Getting over the FEAR

I'm terrified to participate in outdoor craft shows! Simply terrified. Worse, almost all the late spring and summer shows in my area are all outdoors. I just know Mother Nature will have it in for me and blow my entire tent and all my precious jewelry into the Lake. Gone forever!

Now some large indoor shows do happen in the summer, however they are several hours away. In comes fear number 2. I have an awful sense of direction, truly. There is a running joke in my family that I can get lost in my own neighborhood. Sad fact is, it's true!

This past year I discovered and reconfirmed the fact that my jewelry does not sell at smaller venues. If the gate is under 1,000 my sales have been pitiful. If the venue does not advertise and promote to my target customer, I have very poor results. So, after my last small show in October of last year, I swore off these types of shows. Mind you, I did learn valuable lessons at these shows, but frankly, I could have much better spent my time (10+ hours a day) developing new products, marketing, updating my blog, etc.

Therefore, in order to participate in ANY craft fairs this year I will need to conquer at least one of my fears. Do I suck it up, get a tent and sell locally? Or do I risk getting lost on the way to Madison? Or do I stop doing craft fairs all together and focus on consignment and wholesale accounts? Hmmmm...there's and interesting (and scaredy-cat) idea!?

More Artists to Come!

My 90 Artist Features have only just begun! There is so much talent yet to be discovered and I will return to my Features shortly (promise!).

However, as life and business sometimes collide, I have been very busy preparing for a Craft Show this weekend and tying-up loose ends before we head off on our BIG family vacation.

So, have no fear! I will promptly return to my Artist Features as soon as life slows down just a little :)

When it's all said and DONE

It's Monday, July 9th, 8:00am. I'm just rolling out of bed after a wonderfully long weekend in Milwaukee.

ART vs. CRAFT is one of the best shows I have ever participated in. The promoters did an outstanding job of organizing and advertising the show.

Unloading and setting up was painless, and tearing down at night was easy too. The crowds were plentiful and very diverse.

My booth was situated between MaryInk and a "newbie" clothing designer. I think her name was Emily. Next to "Emily" was RelishDress. MaryInk is from Tennessee and travels with her boyfriend to many of the Eastern and Midwestern indie shows selling their handmade silk-screened T-shirts. "Emily" is a newlywed and was there with her husband, Pat. She also made silk-screened tank tops and wonderful oil-cloth aprons and capes. "Emily" and Pat were locals from the Milwaukee area. RelishDress was also there with her husband and sold hand crocheted earrings and necklaces. RelishDress is from Flint, Michigan.

And then there was me. I did the show by myself and was selling my Argentium, fine silver, and copper jewelry.

As you can see, the vendors were quite a diverse bunch too.

I also met many wonderful shoppers, many of whom either had taken a jewelry making class or were currently enrolled in a class. As an artist it always makes my heart flutter when I here "I tried making jewelry and it's hard work" or "your pieces are so elegant" and my favorite comment of the weekend came from a gentleman who simply referred to himself as a Visual Artist, said, "your work is elegant, simplistic, with great lines." I just about melted. Nothing makes me happier than to have customers recognize the thought and intention behind my work!

Next: Tips I learned at the show...

The Rumor is TRUE

Yep. Be prepared to do what you love! Be prepared to do it a lot less often!

I never realized how much time it takes to RUN a business. Inventory, bookkeeping, designing a portfolio, printing and designing business cards, marketing, making contacts, looking for sales leads, deciding which craft show seems promising, etc, etc, etc. I spend so much more time at the computer and on the phone than I actually spend CREATING that thing I love. Jewelry.

If you think going into business means crafting all day.....think again. Think long and hard. Don't just take my word for it either....next time you visit a craft show, ask one of the vendors what a typical week is like. Ask them how their day has been.

Chances are they woke up way too early, loaded tables and boxes of product into the car or van, ate breakfast on the road, with luck they didn't get lost on the way to the event. Assuming they arrived at the beginning of set-up time, usually between 7am and 8am, they check-in with the promoter(s), find their booth assignment and unload all their tables and product. If the vendor is a bit seasoned, they can probably have everything set-up in their booth in less than two hours. With a little more luck they finish booth set-up with time for a potty break, quick shot of caffeine, and a few minutes to check-out the competition and layout of the area. Now it's 5 minutes before "showtime"....brush your hair, check you breath and teeth, get comfortable, and smile...it's going to be a long day.

Personally, a show day can last 12 or more hours from the time you wake-up to the time you get home and unload the car/van. This of course is not including follow-up and post-event bookkeeping and updating inventory levels. That's a few more hours.

Do you have the time and dedication necessary to be sucessful?