[Nfb-krafters-korner] festival news

[Blindhands at aol.com]

I have been in a lot of craft shows in the past.  I have not been in  any 
for the last 4 years now.  I did almost all the shows outside.   Except for 
very few shows you must provide your own tables, chairs, tent/canopy.  and 
displays.The space size that you rent is usually 10 x 10 feet.  
 
As Eileen said juried shows are a  guarantee  that these are  handmade 
items and a variety of different things.  Jewelry is the one thing  that there 
tends to be more craft tables of.  
 
You really need to do some homework on these shows.  I suggest you go  to 
them prior to trying to get into them to check out if they are well attended, 
 talk to people selling to see if they feel sales are good and check 
pricing of  things.  
 
If you go to a church fair   and they have a table with donated  things 
that the church is selling and you have a professional display and  priced 
items you will not do well.  Folks will be there looking for  bargains.
 
Remember out door fairs get large crowds, but it is rain or shine.   They 
have your money so they don't worry if it rains or not.  Any of these  fairs 
that say they have raindates, don't believe it.  They do not postpone  .  
They advertise for that day and prepare and they just don't care.
 
Now for pricing and this is going back 4 years ago, one day shows are a  
usual thing.  You might find church fairs down to $25, but the average town  
green fair in CT runs $50 to $175.  It really depends on who is sponsoring  
the show.
 
I will dig for some information as I don't have it on this computer, but  
there is publications that you can subscribe to that is for the crafters and  
show goers that list the fairs.  I use to subscribe to one based here in  
Connecticut and one that was in PA that covered most of the Eastern coast 
going  west maybe to the mississippi.  The CT one covered the New England  
area.  Let me see if I can locate info on them.  I really liked the  one I 
subscribed to from PA, they gave last years attendance, what was available  going 
on at this show, etc.
 
Joyce pi