With thousands of people and over one hundred galleries working the rooms at Art Miami, the scene was, in a word, tremendous. Although the premise of ArtMiami is to allow galleries to showcase the artwork they represent, for me the expo was more about the scene. What could an artist draw from this exhibition? What could collectors see and buy? What kind of fun could we have?

The proximity of the convention center to South Beach ("SoBe," as the locals say) was perfect--not too close but within walking distance. To say that the people in SoBe are amazing to look at is an understatement; it was hard at times to decide what "art" to view-- the natives or the gallery displays. Even more remarkable than the beauty of Miami's residents is the diversity. The various cultural influences, especially the Latin influence, have transformed Miami and made it a wonderful place to see contemporary art.

The organizers of Art Miami knew that there'd be as much partying as buying and selling. Nothing was scheduled before noon, leaving evenings wide open. These could be spent at SoBe restaurants, at discos and dance clubs, or at local artist openings and Art Deco Weekend shows. Staying power is important in SoBe: nothing seems to start until at least 10 PM, including dinner.

Still, the real drawing card was the art on display. Where else can you see so much contemporary art for as little as $7.00? There was a huge variety of work from all over the world, and two special areas dedicated to emerging artists. "Currents" featured new galleries showcasing contemporary cutting-edge work; MEGAFino featured new work by young Latin artists.

For the artist, the galleries provided an opportunity not just to appreciate new art but to make connections and do some research. One thing that struck me was how expensive the artwork was-even with galleries taking 50%, this is good news for artists. Clearly, people are willing to spend money on art. In addition to the chance to shmooze and observe (I loved eavesdropping on various art consumer conversations), there are various symposiums and panel discussions to sit in on. I also recommend splurging and buying the catalog of the show. You get not only images of the gorgeous art on display, but also the names and addresses of galleries, with lists of the artists in their stable. This list could be an important marketing tool.

For collectors the Art Miami show offered an opportunity to see works up-close that they may have previously only seen in catalogs or on-line. There were limited editions of modern artists like Picasso and Man Ray available, as well as new work from the world over. There was also the chance to invoke the traditional American dream of "cash and carry"--galleries were able to ship pieces from the show, and could quickly cover blank wall space with yet another incredible piece from their storage areas. American collectors could buy a piece from an artist in Korea and pay a nominal shipping cost from Miami. Those collectors new to the contemporary art scene had the chance to sit down to review portfolios with gallery owners, who are always more than happy to "look out for something" for the serious collector.

What's the final word on Art Miami? Go, go go. The sights, the sounds, the culture, and of course the art made for a great four days. If you absolutely can't go to Miami then check out Art Chicago or International Art Expo NewYork. Somewhere at one of these expos there's a gallery owner just waiting to be charmed by you, or, at the very least, there's a party worth crashing.

This article was originally created for TheArtBiz.com. It appears on NYFA Interactive courtesy of the Abigail Rebecca Cohen Library.