So I have finished my last show of the season. It was a great note to end on. The best one so far! I thought I would share a few things I have learned on this new venture (for me anyway).
1) The first show is the hardest. Besides the fact that you have to make the displays and get the initial inventory up, it is difficult for the one fact that you have to be brave enough to try. It is intimidating to say the least. The good news is that it gets easier both time wise on preparation and also emotionally.
2) The reward is in the experience not just the monetary gain. Get out and meet the other vendors. You will meet the most amazing people and it could help you learn better ways to display, interact with customers and all in all just to get your social self out their mingling!
3) It is a social experiment to say the least. It takes time and error to discover what of your items sell, who your target market is and what shows do best for your items. Keep working at it. Ponder each show at the end of it and decide what you will do better at next time.
4) Keep good karma! Think positive thoughts about your work and about your customers. Good vibes makes it better for you and for everyone else. Art is form the soul. So get your soul in order!
5) Enjoy yourself. Trade with other artists, talk to people and realize that if you do not enjoy it, there is no way you will continue to wake up at 5:00 in the morning, drive 2 hours, lift very heavy items, unload and proceed to stand there for 7 hours trying to sell things you made. It is about sharing your gifts and a little of yourself. Only do it if you love it.
All in all I have learned so much and I have been so happy that I have tried this new venture. I have been some of the most amazing people. It was scary. I did not sleep the night before the first, second or third show. But it got easier. I got my head straight on why I am doing it and now I know that I love doing shows and that for me they keep me going. I get more compliments on my work in one day at a show then I would 6 months anywhere else.
Until next time... have a gleeful day!
Nikki
I have yet to do a show, but my pre-new years resolution is to build up enough inventory by October so that I can have a booth at the local county fair. It lasts for a week and a half so I"m excited for lots of sales time but terrified for the same reason! Will I have enough to last that long?! I'm taking your blog as words of wisdom for the future. =)
ReplyDeleteShena,
ReplyDeleteYou can do it! Unfortunately there is no way to tell how much you need to bring. But I say the more the better. :) Good luck and keep me posted. This was my resolution last year. For once I can say I kept it this year! You will be hooked once you do it!
Nikki