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.

This isn't so much about what to write about, but how to make it easier to write posts.

The first idea is to write in a series. My previous post was about 7 ideas for writing blog posts.  This post continues with other blog ideas. Rather than writing one really long post, break it up into separate sections and post them periodically.

Next idea: Write a bunch of posts all at once. Don't post them all at once, just write them in one sitting. Save them and post them over several days.

Another idea: Check if your blog host has the capability to post automatically. Some blog hosts will let you schedule your posts. That way you can write several posts and then schedule them automatically to post even when you're not sitting at your computer. I am writing this post right after I published the previous one, but this one won't get posted for a couple more days.

Last idea: Update an old post. Publish an older post but include more information to update. For example, if your post was about creating a piece of artwork, repost it and include the information that the artwork sold.

That's all for now, I have to go make artwork for an upcoming show.

Years ago I used to do a show in Dana Point, California. It was a beautiful location right by the ocean. From my booth I could see the tall ship Pilgrim. I sold pretty well at this show.

For a variety of reasons (mostly that I kept forgetting to sign up), I stopped doing this show. Well, this year I thought I should do it again. My reasoning was that my newer artwork more reflected the location. I am doing much more nautical art and I figured it would be a great fit at this show.

I got up early the morning of setup and arrived at the show location 10 minutes before the allowed setup time. I like to do this whenever possible just because it is easier to setup when you don't have to contend with your neighbors.

When I got to the check-in area, there was no one there. Not even the usual line of vendor vehicles waiting to get in. Did I get the date wrong? No, there were lots of barricades up and other pre-show stuff going on.

I found the person in charge and I was in the right place, I was just the first one there. They showed me to my space and I started setting up. About 20 minutes later a few other vendors started straggling in.

Then I noticed who the other vendors were...

There was the window replacement contractor, and the local credit union, and the made in China seller, and the made in Vietnam seller, and, well, you get the idea. When I had a chance to walk the show, I found that maybe 5 out of 50 or so vendors actually made their own stuff.

There were many other changes to this show as well. Like music that didn't fit the theme, and making visitors pay to get into all of the event except the vendor section.

Needless to say, my sales were not very good. And, I was really disappointed.

And what did I learn from this experience?

Two things: First, shows change and you've gotta know when to keep doing them and when to stop. And second, heed my own advice. Investigate a show before doing it.

If you want to avoid the mistake I made, get this book, The 35 Questions to Ask Before Applying to a Show:

Ten years ago today, How Original! An Art Gallery in Laguna Beach closed its doors forever. (Well, at least until I go insane enough to try it again.) In many ways I miss the place. It was fun and exciting. And, I learned so much. Most importantly, it helped to start me on this new path of author and speaker.

The other day I received an email asking about one of my pieces of art. This is the body of that email:

A couple of weeks ago, I called Morgan Stanley to take some money out of my account. I've done this before, they have all the appropriate paperwork on file, and it's an easy process. Right?

Okay, I admit it. I love cartoons. Disney, Pixar, Warner Brothers, I like them all. Lately, I've been watching one of my all time favorites, the Animaniacs. There was a movie from 1999 entitled "Wakko's Wish."

In this movie, the character named Wakko makes a wish. In a standard fairy tale cartoon, the fairy godmother would show up. But Animaniacs is not a standard cartoon. Instead, the person who shows up is the "Desire Fulfillment Facilitator."