Sunday, March 8, 2009

Types of Craft Fairs

By Sam Weyland

If you want to start out showcasing your wares in different fairs and festivals, you must first know that there are two different types of craft shows that you may end up joining. You need to know the difference between the two, especially when you haven't yet tried out setting up in fairs and festivals. Over the course of this article, I will go over one and briefly describe the other, so that you, the reader, may be able to 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.

These concerns boil down to a couple of things, and the first one that will need your attention is the amount of people that are expected to go to the event. If you want a good feel, and you have the time to spare, check out the annual events one year prior to joining. Alternatively, if this is the first year of the event, ask the management how they are promoting it. If their advertising strategy isn't sound, then chances are they won't be good for you.

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.

Next, we briefly tackle on the other type of show. Dubbed (you should have guessed it) the juried show, you will be required to create a portfolio before being allowed to set up a booth. My experience with this type of set-up is; not everyone gets accepted, and you have to really know your stuff before they even allow you to start. Go to a juried show once you've built your confidence: This venue is usually better because it is much more organized, and there are more people coming along. Make sure you have enough wares.

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