Re: Juried Shows, Starter Size & Price

[Guest guest]

Juried---- means the show sponsors judge your work before allowing you to

exhibit. This usually means sending photos of the entire exhibit space set

up as you would in show, plus close up photos of work itself. a few even

require you to send examples of your work. If they do not deem it of quality

that meets their standards, they don't let you in. One show in this area is

so bad about it that they don't even let commercial patterns to be used or

commercial molds for ceramics, etc. don't know how this would relate to

commercial soap molds. I know this sounds silly, but if they won't allow a

ceramic piece made in a purchased mold???? the craftmanship is in how the

piece is finished, just as craftmanship in soap is not in the mold but in the

composition of soap itself. At one time, they didn't even allow anything

done on sewing machine, preferring paintings, thrown pottery, stained glass.

guess that's more than you wanted to know about that.

As far as a fair price--- those are all over the place in range. check local

shows, ask exhibitors. I've seen small one-day shows for $30 but many large

shows are several hundred dollars. Usually the larger shows are advertised,

bringing in good crowds. I have found, in my limited experience, the best

shows for me have been in small towns where they don't have a lot of places

to shop for unusual items. I live in Richmond, VA, where all fall there

seems to be a a craft show on every block every weekend---thus, lots more

competition.

[Guest guest]

Please tell me what the difference in juried shows and non juried shows? I

am new at this and so far shows around here have not been that great. I have

traveled out of state for a couple and didn't do that great! ( Oh well

there is always next year! )

Thanks for the information!

Happy Holidays,

Joyce

North Shore Creations of Mississippi

[Guest guest]

Everyone - I have gotten a great response on the question regarding Juried/Non

Juried Shows. Thanks, and even when you thought you were giving too much

info...it wasn't! I appreciate the many helping hands. I hope other newbies

are finding this thread helpful too. As many technology trade shows as I have

done you'd think I'd be a whiz kid at this but I am still finding myself

completely lost on the craft shows.

After all of this the one element that I am missing is: Is it better to show at

the Juried events? I anticipate that ppl who attend shows regularly only go to

the quality shows...those with quality products/reputable vendors. I would

prefer to only show at quality events, as I fear that the sub-par shows may not

" illuminate " my product/myself as I prefer or they may not bring in the

" quality " customers I desire. Was that snotty? I hope not. Please advise:

Typically, are the Juried shows attended/hosted by the best and visited by the

best?

So...now I move on to the size of the booth. I understand that I need to get my

act together and build a booth (in my garage?) so that I can take photos and get

into the Juried Shows. To do so I need some help on " how big " to start? Just

tell me, please I beg of ya! What is the standard size? I have done some

searching and see the 10' X 10' a lot. Is that too big for a newbie? (I have a

vast product line that include all the standard toiletries. No candles or

anything like that. The only thing outside of toiletries that I include are

these great little pillows that you put over your eyes, they have aromatic

properties and " may " help relive headaches/sinuses/etc. How do you decide how

big? I want to drag out the graph paper and start sketching, but I can see

starting from this point of innocent ignorance. Isn't that a great

phrase...innocent ignorance!

I got a great tip on where to buy booth canopies....HD vs. Wal-Mart...thanks for

that one!

OH.....by the way...the real Santa Clause lives in Richmond. When I was a

little munchkin my twin sister, mom and I would always go to & Rhoads to

visit Santa. He was the real one. I know...I pulled his beard and poked his

belly every year!

TIA, Christi in Dallas

[Guest guest]

Christi, as a newbi, I have to tell you how very much i enjoy reading your

postings! I am no where near doing shows...but I will be ready when the time

comes, just from learning from everyone on this list. This is great! Have fun.

Leanna.

Christi wrote:

[Guest guest]

Don't ignore those non-juried shows. As I said in earlier post, some of my

best shows have been in small towns, friendly little shows where the people

in all the surrounding small towns come to shop for things they don't

normally see. They seem to appreciate people coming to their town to offer

their product. You may have someone next to you selling what you may

consider less than well made, but that's part of the small town thing. as

long as you offer your product well, does it matter???

I will ask these type of shows if they are allowing " flea market " sellers,

though, as I have found that when you get in that environment, people start

expecting a bargain.

But, again, don't limit yourself to the " juried " shows. I try to go to shows

when I'm not exhibiting and watch not how many people are there, but what

they are buying, how much they are spending, and how many packages are

actually going out the door. Then if it looks promising, you can inquire

about possibility of showing with them next time.

[Guest guest]

Not all juried shows have the best quality people. I did an exclusive

juried show that was so awful & horrible that many vendors left!! And

this is from traveling many miles & thru many states just to get here!

And I've been at nonjuried shows & they have been fabulous!

You can never tell. The public is very fickle anymore!

In fact, I have gotten some of my best customers from NON juried shows!

YOU are the one who illuminates your products - not the shows.

People can tell when you explain/talk about your products

The average booth space is 10x10 no matter where you go

Great place to get your EZUp is at Sam's Club or Costco's etc.

Don't forget that you will also need tables & lighting.

Table coverings that touch (or pretty close to) the ground so that

people do not see your boxes & stuff from the aisles

You also want to display your items in varying heights

You will also learn a lot by going & doing shows. You can meet some

wonderful & helpful people. They other crafters - especially the ones

that have been around are a fountain of knowledge!

I'm still new at the craft show bit and still learning, but what fun!

Aradia

Christi wrote:

Is it better to show at the Juried events? I anticipate that ppl who

attend shows regularly only go to the quality shows...those with quality

products/reputable vendors. I would prefer to only show at quality

events, as I fear that the sub-par shows may not " illuminate " my

product/myself as I prefer or they may not bring in the " quality "

customers I desire. Was that snotty? I hope not. Please advise:

Typically, are the Juried shows attended/hosted by the best and visited

by the best?

>

> So...now I move on to the size of the booth. I understand that I need to get

my act together and build a booth (in my garage?) so that I can take photos and

get into the Juried Shows. To do so I need some help on " how big " to start?

Just tell me, please I beg of ya! What is the standard size? I have done some

searching and see the 10' X 10' a lot.

[Guest guest]

Just reading the difference between the juried shows and non-juried. I have

been to some of each of truthfully it just all depends! Some that were just

too picky they did not allow for crafters or artists to be their totally

creative self. So whats the use? You get to see a very subjective viewpoint,

especially when your talking about crafts and artwork! To me anyway. But

wondering about Christie's statement, what do you mean by " quality

customers " ? I don't know if your meaning to be snotty or just what? But

guess I just miss the point with that. I also sell a cosmetics line (another

product) and have sold various items in fine dept. stores. Customers come in

all sizes and shapes. One thing I learned is you can never pre-judge any

" buyer " . I've met some of the richest people that will nickel and dime you

to death and still try to get a bargain! So, guess I am baffled by her

statement?

Cate

[Guest guest]

I have never done a juried show, I do alot of church craft shows and do real

well. Also agree about the small town shows I've been very successful with

those too. I do most of my shows at Christmas time, summer shows are less

profitable, in my area anyway. Yes most areas are 8by10 or 10by10....Pam