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.