[Jewelry making - Article 00087] - [Orchid] Rant about SNAG and Clasp

[joanna gollberg]

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    I wonder if anyone else feels the way I do about these conferences.
    I know I am ranting and "poor me-ing" but I got the info booklet for
    Clasp today, and it upset me! (It upset me because it looks so
    appealing and I can't go!) 

    I would LOVE to have gone to SNAG a couple of weeks ago. It would
    have been great for me to meet a bunch of you folks and others and to
    help market my new book by putting a face with my name. I heard
    about some of the talks and seminars and wish I could have been there
    to learn some things! I would also LOVE to go to Clasp. (My teaching
    schedule DOES conflict with the dates but i might be able to TRY to
    work it in...). The Clasp conference looks so inviting! 

    however, i cannot afford to go to either one! With the registration
    fee, hotel, food, and transportation, I just simply do not have the
    money. 

    I have just spent $1000 on getting a new credit card terminal and
    printer. I have thousands of dollars out in booth fees for craft
    fairs. I must save money in order to buy more materials so i can
    make more jewelry to put out on consignment and to make for the craft
    fairs I have paid for. (I do not buy materials on credit.) I must
    pay for my studio rent and utilities. I own my own small 900 square
    foot home and live by myself and must cover all those bills alone. I
    drive an older Honda that gets great gas mileage, but I mostly walk
    to work! I do not spend a bunch of money on useless items like
    starbucks coffee or expensive clothing. I shop at the discount
    grocery, for god's sake! I DO save money to take an overseas trip
    every other year, but I go to Asia where it is less expensive, not to
    europe! 

    I feel I am fairly successful in my business. I have written 3 books
    on how to make jewelry/metal work, I sell my work at several
    reputable galleries, I get accepted into fairly good craft fairs,
    and I teach at really great craft schools. I would like to be able to
    network and learn more about the world I operate in. I would like to
    learn more about what other people are doing and making in this
    industry. I would like to learn how to be a better business person.
    I feel these conferences are designed for people like me, and yet I
    can't even afford to go. 

    So...am I wrong in thinking that these conferences are designed for
    people like me? Or are they designed for even more successful
    "business people" instead of craft artists? 

    I guess I am doing something wrong, but I am not sure what it is.
    It's frustrating. 

    I'm curious what other people think!

Thanks,
Joanna
www.joannagollberg.com
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