20 Things I’ve Learned From Doing Art Fairs (continued)
Here’s the follow-up to the first post of 20 things I’ve learned. The first 10 dealt with people and selling. This 10 deal with traveling and tents.
11. If the event allows prior day set-up, do it. I usually don’t hang any work though. Not so much for fear of theft. More so weather and vagrants.
12. Be ready early. If the event begins at 10 am be done setting up by 9am. Most events have loads of early buyers trying to beat the heat and the crowds.
13. Driving and maneuvering a large van is easier than using a trailer.
No matter how big the van or how small the trailer.
14. Outdoor events are more profitable than indoor events. This is illogical, but despite the fact that indoor events are climate controlled, usually superior artwork jurying and on the whole a more classy look, they never pull in the huge crowds. My best indoor event nets me about the same as a mediocre outdoor event.
15. Never use a cash box. Always carry your money on your person. (I generally use the totally unfashionable fanny pack.) Cash boxes are easy to snatch when your back is turned.
16. Dog Stakes (corkscrew style) are the best way to secure your tent on grass. Straight stakes and weights will do in a pinch. But they aren’t nearly as secure
17. Rain is not the enemy (wind is.) Getting rained on is not as bad as you might think. Be prepared because it will happen.
18. DO NOT remain in your tent during a thunderstorm. It is a 10 x 10 lightening rod. Also if the storm is major enough abandon the tent instead of trying to hold it down. Remember Omaha 08, a woman tried to hold down her tent during that storm. She broke her arm and still lost her tent.
19. When someone offers you some free thing, always say “yes.” and more importantly “Thank you.” This is usually water or donuts. You may not want it now but later you may not be able to pop away for something. Following this train of thought be sure to bring snacks (nothing too messy,) water (or diet Coke. I like to keep myself on a Caffeine drip the entire event) and lots and lots of ice.
20. And last and most importantly in regards to keeping me from being crabby the entire event . . . Always request the top floor of the hotel you are staying in. At the end of the day climbing all those stairs is a pain. But not as big a pain as having people stomping around overhead all night long. In a like manner, avoid hotels with wedding parties.
I never thought about that, with the top floor of hotels. You’re right though. I usually need to get the ground floor because stairs are right out of it for me, unless there’s an elevator.
Very good tips about everything! It’s cool to find out what works with those tents. I keep looking at them in catalogs and drooling, they are so cool. Dog stakes, with corkscrew bases. I’ll remember that.
Thanks for these very helpful guidelines, Mona. I do not yet have a tent, but if I did, I probably would have stayed in it during a thunderstorm. I will remember this post.