When setting up small businesses in fairs and festivals, you have to know what type of show it is. There are variations that need to be considered, especially when you are only starting up your business. Below I will go over each, and in turn, I hope you choose what suits your craft best.
The first, and simpler type of craft show is tagged as a non-juried show. The premise here is basic; you pay for the space you will occupy, you get a booth and a table, and you are left to you own devices. These places are great material for beginners, but you have to be careful of which ones you decide to attend to.
The first concern that you must think about when attending shows is the number of people coming. If you have the time to spare, attend an annual fair that you plan to set up shop on a year prior. Or, if the festival is on its first year, keep a close monitor on how they promote their event. If they don't have a decent marketing plan, then it's not worth joining.
After getting a good grasp on how much people are coming, it's time to set up the booth itself. Make sure that you and the event organizer understand each other completely; discuss the availability of chairs, tables, and electrical outlets. This varies from fair to fair, and thus need to be considered before making deals. Next, set up the stall in such a way that will have your craft fully showcased. i won't expound too much, as each person has his or her own style.
The second type of craft show would be the (you guessed it) juried show. In this format, you are required to submit a portfolio of your crafts, and a list of former festivals that you've been with. These types of events are stricter by nature, but in return they are a lot more organized than the non-juried ones. Go to these festivals after earning some experience in non-juried events, and in general there will be more people coming over, so prepare more wares.
The first, and simpler type of craft show is tagged as a non-juried show. The premise here is basic; you pay for the space you will occupy, you get a booth and a table, and you are left to you own devices. These places are great material for beginners, but you have to be careful of which ones you decide to attend to.
The first concern that you must think about when attending shows is the number of people coming. If you have the time to spare, attend an annual fair that you plan to set up shop on a year prior. Or, if the festival is on its first year, keep a close monitor on how they promote their event. If they don't have a decent marketing plan, then it's not worth joining.
After getting a good grasp on how much people are coming, it's time to set up the booth itself. Make sure that you and the event organizer understand each other completely; discuss the availability of chairs, tables, and electrical outlets. This varies from fair to fair, and thus need to be considered before making deals. Next, set up the stall in such a way that will have your craft fully showcased. i won't expound too much, as each person has his or her own style.
The second type of craft show would be the (you guessed it) juried show. In this format, you are required to submit a portfolio of your crafts, and a list of former festivals that you've been with. These types of events are stricter by nature, but in return they are a lot more organized than the non-juried ones. Go to these festivals after earning some experience in non-juried events, and in general there will be more people coming over, so prepare more wares.
About the Author:
Sam Weyland is a big fan of Florida Craft Shows. She heartily suggests Florida Craft Fairs to find the closest Florida Fair near you!
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