Craft Shows are evolving

Which is why it's been over a year since the last post . Or maybe not the whole reason. But I have been getting into more shops , which is a whole different post category .

But I really miss shows . Shows are a way to try out different display ideas . And see new work . And meet new people .

I took some pictures of booths at the State Fair . All very well done .

This is a skill that can translate elsewhere , though . For now I think it's time to focus more on having work in galleries and shops .

During the Show ....Good Service and Self Care

   At the start of my time doing craft shows I never worried about anything but doing the show , being nice to customers , having enough inventory , and following the rules . All of that gradually changed . I began to see that unless I took care of myself a little bit , the show was not going to go as well . Then I realized that if I was having a little bit of fun while still treating my customers well , the show went even better . I started looking for the shows that offered a little bit of comfort as well as some entertainment . At the very least I looked for good people watching. First on my list of priorities was always the rest room situation.  I've been known to suggest to show organizers that they should try to have separate port - a -potties for the crafts people. That actually happened . Indoor shows will almost always have a good rest room situation , even if they are Renaissance Fairs .

.

 If the show is out of town , it's always great to find accommodations close to the show . If there are two of you , one can get a nice break in the motel room while the other works , then trade off . Here is the Nu Wray Inn in Burnsville . We stayed there while doing the craft show that took place right on the street in front of it .

Next , while it's great to look professional , you still want to be comfortable .You will probably be unloading and setting up . I have seen people do this while they are dressed up , but I don't envy them . Even if you are required to dress in costume , there are ways to do that comfortably .

Not the one wearing the bodice so much........

Also think about what to eat and drink . As you can see in the above photo , food is there , but is it what you want ?  Packing the cooler with something you can eat with a minimal mess is a good idea . Also bring plenty of drinks and stay hydrated .

    At the end of the show , have a plan that will let you rest . We used to be too tired to get something to eat immediately after the show , but if out of town , we took a nap in the motel room , then ate a late dinner. If it was close to home we went almost all the way home , then stopped to eat .

( This guy is actually an actor hired by the Renn Fair to lay on the ground pretending to be drunk and begging women to help him . )

Not sure how much they paid him ....

Setting up and Tearing down

It seems like setting up for a show is something you just DO. But it actually can be the hardest part of a craft show. Not only are there rules to pay attention to , such as not blocking the street , moving your vehicle as quickly as you can once you unload , and where to park , but if you can get most of your set up done before the rest of the show gets busy , you will be much more able to relax.

For years my best show involved setting up at 5 A.M. It was in October and it didn't get light until after seven. We set up using headlamps. Once the tent was up and the inventory was inside we would walk several blocks to a nice breakfast place and take our time until it got light enough to actually see what we were doing and arrange the display . The show didn't open until 10 A.M. , but from then until 5 P.M. we rarely sat down or stopped selling. Sometimes there were lines into the booth. So early set up was worth it. Breakfast was a life saver.

This was a tough set up , but most of the time it just wasn't easy. There is plenty of noise and confusion. It pays to be congenial to those setting up around you. You are about to spend a long day with them. You will probably see them at other shows throughout the year.

And there are some surprises. One year at a show in a major downtown area , we found out that someone had failed to close the street to traffic. Cars were flying by the tents. I'm sure our expressions matched the ones we saw on the people in the cars. Many of the vendors were just wringing their hands or expressing disbelief. I was marching quickly to the show office .  It took a few minutes to get a barricade up , and before we did some brave souls simply went to the end of the street to redirect traffic.

And tearing down can be just as tough. Usually , everyone is tired. There is even more noise. Cars are coming in to get packed. It's worth thinking about packing up slowly and letting other people clear out first.

Basically , we are setting up a village , then tearing it all back down

.

Packing for your show

 This subject might not seem to warrant a whole post , but you can trust that it does. If I had a dollar for each thing I've forgotten over the years , or for each thing another craftsman forgot and tried to borrow , I might be able to buy my own island. And I say "tried to borrow " not because I was unwilling to lend whatever it was , but because the person always seemed to need something my own set up didn't require , and I didn't carry. It was the same for me if I needed to borrow something.

 So what I really recommend doing before you do your first show is a mock set up. It will pay off very well for both packing and setting up. And if you are like me , it can provide a reality check. I'm not always a minimalist. I love being over prepared. But often , I can't fit everything in the van. If you are like me this can help you avoid being overwhelmed. It can also help you think through what you are doing when you set up.

 Another trick I use is to have certain things that I just keep packed and ready.  There is a toolbox that has tools for setting up ( basics such as screwdrivers ; yes you can borrow that , and specifics such as the right size wrench for the glass display ). There is extra room in the toolbox , so I tuck in a few wet wipes in case I get time to eat , a few bungis just in case , and anything else I've learned the hard way might come in handy. There is also the "rain Tote ". This is separate and I only grab it when the weather says I should. Sometimes I grab it just in case and leave it in the van as a backup. This has towels to dry things with  and some cheap plastic painter's drop cloths  along with clamps to hold them in place over anything that can't fit in the tent . I use the cheap plastic deals at $1.99 each because they get really messy and this way I can toss them. Tarps would be better for the environment , but they are hard to pack out without getting everything else wet. I only use the drop cloths if it's raining really hard . I also have disposable rain ponchos in case we forget the rain coats.

 If you are thinking you won't show up if the weather is bad , that doesn't always work. Some shows won't consider your application the next time around if you do this , and there is always the bad 

weather that shows up suddenly without warning .

 Also keep in mind that if you pack things so that what you need first is on the top , or easily accessible , that's a plus.

 Here's a photo from long ago that shows the tent and the racks up top. If it's raining , you set up the tent first , then the racks , and once you have your dry spot established , you can move the inventory from inside and put it under the dry tent.

Last but not least , it helps to have a list. There are things that just don't get on the radar unless you do My achilles heel has always been the tent weights .

And speaking of weight....it might be a good idea , if you have inventory that is heavy , to know the weight limit of your vehicle. If you are like me , you never thought about this. And you are surprised to find out you are exceeding it.

Some recommendations about show equippment ;

Your tent can be one of those quick up folding canopies , but keep in mind that if you want to leave your stuff overnight , or if the weather will be bad , you probably want tent sides. These only come with the higher priced tents.  Sometimes you will see a deal that says it includes sides , but they aren't telling you the front is not included. There is also a big difference between the sides that zip in and those that are applied with velcro. When it is raining and you need to get the sides up , zippers are much faster .You can buy a tent without them , and then buy your sides later , but that route will probably cost more. Also , there are heavy duty tents that take a bit longer to put up , but are far more sturdy in bad weather. The quick up folding tents can pool water to the point of collapse and are more prone to being blown away in high winds. Our first tent of this type actually did blow away in a brush with a tornado at the beach. When everything cleared , we noticed the tent next to us was still standing and in good shape , while most of the other tents were damaged. We immediately asked for the name of this tent company and ordered one. And don't forget to purchase tent weights.

Your display equipment is pretty personal and up to you. It can be completely home made or it can be purchased. I do advise having some sort of designated desk  . It is also important to have a plan for keeping things off the ground. Using plastic totes to store things such as packaging and extra inventory is a good plan. If you are set up at the edge of a street and there is a downpour , at least part of the street can flood.

Craft Shows...how to apply

 First , of course , you have to decide what show you want to do. Or need to do. Things to consider about your first show are if it will be indoor or outdoor , how long it will be , what time of year , and how close to home.

  If you have no experience with any sort of craft show, the safest thing to do is to schedule an indoor show close to home , preferably a one day event. There is just so much to learn about doing craft shows that it seems best to take weather and travel out of the equation at first . There are even some indoor shows that have a central checkout. They take a percentage of your profit instead of a regular show fee.

  There are many ways to see what shows are available in your area. Before Google , we had to subscribe to periodicals that listed different events. Now it's easy to google these. You can call local arts councils and get on their mailing lists.

  There's been a trend in recent years to make these shows easier for the craftspeople to do . Some show fees include a tent and tables that are already set up for you. One of the shows I do lets artists set up on the porches of the beautiful old houses in the neighborhood that hosts the show. Other shows treat the crafts people to free lunches or breakfasts. Be sure to look for things like this to make your life easier as you get started.

 And remember that if you are doing the same show as another artist you know , you can ask them if they mind having you set up next to them. Usually , the show honors this request as long as both parties make it.

 Some of our favorite neighbors. These guys are jewelry artists. The cats are their friends.

The actual process of applying can be varied. The biggest thing you need to have ahead of time is photos of your work. There are whole books on how to photograph craft work , but a good rule of thumb can be to shoot photos outside on an overcast day. This will cut down on glare. Keep things simple. A plain background is best. People starting out tend to stage their shots with a textured background , a background with related things , or too many items in one photo. I've been part of several craft juries and can tell you that things look best all by them selves with a plain background. You may need to get creative here. I have used unwrinkled fabric as well as elevating the object I'm shooting so there is only sky behind it. Look at work online to get an idea. Etsy , lists of artists participating in shows  , etc. Shoot plenty of photos , then choose the best.

Most applications are very specific about how they want your photos presented and submitted. Read the directions carefully and fill out the application carefully as well. Double check it . Some applications will be mailed in , many are online. I've even come upon one that wanted me to create a Facebook page for my business , then send them a link.

Most shows now require application fees. I'm sure this is smart , as many shows have far more applicants than they need and someone has to go through all of them and make a decision. You may also need to send a check for the show fee at the same time as you apply. Just be aware that applying can cost a certain amount of money .

Also be aware that some shows start taking applications up to a year ahead of time. These are usually some of the events that have the best turn out , the largest profits , and the most applicants. So start early , pay attention to detail , and good luck !

The Craft Show Adventure ....things to consider

 When you start to get a body of work ; art or craft , the next step is to sell it. There are many ways to do that , either in person or online , but there's a real advantage to selling at Craft shows ( or Art shows ). I mention Craft shows first because they usually generate more sales.

 First , in dealing with the customer yourself , you get all sorts of great feedback . Things like color preference, sizes that will sell , you get to hear about them as well as ask questions. I always like to start a conversation that may lead to feedback. And if you sell something you also get feedback that way.

  Next , you can see what others are both making and selling. It's always fun to look around and see if you can tell who is selling the most, then figure out why .

  If you already sell in a gallery or online , you can promote this at the show . Handing out info about yourself with these things included is a great opportunity. It doesn't need to be a fancy handout , just a small thing you print from your computer.

  Then there is the other entertainment . You can sell your work , listen to music , watch a parade. And while the shows where I have the best sales are craft shows with no other entertainment , you can always watch the people.

 But the best thing about shows is having contact with the other artists, I have made friends for life this way. I've also made some great business contacts. And there are people who I may never see again , but will never forget.

  

  So what is the downside ? First , most of these shows are outdoors. You are at the mercy of the weather . Sometimes it is possible to find an indoor show , but the rent is usually higher and there is almost always an admission charge.

 Then , you will need display equipment. It may be possible to borrow this, but eventually you will need your own. This includes a tent and chairs as well as the actual display . You will need something to pack your inventory in and a vehicle to haul all of it.

 Last , you will need to consider how to take payment. Will you take credit cards ? It has gotten more complicated to do this. How about checks ? And if you handle cash , do you plan to check for counterfeits ?

 So there's a lot to think about .It can be a process where you start with small indoor shows and talk to other artists about their experiences.

  And if you do decide to plunge in , I'm going to do a few more posts on the subject , such as how to apply , how to set up and take down , how to survive bad weather , and how to pick the shows that are best for you.

  One way to check things out before you take the plunge is to volunteer at some shows you have an interest in. You can talk to the artists and see what it takes to go from set up to tear down . Or you can go to the show as a visitor , but you may miss the behind the scenes part.

Display changes

       Each year after the Christmas season is over and inventory is done , the gallery where I have my

work does a clean up and rearranging. . This is a great practice and we all get energized by it.

       Last year part of the cleanup was a plan to transition all the fiber displays onto rolling units that

could be pushed out of the way when an event was being held at the gallery. This meant that I needed

to come up with a plan to move the items from my stationary display near the front of the store onto

some sort of rolling display back near the back door.

      The stationary display was about 3 x 8. My rolling display had to take up less space. I've long

contended that fiber looks better when there is a mass of it , unless it is extremely upscale stuff. The

display space in the other gallery I was part of was very limited and I sold very little there .

      There was one thing I did learn from this experience. I had to provide my own display equipment

for the slat wall in this gallery and was sent to a local display store to look for it.  This place was huge

and full of revelations. One of the most useful things I saw there was grid wall display.While I've

always seen this at craft shows and thought it looked a bit cheap , I figured if I massed enough

crochet on it the grid wall would be covered. And I was desperate . I couldn't think of any other

display option that would roll . Here is what I wound up with -

     This worked for awhile . It did get rolled too close to other displays and sometimes it would

capture part of the other display in the crochet , but it did sell.

    The next time my rent was due , however , the gallery owner offered me an entire 10 x 10 space.

This was something I've always wanted , but there were very few of these , so I never thought it

would happen.

     Now I knew all about grid wall , so I got some more. We agreed that some more homey touches

would be good. I'm sure a completely hand made display would have been better , but it would have

been too time consuming. Here's the  result -

I have already added more to this and moved some of it around. I like the flexibility of it.