[Jewelry making - Article 00093] - Re: [Orchid] Packing up in the middle of show rant

[Rick Copeland]

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    Well, I'm glad I stuck it out. There were a few more customers on
    Sunday and they were buying! At least at my booth. One of my first
    customers on Sunday made my weekend. The show was only 5 minutes from
    my house so my expenses were mostly the booth fee ($290 + $10 jury
    fee). 

    The others that stuck it out were equally incensed at the people
    packing it in on Saturday. I'm still a newbie at shows but it makes
    me feel better that if I can get people walking by my booth I make
    sales. One thing I will say about the customers this weekend, no one
    asked for a discount. Unlike the Gem and Mineral show I did the
    previous weekend where everyone wanted a discount. But rockhounds are
    notoriously cheap and also think they can grab a rock from their
    collection, wrap a wire around it, and call it jewelry. 

    A few things I've learned from the few shows I have done in the last
    two years: 

    - Don't jump at a new show or a show at a new venue. 

    - Check out the promoter's track record, past attendance of the
    show, etc. 

    - Be cautious about signing up for fine art shows in small to medium
    cities. I had a couple customers comment that they had read about the
    show but were hesitant in coming because they thought it would all be
    paintings and sculptures. It may be just the small town mentality of
    where I live. If you wanted to attract a crowd where I live the
    headline should read: "GUN and art show". Of course your going to
    attract the discount hunters that way... 

    Peace, love, and hammering metal! 

Rick Copeland
Silversmith and Lapidary Artisan
Colorado Springs, Colorado
http://home.covad.net/~rcopeland
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