Saturday, January 9, 2010

2010 Craft Show Schedule Advice Needed

I'm planning out my 2010 show schedule. I work at my "real job" four days a week and will be taking one class (3 hrs twice a week).   My class runs from the end of January to the beginning of May. I am starting to wonder, how many shows should I do?

 I will have approximately two-three days/ week to work on jewelry (plus evenings, but I shouldn't depend on them). If I stretch my show season from May to November- what would be a reasonable amount of shows to do?   I'm thinking two shows a month will keep me very busy, yet still allow me to enjoy my summer a bit.

How many shows do you do a year?  What kind of schedule do you have as far as studio time goes?  And how much inventory do you plan to have for each show?

3 comments:

Harriete Estel Berman said...

The decision about "How many shows" you do isn't just impacted by how much work you need to stock your booth.

The other side is how you feel after loading your car, driving, set up, days of intense social engagement with EVERY person that walks by, hotel?, tear down, possible heat, rain or discouragement and then driving home to unload.

Are you energized by the experience or exhausted? How much time do you need to recover after each show?

Katie Do said...

You're right. It's a huge amount of work to set up/ take down a show. I did three last year on top of planning my wedding. That was a good number of shows for me considering the other events I was involved with.

My Dad had a great idea. He said to decide on the number of shows that I'm completely comfortable with doing... and then cut that number in half. :) I think he's right.

Valerie A. Heck Esmont said...

It might be good to post this question on www.ganoksin.com, or www.americancraftforum.com.
I'm only getting my business started, slowly so I'm not certain of what advice i would give. I knew a married couple that did 18 retail shows (all over the country) a year. That is nearly a show every other weekend. Just so you know they were worn out. I'm hoping to do retail once in a while and some wholesale shows. Good luck!