After taking some time off of shows to have a baby and get past the newborn stage, it's time to hit the road again and hopefully pay some bills. Of course my daughter couldn't be easy and take a bottle, so she has to come with me. She's 6 months old now. Any of you who have had to travel with a baby to festivals, do you have any suggestions? Dos and don'ts?I have reduced my schedule to 2 shows a month within a 5 hour driving distance to make the travel a bit more bearable. I have a helper coming with me so we can take turns in the booth and with Quinn (the baby), and I'm trying to ask for a location with space behind my booth so I can set up a make do play area out of the elements for her (of course who knows how often I'll get that). Making sure the hotel room has a fridge for baby food. I'm sure theres obvious things I will overlook though. Any tips from those who survived are appreciated!
Oh don't I know it karen, so true! I took her to an indoor show in November and January. My helper tried to keep her away as much as possible, but occasionally she needed a break too and if keep the baby in the booth. Lots of people talked to me. No one even looked at the art! I'll definitely try to keep her entertained behind or away from the booth as much as possible.
Layla, thank you for the tips. It's nice to hear that others have successfully had festival kids:)
Sorry to put a damper on this, but here's my single suggestion: try to keep the baby out of sight of the customers.
The customers -- moms, especially -- can get so taken with a baby or toddler that they start talking kid stuff for 20 or 30 minutes until they finally wander away ... and they never got around to looking at your art. And while that whole conversation is going on, the artist/mom is trying to be polite and is therefore ignoring other shoppers who come in to the booth.
In other words, kids (and pets) are lovely to have around but don't let it become a distraction for your shoppers.
I think it is great to start your kids off as early as possible as "Art Fair Helpers" of course you might think they aren't great helpers at first- but there is the cute baby as a sales gimmick trick! I have done art fairs with my kids since my oldest was one month old. She is now about to turn 18! Both of my daughters still love to help at art fairs (now especially since I pay them!) My daughter were both breast fed exclusively too and I did what you are doing- bring someone to take the baby around until they need to be fed. I used to even nurse right in the booth because then I was there to answer questions. People were always totally fine with it (not that they will be always you never know). Another thing I did was hired young babysitters-in-training 11 and 12 year olds that would hang out with me all day if my husband or other adult helper was unavailable. I think the hardest age to have a kid hang with you all day is 2 to 6- at that age range I usually didn't keep them all day. But once they hit 7 or 8 I could take them with me all day without another adult and they were excellent helpers- of course this all depends on the temperament of the kid. I always do demos in my booth so my kids would too! People loved that!
As for other baby-at-art-fair advice let me think- it's been awhile. Oh- safety- I found myself a bit surprised in year two of doing art fairs when my daughter could suddenly walk and she wandered into the parking lot behind my booth during tear down. And of course have a plan for crazy weather- I always get so worried when the tents start shaking and I see young children still hanging around. Obvious stuff I am sure but super important.
We really loved having our kids with us at art fairs for all these years. It may be challenging at times but totally worth it!
Either my husband or my mom will be coming to help entertain the little one while I man the booth. Then when she needs me we will switch off. But even with the extra help I'm sure it will still be more complicated than usual.if bathroom breaks weren't already tricky, now I have to think about changing a Baby too!
It is really an under taking to take a small one to shows. not because they are trouble but because they divide your attention. My jewelry friend use to keep her kids under a full skirted table inside the booth. this may work for you if you do shows alone. you also may want to hire a nanny that can sit with you child at the show. this is extra expense but if the show is busy it is well worth it to have extra eyes and arms for your child. we still take our child age 6 to the shows but instead of having sales help, my husband is in charge of keeping her busy which allows me to focus on selling my work. good luck
Hopefully next year she can stay home with her dad or grandparents, but unfortunately since she still nurses she has to come with me, and since I have to sell to pay the bills, looks like her coming is the only option for now.
I have read a similar story at a fb group, though it is a different family. Some of the feelings and posts got very strong on both sides of the issue of having such young children in tow while working a booth. I am interested to see the advice offered here. My dd is grown and helps in our booth so I have no working knowledge of how to make it work. Sorry.
I travel with a toddler and it can be difficult. I took a play pen and in shows where I did not have back room I just shorten up my display to accommodate the play pen. I took toys and I pad to keep her entertained. I found it useful to have a lot of blankets, if just to block the wind in the play pen if I was outside. they have a tent that is fully enclosed that just pops up and kids love it. smaller than a play pen. put foam down on the ground and the pop up pea pod on top.
Comments
Layla, thank you for the tips. It's nice to hear that others have successfully had festival kids:)
Sorry to put a damper on this, but here's my single suggestion: try to keep the baby out of sight of the customers.
The customers -- moms, especially -- can get so taken with a baby or toddler that they start talking kid stuff for 20 or 30 minutes until they finally wander away ... and they never got around to looking at your art. And while that whole conversation is going on, the artist/mom is trying to be polite and is therefore ignoring other shoppers who come in to the booth.
In other words, kids (and pets) are lovely to have around but don't let it become a distraction for your shoppers.
I think it is great to start your kids off as early as possible as "Art Fair Helpers" of course you might think they aren't great helpers at first- but there is the cute baby as a sales gimmick trick! I have done art fairs with my kids since my oldest was one month old. She is now about to turn 18! Both of my daughters still love to help at art fairs (now especially since I pay them!) My daughter were both breast fed exclusively too and I did what you are doing- bring someone to take the baby around until they need to be fed. I used to even nurse right in the booth because then I was there to answer questions. People were always totally fine with it (not that they will be always you never know). Another thing I did was hired young babysitters-in-training 11 and 12 year olds that would hang out with me all day if my husband or other adult helper was unavailable. I think the hardest age to have a kid hang with you all day is 2 to 6- at that age range I usually didn't keep them all day. But once they hit 7 or 8 I could take them with me all day without another adult and they were excellent helpers- of course this all depends on the temperament of the kid. I always do demos in my booth so my kids would too! People loved that!
As for other baby-at-art-fair advice let me think- it's been awhile. Oh- safety- I found myself a bit surprised in year two of doing art fairs when my daughter could suddenly walk and she wandered into the parking lot behind my booth during tear down. And of course have a plan for crazy weather- I always get so worried when the tents start shaking and I see young children still hanging around. Obvious stuff I am sure but super important.
We really loved having our kids with us at art fairs for all these years. It may be challenging at times but totally worth it!
It is really an under taking to take a small one to shows. not because they are trouble but because they divide your attention. My jewelry friend use to keep her kids under a full skirted table inside the booth. this may work for you if you do shows alone. you also may want to hire a nanny that can sit with you child at the show. this is extra expense but if the show is busy it is well worth it to have extra eyes and arms for your child. we still take our child age 6 to the shows but instead of having sales help, my husband is in charge of keeping her busy which allows me to focus on selling my work. good luck
Pam, I actually did buy a pea pod for her :)
I have read a similar story at a fb group, though it is a different family. Some of the feelings and posts got very strong on both sides of the issue of having such young children in tow while working a booth. I am interested to see the advice offered here. My dd is grown and helps in our booth so I have no working knowledge of how to make it work. Sorry.
I travel with a toddler and it can be difficult. I took a play pen and in shows where I did not have back room I just shorten up my display to accommodate the play pen. I took toys and I pad to keep her entertained. I found it useful to have a lot of blankets, if just to block the wind in the play pen if I was outside. they have a tent that is fully enclosed that just pops up and kids love it. smaller than a play pen. put foam down on the ground and the pop up pea pod on top.