Chris Jones on tue 14 may 02
Hello,
I have done many art shows and I am usually standing in the booth arranging
something or at least seeming busy if I am not really. One thing I think is
big is making eye contact. So as much as I hate to, I lose the sunglasses as
long as possible. I NEVER read in the booth. I talk to everyone that comes
by, make them feel welcome. I wear a name tag so people know who I am. Bring
LOTS of wrapping paper and bags. Bring water! Bring change! Have a good
chair so when you are exhausted from selling all your pots, you have a comfy
place to relax a while.
I enjoy meeting and telling everyone about pottery, the process, the glaze,
etc. I make more sales and increase customer loyalty and purchase amounts by
talking with them. I love art shows, all the work, driving all night, seeing
all those people and meeting the other artists. I can't wait to get up north
to some of the big shows again.........I need the travel time.
Just my 2 cents........
Muddyjones
Visit www.jonespottery.net
Lois Ruben Aronow on tue 14 may 02
With craft show season upon us, I, and many others, will be out there
showing and selling. For me, it means my first really big juried
show!
I've sold and shown out of my studio, and can up together a display
that looks nice. But I wonder what to expect. For instance, it's an
outdoor show. I have an EZ Up. Should I bring another person with me
to help out? I know an extra set of hands is always good. What if I
have to go to the bathroom and I'm alone?
I'm guessing there are zillions of things yet to be experienced (and
I've always enjoyed the wacky customer stories shared here). Any show
survival tips and tricks?
--------------------------------------------
Lois Ruben Aronow
gilois@bellatlantic.net
=46ine Craft Porcelain
http://www.loisaronow.com
Longtin, Jeff on tue 14 may 02
Couple things Lori:
1)Good Luck! Knock'em dead! Hope ya make a mint!
2)Bring extra clothes! Never fails it gets colder than expected, gets wetter
than expected.
3)Stay away from caffeine (unless you like to go pee alot and leave the
booth!)
4)Bring extra cash...nothing worse than making a sale and find you can't
change a $50 for instance
and Please
5)Don't spend your time reading a book! (If you do please be attentive to
folks passing by!)
So many times I did shows and saw artists with their heads deep in books and
then complain that they didn't make any money!
Its not rocket science!
Yeah people will make ,at times, stupid comments but thats just par for the
course. For every stupid comment I had 3-5 really great conversations.
Have fun!
Jeff Longtin
-----Original Message-----
From: Lois Ruben Aronow [mailto:gilois@BELLATLANTIC.NET]
Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2002 7:16 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Doing your first big show - any tips and tricks?
With craft show season upon us, I, and many others, will be out there
showing and selling. For me, it means my first really big juried
show!
I've sold and shown out of my studio, and can up together a display
that looks nice. But I wonder what to expect. For instance, it's an
outdoor show. I have an EZ Up. Should I bring another person with me
to help out? I know an extra set of hands is always good. What if I
have to go to the bathroom and I'm alone?
I'm guessing there are zillions of things yet to be experienced (and
I've always enjoyed the wacky customer stories shared here). Any show
survival tips and tricks?
--------------------------------------------
Lois Ruben Aronow
gilois@bellatlantic.net
Fine Craft Porcelain
http://www.loisaronow.com
____________________________________________________________________________
__
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Eddie Krieger on tue 14 may 02
Another tip. Don't use those plastic sacks from Wal Mart or some other
store. I can't stand to see vendors sell something they have made and
should
be proud of degrade it by putting in a used plastic bag.
And a question: Where should one stand or sit in their booth. It seems that
if you're standing in the booth it may be a block to people thinking about
coming in. Sitting at the back may also deter entrance by prospective
customers. What do you experienced show goers think? It seems to me that
when my wife is in the booth the folks more readily come in than when I'm in
there. I generally stand outside and offer assistance if it appears I can
do
so without disturbing the shopper.
Eddie Krieger
Abilene, Tx.
Nikki Simmons on wed 15 may 02
I forgot to mention in my post that I sometimes take clay places with me for
other people to play with. I have never done this but plan to----give
everyone who walks into the booth some clay to add to an ongoing sculpture.
Could be a lot of fun.
Sincerely,
Nikki Simmons
In Central Missouri
nsimmons@mid-mo.net
Nikki Simmons on wed 15 may 02
I have not done a pottery show but I think I can adapt an idea we use at
antique shows. I would suggest building your booth around a seating area.
Normally we try to put a decent sized table with chairs around it on one
side of the booth.
We do everything there-sit, eat, talk, take money, it also has items for
sale on it (maybe you could set the table?). It is a place for people to
congregate and also rest from all the shopping. If you can get someone to
sit down, they often will find something else to buy. I would encourage you
to invite people to sit down and take a load off their feet, I hardly ever
get turned down.
We also keep books and things out for people to browse that are not for
sale. Coffee table books, games, etc. When my grandfather was still alive,
he would do magic tricks or play the guitar. Sometimes we sing. You could
say that we try to enjoy ourselves while we are at the show, then it doesn't
matter if we sell anything or not. If you paint or draw, bring your
supplies, or you could bring your wheel or handbuild. The woman I
apprenticed with ALWAYS has a bag of clay with her to make her figurines.
Even at the doctor's office.
We have found that our booth becomes a popular place to visit, so you need
to keep traffic patterns in mind. It has been a good thing for us, people
like to hang out at our booth, which I think looks inviting to customers.
The shows where our space is severely cramped, like indoors, we find that
our booth looks just like everyone else's and we have to work harder to draw
them in.
Sincerely,
Nikki Simmons
In Central Missouri
nsimmons@mid-mo.net
Michele Williams on wed 15 may 02
Most essential item of clothing: Big, honest smile. Wet or dry, hot or
cold. A smile is all-weather wear.
I can't tell you how many times I didn't go into a booth because its artist
was wearing a "gonna kill the next one" face. Just smile. Uses about 47
fewer muscles to smile, one size fits all, the price is right, and the
effect is contagious. Want happy customers? Smile and make them happy.
Want customers to buy? When you can be one-to-one and there's no crowd, put
something they're looking at into the customer's hand. Nothing, absolutely
nothing, beats the personal touch. Possession is nine-tenths of the law,
and holding is nine-tenths of a sale.
For those hyperactive kids who can't keep from touching, take along a couple
of things to keep them busy while they're in your booth. Many parents
aren't willing to leave an event just because Johnny's bored or Johnny's
tired, or.....you've seen it, I know you have. A couple of simple
somethings that move, a package of party games like the marble in a maze so
if one kid walks off with it, you're not out money and activity for the next
grabby child, a lizard (bug, spider--something you can stand) in a terrarium
at the back and screwed down to the table, a fun-house mirror, some balloons
to give away to those old enough...you get the idea. Costs a bit up front
maybe, but less than broken pots.
Michele Williams
Dave Dahlquist on wed 15 may 02
Let me preface this: Iam a very inexperienced seller at craft fair events. I
have done one Saturday Market and one Art Fair. But from that brief
experience I feel like I learned something. I found that when I sat or stood
in front of my booth, way off to the side some people did not want to come
in. I noticed when I moved to the back of my booth, behind a table, more
people came in freely. It never acured to me that people wouldnt want to
walk past me to get in. I was not in front blocking the entrance at all. I
was positioned at the end of one of my display tables, in front of the
canopy. Also I wasnt pushy. I made eye contact and said hi, and if they had
questions I answered them and sold them. I discovered this with only a
couple hours left. Next Saturday Iam going to compare results with sitting
in the back and pushing my pots more toward the front of my booth. I want to
create a little counter area to sit behind, but make it so I can get into
the display area smoothly to approach people who have questions, or look
comfortable carring on a conversation with me. Then use the counter area to
wrap and bag pots, make change, write reciepts, etc. This thread is of great
intrest to me as I look at the Saturday Market venue as my first stepping
stone to my ultimate goal, i eat up any advise in regards to working a show,
marketing and such.
Thanks,
Dave
Wilsonville, Or.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Eddie Krieger"
To:
Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2002 11:05 AM
Subject: Re: Doing your first big show - any tips and tricks?
> Another tip. Don't use those plastic sacks from Wal Mart or some other
> store. I can't stand to see vendors sell something they have made and
should
> be proud of degrade it by putting in a used plastic bag.
>
> And a question: Where should one stand or sit in their booth. It seems
that
> if you're standing in the booth it may be a block to people thinking about
> coming in. Sitting at the back may also deter entrance by prospective
> customers. What do you experienced show goers think? It seems to me that
> when my wife is in the booth the folks more readily come in than when I'm
in
> there. I generally stand outside and offer assistance if it appears I can
do
> so without disturbing the shopper.
>
> Eddie Krieger
> Abilene, Tx.
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
>
>
Russel Fouts on fri 17 may 02
Lois,
>> With craft show season upon us, I, and many others, will be out there
showing and selling. For me, it means my first really big juried show! I'm
guessing there are zillions of things yet to be experienced (and I've always
enjoyed the wacky customer stories shared here). Any show
survival tips and tricks? <<
This is the list the Clayart helped me build
http://www.mypots.com/Files/showprep.txt
Good luck!
Russel
--
Russel Fouts
Mes Potes & Mes Pots
Brussels, Belgium
Tel: +32 2 223 02 75
Mobile: +32 476 55 38 75
Email: Russel.Fouts@Skynet.be
Http://www.mypots.com
http://www.Japan-Net.ne.jp/~iwcat
"There is a theory which states that
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