I'm just dipping my toes into the art show arena, and at both of of the non-juried shows I did last year, I brought a work in progress to work on because the thought of sitting with idle hands for eight hours made me crazy. It's also a great ice breaker because often the first question people have about my work is "how do you do that?". My question is, do higher-caliber, juried shows have rules about "demoing" in your booth? Or are there any unwritten rules/etiquette a new participant should be aware of?
Follow up question, if demoing is accepted/encouraged, does the work table (mine is about 20x30, so larger than a tv tray but smaller than a card table) need to be in the booth shot? Suggestions for placement during the show itself?
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This can be a two edged sword. There's a fine like between demonstrating and just making more product. One big problem is when you're demonstrating, you're not making sales. You're not interacting with the customers unless you want to tell other would be crafters how to do what you're doing.
What got me was your comment of "sitting with idle hands...". That's one thing you don't do at a show! Unless you're handicapped or have another reason for sitting, you should always be standing and talking to your customers. Always be greeting people as they walk by with a "good morning" or "good afternoon". Because that's what the person in the next booth is going to be doing.
When someone comes into your booth you need to pass along your passion and talk about a particular piece and how the process is from the 16th century and exactly what that particular piece represents. You need to be at eye level with your customers.
You can't do that sitting at a work table.
Chris, I totally agree. We speak to everyone who comes in our booth and offer to help them find what they are looking for.
If someone walks by our booth we will acknowledge them with a good morning or afternoon as you suggested. It is kind of funny. Some will say hello back but plenty of others just say nothing, don't make eye contact, and keep moving. As if giving a good morning back will commit them to come in our booth and buy! We never expect everyone to buy but we are just being cordial. Sorry, I digress.
I do not demo in my booth. We do not have room, plain and simple. Plus I feel like I am ignoring my customers if they come in or they feel as though they are a bother. One more thing ... what I do is not rocket science. I don't want to give away the cow, but just sell the milk, so to speak. Now, it is not hard to learn but I have been told it is harder than it looks. I stamp my coasters with rubber stamps and a solvent ink. I also add color with the same ink or alcohol ink to the backgrounds and such. It usually takes between 2 and 5 stamps (and/or stencils) to get the designs I have on my coasters. So anyway ... if someone wants to learn they can go to youtube or take a local class.
I agree with education about your product and also your passion which all too often is lacking.
Shows shouldn't have a problem with doing a demo. Some shows actually encourage it. I wouldn't put the demo table in the booth picture though. It might confuse the jurors.
Larry Berman
My husband is good at demonstrating a part of my decorating process, and we have sometimes had a show request that we do it. This comes after we have been accepted. Usually it is next to our booth.
At a few shows a demo area with a time frame, such as 1 -2 hours, are set up in another area.