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I really don't know- rain?

Posted by Jennifer Donald on May 12, 2011 at 6:19am in Questions & Answers for New Members

This Saturday is my next show and the weather is probably going to be rainy and possible thunderstorms. The event is a "held rain or shine" thing.

 

I've never done a show in the rain and I really have no clue how this works.

 

How do you set up in the rain??  Won't everything (paintings, panels) get wet??

 

Do I use that door wall as a doorway, propped open to show people that I'm open for biz?

-On the same note, do people really actually come out in the rain to an outdoor art show??

 

What the heck am I supposed to do for 8 hours if its raining? Just sit inside and hope someone shows up?

 

 

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  • Dave Hinde May 13, 2011 at 11:36am

    My first show in the rain was a few years ago.  I was surprised at the number of people that still came out.  The rain was light and intermittent, but I sold as much in the rain as I did the day before in the dry.  What I found was that people would come further into the tent and stay longer before dashing to the next tent.  That's a good thing!  This past weekend it rained on and off (Mother's Day).  I wasn't as lucky as before with sales, but we still had a good attendance at the show. 

     

    Normally I roll my front wall (with the middle zipper) up, unzipping a the corners.  This time I opened it in the middle and pulled the walls back towards the sides.  I left about a foot of wall on each side to protect the pictures on the display walls.  This wouldn't work as well if it was windy. 

     

    I also used a ceiling tarp, figuring that any random leaking would be collected in the tarp.  I didn't have that problem, but did have some puddling on the canopy top.  I kept poking it from the inside to dump the water.  I've heard of using rubber "noodles" to eliminate the pockets, but haven't tried it. 

  • Larry Berman May 13, 2011 at 9:18am
    If I find it raining and a hassle to set up the day before, sometimes I've gone back to the hotel and if the weather forecast for the next day was no rain, planned to get to the show site at around 4AM to set up before other artists drove in. If you have that kind of energy, make sure to carry a good flashlight. It's helpful to have one that you can hold in your mouth so your hands are free to set up.

    Larry Berman
    http://BermanGraphics.com
    412-401-8100
  • Chris Hoyt May 13, 2011 at 7:18am

    Jennifer,

    After you do a show in the rain you will be a true professional. Welcome to the club!

    Weather is just part of this business. Rain, wind, thunder, hail, fog, etc. You just have to live with it. However, I do not like thunderstorms. Here we are sitting in a metal frame with this lightning rod sticking straight up....! Last weekend a thunderstorm came up and not only was I in my lightning attractor, but it was under a tree as well. I sat in the truck.

    Rose is right. Bad weather is a great time to network and make friends.

    Some more things to add to your "stuff to have". A poncho and boots. Those are two items that just stay in the truck at all times. And if you set up in the rain, bring a change of clothes. It's no fun sittng in damp clothes all day.

    It's situations like rainy weekends that I really like setting up on the day before the show. And any show that has an early setup will always be favored over a same day setup. 

     

  • Ruth Finkenbiner May 12, 2011 at 4:46pm
    Hi Jennifer,   looks like you got a lot of great advice from other artists. I had to chuckle at this email thread, living in the Puget Sound and participating in several shows in the Seattle area we just all take it for granted that we'll have numerous opportunities to do shows in the rain!!  One other piece of advice, when you are setting up make sure the water has a path out of the booth, if there is a drain culvert in your booth or near it make sure you clear the debris away from it or it can cause a flood in your booth.  If the rains starts and you notice standing water in your booth check your neighbors postioning of their weights / displays to make sure they aren't causing the water to back up into your booth.  We have had "floating" foot mats in our booth because booth neighbors weights / displays were stopping the water from running into their booths, causing ours to flood.
  • Rose Monzyk May 12, 2011 at 9:43am
    I always figure that there are more reasons than selling to do a show. There have been times when I've had to look around me and decide to make the best of the situation. Some of my best networking with other artists has happened in poor weather conditions. We talk about ideas, techniques, supplies, an endless list of inspiration. Even if it rains, it's not likely to be all day, every day of the show. Put on your happy face and look for your blessing in being there. Good luck! You will be an official art show artist after the weekend.
    • Jennifer Donald > Rose Monzyk May 12, 2011 at 12:33pm

      Thanks for your responses. I went to Walmart and got some heavy duty shower curtains with rings to pull them back during good weather, but wide enough to overlap in case of inclement weather.

       

      Rose, thank you for such a sweet response. That really helped to calm my concerns and gave me a fresh perspective on the whole "weather" thing.  :)

      • Jennifer Donald > Jennifer Donald May 12, 2011 at 2:14pm
        well here's an interesting problem :/   When I first got my tent, of course I tried it all out and everything was fine.  I put it up today  for a dry run with the shower curtains and for the life of me I CANNOT get the 4 sides to meet!  There is about a 4" gap between the last 2 sides and no matter how much I tug and pull it as taut as I can, those suckers will NOT meet!    :(   I called the company # which refers you to their email addy.
        • Rose Monzyk > Jennifer Donald May 13, 2011 at 5:36pm
          Also, is it possible that the side panels are turned with the top edge on the side?
        • Jacqueline Webster > Jennifer Donald May 12, 2011 at 7:05pm

          Are the legs out of square?  Get out a measuring tape and make sure it's 10' on each side, gently tapping the legs in or out to get to that 10' mark.  If you're over even a fraction of an inch your sides may not zip.

  • Jacqueline Webster May 12, 2011 at 9:30am

    An artist near me at a recent show had extra-long clear shower curtains that she got at Bed, Bath and Beyond for $15 each.  They're a little pricey, but you can throw them in the washing machine after the show if you can get the ones without the magnets at the bottom.  Also, if you go for visqueen be prepared for the price.  The heavier stuff (which I recommend) runs about $40 per roll at Home Depot.  I never throw it out after a show - I just haul it home, clean it up and put it in the kit for next time. 

    If you have time you might consider sealing the seams and any weak looking spots on your canopy top.  I use the little bottles of Coleman seam sealer that you can get cheap at WalMart.  It's more time consuming because you put it on with the little dauber that's attached to the cap, but I've never had a leak.  I like to inspect the canopy yearly and do touch-ups before my first show.

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