Show stuff #2

The week s about show's and I had one yesterday, a bit slow I may add... but it was not the promoters fault, there was tons of advertising and lots of vendors, and in previous years was busier.

I love doing this local craft show. It is at the local high school and benefits the 'project graduation' drug free party. Great cause in my own town, of course I do this show! :)

This is by far one of the most organized shows I go to ANYWHERE! Bev, who is in charge has plenty of high schoolers on hand to unload and pack up your vehicle! Literally I was trailing behind with ONE tote bag, saying... uhh.. did you want me to carry something?? I was unloaded in less than 3 minutes, Tables, torch, oxy con and all! These kids rock, and they are there to help you get it to your car when you break it down too! There is also a very organizes break, and food (breakfast and lunch) system for the vendors, and the student really are careful with your stuff.  I have paid 4 times as much money and gotten A LOT less at a lot of shows! The show is well advertised and they try to schedule a bake sale, and a car wash (outside) so there are maximum people stopping by. There were more signs up this year than ever, and in a wider area as well. I say the ad;'s in the local papers, and whatnot too. So why was it slower than last year???? who knows... economy? timing? I am just glad that I made money, and so did the kids!

I was a bit over packed this show. Hey, it was my first show this year, and I had a new set up I was trying out. Yes I used my checklist (and no I did not bring everything on the list! LOL) It was great as usual. My over-packing was actually in the sign-age department this time. See I got these cool stands that I have not used before, and I started pricing things individually more than in groups this year, (due to placement of products). The stands I used were awesome! My set up was easy, and fast! Yet still was pretty, and easy to shop. So back to these stands! A great find off of craigslist!!! They used to hold coffee... But they are perfect for jewelry boxes, and they have pegs on the sides for hanging stuff! I used 2 stands (I bought 5, for $5 bucks a pop!). It cut down on my tables needed! That in itself was a plus! I also took the sides of one rack and put whiteboard contact paper on it! PERFECT for writing out the prices and description of the product, with dry erase markers. This is why I had so many extra picture frame style signs, well this and I just did not go through my sign stash and bring what I needed.. I was a bit short on time, and the show is literally 8 min away from home. I have a bunch of necklaces that I made very simple, with one bead, that I sell at one group price, and some wire chocker style necklaces that I also sell for one set price. This was perfect to display and price them. I like to cary some simple items at a low price along with some pricier items. I find that when I have a price for everyone, I sell more. The second stand was a dedicated bead shop. It homed earring pairs, sets and focals :) I was very happy to sell a bunch of beads from that stand! Usually in the past at this show in-particular I have not sold any "just beads" other than BHB's for bracelets! I was thrilled!

My demo was a hit! People really sometimes just do not understand what you are talking about until you show them... I was also very happy the jewelry makers in my area are becoming more educated about Lampwork beads! I was thrilled when one customer walked in, said "Oh lampwork beads !!!! Are they kiln annealed???" Yes of course! She was ecstatic, and frankly so was I.

I can't believe did not even take any pictures of my set up yesterday! (bummer!!) Oh well next time!

One show down.... how many more to go???? IDK... It depends on how much I get to the torch!

My Show Check List

I made a check list for my show packing list a whole back, for a big show, and it helped me immensely! Of course I was ridiculously over-packed.. but hey.. you live you learn! I have since modified my list greatly! I use this general list to prep for all my shows. It helps me pack what I need, and eliminate what I do not. I find I modify this often to each event, or to specific events with either space restrictions or other needs. When I go through my check list if there is something I know I don't need, good, at least I thought about it. If there IS something I need, even if I do not use it often at shows, I usually keep it on the list as well. That way when I look at the list I remember. I also have been known to attach a sheet with a outline of the booth I have. 10x10 in comparison to say a 6x14 space is a totally different set up! I can pencil in my ideas, and have a starting point when I get to the booth, which is many times an unknown adventure in itself! Please feel free to use any or all of it. If you would like it e-mailed to you please leave a comment, or e-mail me :) I will be happy to e-mail it to you in PDF Word or Open Office format.

Packing this is a totally different story!!
I have a large luggage duffel bag with wheels, and a roller bar that I try to put things like the office and srt up small trays and what not in. I use shoe boxes (they are at the $1 store) and stack them. If I fill it I can get 6 boxes in it, and have room for something at the top. I can also pack it on top of the boxes with my table coverings if I plan right! lol
Any way you choose to pack it, make it as easy break down and re-pack as it is to unpack!

A few tips on packing this stuff up & then some:
~Anticipate the size of the crowd. Do you really need all three boxes of business cards and sales slips for a show that only 1000 people are expected? probably not. Yes we all want to say yes.. but 2 boxes is probably more than enough!

~Organize. It looks not so good when you are fumbling for a pair of pliers or a sales receipt or a pen in the middle of a show.  Dedicate a box or bag or section of____ to hold XYZ. Label boxes/bags if you can not see into them, or color coat things.. red for sales supplies, blue for business cards.. etc. Make it work for you! When setting up, it will be easy to have what you need right at your fingertips!

~Zip locks are your friend for small stuff

~Signs do not always reflect what you want them to... So make sure you have a back up. Either print out some signs that you can write in the price or have a blank ready for an item you may have missed! When its all out on the table, there is a lot that you see that you did not see in your studio! :)

~ Don;t try to demo if you know you can not. For whatever reason, be it, to many people, and no one to watch your stuff while you demo, the wrong space, safety concerns, just to much work, your show neighbor keeps knocking into things, your really tired, up all night, just not worth packing, you realize its not the crowd to demo to... whatever! ... dont do it. Have pictures, maybe a book, a few rods of glass, and some beads on the mandrel. Just as good! So much less to have to try and juggle.

~Have a buddy if possible. It is nice to be able to walk around and get a sense of the rest of the show. Not to mention the breaks you will need to get a drink and go pee, at the least. If you dont have a buddy, get to know your show neighbors. Chances are they have been in your shoes, or are in your shoes and are more than willing to help you out. Be sure to be polite. Meeting your show buddies can also lead to seeing them at more shows and networking about shows that are good, and which to avoid. 9 times out of 10, you meet great people! But there are some duds out there, so be aware!

~Don't push yourself too much. You wont want to do any shows again!

More in a few days.....
:)

The Week To Come... JOBS... and Show Prep

Well it has been an interesting week!

I started a job at a really neat company. So far its a pretty cool job, no complaints! I had a second job all lined up too... I trained, and showed up my first day, and... let down!!! Some kind of mis-communication between management, and the girl already working my shifts prior is not leaving after all. (WTF)

I was really looking forward to it!! Bartending at a sushi bar! F U N, goo hours, sat night till 11, and sunday evening til 10, (and sushi!) Really nice people too. I hope that they call me in to work in the future. I really want to keep bartending on a regular basis, even if its not there.. but for now, I guess I will keep looking.

I have to stop in and request payment for the hours I trained (and did not get tipped for) and I am thinking of asking if they want me to stay on as a fill in. This way when the girl actually decided to leave (it kindda seems like eventually she will) I can just jump in.

I am kind of mad that I really did put some serious effort into starting this job for them . I was really excited, and looking forward to it, so of course I would put the effort in. I bought new clothes.. new shoes.. (you know the all black bartender stuff) I worked a 9 hour shift at my day job, and then spent another 4 hours (ALL IN IN HEELS) bartending for my training to work the weekend... Which I did not even work, but canceled my plans, 2 weeks in a row for thinking I had a job. I had a message saying i didn't have to work the first saturday, but I was not really supposed to work that day anyways, I was just filling in. What I guess I was being told (in broken english) was the shift was covered-permanently. So I showed up for what was supposed to be my first day...

I am contemplating asking for payment in a free sushi dinner in stead of cash... I figure If they have not put me on the books, and it was just a few hours, and all this crap it is the least they can do, and it would eliminate some tension, knowing that I would have no animosity as a customer as well.

I am obviously babbling about this... It kindda hurts. I asked if I did something wrong.. They said no, it was just a mis-communication of starting me, not knowing if the other girl was actually staying.. I was hired on the spot, and they expected me to be taking the shifts, and for the girl to be leaving. I still feel rejected... :(

So no beads this weekend, and it will be a busy week at work, and I have a show next weekend. I think This week will be about prepping for shows. Checklists and some set up pics. What to bring, what I usually over pack... What I usually forget! and some stories about how to deal with customer relations. It will be more words than pics, but rest assured it IS important to keep customer relations up to be successful!