Fur In The Paint

Yes that’s me on the left working on my Percheron painting.

A Day In The Life Of An Art Fair Artist
5:00 am Wake Up
5:30 am Get on the road. Driving in heavy fog.
7:00 am Arrive at event which opens at 9
9:15 am Booth opens for business
9:16 am - 4:00 pm demonstrate, paint, talk and sell
4:15 - 5:45 pm Pack stuff back into the van (normally takes less time but we had to haul everything out from the center of the park)
6:00 pm after a quick meal we leave town
7:00 pm Arrive in town 45 miles from home and stop to go to a movie.
9:30 pm Drive home
10:15 pm Arrive home and answer emails and messages from the day.
12:15 am Go to bed.

We Got Lucky (Let me count the ways)
1.) So what I thought was to be a sweet spot turned out to be an awkward and cramped spot because whoever was marking booths failed to factor in the fact that the tent could not collapse down into a triangle shape. We had to bump our tent right up to our neighbors because of this we wouldn’t have access to the back of the booth. I figured I’d have to sit near the entrance of the booth (which I hate doing because it often scares of lookers.) We usually like to have access out the back for storage and selling area.

As were staking the tent into place I looked enviously at the empty neighbor spot thinking it was probably a jeweler (because they can usually show up at the last second with a few tables) But a thought occurs and so I go the staff and ask if our neighbor is a jeweler (because secretly I was hoping it was a cancellation) and lucky me it was a cancellation. I then asked if I could set up my other tent since I was planning on demonstrating if I promised “not” to sell in it.

She said “You can do whatever you want with that space. It’s your lucky day.” And so I did an quickly before any other neighbors got idea of staking a claim.. In the end, instead of one cramped spot with no access out the back I got a double wide which looks . . . well twice as impressive with tons of space out back. (Sa-weet!)

2.) The weather was gorgeous. It had stormed overnight a few people had lost their tents (no idea if that’s why my neighbor canceled.) Since we knew it would storm and lately they’d been severe we passed on setting up until morning. The crowds were thick but the buying light. We had a good days sales and I’m happy with my take, but as usual was hoping for like double what we did. I don’t know that I’ve ever said “Okay we made enough money at that event. I don’t think I need to sell another thing.” The Gap between more and enough never closes.

3.) Also I got an award. This event doesn’t have a best in show, first second third kind of thing. They have 6 merit awards of equal assessment. So I got one with a check (I really do love free money. meaning I didn’t have to give something up for it. Well other than my time and sweat.)

So there was my day. And Lorie, you were right. We were blessed.

I’ll do an art fair assessment on the Art Sail event in a day or two.

NOTE: Once again I forgot the camera. But not being able to come back and say sorry no pictures yet again! I used my cell phone. So image quality isn’t the best but at least you get an idea.

Tags: artfairs

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