Back from the road.. again...

I participated in two different selling events this weekend and both turned out to be a bust, but surprisingly enough, I'm in a very good mood today.

The first was held at a community college where a women's empowerment seminar was being held. Sounds like a built-in audience but unfortunately many of the participants who signed up didn't show, and those that did, didn't shop. The vendors were set up in a very nice area but the exit was smack in between us and the classes. I'm guessing that for some, having been cooped up all day in class, they were ready to bolt when it was over, especially since we're experiencing a freak pre-summer heat wave in my part of the world.

The second was held at a craft "market" whose name was much grander than the place it was being held: an old theater in one of those allegedly "up and coming" areas where artisans are starting to move in. Perhaps it is up and coming, but unfortunately, it hasn't arrived yet. The building was in a very desolate area; no passing traffic, not even foot traffic. It just isn't the kind of area that people would be going to; more like an area where people would pass through on the way to somewhere else. The tables were jammed so close together that you could barely move and the aisles for shoppers to walk allowed for single file walking at best. I took a look around and noticed that I had been placed directly in front of a merchant who was selling items similar to mine but at half the price. I will refrain from having yet another tirade about crafters/artisans who underprice... those who know me know that I'm fairly rabid on the subject.

Anyway... having done this craft show thing for over two years now, I knew that spending seven hours in that overcrowded, overheated, very cramped space would be a waste of my time. So I left. But I'm OK with it. I did a lot of traveling for yesterday's show, on and off trains, cabs, elevators, rolling my suitcase around the streets and up and down stairs like a bag lady, so I was a little beat anyway! :-)

Every time I do a show, I learn something and as I've said before, sometimes that something is that I should not do that particular show again. Oh well. The whole craft show circuit thing is crazy and tiring and a lot of work... but I'm hopelessly, head over heels in love with the whole nutty enterprise. Bring on the next one!