Setting Up My Booth for an Art Show
May 27, 2012
This spring, the Pacific Northwest Artfire Guild was discussing what to not forget when setting up a booth at an art fair or craft show. I said I would share my ‘do not forget list’ and thought I’d share it with you too. Rather than simply paste my list here, I want to explain my process.
The ‘bones’ of my booth are my walls and tables so those are set up first. I use Pro Panels which are a bit spendy if you’re just starting out. I used peg boards at my first art festivals, that slid into a sturdy base my husband built for me. Some artists use metal grids and others hang items from their pop-up tents. My tables are inexpensive sturdy 2′ x 4′ that I found at Costco; and I use narrow plastic shelving units as extra ‘table space’, found at Home Depot. In my 10 x 10 booth, 4 tables nestle against two of my walls, and the lower narrower plastic shelves fit across half of one wall, leaving it more open for customers to easily see my wall pieces. This leaves a 2′ space for my director’s chair that I bought at Cost Plus. It’s in a corner near the jewelry so I can encourage folks to try on a bracelet or hold my earrings up to the light to see their sparkle.
Steider Studios setting up booth ProPanels
Because I only participate in shows that are indoors, lighting is very important. I bring 4 to 5 extension cords and two surge protector outlets. My wall lights slide into posts at the top of my booth and table lights are halogen lamps that I bought at Home Depot, plus gooseneck spotlights that I bought at Ikea.
Once the wall lights are in place, plugged in and checked for burnt out bulbs, I dress the tables with coverings that are as close to the wall color that I could find. I like a neutral beige so that my work stands out and doesn’t fade into a background color. It is flame retardant fabric that I bought at a Portland fabric store. I think I originally bought 10 to 15 yards after measuring for 8′ tables plus 3′ on either side for draping then added a a bit more for ‘just in case’.
Displaying my work is always a challenge because I want to put everything I have out. When I do that it looks like a jumbled mess, so I’ve finally learned to only put out what fits in the space. And trust me, it’s still a close fit! I place my newest or favorites out first in a rainbow of color or grouped in themes. My back up work is under the tables, hidden by table coverings; as are my empty storage boxes.
When the show opens, I’m ready with bubble wrap and tissue paper, shopping bags, receipt books, pens, a calculator, my mailing list sign up sheet, business cards, postcards of my work, any other printed material about me and my work, enough change to get through the end of the show, and my square for credit card purchases. By the way, if you’re an artist and still using the old card processors you’re spending more money than you have to with all their fees. Do yourself a favor and get the square for your smart phone to process credit cards.
Oh, and the MOST important part? Smile! When you smile, you’re inviting the customer into your booth. If you’re having a bad day, smile anyway. Smile even if your sales are not strong. Even on my worst sale days, I’ve met and talked with interesting people perusing the show; made friends with my booth neighbors; added names to my mailing list; and picked up a new gift shop here and there to wholesale my work.
When the show is busy and crowds are throwing money around it’s a blast. You can’t help but laugh and have fun all day. If it’s slow, no need to stand around and pout, I take inventory of what I’m running low on or what color is missing from my display. I clean fingerprints off my glass and straighten or refresh my display. If those tasks are done and it’s still slow, I start sketching and designing new ideas. Whatever you do, DO NOT READ A BOOK! Should that one customer walk by who is actually looking to purchase something, you’ve closed them off from your booth. They perceive you as not caring about being there since you’d rather be reading.
Put your work into the hands of that prospective buyer. When someone holds your art, or tries on your jewelry, you’re closer to wrapping it up for them. Don’t be afraid to ask for the sale. If the piece they like is beyond their budget, maybe you have a similar piece that’s smaller, or not as detailed that will fit their budget. Or perhaps you can work out a layaway plan. Talk with those interested in your work, they want to know all about you; and if you are willing to ask questions and get to know them, you may be building a lasting relationship and future sales.
When you make the sale and wrap up the purchase, include your business card, any promotional materials you have about your work and be sure to put your new customer on your mailing list. With their permission, of course!
Lastly, when the show is over, and you’re packing up, be courteous to your booth neighbors. Don’t stack your packed up booth components in the center of the aisle so that no one may pass. Don’t knock into your neighbors walls. It’s not a race. Everyone is tired and wants to go home.
Wishing you all success…now here’s my ‘do not forget’ list that I check before every show as I’m packing up, then double check while loading my car:
Booth: pro panels, support bars, connectors, curtain hooks, t-pins, director’s chair, fireproof info, flowers, hammer, nails, screwdrivers phillips & regular, jewelry display, step-ladder, shims, lights, extra bulbs, extension cords, power strip, signage, display stands & risers, table coverings and night covers, safety pins, measuring tape, tables, duct tape, carpet, travel vacuum cleaner, zip ties, cleaning cloth, my work and a hand truck to move it all into my booth space.
Literature: business cards, brochures, postcards, teaching/show schedules, mailing list sign up sheet.
Conducting Business: change, receipt book, pens, calculator, square, phone, stylus, charger, glasses, bags, gift boxes, wrapping paper, bubble wrap, scissors, paper punch, laptop, name tag, price tags, tape, tax id in WA.
For quick custom jewelry: ear wires, jewelry pliers, leather cord & scissors, tweezers.
Extras: camera, water, snacks, lunch, lozenges, chocolate for guests, sketchpad.
I’d love to know what you take that isn’t on my list, or what you do differently! Please share in the comments section below!!
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Last Show of the Season
May 23, 2012
My last show of the season is now history. I didn’t have much time to document, but I love this venue and want to share what I have. The Columbia Gorge Art Festival is a fundraiser for the Corbett Education Foundation which provides scholarships to Corbett students.
Before the doors open, it’s quiet enough to grab a few shots.
Pam is the marvelous show coordinator and runs the event with a cool head and impeccable business skills. She is fabulous to work with and we all adore her.
My east neighbor for the weekend was Tacy Jones of Eagle Creek Rock Jewelry and felted bags. Her rocks, jewelry and felted bags & hats are beautiful.
My west neighbor was Laurie Miller who has been my neighbor at this venue for many years. She has some very cool garden signs (one of which I purchased) that I loved so much, I commissioned her to make several (ok, a dozen) more for me. I didn’t get a picture of her booth, so lifted this image from her blog.
Had a great time connecting with other artists, visiting with volunteers and schmoozing with patrons. Next stop, replenishing my galleries; then preparing to teach at Half Moon Creek LLC in Palmer Alaska (where my class is full!!) and Pacific Art Glass in L.A. CA. If you’re near LA I believe there are still spots open & I’d love to see you!
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Columbia Gorge Art Festival in Corbett Oregon
May 16, 2012
This weekend is my last art show of the season and one of the most fun. It’s a fundraiser for Corbett Education Foundation, held at the Corbett Grade School May 19-20. The volunteers who run this show are fabulous – they take great care of the artists and our customers. They help us move in and back out; provide students to help us with labeling; conduct all sales for us; and are even available to answer questions about our work so we don’t have to be there if needed elsewhere. I will be there all weekend because I love talking with you about my work! Oh and they provide YOUR lunch for a donation!
The hardest part is deciding what to take and what to leave at home. In addition to my kiln-formed glass, and my friend Alex Farnham‘s blown glass you’ll find woodworking, ceramics, paintings, jewelry, basketry, candles, soap, photography, fiber art, and even plants!
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Directions:
I-84 to the Exit 22, go up Corbett Hill Road to Historic
Hwy and turn right. Event is about 1/4 mile on left.
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Hope to see you there!!
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In Time for Mother’s Day, Next on My Agenda:
May 10, 2012
Just in time for Mother’s Day, I’ll be at the Central Gorge Master Gardeners – OSU Plant Sale on Saturday May 12, 9am – 1pm. It’s at the OSU Extension Office, 2990 Experiment Station Drive, Hood River Oregon. In the Learning Garden. See you there with my garden art: glass ladybugs, butterflies, buggettes and more! There may be some plants for sale if I don’t buy them all first!!
Next weekend I’ll be at the Corbett School near Portland Oregon for the Columbia Gorge Art Festival, and will post their announcement soon. If you can’t make it to either event, you can find my work 24/7 at Steider Studios Shop on Zibbet.
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I’m feeling particularly exhausted after this year’s Glass Gallery. The last two days were spent basking in the sun photographing birds and flowers in my garden as new colors emerge from the earth. Today is back to reality with two more shows coming right up!
This year’s Glass Gallery was wonderful. The artists were fabulous. Our customers were delightful. I’ve shown you how the show and my booth are set up, so this epilogue will simply be some of my friends & ‘booth neighbors’ who I caught when they weren’t busy with customers. Some of my favorite artists were always so busy that I couldn’t digitally catch them this year. Starting with Carolyn & Kathy, my neighbors … then random order:
Carolyn Crystal Handmade Glass Beads
Art Glass by Dale Rohrer with Donna Mason
Michael Barley Handmade Glass Beads
Debra Fenzl of MSR Studio
Kathy Engholm of Indigo Crow Studio and Karen Fairley of Shattered Illusions Glass
Stephanie Johnston
Natalie Vinsant of Live Laugh Love Glass
Pamela Domick
Carli Schulz Kruze, Juice Glass
Julie Vincent of Corte Designs
Don Bietschek of Aquila Glass School demonstrating.
And just to show you I DID get out of my guild area for a couple of minutes, here is my friend, Karen Saró Troeger of Touch the Sky in the Handweavers Guild having just as much fun as I did!
It’s always a treat to meet new art collectors and network with old friends at this show, probably the largest one that I participate in. Over the three days I was privileged to have several particularly poignant conversations. Some of which I cannot let go of … that I keep thinking about … and am grateful … honored that I was chosen to have those stories shared with me.
Thank you.
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Art of the Gorge, Blossom Festival Weekend
April 24, 2012
The first ‘Art of the Gorge’ was held at the Columbia Gorge Hotel in Hood River Oregon during Blossom Festival. It was a magnificent weekend.
After my table was set up I dashed out to photograph the other artists and hotel grounds. Enjoy….
Charlene Fort Art Glass was the coordinator for our show.
The hotel grounds were so lovely I’d be remiss to not share with you.
Watercolors and Pastels by Christine Knowles
Did I say the grounds were spectacular?
It was hard to stay indoors when it was so beautiful outside!
Stephanie Johnston, glass pendants
It was a perfect weekend for Blossom Festival in Hood River.
The north side of Columbia Gorge Hotel hosts a waterfall.
The hotel staff offered a fabulous reception and treated us like royalty!
I love it when children like my work, but this little girl was exceptionally expressive about it! Thanks to her dad for allowing me to share her beautiful face with you.
Thanks Paul & Kim for a wonderful show. Can we do it again next year???
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Art of the Gorge, Presented by Columbia Gorge Hotel
April 20, 2012
This weekend during Blossom Festival!! If you missed my studio sale, come to the Columbia Gorge Hotel in Hood River Oregon and see a sampling of my work in glass (mine is the rainbow bowl at the bottom right of poster). A dozen of us will be presenting our best work for your consideration. While there, you can have a fabulous meal and stroll the incredible gardens. See you soon!
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Quiet After the Sale
April 16, 2012
My studio sale is over and I’m basking in the quiet. In the midst of slowly packing up all the artwork displayed throughout my house, I reflect on how much fun it was. Not wanting to be left out of any fun, my dog Treasure was our official greeter.
Old friends and new stopped by & almost everyone who came through took some of my glittery glasswork home with them. Friday was a bit slow, but I wasn’t completely ready by 10 am. so I was okay with that. Plus it gave me another chance to play with my new Lytro camera! https://pictures.lytro.com/SteiderStudios/pictures/96179
One of the highlights for everyone who tried them were the Petite-Vanilla-Scones…a recipe from the The Pioneer Woman given to me by my dear friend Chris at Everyday Heartbeats. “Very moist”…”Delicious”…”I’ll have another” were the words most frequently heard. Truly, they were quite wonderful & even though I’m not often in the kitchen, I’ll bake them again!
Many bracelets went home with fun, creative women that I loved having here. And a few were purchased by very generous men as gifts for their wives!
I love seeing all my work out and displayed. It gives me an opportunity to take stock without having to dig through boxes.
One of the many highlights for me was a hug from an interesting woman after our conversation about art and creativity. My head swells with this, but she said I was inspiring!
Treasure was exhausted after three days of greeting so many new people.
At the end of the day, it was a great show! If you missed it, you can see a sampling of my work at The Columbia Gorge Hotel in conjunction with Hood River’s Blossom Festival next weekend. It will be set up in the large banquet room near the restaurant. “Art of the Gorge” will take place Saturday, April 21st from 1pm until 5pm with a reception from 5pm to 7pm. On Sunday the show will be open from 9am until 2pm.
I’ll be gone a couple of hours on Sunday afternoon to sit on a panel discussion about blogging at ‘Artist 2 Artist’, a professional development opportunity for artists sponsored by Columbia Arts. If you’re an artist, it’s a great opportunity to grow your business, network with other artists and learn in a cooperative educational setting.
Annual Studio Sale This Weekend
April 10, 2012
Spring has finally sprung and just in the nick of time. I was hoping my studio tour guests would have some color to enjoy as they walk through my garden to my studio. Crocus are blooming and maybe a daffodil or two will open in time.
I’ve been trying to fit in time to play with my new Lytro camera. I have a lot to learn:
https://pictures.lytro.com/SteiderStudios/pictures/82926/embed
You can change the focus by clicking on the photo! The code above was supposed to embed the photo, but looks like you’ll have to click the link after all. You can see more of My Lytro Photos and watch my progression as I learn how to use this fun new camera.
In the meantime, I’m almost ready to open my studio. I still have to wash the dog nose prints off my windows & later in the week bake some lemon scones. Not to mention displaying all my work! To see how I transform my home into a gallery for my work you can go back to this previous post.
Please join me at my annual sale! I just may have an extra treat for you!!
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Sunrise at the South Point
April 2, 2012
My final sunrise from the South Point Hotel where I’ve been attending the Glass Craft and Bead Expo in Las Vegas. I’ve enjoyed this view every morning at 6:30 for the past week. Today I didn’t want to miss capturing it for you, so raced to the top of the parking garage at 6 am. I shot for about 45 minutes playing with different settings on my camera. Can you imagine how fun this would be if my new Lytro camera were in hand? It’s finally enroute, so get ready to re-focus some of my upcoming shots!! Yes, you’ll be able to re-focus what I post here! You can play with some of the photos already being sent to Lytro by photographers at this link:
In addition to my love of teaching others about glass possibilities at the Expo, there were excellent networking opportunities. As a result, I’ll be back at Half Moon Creek in Palmer Alaska this July; and I caught a couple more leads for places that are interested in hosting me as a guest instructor. Thank you Carrie of Calyx Ann for one of them!!
Heading back to White Salmon today to begin preparations for my annual studio sale. It’s in conjunction again with the Gorge Artists Open Studios Tour on April 13, 14, and 15. Yes, you heard correctly! We’re open for THREE days this year from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
To celebrate, I have a complimentary map for the first three people who bring three or more guests to my studio on each of the three open days.
Until then, I’ll be whirling my way through the cobwebs and my garden to make sure you have a delightful time at my studio! If you’d like an invitation and aren’t on my guest list already, please let me know so I can send you an invite!!
