What do you do with your creations?

[Matt Wimpee]

I remember the days when friends and relatives would run if they thought I had another bowl, goblet or hollow vessel that I was trying to find a home for.

I first resorted to craft shows and now do strictly art shows. No, I do not get rich but it helps pay for the tools that I just can't do without

Remember-- He who has the most tools when they die, WINS.

Matt

[Joe Herrmann]

That's pretty much how I started selling my work too. One day I looked around the house and there were bowls everywhere--even on the floor in front of the TV. The living room looked like it was landscaped and I used wooden bowls for mulch!

I soon realized that I couldn't keep giving them away to friends and family so I surmised that I either stop making them or I'd better start selling them!

I started doing craft shows around my area and, by networking with others at the show, soon started getting leads on some of the better shows. I did that for about 10 years and then decided to sell my house. I quit doing the shows at that time because I lost my shop when I sold the sold the house and didn't want to be out the money I paid for show space.

I guess I'm somewhat glad it worked out that way--from what I gather the shows are a little slow right now!

Joe

[Barry Craven]

Matt I think that quote goes like this;

He who dies with the most and most expensive tools
leaves behind a fully stocked shop for his replacement.

So I hope were all around for a long time!!!

Barry C. [/quote]

[Woodbutcher68]

Matt I think that quote goes like this;

He who dies with the most and most expensive tools
leaves behind a fully stocked shop for his replacement.

So I hope were all around for a long time!!!

Barry C.

[/quote]

He who dies with the most toys,
is still dead.

[Matt Wimpee]

Morning All,

I have this feeling that when I am gone my wife will never have anything to do with a man that knows what a shop is .......

On the other side, I spend so much time on the lathe that she took up turning a couple of years ago. The REALLY good side of that? She never questions the need of a new bowl gouge or other little items like new bandsaw, new drill press, etc. The down side? MY gouges keep showing up on HER side of the shop.

I do not argue with anyone that uses 1 1/4 inch skew to turn a pen.

The logs keep turning, the mistakes heat the house.

Matt

[Barry Craven]

HI Matt, I guess in that respect you are a somewhat luckier than I.
congratulations!
Barry C.

[Whit]

I guess I'm luckier still. As mentioned in another topic here, how I got started turning, it was my wife's idea in the first place.

As I suspect will be a common thread throughout this topic, I too had produced about all the bowls and things family and friends would take. My sister pointed out a sign recruiting vendors for a start-up juried art and craft fair. Somewhat to my surprise, I was juried in.

At that point it dawned on me I had no real idea what was involved; i.e., licenses, taxes and that governmental stuff, but even more importantly, set up display, pricing and so on, ad infinitum.

I spotted an antique show and fair locally and went to have a look. Man was there a lot JUNK for sale but I learned a lot. Then a neighbor told me that Sam's had these neat 10x10 tents for sale for under $200. Thank god for Easy-Up. Add a couple 8 foot x 24 inch tables, some black table cloths and I had a booth. I was also out of pocket around $400. It seemed inconceivable that I would recoup that, but being ever optimistic....

I took 48 items to sell, plus 10 very nice slim-line pen and pencil sets.
After the two day fair, I brought home 11 items, plus 10 very nice slim line pen and pencil sets. (Not only did no-one buy those stinkers, I didn't even see anyone pick one up to look. Now everybody in my family has a very nice slim line pen and pencil set.) Around 3 PM Saturday I realized I had moved into the black. By close of business Sunday I had grossed a little over $1000! Couldn't believe it. Getting paid for having fun! The only real problem I had was everybody told me I was priced way too low.

More important than the money, though, was the affirmation of the value of my work. Also, during those two days I got 4 invitations to submit my work to other shows. I did and was juried into all 4 plus two others I came across by accident. (I hadn't heard of Festival Network, CraftLister or Sunshine Artist, then.)

That was the last weekend in August of '03. In '04 we (SWMBO, Peggy and I) did 6 shows and sold less stuff per day but made more money.

Thuis summer we did 13 shows and made a profit (albeit $56 isn't much for a weekend) at all but one. That one, however, garnered us gallery representation which has so far paid us more than any one of the shows we did.

We're now represented in two galleries. Next year we'll be more selective about which shows we attend. We've learned:

1. If it isn't juried, run like hell away.

2. Ditto, if it's in conjunction with something else (car show, etc). They're there to see the cars or whatever, not us.

3. Don't believe the "No manufactured/buy/sell" statements in the show contracts. Most organizers couldn't care less. All they want is our booth fee. At best, if you're lucky, you won't be like the lady with the watercolors next to and downwind from the guy demonstrating the "Extreme Squirt Gun."

4. Art shows are harder to get into and often more pricey than art and craft shows, but are a much better venue for our kind of work and will produce more and better sales of our high end stuff.

I could go on and on as I'm sure many of you could. Maybe that's a good topic for another thread here. Anyone care to lead off? Matt? Joe? Somebody new?

Whit

[Joe Herrmann]

About the only thing I could add to your list above (which is right on the money, BTW) is that you should go see the show you are contemplating entering the year prior to doing so. This is so you can see what others are doing and can see prices etc. I found that my things did not sell well if there was a lot of "country" stuff.

Your #2 is especially insightful. We did several shows like that before we realized we were just there for entertainment. Although I must admit that the wine festivals were entertaining for us, especially when the attendees had a little too much wine!
Joe