5 Tips for surviving a multi-day craft fair.

When I started down this rabbit-hole of a small handmade jewelry business, I made all the mistakes. I would show up to craft fairs, all eager to have people peruse my wares. I had been told how to price items and what professional booth setups were supposed to look like, but I was doing great, and it would all work out fine. Years later, I think back on those days and am amazed that I ever sold anything!

I am older now, and the one day of soreness and fatigue stretches into two or three, and with two kids and animals, that amount of down-time simply won't do, so I have really taken the “Work smarter, not harder” to heart. To that end, I offer these five tips for surviving a multi-day craft fair.

The Two-Day Craft Fair -- It's a marathon, not a sprint.

I don't usually do a lot of multi-day crafting events.  They are rarely close enough to my home, and there is usually one day that is great for sales, and the second day is more of an "also ran."  It's an exhausting proposition, and the less busy day is just frustrating.  A good two day fair is a joy, but is still a long event to manage, and a little bit of preparation can go a very long way toward making the experience an enjoyable one.  

1. Just get the weights on the tent from the get-go. 

Every once in a while my group of crafter friends will be sitting around at an event or post-show dinner, and someone will say, “Remember the time Elsa's tent went airborne?” All will laugh, and I will then interject with an explanation for the uninitiated, and then sing the praises of Tenacious Tape (this plug is not sponsored.) It was a windy day, and I was so happy to be seeing my crafter-buddies, that I was gabbing and not anchoring my tent after opening it. The next thing I knew, it had blown up into the air, inverted, and impaled itself on a stop sign, leaving a two foot gash in the fabric. The repair with Tenacious Tape saved me having to get a new tent canopy, and has held up for over ten years. Bottom Line, respect the wind and secure your tent with its weights before you do anything else.

I know, the weights are a serious pain in the ass, but if it's a two day show, and you're leaving your tent overnight, you don't want it to blow away while you're not there to watch it. Also you don't want your tent blowing over and damaging other people or another crafter's merchandise.  Don't be that guy.

2. Bring a chair... and use it!  

If I haven't mentioned it lately, this is a long slog of a process, and if you spend whole the day standing and talking to customers,  your feet will be in active rebellion by the end of it. I have often had to remind myself that I need to sit, or I will regret it later. I know sitting can make you look less like you're eager to assist potential customers, but I have found a counter-height folding table and an Ikea folding bar stool keep you from having to stand up to converse with customers, and you save your feet and legs from so much fatigue.

3. Lots of water, and have a plan for food.

I have a crafter friend who did a lot more shows than I did, and I would always marvel at her level of preparedness. I would be rushing like a mad thing trying to get out the door on the morning of a show, and she would show up early, be set up way before I was, and would always have a lunch packed with her. After ten years of selling at crafts shows, I have finally come around to the importance of bring my own food and drinks.

Most larger craft fairs will have at least a few food vendors, and I'm all for supporting fellow vendors, but the lines are murder! Unless you have a buddy that can not only watch your booth, but process payments for you, any time you spend away from your space is time you won't be making sales. At a busy show (which I hope all your shows will be,) this means thirty minutes or more that you won't be selling if you are waiting in line to order and receive your food. Also, the food at shows is often full of salt and grease and can be expensive. Several food purchases over the course of a show can eat into your profits, and possibly your energy levels.

For my shows, I have a medium sized cooler with an ice pack, two refillable water bottles, a big container of fruit, some coconut bars, and a sandwich or some cheese and crackers.

I want options that will be easy to snack on, won't make my fingers greasy, and will keep me from have a blood sugar drop right at the end of the day.

If you really love the show food (pit beef is fab,) see if they have an online ordering option, or order as early as you dare to avoid the crowds. And for the love of all things, remember to buy enough water bottles to last you the rest of the day if you didn't bring them from home!

4. Bring a Buddy, if you can find that Magical Unicorn of a person!

Some people are loners when it comes to shows, and I respect that. People often ask me if I bring my kids with me to help at shows, and I will respond with a laugh (or an eye-roll if the junior humans have been getting on my last nerve that day...) They always say how it's hard to find good help these days, and boy they aren't kidding!

Working these events is a hard gig, and if you find someone willing and able to be your “Booth Buddy,” treat them like the absolute gem that they are. Having a compatriat can make the busy times less harrowing, and the slow times more entertaining. Not to mention that you can go take a pee without stressing about something awful happening to your booth. I have the added bonus that my friend Mary is very social, and actually enjoys doing shows with me. She can also gush about my pieces in a way that I am not comfortable doing myself.  Fair warning, though, if you can, try to avoid having people who are going to make your day even more stressful or complicated.  This includes uncooperative family members and friends that will just complain about how long the day is, or how hot it is outside.  Your tent is your little store, and people who will mess with your energy really aren't worth any booth relief they could offer.  

(As a side note, check with event organizers to see if they will have volunteer booth minders circulating throughout the event.  Many of the nicer juried shows will have these lovely people who will come around and offer to watch your booth while you go hit the bathroom or get a snack.)

5. Have something to keep you busy... preferably not on a device.

My friend Marina had a story about how she was doing a show at a very prestigious locale, and she folded a tea towel for two and a half hours. The same tea towel... for two... and a half... hours. When we asked her why she was doing something so patently ridiculous, she said it made her look busy, so she had a reason to let people look through her pottery without having to interact with her before they were ready. I've often noticed that people would prefer to be able to shop in my booth without me staring at them, eyes all filled with hope for a sale.  When Marina and I would do shows together, we would often intentionally step out of our booth to see if it had an impact on shoppers' behavior. Anecdotally, we found that when we were not in our booth (but seated on a bench nearby to observe and help out if there were questions) people lingered longer and felt free to check out all the things, rather than self-consciously do a quick scan and leave. It did lead to increased sales. The busy work performs much the same function. If I am working on something, they are free to browse without me making them feel uncomfortable. Being busy is great, but being busy on a device is often a turn-off to potential customers. If you can be making something, so much the better! It's an unofficial on-site demonstration of your skills at your craft, and you can be working on building your inventory at the same time.

Multi-day craft shows can be a physical, and often a mental challenge. Chatting up that many people can be exhausting, even for the most extroverted among us. I have often ended a craft show feeling pretty good, until the inevitable break down makes me more tired and sore than I can believe. Even the best-prepared will still have to load several thirty pound weights into our cars, along with a tent, tables and chairs and any unsold merchandise. With a little bit of preparation and copious snacks and water, the process can be enjoyable and rewarding. After all, you do get two shows for the setup effort of just one, and that can be a real benefit.