Lessons Learned during my first Arts Festival in the Rain

I participated in the Roswell Arts Festival this weekend. And for the first time since I've been doing shows, it rained the entire weekend. I was really surprised that customers showed up anyway! I didn't expect anyone at all. But we've had rain for over a week straight here, and I think people were getting a bit stir-crazy and wanted something to do. So they showed up! Although my sales weren't fantastic, I think I did very well for the conditions.

Here are a few nuggets of wisdom that I learned:

1. A poncho is an absolute MUST.
2. Bring lots of pins / clothespins. You can use them to pin up your tablecloths so that they don't get quite as wet.
3. Bring a waterproof bag where you can store some dry towels, washcloths, socks, etc.
4. Bring empty trashbags where you can toss your WET towels, washcloths, socks, etc!
5. Bungee cords + duct tape = great hanging hooks! I offered one to my customers where they could hang their umbrellas or jackets while they were looking around. (see picture) They were very appreciative, and I think it may have helped some sales because it was easier for them to browse.
6. Rubber boots. I didn't have a pair, and I wished I did!
7. Tarps. You may think your tent won't leak, and maybe yours won't, but mine did! Fortunately I had a spare poncho that I threw over the leak. But next time, I will have tarps.
8. Use plastic boxes for your product and supplies instead of cardboard. Rain + cardboard = mush.
9. Don't blow off the show completely just because of rain. People will come!

I have another show next weekend - Riverfest in Canton, GA. I'm hoping for better weather!

Festival Preparations

I will have a booth at two festivals coming up the next two weekends. (Links are posted on the top left column of this blog.) There is SO MUCH WORK involved in getting ready for these festivals; my "bead room" is now officially a disaster area and DH is hyperventilating - he's a neat freak.

Step one: Each piece of jewelry needs a price tag. I print my own tags, but that means printing them, cutting them out, and hole punching every single tag. Most of this takes place in the office area (which as you can see from the dinosaur on the desk, I share with my son).




Then it's over to the "bead room" where I cut strips of raffia and attach tags to everything. This is when I take note of which pieces have tarnished, and into the tumbler they go before getting tagged.



Of course, it never fails that while I'm doing this some other beads call out to me and want to be made into a new piece . . . so here's what my work table ends up looking like!



Once everything is tagged, I begin putting my displays together. I like to do this step before I arrive at a festival; that way all I have to do is set up the busts and stands. Once I've put it all together, the displays go into big plastic storage boxes.



What a mess! Ugh! This process usually takes me several days to complete. But the cool thing is once it's all packed up, my bead room is practically empty and I can actually do some cleaning in there.

More pics coming once all is packed!