When I first started out doing craft shows I had a rule: No buying anything until I made a profit.
 
But, look… there’s a perfect birthday present for my best friend… Oh, and a perfect Christmas present for my mom… and, ooooohhhh ... look at that!
 
My rule meant that until I actually had some cash, I couldn’t spend. After doing this a few times, I started rethinking my rule. Did it really make sense?
 
First of all, I have to get a gift for my friend, or my mom, or my brother, or my spouse, or whoever. So, would I rather go to the department store and get something that everyone else has or would I rather get something that is unique and can’t be found anywhere else?
 
I’d go for unique any time.
 
And then, if I have to buy a gift anyway, why not buy it from a fellow artist/crafter? I would much rather buy a handmade item from someone I know. It makes the gift-giving more enjoyable because I can tell the recipient the story behind the gift. And, more importantly, it supports a fellow artist.
 
I love it when a fellow artist or crafter buys something from me. It feels like I have made something that is worthy. Another creative person likes my creations. Wow, how cool is that?
 
So, the next time you are at an art show or craft show, look around. You might find a perfect gift. Or even a gift for yourself.

PS Yes, I bought one of the guitar hangars in the photo from Jason Rate of lagunabeachsurfboards.com.

A couple of years ago, I made a very special piece for my boyfriend’s birthday. I made it almost entirely at the Art-A-Fair Festival so lot of people got to see the work in progress. Now, I am completely comfortable sharing my process of creation with people.

What was so difficult with this piece was that I could not share the process with my boyfriend since it was a surprise. Well, later on I was telling him about some of the behind the scenes details that I couldn’t share with him during the creation process.

As I was talking, I started to realize just how special that piece is. What made it so special was that I created it with a very specific, very special person in mind.

Many times when you are creating your work, you end up very much inside yourself. The work is so much a part of you that you sometimes don’t consider the audience as part of the process. What often happens is that you end up creating the work for yourself and not the audience.

The thing you have to remember, though, is that the artwork needs the audience in order to be complete. So, when you are creating, think about your ideal customer. Think about how much they will appreciate your art. Think about how much they are going to enjoy looking at your art every day. Think about the happiness your art is going to bring to their life.

What this does is turns the process of production into a process of creation. And don’t you think your customers would rather purchase a creation than a product?

I was doing a show. During one of the slow times an older man came into my booth. He was interested in my process so I explained to him how I do my art. We started having a conversation that quickly degenerated into one of those times where I kept wishing he would just go away.
 
Unfortunately, being in your booth at an art show, you can’t really leave. You’re stuck having to deal with whoever comes your way. This man proceeded to tell me that photography is not art. His reasoning was that anyone can do it because all you have to do is snap the photo.
 
Interesting logic. So, by his logic, all a painter does is puts paint on a canvas. Or, all a sculptor does is play with clay. And then there are the things that have been said to me like, “It’s just fabric, it’s not really art.”
 
It always amazes me the things that come out of people’s mouths. What I find so interesting is that they often say these things without recognizing that you are standing right there and you are listening to every word you say.
 
I have had people look at my work and proceed to explain to their friend how “it’s done automatically on one of those computerized machines.” So, I quietly point to my sewing machine and say, “This is the vintage machine that I create all of this artwork with. It’s not computerized.” It’s always gratifying to watch their faces when I say this.
 
So this man just kept talking about how easy it is to just point the lens and click the shutter. I tried to interject that there is so much more to photography than that. He didn’t hear me. He had this preconceived notion that would not change no matter what I said. He seemed to be of the opinion that if you didn’t create it with your hands, it was not art. (Side note: I wonder what he would have thought of digital art. I didn’t ask.)
 
It wasn’t long before I gave up trying to carry on a conversation with this man. After a couple of minutes, I just smiled and nodded. Eventually he went away.
 
As an introvert, I only have so much energy to offer. I don’t want to use it up on fools or energy suckers like him. So, my usual approach is to smile and nod and make appropriate sounds at the appropriate times. They walk away happy because someone paid attention to them, and I haven’t wasted too much energy on them.
 
My point is this: save your energy for your real customers.
 

When you’ve been doing shows long enough, you start to hear things like, “I’ve seen your work before somewhere.” They may not remember the actual show where they saw your work, but they remember the work.
 
What a compliment!
 
For someone to recognize your work like that means that you are doing something right. And, the thing you have done is what is called “having a voice.”
 
Now, I don’t mean your speaking voice; I mean your art voice. You see, part of becoming a successful working artist is developing your own style, method, subject matter, niche, or whatever else you want call it. It’s what makes your art recognizable as coming from you and no one else. For example, when you look at a Van Gogh, you immediately recognize it as a Van Gogh.
 
You want to be able to have this recognizability for your work. Why?
 
Well, the main reason is that your work is memorable. And, if you are trying to sell your work, the more memorable you are the better. And, when people see your work at many different venues they assume that you must be successful because your work is all over the place.
 
So, if another artist doing the same shows as you does not have a recognizable voice, they just blend in with the rest of the art. The show visitors may like the work, but they probably won’t remember it later. Whereas if you have a voice, you are recognizable and therefore memorable.
 
So the next time you hear the words, “I saw your work at another show,” it might be followed by, “… and I should have bought that piece with the sailboat.” Well, look here, I just happen to have one that is very similar. Will that be cash or charge?

I am in the middle of doing a 5-weekend long art show. It is three days later and I am still tired. The problem is that I haven't done many shows this year and I haven’t been doing much in the way of exercise. My body wasn't prepared for the sudden onslaught of work.
 
When you are prepping for a show, not only do you need to get your booth and your art ready, but you also need to get yourself ready. Doing shows can be a very strenuous activity. Here are just a few of the things that you have to contend with:

• Heat
• Cold
• Standing all day long
• Lifting heavy boxes and tents
• Talking all day
• Dehydration
• Unfamiliar foods
• Sunburn

 
I hate to sound like your doctor, but the best way to deal with this is to get plenty of exercise, plenty of sleep, and drink plenty of fluids.
 
I’m going to follow my own advice and go take a nap.

Rules and regulations are created for a reason. Like it’s a good idea to stop at a red light. Well, there are also art show rules.
 
This past weekend the art police approached me at the show I’m doing. They claimed that I had not included some of my items on my application and could not sell them without first showing them to the committee. There was a question as to whether or not I actually created the items.
 
Luckily I had all of the parts and pieces in my booth so that I could show them my process and prove that I did indeed make the items.
 
The fact is I had indeed included those items on my application and additionally, I have shown those items at that show every single year I’ve done it. These facts lead me to believe that either the show management is inept, or someone complained. Either way, I was able to prove that I am the designer, creator, and maker of those items.
 
My point is that while it is always a good idea to talk about your process with your customers, sometimes you may have to actually show them. And more importantly, there may be times when you need to do a “show and tell” for the show promoters.
 
To do that I would suggest that you have a work in progress in your booth with you at all shows. If you can’t have a physical item, then have photos of you working on a piece. Be sure you are in the photos so that it’s clear that you are the creator. I would further suggest keeping a copy of your application with you just in case.
 
Hopefully you’ll never have to deal with the art police, but if you ever do, it’s best to be prepared.