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Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Smithville Jamboree



I shared a booth at Smithville Jamboree (July 4 weekend) with Maggie (in the picture). Not a bad show - about the best I've done at a craft fair, actually, but I still wasn't happy with what I made, considering I sat in this tent for 25 hours that weekend. And packed up in a storm, with the car a block away.

The economy is really killing craft fairs. Anyone else notice this? Seems like people go to browse, with no intention of buying anything. They walk by with this glazed look in their eyes, not really seeing anything. It's kind of sad. I did another fair two weeks after this one and made $13 over my booth fee.

And I gotta ask myself, is this worth the hassle of lugging my stuff and setting up and losing a day of "real" work? I'll post more on the gallery opening in a few days, but my stuff is selling a lot better there and I don't have to do anything... I think my plan is to lay off the craft fairs until the holiday season.

How are craft fairs going for you?

6 comments:

pippijewelry said...

I did pretty well at the Ketchum Arts Festival, but I think that is because it was the same weekend as the Allen & Company summer retreat, and nobody around here does wire wrapping like I do.

Meghann said...

I think people are getting out and going to craft fairs and such because they need to do something to get out of their funk. Once the economy picks up, they will be able to afford the things they saw at those craft fairs and will probably go back - but this time to buy. If you stop going, you may miss out on those sales....or you may save booth fees. It sure is a toss up! I hope sales pick up for you soon :)

storybeader said...

Like the black cloth - I've been wondering how to change my tables up! Looks real nice.

fragrantmushroomgallery said...

I wouldn't recommend the black cloth, especially for outside shows. It shows every piece of dirt and fuzz. Maybe some fuzz-resistant material.

Pink said...

Craft fairs wave been Ok for me this summer, no worse than last summer anyway. I was having trouble finding good fairs so I started my own. After all the stress of getting that set up it was really rather successful and looks like it will grow!

Athena's Armoury said...

I pretty much decided not to do any fairs at all this year. Last year was pretty weak, I couldn't imagine it being better. We seem to be six months behind the economy of the rest of the country, so maybe next year we might see an improvement down here. Hopefully.