Alright, so even though my first show didn't go well, I still have some advice for you guys! Especially those of you who are doing your first craft show. It can be so stressful - believe me I know - and I want to give you a little extra to be prepared for.
So, when I first decided to do the show, I went online to look for tips and advice from seasoned veterens. Which is great, but I think it was almost less helpful than I expected. They do the things they do because they've been doing it for such a long time. I still recommend looking at those blogs and lists and tips and all that, but take some advice from a first timer as well.
So! My first piece of advice is give yourself some time!! I know that looking at craft shows that are 3 or 4 months in the future is hard, because you want to do this right now and be good at it and then keep doing them all the time. Well, if you don't give yourself enough time, you aren't going to be prepared enough to succeed. You're just going to end up going crazy. And crying. In the office. At your job. Yuuup. We aren't going to talk about that. Just, give yourself at least 3 months k? I gave myself barely two, and I have like a million other things going on. Working 40 hours a week, taking 4 college classes, running a pathfinder game once a week, keeping my apartment clean, working on cosplays for WhoCon, keeping my boyfriend happy, taking care of my pets, and at least calling my mom once in while. Plus trying to prepare for my first craft show. That just isn't meant to happen. Not in two months.
Look at the things you have to make. How long does it take you? If they are simple things, that don't take very long, then make lots of them, if they take you longer, give your self a little more time. And don't forget that your first craft show is not just having the inventory. You have to work on displays, pricing, set-up, trasportation, ,etc. I forgot about some of that stuff. It's easy to think that won't take very long or it's not going to be that big of a deal, but it is, and it matters. I'm gonna break this stuff up for you guys. I don't want to give it to you all in one big post, because then it will be more difficult to find exactly what you want.
So here's the breakdown:
Preperation
Inventory/Pricing
Displays
Set-up
Day of Show
I will be doing one page at a time, especially as I continue to update my own things for my next show. Once the word is blue it's a link and the page is up. That goes for each page too. Some things I will be linking together once all the pages are complete. It's only a link if it's blue! Have fun exploring, and if you have your own tips, put them in the comments!
So, when I first decided to do the show, I went online to look for tips and advice from seasoned veterens. Which is great, but I think it was almost less helpful than I expected. They do the things they do because they've been doing it for such a long time. I still recommend looking at those blogs and lists and tips and all that, but take some advice from a first timer as well.
So! My first piece of advice is give yourself some time!! I know that looking at craft shows that are 3 or 4 months in the future is hard, because you want to do this right now and be good at it and then keep doing them all the time. Well, if you don't give yourself enough time, you aren't going to be prepared enough to succeed. You're just going to end up going crazy. And crying. In the office. At your job. Yuuup. We aren't going to talk about that. Just, give yourself at least 3 months k? I gave myself barely two, and I have like a million other things going on. Working 40 hours a week, taking 4 college classes, running a pathfinder game once a week, keeping my apartment clean, working on cosplays for WhoCon, keeping my boyfriend happy, taking care of my pets, and at least calling my mom once in while. Plus trying to prepare for my first craft show. That just isn't meant to happen. Not in two months.
Look at the things you have to make. How long does it take you? If they are simple things, that don't take very long, then make lots of them, if they take you longer, give your self a little more time. And don't forget that your first craft show is not just having the inventory. You have to work on displays, pricing, set-up, trasportation, ,etc. I forgot about some of that stuff. It's easy to think that won't take very long or it's not going to be that big of a deal, but it is, and it matters. I'm gonna break this stuff up for you guys. I don't want to give it to you all in one big post, because then it will be more difficult to find exactly what you want.
So here's the breakdown:
Preperation
Inventory/Pricing
Displays
Set-up
Day of Show
I will be doing one page at a time, especially as I continue to update my own things for my next show. Once the word is blue it's a link and the page is up. That goes for each page too. Some things I will be linking together once all the pages are complete. It's only a link if it's blue! Have fun exploring, and if you have your own tips, put them in the comments!
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