If you've already scoured the internet for others with ideas and sharing their own 1st art show experiences, you're likely going to see some repeated tips here, but I hope to help other artists in their venture in some way!
Display ideas- I literally made a visual board of all my ideas and this helped me not forget things and to better visualize in my head where I would want things-- I'm a very visual person. Pinterest craft show display ideas, look at tons of pictures here : https://www.flickr.com/groups/715724@N24/ and find your own way to create height, interesting displays etc. I went to Lowes and bought some lumber and had them cut it up for me, and made my own shelves. Personally, I like the idea of uniformity- same color table cloths, symmetry etc.--it makes it have a polished look. I bought most of my stuff -table cloths, burlap, stringed banner etc on Amazon through my husbands Prime account. I definitely saved some money this way.
Practice Setup- I practiced setup my tent and tables with the help of my folks and my husband. It takes much longer to setup, especially if you don't have a real idea of where things need to go.
I had originally envisioned the tables being an L shape, but the tables were so close together that people would have to awkwardly walk under a tent leg. This is a photo of the nearly decided booth setup.
I had originally envisioned the tables being an L shape, but the tables were so close together that people would have to awkwardly walk under a tent leg. This is a photo of the nearly decided booth setup.
Inventory- I started making clay figurines for the better part of a year in advance before I even knew what show I wanted to apply to. Since I had such a huge head start, I didn't have to worry about making things last minute and stressing about it, staying up until 3 in the morning crafting. I advise you to do the same. Don't add stress to yourself by waiting last minute for anything.
So how much inventory do I take? You'll find various articles where people have mathematical equations on how they figure it out based on x and x and blah blah.... my brain kind of shuts down at this point as I'm not able to do math nor am I interested in it. Of course you need to take more than enough to cover your costs of the show (travel, application fees, booth fees etc) anything extra you take and sell is profit. I made a pro/con list instead
So how much inventory do I take? You'll find various articles where people have mathematical equations on how they figure it out based on x and x and blah blah.... my brain kind of shuts down at this point as I'm not able to do math nor am I interested in it. Of course you need to take more than enough to cover your costs of the show (travel, application fees, booth fees etc) anything extra you take and sell is profit. I made a pro/con list instead
| Pros of taking lots of inventory -variety - duh! -no worries about running out of stock -chances I'll have something specific if asked for it -able to experiment with stock and replace anything that doesn't get any eye love | Cons of taking lots of inventory -chances of damage/breaking stock -extra weight to carry/less room in car |
My decision changed at the last minute and I didn't take 100% of my stock based on a few things, one being the weather. It was forecasted to rain 100%. I just didn't want to carry it. I wasn't sure how many people were going to show up, but it felt almost silly to take everything. I studied and reviewed my inventory and took out most of my similar items and condensed to 2 containers of crafts instead of 3, taking my best products. My car was already immensely packed, I honestly didn't have the room either. I was nervous about not having enough things, but the sooner it got to the show, I simply didn't want to mess with it and decided as my first show it was a giant experiment and experience anyways.
Packing and unpacking the car- definitely pack your vehicle the night before. It's going to be like a giant game of Tetris. Think about your tent and canopy and making them accessible since they are the first thing you're going to want to get out and put up before anything else. Then I put up my shower curtains, banners, brought out my tables, wooden shelves, table cloths, and lastly the crafts. My experience for packing the car back up wasn't great, but in ideal weather conditions, you can take your time and do it the same way much faster. Be sure you can see out your back window!
Packing and unpacking the car- definitely pack your vehicle the night before. It's going to be like a giant game of Tetris. Think about your tent and canopy and making them accessible since they are the first thing you're going to want to get out and put up before anything else. Then I put up my shower curtains, banners, brought out my tables, wooden shelves, table cloths, and lastly the crafts. My experience for packing the car back up wasn't great, but in ideal weather conditions, you can take your time and do it the same way much faster. Be sure you can see out your back window!
Weather- the weather is a fickle S.O.B. which is the absolute worst down side of outdoor shows. My show was Saturday and I was watching the weather a week ahead of time, and of course, it was scheduled to thunderstorm the entire day. Look at the rest of the week after my show... are you kidding me!?!
The day of my show, the weather was 100% chance of rain, clear skies until 4pm and wind from 10-20MPH, with a chance of severe thunderstorms after 4. The wind and chance of rain changed all week, and even changes hourly. I physically made myself sick checking every hour-- try not to do this to yourself. The best piece of advice is just be prepared for the worst. Think of what you can eliminate taking in case of a bad storm that you don't want ruined if it gets wet (display ideas like my curtains for example) and if the weather is going to be simply and purely awful, consider bowing out of the show. There were 2 artists that did cancel. You take the chance though, that the weather could change in your favor, or that the show may not want to invite you back the next time for not attending.
The day of my show, the weather was 100% chance of rain, clear skies until 4pm and wind from 10-20MPH, with a chance of severe thunderstorms after 4. The wind and chance of rain changed all week, and even changes hourly. I physically made myself sick checking every hour-- try not to do this to yourself. The best piece of advice is just be prepared for the worst. Think of what you can eliminate taking in case of a bad storm that you don't want ruined if it gets wet (display ideas like my curtains for example) and if the weather is going to be simply and purely awful, consider bowing out of the show. There were 2 artists that did cancel. You take the chance though, that the weather could change in your favor, or that the show may not want to invite you back the next time for not attending.
Tent and sidewalls- I had applied last minute and got accepted. I borrowed a cheap tent from my parents, that had no side walls. I didn't want to invest several hundred dollars into something where I was unsure if art shows were for me. That brought in my worry though, with the rain and wind. We constructed sidewalls out of clear shower curtains taped together and strung them along all the sides of the tent. I used table cloth weights all along the sides of the curtains. This would have been PERFECTLY ideal for a light sprinkle rain with absolutely no wind... I did have wind though (10-20mph) and the sudden gusts would knock over my art which sat on my top shelves, and my neighbors paintings that were simply leaning against a rope string he had put up (he didn't mind, and he was also a 1st timer and admitted he was just winging his displays). I moved the curtains to the side (the weather was pretty sunny that morning and early afternoon) and tied them off. So glad I did. The back wall I made out of a white shower curtains and I'm glad I kept it there, because it helped my sign stand out. I took the weights from the clear curtains and added them to the white one, and with the help of the building behind me, the wind wasn't too bad at this angle.
(Note: I had originally purchased these amazing ruffle curtains for my back wall, but with the threat of stormy weather I didn't want them to get ruined. As a backup, I also purchased white plastic table cloths so my table cloths wouldn't get wet but the weather was sunny most of the day so I decided to use them because I really wanted to have a certain look. I had also purchased an amazing rug for the ground that would have completed my setup, but I didn't want to have to worry about the weather and ending up with a sopping wet 6 billion pound rug in my leather seated car.)
Tent Weights- I looked at many different options for weights, and the quickest/cheapest ones I could get ahold of were the square shaped plates. I read that they slide around if the wind is strong, so I bought two sets and stacked one on top of the other on each leg ( a total of 70lbs). I opted for this because I didn't know where I would get sand if I used sand bags, and I didn't have space for 5 gallon buckets (what the heck would I fill them with?) and I didn't have time to make the PVC pipe/cement hanging ones. The square plates worked just fine, although I think they could be made to better stack on top of each other. maybe some duct tape wrapped on the sides would make them more secure.
(Note: I had originally purchased these amazing ruffle curtains for my back wall, but with the threat of stormy weather I didn't want them to get ruined. As a backup, I also purchased white plastic table cloths so my table cloths wouldn't get wet but the weather was sunny most of the day so I decided to use them because I really wanted to have a certain look. I had also purchased an amazing rug for the ground that would have completed my setup, but I didn't want to have to worry about the weather and ending up with a sopping wet 6 billion pound rug in my leather seated car.)
Tent Weights- I looked at many different options for weights, and the quickest/cheapest ones I could get ahold of were the square shaped plates. I read that they slide around if the wind is strong, so I bought two sets and stacked one on top of the other on each leg ( a total of 70lbs). I opted for this because I didn't know where I would get sand if I used sand bags, and I didn't have space for 5 gallon buckets (what the heck would I fill them with?) and I didn't have time to make the PVC pipe/cement hanging ones. The square plates worked just fine, although I think they could be made to better stack on top of each other. maybe some duct tape wrapped on the sides would make them more secure.
Pricing- Everything I made, I had a tag on it, clearly labeling the price on each side. No one had to ask what something cost, which I've read is a #1 pet peeve of a shopper. Quiet people or people who don't want to engage you likely won't ask. Labeling each side takes time, but the customer doesn't have to spend a lot of time touching the piece itself, and doesn't have to spend more time to find out. My magnets were the exception and a large index card displayed the price, made bold with a permanent marker.
I've read having pieces of varying price points is the way to go. This is absolutely true. People may not want to invest a lot, but they may still like your stuff enough to spend $10 vs $30 etc. I sold many magnets and lower price items as well this show, and it all adds up. A few younger teens spent their own money and bought something small for themselves.
Electricity- Our location was outdoors and did not offer electricity. My main concern was how to keep my phone charged. I had small cylinder sized chargers I used before, but they only lasted for an hour or two. I invested in an Ankor charger which had good reviews on Amazon. It worked great and I didn't have to worry about not being able to take credit cards due to a dead battery.
Ask Questions- ask the art show host any questions way in advance before the show (if its not already described in the application/information about the show) things like whether if volunteers will be available to assist if you don't have the hands to open and setup a tent by yourself or with another person. A tent is usually at least a 3 person job. Will electricity be there? Do they provide anything like a table/chair? Will there be a lot of space between you and the other vendors? Ask any other questions you can think of.
Write it down- Keep a notebook to track what you sell and the cost. This helps you see what sells well and the average price someone would spend at your show. I also took notes of what people asked if I had made, and general comments as well. People used the word "cute" when they walked into my booth over 150 times that day, and that was only when we decided to start counting! haha!
Credit Cards- People who spent more than $30 at my show tended to use a CC. I had a square reader and it was so simple to use on my phone. (although I hear apple 7 has no jack, so I don't know what I'm going to do in the future if I get a phone like that) Some people said they wished they brought more cash. I let them know I accepted credit, and that there was alternatively ATMS at several walkable locations (knowing your surroundings is a nice thing to know)
Be energetic, warm and smiling- At first I was quiet and said a simple hello, good morning etc. I was nervous. My confidence wasn't there yet. I tried not to stare at people because I know that makes me uncomfortable. As the morning went on, I explained to those who had spent some time in my tent, that everything I made is from white clay, and I sculpt it and paint it. Sometimes it turned into conversation starters- "yeah, I watched the entire F.R.I.E.N.D.S TV show making those things!" I was worried about engaging the public, but I found my wittiness and jokes put people at ease and making people laugh made me feel more comfortable too. Some people will just hover outside and peer inside your tent. Some people just won't step inside and that's okay. I found that the more people who were inside my tent, drew in other people. I think the psychology there is, they don't feel pressured to have a courtesy 'hello' conversation and don't feel like you're going to attack them like a car salesman if there are other people already in the tent. I get it. I've always been a shopper at a craft show too.
GET THE WORD OUT!- If you have a facebook, or other forms of social media, advertise your show and the things you will be selling. Your family and friends can be a great support, and if they bring a friend, you can potentially have many more customers!
I had been interviewed on a local TV station about my art that morning, and people would come in and say they recognized me from the news. (https://mobile.twitter.com/AmberJayFOX19/status/774628351906574336)
I told them "oh yeah I'm famous now! Do you want my autograph?"
Always smile. I took a break and visited the other tents. I saw one artist very quietly sitting in their chair staring into the distance and I was the first to say hello. It felt..... awkward.
Have business cards, a website/etsy/ instagram / facebook page etc- People can be curious about your art. They may really like your style but didn't see what they wanted quite yet, so they want to follow you until you make what they are looking for. The guy next to me was a really, really talented painter had nothing- no business cards, no website, no facebook, no etsy.... and people LOVED his paintings. I heard at least 40+ times "do you have a business card?" and he had to explain every time that he didn't have any contact information. I really tried to encourage him to at least get a facebook so people could follow him. He just didn't seem to care, he was such a free spirit. ughhhhhhh!! I even bought a painting from him and I have no way to buy more because I don't know where or if he'll be anywhere!
I've read having pieces of varying price points is the way to go. This is absolutely true. People may not want to invest a lot, but they may still like your stuff enough to spend $10 vs $30 etc. I sold many magnets and lower price items as well this show, and it all adds up. A few younger teens spent their own money and bought something small for themselves.
Electricity- Our location was outdoors and did not offer electricity. My main concern was how to keep my phone charged. I had small cylinder sized chargers I used before, but they only lasted for an hour or two. I invested in an Ankor charger which had good reviews on Amazon. It worked great and I didn't have to worry about not being able to take credit cards due to a dead battery.
Ask Questions- ask the art show host any questions way in advance before the show (if its not already described in the application/information about the show) things like whether if volunteers will be available to assist if you don't have the hands to open and setup a tent by yourself or with another person. A tent is usually at least a 3 person job. Will electricity be there? Do they provide anything like a table/chair? Will there be a lot of space between you and the other vendors? Ask any other questions you can think of.
Write it down- Keep a notebook to track what you sell and the cost. This helps you see what sells well and the average price someone would spend at your show. I also took notes of what people asked if I had made, and general comments as well. People used the word "cute" when they walked into my booth over 150 times that day, and that was only when we decided to start counting! haha!
Credit Cards- People who spent more than $30 at my show tended to use a CC. I had a square reader and it was so simple to use on my phone. (although I hear apple 7 has no jack, so I don't know what I'm going to do in the future if I get a phone like that) Some people said they wished they brought more cash. I let them know I accepted credit, and that there was alternatively ATMS at several walkable locations (knowing your surroundings is a nice thing to know)
Be energetic, warm and smiling- At first I was quiet and said a simple hello, good morning etc. I was nervous. My confidence wasn't there yet. I tried not to stare at people because I know that makes me uncomfortable. As the morning went on, I explained to those who had spent some time in my tent, that everything I made is from white clay, and I sculpt it and paint it. Sometimes it turned into conversation starters- "yeah, I watched the entire F.R.I.E.N.D.S TV show making those things!" I was worried about engaging the public, but I found my wittiness and jokes put people at ease and making people laugh made me feel more comfortable too. Some people will just hover outside and peer inside your tent. Some people just won't step inside and that's okay. I found that the more people who were inside my tent, drew in other people. I think the psychology there is, they don't feel pressured to have a courtesy 'hello' conversation and don't feel like you're going to attack them like a car salesman if there are other people already in the tent. I get it. I've always been a shopper at a craft show too.
GET THE WORD OUT!- If you have a facebook, or other forms of social media, advertise your show and the things you will be selling. Your family and friends can be a great support, and if they bring a friend, you can potentially have many more customers!
I had been interviewed on a local TV station about my art that morning, and people would come in and say they recognized me from the news. (https://mobile.twitter.com/AmberJayFOX19/status/774628351906574336)
I told them "oh yeah I'm famous now! Do you want my autograph?"
Always smile. I took a break and visited the other tents. I saw one artist very quietly sitting in their chair staring into the distance and I was the first to say hello. It felt..... awkward.
Have business cards, a website/etsy/ instagram / facebook page etc- People can be curious about your art. They may really like your style but didn't see what they wanted quite yet, so they want to follow you until you make what they are looking for. The guy next to me was a really, really talented painter had nothing- no business cards, no website, no facebook, no etsy.... and people LOVED his paintings. I heard at least 40+ times "do you have a business card?" and he had to explain every time that he didn't have any contact information. I really tried to encourage him to at least get a facebook so people could follow him. He just didn't seem to care, he was such a free spirit. ughhhhhhh!! I even bought a painting from him and I have no way to buy more because I don't know where or if he'll be anywhere!
Replace sold items- When something sells, I filled up the empty spot with something else. I always wanted my booth looking full. I experimented with bringing out new things, and also similar things that sold which helped me learn what was popular with the crowd.
Eating/Drinking- I tried to keep snacking to a minimum, usually when people weren't in my booth. For lunch, I pulled back the curtain and sat even further back from my artwork and ate. I didn't want any food to get on my art, or my table cloths, and I didn't want to have a mouth full of food if someone tried to talk to me. We tucked the food bag under the table cloth along with the rest of the extra stuff we brought.
Stand or sit?- In my opinion, this is entirely up to you. People have varying opinions, saying people who sit are lazy, or people who stand appear to hover. I didn't want to stand all day, and a 10x10 space is fairly small once all your stuff is up, so I stayed in my small folding chair or stood in the back corner where it was less crowded. I wasn't on my phone when people were in my booth. I didn't want to come across as uninterested or bored.
Wrapping/packaging- I spent less than $15 on ~100 clear shopping bags on Amazon with a handle, and bought dollar store tissue paper cut in half to wrap my ornaments in. I brought some bubble wrap and polymer filling for the more delicate items to prevent breaking. I put a business card in each bag once I sold something. I really don't understand expensive packaging. I had debated on buying stickers with my brand on them for the bags. Some people like the "branding", and maybe it depends on what you are selling, but it all just gets thrown out anyways, and people are buying your item, not the throw away stuff.
The horror story- The end of the show- We kept an eye on the weather all day, and a severe storm was approaching in the last hour of the show. We had asked if we could begin breaking down, and we were told not yet, and that ended up producing the worst part of the day. We saw other vendors begin to break down, so I eventually did too, but not fast enough. The blue skies and rare fluffy clouds brought forth a monsoon thunderstorm with 50MPH winds, and rain blowing in so hard that you would have assumed I jumped into a pool. I couldn't even wipe my glasses off because I had nothing dry to wipe them with. I was blind. My husband had went to get the car when it started sprinkling. After being directed wrong 3 different times, he finally made his way to me. Me, I was panicking, frustrated, angry. Where was the car?! I had taken my phone case off so my square could fit in it, and I was so wet, I was afraid my phone was ruined. I tried calling my husband and couldn't reach him. At this point, a tent behind me snapped in half and cut the arm of the artist pretty badly. Everything was blowing everywhere. People were screaming. I had managed to get my ornaments all in their containers, but the winds made the water that had fallen on top of the tent dump into my area. Nothing was left without being 100% drenched. I kept my craft bags on top of the plastic tub, to keep them off the ground where a river was now running down the street. The top of the plastic container began to collect water, and as I tilted it, crafts spilled out into the rain river. FML! I told myself to calm down. That there wasn't anything I could do and I'd soon be home. I saw my husband pull up in the street behind another artist packing up her work. I had to run out and ask her to please move to the side so my husband could get to me. I'm pretty sure she was frustrated she had to stop, but at the same time understood my situation. By the time my husband got to me, the rain had slowed down enough to pack everything. There wasn't much thought in the re-packing process. My brain was completely fried at this point. The boxes the weights came in were gone due to the rain. The table cloths weighed at least 50lbs due to the water. There was no wringing them out. We drove home and I sobbed. I was so tired.
We got home and took the crafts inside, turned on the kitchen fan on high and began unpacking and drying everything. I took the table cloths and put them in the washing machine. We unpacked everything we could in my car and put it aside in the garage. I had to take towels and stomp out the water that was in the carpet. I took a hot shower and ate Chinese food. It ended up being a successful day, other than the last hour.
The next day was perfect and sunny (go figure) so we took the carpet out of my car, and set pretty much everything in the sun to dry. My car seats are still drying...
Things I'm glad I did/didn't do:
-bringing the rug I wanted to put in my booth would have been my worst decision--given the end of the show's weather. I'm glad I didn't bring it because I'm fairly certain I would have had to have left it there.
-Buying a tub. I bought a giant plastic heavy duty tub to put stuff in. It made carrying things less awkward into one giant thing, and it ended up protecting some of my stuff.
-I used shelving. I'm glad for this because it really gave my tables a neat look. It even protected my crafts on the table level from the wind.
-I will invest in a better tent with sidewalls upfront if I decide to do more shows. There is nothing more necessary or required than a good tent with wall protection.
Things I wish I did/didn't do:
-I forgot scissors! I even had them packed in my caboodle and I must have taken them out. I really needed them when I was trying to cut down the shower curtains we could take down the tent. Thankfully we found a knife.
-I didn't really explore. I wish I would have stepped out of my tent and looked at other vendors more. To see what they were selling. To observe and briefly network with other artists.
-I didn't listen to my gut. I should have packed up sooner. Don't get greedy when bad weather is impending and coming for you. I literally had a woman hand me a wad of cash as I was packing stuff and we apologized to each other for the inconvenience. I literally barely remember this happening because I could barely keep my head on straight.
-Wind- for the most part I felt prepared, but I had tree stands with a heavy metal base that once ornaments were on, would fall when a big gust came through. Lesson- find a way to make props heavier if needed.
-Ugh... I had packed garbage bags in case of rain... why didn't I think to put my craft bags inside of them when this awful storm started? because I was by myself and completely overwhelmed. Don't forget what you have that is helpful in different scenarios.
I feel like this post pretty much covers my experience and the things I did.
Good luck!
-Alisha
Stand or sit?- In my opinion, this is entirely up to you. People have varying opinions, saying people who sit are lazy, or people who stand appear to hover. I didn't want to stand all day, and a 10x10 space is fairly small once all your stuff is up, so I stayed in my small folding chair or stood in the back corner where it was less crowded. I wasn't on my phone when people were in my booth. I didn't want to come across as uninterested or bored.
Wrapping/packaging- I spent less than $15 on ~100 clear shopping bags on Amazon with a handle, and bought dollar store tissue paper cut in half to wrap my ornaments in. I brought some bubble wrap and polymer filling for the more delicate items to prevent breaking. I put a business card in each bag once I sold something. I really don't understand expensive packaging. I had debated on buying stickers with my brand on them for the bags. Some people like the "branding", and maybe it depends on what you are selling, but it all just gets thrown out anyways, and people are buying your item, not the throw away stuff.
The horror story- The end of the show- We kept an eye on the weather all day, and a severe storm was approaching in the last hour of the show. We had asked if we could begin breaking down, and we were told not yet, and that ended up producing the worst part of the day. We saw other vendors begin to break down, so I eventually did too, but not fast enough. The blue skies and rare fluffy clouds brought forth a monsoon thunderstorm with 50MPH winds, and rain blowing in so hard that you would have assumed I jumped into a pool. I couldn't even wipe my glasses off because I had nothing dry to wipe them with. I was blind. My husband had went to get the car when it started sprinkling. After being directed wrong 3 different times, he finally made his way to me. Me, I was panicking, frustrated, angry. Where was the car?! I had taken my phone case off so my square could fit in it, and I was so wet, I was afraid my phone was ruined. I tried calling my husband and couldn't reach him. At this point, a tent behind me snapped in half and cut the arm of the artist pretty badly. Everything was blowing everywhere. People were screaming. I had managed to get my ornaments all in their containers, but the winds made the water that had fallen on top of the tent dump into my area. Nothing was left without being 100% drenched. I kept my craft bags on top of the plastic tub, to keep them off the ground where a river was now running down the street. The top of the plastic container began to collect water, and as I tilted it, crafts spilled out into the rain river. FML! I told myself to calm down. That there wasn't anything I could do and I'd soon be home. I saw my husband pull up in the street behind another artist packing up her work. I had to run out and ask her to please move to the side so my husband could get to me. I'm pretty sure she was frustrated she had to stop, but at the same time understood my situation. By the time my husband got to me, the rain had slowed down enough to pack everything. There wasn't much thought in the re-packing process. My brain was completely fried at this point. The boxes the weights came in were gone due to the rain. The table cloths weighed at least 50lbs due to the water. There was no wringing them out. We drove home and I sobbed. I was so tired.
We got home and took the crafts inside, turned on the kitchen fan on high and began unpacking and drying everything. I took the table cloths and put them in the washing machine. We unpacked everything we could in my car and put it aside in the garage. I had to take towels and stomp out the water that was in the carpet. I took a hot shower and ate Chinese food. It ended up being a successful day, other than the last hour.
The next day was perfect and sunny (go figure) so we took the carpet out of my car, and set pretty much everything in the sun to dry. My car seats are still drying...
Things I'm glad I did/didn't do:
-bringing the rug I wanted to put in my booth would have been my worst decision--given the end of the show's weather. I'm glad I didn't bring it because I'm fairly certain I would have had to have left it there.
-Buying a tub. I bought a giant plastic heavy duty tub to put stuff in. It made carrying things less awkward into one giant thing, and it ended up protecting some of my stuff.
-I used shelving. I'm glad for this because it really gave my tables a neat look. It even protected my crafts on the table level from the wind.
-I will invest in a better tent with sidewalls upfront if I decide to do more shows. There is nothing more necessary or required than a good tent with wall protection.
Things I wish I did/didn't do:
-I forgot scissors! I even had them packed in my caboodle and I must have taken them out. I really needed them when I was trying to cut down the shower curtains we could take down the tent. Thankfully we found a knife.
-I didn't really explore. I wish I would have stepped out of my tent and looked at other vendors more. To see what they were selling. To observe and briefly network with other artists.
-I didn't listen to my gut. I should have packed up sooner. Don't get greedy when bad weather is impending and coming for you. I literally had a woman hand me a wad of cash as I was packing stuff and we apologized to each other for the inconvenience. I literally barely remember this happening because I could barely keep my head on straight.
-Wind- for the most part I felt prepared, but I had tree stands with a heavy metal base that once ornaments were on, would fall when a big gust came through. Lesson- find a way to make props heavier if needed.
-Ugh... I had packed garbage bags in case of rain... why didn't I think to put my craft bags inside of them when this awful storm started? because I was by myself and completely overwhelmed. Don't forget what you have that is helpful in different scenarios.
I feel like this post pretty much covers my experience and the things I did.
Good luck!
-Alisha
