A few shows ago, I made a change that has helped speed my (still-slow) take-down and load-out process.
I try as diligently as possible to only touch everything once.
So instead of picking up a painting, putting it down, finding its traveling cover, picking it back up, putting the cover on, putting it down, hauling the dolly around and putting the painting on the dolly, I arrange things so that I pick the painting off the wall, put the cover on it and put it on the dolly without ever putting it down or picking it up again.
Sounds like a small change, doesn't it? Maybe I am just more scatterbrained than most, but in general, this shift saves me 20 minutes.
Do you have any take-down, load-out or set-up tips you'd share?
Comments
I have a gutted Town and Country van and everything fits in it's place. I only have one concern. I have to put my paintings on top of the bins on top of the Propanels. This is the only way I can fit everything. I wish there was a way to unload the tent (which I can't get to either because the art work is on top) without having to unload all the art and put it next to the car while I set up the rest. In the summer this gets dicy because it's so hot out and the wax hates full sun. A platform takes up too much space ( I already built one and discarded it). Any suggestions from expert packers? I would love to have a new system but I fear the only way is to get a new means of transportation.
Jean and I have a division of labor on opposite walls of the booth. I have notebook with peg board hook spacing and map/photo of which belts go where. Last year I added a series of photos showing how the truck has to be loaded for everything to fit, should I not be able to do it.
My van is always packed and unpacked in the same manner so I know exactly where everything goes...until I make changes in my booth or display..and then have to contemplate the best way to fit the changes in.
I like to update and change my display from time to time just to keep things interesting and not stale and boring.
Whether or not you have a dedicated vehicle for art shows. It needs to be set up so the display and hand truck comes out before the art, and packs up in the reverse order. If you don't have a dedicated vehicle, you need to take careful notes (and maybe pictures) of the best way to pack and unpack so the display comes out first and then the art, and the reverse for packing up.
When I downsized to a minivan I built a removable platform that the display could fit underneath. That worked but limited the height of what I could carry. When I found a set of different useful sized plastic bins that all took the same size top, everything was much easier because I could stack more things and fit more in the minivan that I could when I used the platform.
Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100
Yes, Karen, I do this already. It's amazing how much easier it is! Thanks for the tip.
Carrie, in addition, you should try sliding the cover up over the painting while it is still hanging on the propanel, THEN taking it off the hook. You'll be surprised how much easier it is to bag a painting while it's still hanging.