Someone told me I’d be a good craft show organizer. After vending at craft festivals and fairs for over ten years I think I can agree. It would be hard work and I wouldn’t want to be a professional organizer, but one event? Might be fun.
Most importantly, in my opinion, is that an organizer should actually care about the event. I could do that. In fact, I might care too much, for when I take on a project I get pretty enthusiastic about it.
The organizer has to keep others engaged too. She has to make the event attractive to the vendors as well as the shoppers. What makes an event attractive to me as a vendor? Here are some things I came up with in no particular order:
1. Reasonable booth fee
2. Ample booth space
3. Desirable event location
4. Free donuts and coffee on set-up day! (Not required, but a definite plus.)
5. Big crowds ~ Not a predictable factor, but if past attendance is indicated that’s helpful.
6. Sufficient advertising
Now it’s your turn. What makes an art/craft show attractive to you as a shopper? I’ll get you started:
1. No entrance fee
2. Entertainment (music, kids’ activities)
3. Food vendors (if so, what kind of food?)
4. Good variety of artists, i.e. not heavy on one particular type of art/craft
Are you a vendor? A shopper? Both? What do you look for in an event? Are you buying for yourself or gifts for others? Do you like to make an afternoon of it, or do you like to zip in and zip out?
Even though I’m into the show season by now, I’m always looking for a good venue. Do you have any favorite shows you attend? I’d love to hear from vendors and shoppers alike!
Auntie B's Wax 
Did you mention fair weather? Not too hot, not too wet, not too windy…
I’m a crafty person, but I couldn’t be a vendor–too much kerfuffle around getting my quilt art prepared, priced, displayed. And then dealing with all the people! Too much stimulation!
I’ve been to craft shows and I enjoy them for about the first half hour, then I get sensory overload. Often times, there are so many of the same kinds of vendors. I guess I’m just not cut out for these types of events!
Weather is definitely a factor. Outdoor shows need to be planned carefully; however, as a vendor we take our chances. One show I did this year had temperatures of 90 degrees and winds up to 30 mph. Lots of people were pretty cranky.
Being an introvert myself I can totally relate to your comment about over-stimulation. By the end of a show (as a vendor) I’m just exhausted from all of the interaction with so many people and being “on.” I’m getting used to it though.
A good variety of vendors is really a major factor in a successful show. Good juried shows pick through all of the applicants and accept a variety of arts ~ a little bit of jewelry, a little bit of photography, a little bit of this and a little bit of that.
Thanks for your comments!
I love outdoor art and craft shows. I rarely get a chance to attend any more, but all of your requirements seem spot-on to me. I once paid the entry fee for the first Mackinac Island Art Fair. I bought a tent, made a ton of work, framed several, matted and wrapped a bunch more, made a all kinds of plans…as the date drew closer, I became more and more panicky. I needed to hire a friend to help to set up and tear down, lodging, time off work, etc…I figured I needed to make $1500.00 just to break even…not counting the work. I stressed over the weather, the number of pieces I had prepared, the one million things that could go wrong… I finally wrote to cancel my participation, six weeks before the event. A huge storm blew over the great lakes on the weekend of the show, making me believe my decision was for the best. Still, I’ve always wondered how it would’ve gone and what it might have led into. I’ve never been invited back…perhaps six weeks was not enough notice? I admire your devotion and dedication to that lifestyle, though. It is a tremendous lot of work, with lots of variables simply out of your control. Thanks, Sara!
OK, first of all I’d say pulling out of a show six weeks in advance is plenty of time. I hope you got a refund on your booth fee. Second of all, I don’t blame you for getting nervous ~ your product is much different than mine. I have pretty sturdy wares, but if something does get ruined it’s not ruined forever, and repairs or do-overs aren’t expensive. If I had fine art I’d be more nervous about outdoor shows.
I bet an art fair on Mickinac Island is quite a lovely one. Except in a big storm.
When it comes to covering costs I have to be careful because my products are very inexpensive. Everything is under $25, most of it under $15. Because of that I need to go for shows that aren’t too expensive. For example, it would be ridiculous for me to apply to a show charging a $400 booth fee. People like my products, but I’d have to make a LOT of sales to make a profit. I’m also very fortunate to have a roadie who works for free! (Thanks Husby!)
Did I just type “Mickinac” Island? Geez!
Thank you for all the good information! If I remember, the non-refundable part I’d paid was about $100.00, but I think that was not the entire fee. Yes, my work is not too expensive…the original collagraph prints I was showing were priced between fifty and three hundred dollars. I felt like I would have had to sell an awful lot. Having only shown my work in galleries, I was nervous about how the abstract images would go over, etc. etc…I love the idea of making a living from my art, but I know that what you do is a lot of work after a lot of creation, preparation and investment. You earn every bit of profit you make by blood, sweat and tears. I hope you do great!