Summer Craft Show Report

Yes, it’s been a long time since I’ve posted
to the blog. Recuperation from back to back
surgeries and then being thrown back into a
heavy show schedule has kept me from
“business as usual”.

Since I last posted in April, I participated in
10 shows. Finally, now that the heat of July
is here, I am taking a much needed rest (after
this Saturday’s show) until August 14th.

Reports of the last 10 shows aren’t rosy!
Sales are way down, attendance is way down,
and we had some horrendous weather to contend
with.

And I’m not alone! All my art and crafting
friends are saying the same. Seems we are all
taking a beating by the economy. Right now we
are in “survival” mode, and probably will be until,
at the very least, the fall. We are all counting on
Christmas sales to save our behinds this year.

Believe it or not, the high dollar shows were the
biggest disappointments. I personally did much
better sticking close to home with the $50-$75
rents. Several that I participated in were upwards
of $200-$250, required lots of travel, and they
just weren’t worth it.

I also suffered a lot of damage this year during
the bad weather. I faired better than some, many
losing tents and complete displays. All in all, I
took a $800 beating in damages in June. I’m still
picking up the pieces.

How has YOUR summer been thus far?
Till next time…….

Theresa

Rejected??!!!??

Back several months ago, I applied to the Chestertown
Tea Party in MD for a space in their May 29th show.
Sent in the $175 show fee, $20 jury fee, my pics and
application.

I have to admit I was surprised as heck when I received
a rejection letter in the mail. Strangely though, no return
of my show fee check.

So, I wrote the organizer:

"I received you love letter in the mail rejecting my craft
into your show for May 29th. Please return my check
for $175 ASAP"

I then crossed it off my schedule, ripped up the contract,
and made plans to take a mini vacation for the Memorial
Day weekend instead.

Imagine my surprise when I opened my email today......

"Hello Theresa, I think there has been a mistake. You
should not have been mailed out a rejection letter. I must
have inadvertently mailed the wrong letter. You have
been accepted into the show and I will be mailing out
the show materials the beginning of May" Contact me
at ______ if you have any questions. I am very sorry for
any inconvenience."

And inconvenient it was....

* I already used the $175 (foolishly) for other show bills
and this totally screws up my budget for the month.
* I already made plans for the Memorial Day weekend
for a little getaway and it means canceling plans.
* I just had finished crossing out the show on 100's of
show schedules I had printed up.
* I threw my contract in the garbage already, so I don't
even have my paperwork anymore.

But the show comes highly recommended by others in
the business, so I'll deal with it. Hopefully it will all be
worth it when all is said and done.

Till next time.........

Theresa

Negotiable? Are You Nuts?

I’d seen something today that blew me away.

Imagine, signing up to do a craft show, and
then seeing the following write up about the
upcoming show in a newspaper article……..

This is the quote from the show organizer:

“If you’re looking for a Valentine’s gift, the
craft show offers one of a kind handcrafted
items at negotiable prices”.

Negotiable? Am I reading this right? Is this
organizer crazy? Drunk? Or is he just
desperate to get people in the doors of the
show??

Imagine being a crafter at this show??

I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t ever
do a show under these conditions. Hell, I
would sooner do a flea market, if I were
going to have to deal with hagglers all day
long.


Theresa

http://www.PinsAndPoetry.com

A New Year

January! A time of year that us “show”
crafters and artists look forward to.
No shows, perhaps a winter vacation to
somewhere warm and sunny!

Me? I’m bored by January 15th. How
many of you can relate?

January usually means cleaning out files
and making new ones for 2010. Filling out
applications, and writing rent checks while
watching the checkbook take a beating.
Hunting show replacements for the shows
that sucked last year.

In February, we’ll put our nose to the
grindstone and start crafting like mad in
preparation for shows that begin in March.
Sprucing up our displays, and coming up
with new designs.

Maggie, my youngest, did it right this year!
Went on vacation, to Egypt, of all places.
(pictured above on right) She too is an artist.

Not a starving artist, just an occasional hungry
one. Now that she is back home, safe and
sound, she joins the rest of us…getting
ready for a year of hard work and praying
for a fabulous 2010, in spite of the economy.



Theresa

BAD SANTA!

BAD SANTA!!! He delivered me applications
for 2010, but with many a surprise!

Like everyone, I guess show promoters are feeling
the pinch. They have to be, why else would they…

1. Make deadlines for applications so much earlier
than last year?

2. Make space sizes smaller to fit in more crafters?

3. Raise the rent?

4. Start allowing buy/sell?

5. Raise their entrance fee to shoppers?

But I don’t get it!!! In times of recession, you would
think people would band together and help one another
out. Not do more and more things to turn honest to
goodness crafters away!!

In looking over my applications to send out for next
year, this disturbing trend seems to have taken hold.

Take Colorfest in MD for example. It’s a HUGE show
that is held in October and the whole town participates.

Imagine my surprise, when the application deadline
is now December 15th!

Coming up with an extra $225 BEFORE Christmas
is a little ridiculous. Not only that, they made the
space size smaller.

C’mon people. Don’t let greed destroy your shows!!


Theresa K. Hardy
http://www.PoetryByHardy.com
http://www.PinsAndPoetry.com ß NEW Website