National Empty Chair day has been established for the singular purpose of reinforcing the Clint Eastwood skit at the GOP Convention. Feel free to Google "Empty Chair Day." There are already many Google entries and photos from around the USA.Â
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Anyone concerned about misinterpretation of their empty chair can include an appropriate sign.Â
 @Opus8no5 "National Empty Chair day has been established for the singular purpose of reinforcing the Clint Eastwood skit at the GOP Convention."
Well, you know the old saying, "Sometimes the original intentions get lost in the movement...".
"Now come on, you know I don't know that right now. It just depends on what I see.â
And that's the mood in a lot of events in Seattle this year - a huge turnaround from the last few years...people who are working are feeling more confident about discretionary spending
I've seen this when I have my booth set up to sell my bowls at the Waterfront Park art show next to the Ferris Wheel...a lot of people ARE looking at what the vendors are showing, and a lot are buying from the vendors. I'm new to this, am still learning to judge the market trying to find the product mix to fit the people looking, but have still been making a profit. One of the vendors near me, a woman selling her jewelry, told me that she often makes over $1,500 a day.Â
That is not "recession level" earnings for an independent artist.
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There is a new sign making the rounds of art venues that says it best:
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Support Artisan Owned Business
The only underpaid overworked person they exploit is themselves
Buy Handmade
@OrcasThunder Damn you I actually agree. My brother in law is a year round street vendor at Pike Place, so I couldn't agree more.Â
 @Kodiak  @OrcasThunder I can tell you this - NO ONE works harder to make a living than the folks who sell their goods at these venues. I'm exhausted at the end of the 12 hour day - and I only do it one day a weekend, in good weather. Some of these people do this several days a week, in almost any kind of weather. They are the TRUE small businesspeople...
 @Kodiak  @OrcasThunder I'll do that - I love air brush!
@OrcasThunder
Like I said before we will have to agree to disagree on a lot of things, but I think thatâs healthy debating Iif we were always right how can you ever be wrong. I hold a great deal of respect for folks like you, and Iâm glad you are blessed with the extra weather. Look up my brother Dan down there, he has an ecliptic mix of air brush art. Best of luck. Kodiak
 @Kodiak  @OrcasThunder Thanks - it's made for an interesting summer - and a kind of boot camp for me in doing this work properly. First you need the tools - the canopy, tables and fittings to do the display...lots of it not as obvious as you think. Then get up at 7AM, load the car and get there by 8:30, unload and carry all the boxes & tables & canopy and water - do NOT forget the water! (Seafair weekend was 93 F, and the breeze off the bay only helped a bit!) Set up and lay everything out to be ready by 10...then get ready to welcome and talk to the looky-loos, explain the woods and shapes - and answer unexpected questions..."What do you DO with a bowl?"...All day long until breakdown, and pack it all up and cart it to the car to load it, drive home and unload the car. Then fix a quick dinner and crash in front of the computer...
And you know the best part? Talking to people, and seeing turners walk in and get that "look" on their face...and watching a woman try to make up her mind as to which of the 3 she wants...
@OrcasThunder
You and I can agree to disagree on a lot of things, but this is one thing we can totally agree on. I work my a** off to provide for my family and my employees. Lots of people think that Iâm some huge business too, and the reason I moved to TX was because I simply couldnât sustain in WA because of the laws up there.  Best of luck my friend, and hopefully the extra dry spell will bring in more work for you.Â