| Author | Content |
mangomo
Fort Lauderdale, FL
May 09, 2006
09:11 PM Post #2264054
| If anyone has been in a juried art show, any info on preparing for one would be music to my ears. I just got accepted into my first show and I am scrambling trying to get my together. The show is June 3rd and 4th and all I keep saying is "yikes"! I need to get to work . |
Vee8ch
Palm Bay, FL
(Zone 9b)
May 11, 2006
07:39 PM Post #2270278
| Congratulations girl! Don't have any info to help you but I'm very happy for you! |
scooterbug
Tellico Plains , TN
(Zone 7a)
May 11, 2006
08:40 PM Post #2270449
| whoo - hooo Congrats on the first big step.
|
mangomo
Fort Lauderdale, FL
May 12, 2006
09:50 AM Post #2271998
| thanks for your support. I'm kinda freaking out but hey, whatever happens I 'll just look at it as a learning experience. I'll let you know how it went after the show. |
SandiTX
McKinney, TX
(Zone 7b)
May 12, 2006
01:02 PM Post #2272537
| I think you'll do fine. Don't forget that we love pictures! |
scooterbug
Tellico Plains , TN
(Zone 7a)
May 12, 2006
10:40 PM Post #2274197
| yeahhhhhhhhhhh !
Wannaaaseeeeeeeeeeeee ;-P |
scooterbug
Tellico Plains , TN
(Zone 7a)
June 04, 2006
11:17 PM Post #2353356
| Well this was the week end for the show.
I can hardly wait to hear how the event turned out. |
mangomo
Fort Lauderdale, FL
June 05, 2006
09:16 AM Post #2354150
| I'm tired...it is very exhausting to do an outdoor show, especially in south Florida in June. Rain came and went both days but we handled it pretty well. I sold a few small pieces on Sat. and then Sunday was great. Got a custom order for a very big mirror frame from a very wealthy couple that lives right on the beach and The Miami Herald took a pic of one of my mirrors and that will be in next Sundays paper along with my name and bla bla bla. It was an excellent learning experience for a first show...setting up displays, pricing, what people mostly liked. I also got invited to do a higher-end show by a committee member in September which is very hot here and the prime time for hurricanes but I'm going to do it. Until then, I am staying in my studio and sucking up the air conditioning! |
pepper23
KC Metro area, MO
(Zone 5b)
June 05, 2006
08:23 PM Post #2356081
| Good job and congrats mangomo!!! Keep up the good work and keep us posted!! We looooove drooling over your work!! LOL |
mangomo
Fort Lauderdale, FL
June 05, 2006
09:43 PM Post #2356421
| Wow, Thanks pepper...I'll post a pic of that custom order I got if ya want after I finish it..won't be for about 3 weeks , at least. My doggy is really mad at me for leaving him for 3 days so I have to make it up to him first and then get back to work.Doing those shows are like planning you are going camping for a month...feels like I moved my studio and garage downtown for the weekend and brought it back home...all in plastic storage bins! |
pepper23
KC Metro area, MO
(Zone 5b)
June 05, 2006
10:03 PM Post #2356483
| I want! I want!! Buy your dog a really expensive bone and love him up. Do those 2 he'll forgive you for leaving him. My cat gets mad if I leave him for 1 day. If i am gone for a week or more he goes bonkers and just cries and walks around the house looking for me. When I get back he turns his back to me and won't talk to me for awhile. Not even after I pick him up and love him all up. He's very spoiled. |
SandiTX
McKinney, TX
(Zone 7b)
June 06, 2006
09:27 AM Post #2357907
| Now you know we always want to see pics! I'm glad the show was a success for you. |
scooterbug
Tellico Plains , TN
(Zone 7a)
June 06, 2006
10:02 AM Post #2357994
| You girl are on your way ... whooo- hoooo ! |
oldmudhouse
Las Cruces, NM
(Zone 8a)
June 06, 2006
11:04 PM Post #2360877
| Contgratulations on your first show, Mangomo! I am brand new to this forum so I missed your posts leading up to the show (otherwise I would have sent encouraging words.) My husband and I are just winding down a 24 year business of doing hand forged iron, and we did one or two shows a year for about 17 years. Shows are a great way to get your work in front of new people (something we need if we want to pay the light bill with our craft.) But, they are a HUGE amount of work.
A few tips...start a "take" list that you will use to prepare for every show. Everything from supplies to set up your display (hammer? drill? baling wire? duct tape?) to business stuff (price stickers, biz cards, receipt, calculator, change) to survival stuff (water, chair, wet-wipes, sun hat, sunblock) and so on. Keep fine tuning your list and it will remove some of the stress as you do each show.
Do put prices on all your work. (I think it's intimidating for people to have to ask.) If you find that people are asking the same questions (what is this made of? can I use it outdoors?) then you might consider doing some simple signs for your display to help educate people about your craft.
Try to greet people when they come in the booth (a simple "how are you" will do) to let them know that you are a friendly sort, and available for questions. You will be pooped out by the end of the show, but being open to conversation really does help.
We did best at shows by having a range of items, from low-priced to high. Sometimes a customer will buy a small piece from you one year, and come back to spend more the next.
Don't worry about not having as full a booth as you think you should. Your work is wonderful, and people are coming to see you and what you make. Even if your display is a bit small at first (ours sure was) it will still work, since people will know they are truly buying directly from the person who does all the work themselves. That is part of what lures people to craft shows to shop; they want to meet the artist behind the work.
If you think of questions, don't hesitate to email me... or I guess they call it d-mail here?? (Hopefully I can figure out how to find it.)
Once you are there, relax and have fun! And pat yourself on the back for taking a big step down a great road...making a living by doing something you love! |
mangomo
Fort Lauderdale, FL
June 07, 2006
06:15 PM Post #2363638
| oldmudhouse, Thanks for the advice and encouraging words. Yes, getting everything together for the show was a challenge for the first time and I have lists upon lists of what I learned from doing this show. The show really did turn out great considering it was my first. I lost my voice the second morning just from talking to so many different and wonderful people...did I say different????? So many people from different walks of life. (Especially in south Florida)
I also learned that I need to find the right shows for me...I guess I mean the right market. Despite the hard work it was actually fun and best of all, I am my own boss these days and still paying the bills. What more could one ask for ?
Also, if I have more questions I will "d-mail" you. Thanks again.
P.S. I love forged iron work and that looks like really hard work. |
oldmudhouse
Las Cruces, NM
(Zone 8a)
June 07, 2006
07:13 PM Post #2363847
| I think you are doing great. Being your own boss is a ton of work, but if you really enjoy what you're doing, you will hardly notice that you're working your tail off! (Well, most of the time.) ;-)
You're right, finding the right audience for your work is a big part of the puzzle. You'll know when you're in front of the right folks. Just keep trying different things. You can build on your successes, and learn to laugh about the goofs. Years ago we did a big wholesale show in Dallas that was totally wrong for us. Cost us a fortune! I cried all the way to the outskirts of Waxahachie. But boy, did we learn something.
I am loving the amazing work on this forum, the quality is just wonderful. I have yet to tackle my first mosaic piece, but I have already made a big pile of abused china in preparation. I've also been a great admirer of concrete folk art for a long time, so I intend to play with concrete/tufa as well. You folks are very encouraging. Thanks for being here and for sharing.
|
SeaDreams
Georgetown, FL
(Zone 9a)
June 10, 2006
11:31 PM Post #2376621
| There's a great publication out called "Where The SHows Are". http://www.artsandcrafts.com This is a great source for Florida shows, with dates, deadlines, phone numbers and estimated crowds.. Another is "Sunshine Artists". Florida is iffy in the summer with the heat and lack of snow birds for cash flow... We did Flagler Beaches Fabulous Fourth last year and had a lovely show. Good luck!
|
mangomo
Fort Lauderdale, FL
June 11, 2006
09:01 AM Post #2377243
| Hi SeaDreams! I do subscribe to Sunshine Artists and love the magazibe. Does "Where the Shows Are" list shows that Sunshine Artists doesn't? I am going to check out that link..Thanks so much! |
mangomo
Fort Lauderdale, FL
June 11, 2006
09:04 AM Post #2377249
| SeaDreams, I went to that site and it pulls up a travel site...hotels, rates, stuff like that. |
oldmudhouse
Las Cruces, NM
(Zone 8a)
June 11, 2006
10:40 AM Post #2377611
| I think there was an extra "s" in that link, after art. I'm not sure, but this may be the site that SeaDreams was referring to:
http://www.artandcrafts.com/
(I hate how picky hyperlinks are.)
While I was checking out the above, I also found this one:
http://www.artscraftsshowbusiness.com/Florida.htm
|
mangomo
Fort Lauderdale, FL
June 11, 2006
12:44 PM Post #2378050
| Thanks so much, oldmudhouse! I found the site and will check out the one you suggested . |
