I have recently had two jewelry artists cancel from the Old Island Days Art Festival. Each say they were robbed of their entire inventory!!! I don't know the details, but I believe that it was via breaking into vehicles or accomodations. This just terrifies me! I simply want to put it out there and start a dialogue to help those of you out there on the road remember to take extra care and pay close attention! Both of these have happened in florida to my knowledge.
Lois Songer
Old Island Days Art Festival
Key West
Replies
Unfortunately this is a scary part of this business. We've seen this happen at the beginning and end of shows when jewelry was all packed up and booth assembling / disassembly was occuring. One suggestion we've learned is to make those cases really heavy. We know one silversmith who puts a heavy lead weight in the bottom of her bag to make the snatch and grab more difficult. We do not use any traditional jewelers trays / bags. I have found that the scrapbook roller bags work just as well and aren't as easily identifiable as jewelry bags.
I've also heard about numerous cell phone / IPad thefts, especially for artists that use these devices to process credit cards where it's much more visible that you have expensive electronic devices in your booth.
I know someone who was robbed while eating in a restaurant driving home from a show. Their car was broken into, they had been followed from the show. Its usually high end Jewelry which is targeted, one thing that we can do besides keeping a low profile and the other things mentioned here is to NOT keep your inventory in traditional jewelers trays in a grey rectangular bag. People know what these are, you are advertising "I have jewelry" when you use these. There have been times I have kept my inventory in a cheap styrofoam cooler or plastic grocery bags, and its with me, not in a hotel or in a car. I change the bags or whatever time to time. Dont tell people on the road what you do, If they hear you talking about a show or being an artist and ask, you say you paint large abstract paintings. Dont open your door to strangers at the hotel, there have been a couple of times people have tried my door (most likely they were at the wrong door) and I pounded like a crazy person all over the door from the inside and called the front desk. I am sure the person at the wrong door was quite freaked out.
Lois, this is good stuff for everybody to think about as the show season begins. Something I do when I am in a hotel is lock things in my suitcase if I must leave it in my room. I've put my lap top in my suitcase and lock it. I know someone could easily cut the lock off if they came prepared. Basically, I try to not take anything with me that can't be replaced.
Alison, I need to check on that key card story. Elle, thanks for all the good tips. Elle, I hope I never have to pee my pants. My hubby has started to worry about someone doing something to us. He now has a billy club. It can be quickly snapped and it becomes longer. I hope we never have to use it. I am sure many people forget about some of those ideas and we all need a reminder occasionally.
We had a very good discussion about 2 years ago here about booth theft - money that was put behind the booth, etc. Anyone interested in that thread can click on the link below:
http://www.artfairinsiders.com/profiles/blogs/how-do-you-protect-yo...
There were some very good ideas in that thread, too.
I carry a Mag Light with me, the kind that takes 5 D batteries.
Did anyone else see that news show about how those hotel key card entries are easily thwarted? I quit carrying my camera to shows since I heard of one person's camera equipment being stolen from the parking garage at a show. I generally leave my computer in the hotel room and keep the "do not disturb" sign on the door for the whole time. Now I'm not sure what to do since it appears that a lot of hotel rooms are not secure.
take computer with us to the shows and keep in booth.
That sounds even more scarier. I keep my IPad at the show with me. I have it in a carrrying case and it never leaves me. But the computer would have to be stowed somewhere. I like the idea below of stashing it in a locked suitcase.
Our biggest 'robbery' was at a fancy shmancy brand new hotel - with 24 hour security. An over $200 piece was stolen. Security came. I could narrow down the time within 15 minutes. Security said they would go view the tapes. Ha ha -- the room that we were in - an exhibit ballroom that had just opened within a few months of this show -- had security cameras hidden in the walls and in the ceiling. But when exhibits were up (in the exhibit room) the divisions between the booths interfered with the view from the cameras, thus blocking any way of seeing the perpetrator. I wanted to say to these big security guys - who designed this - a man??? thinking that a woman would have figured out that an exhibit room that would have booth divisions would need security to work when those booths were in the room - otherwise, the 24 hour security that we were promised and paid for in high booth costs was for naught.
My God, how horrible for them. I can't imagine losing everything in my inventory to theft. All the more reason to have insurance.
What is more scary to me about this is the probability that if these were vehicle/hotel room break-ins these jewelers were probably stalked first. Someone was likely watching them and casing their booths. It is so important for all of us to avoid becoming complacent when we are doing shows. As a woman who frequently travels alone, I try to be hyper-vigilant of my surroundings. I carry mace and a very large butcher knife. I know this may sound extreme to some, but you can't be too careful these days. If I am leaving a mall or a show late at night and am alone, I will ask for a security guard to watch me until I get to the car. If I feel at all iffy about a situation, I will either stay put or get my finger on the trigger of the mace can just in case.
At the hotel, never answer your door unless you know who it is and if you are in any doubt, call the front desk. I always try to park as close to the entrance/lobby as possible and if I can't, I will park under a light. I also don't have any vinyl signs or anything other than the AFI red dot on my van that says what I do. If I have to leave my art in the van, I cover it with a blanket and throw three empty cat litter containers on top of that. Deception can be very useful in avoidng theft. You can also throw some empty cans, fast food bags or whatever you have to junk it up a bit. Make it look like a bunch of garbage that a thief will not be interested in. Also, never leave anything of value in your hotel room. I use the in-room safe if needed for valuables. I am sure there are mostly hard working, honest housekeepers, but you cannot be too careful.
When I am out alone, I never wear anything flashy and I try to avoid calling attention to myself as much as I can. A friend of mine once told me I have an excellent "bitch face." I can turn in on and off, no matter how good of a mood I'm in LOL. I may have just gotten into the best show in the country, but while in "bitch face," you'd think I was ready to kill someone :-) Also, when I have to carry a lot of cash, I wear the Rick Steves money belt. It fits comfortably under a normal blouse and cannot be detected. Then, for making change, I use the old fanny pack. It may not be the most fashionable thing in the world, but it works and will not walk away without you.
Make sure you always leave a show with someone who can see you to your vehicle and if needed then give them a ride to theirs. If after leaving you think you are being followed, call 911 immediately and they will guide you to the nearest police station. Don't ever be afraid to ask for help.
If you are approached by a robber or worse, by all means give them what they want, no arguing. I took a self-defense class years ago and a police officer told us to do something that may sound strange, but supposedly is very effective: pee your pants. If you can, pee your pants and the attacker will do one of two things hopefully: either be disgusted and leave or be so shocked that you will have those extra seconds to scream/run/grab your mace. He was adamant that if you can pee, do it.
Bottom line, try to avoid becoming complacent about security and don't let yourselff get too comfortable with your surroundings that you stop paying attention to important things. I hope this does not scare people, but gives us the chance to learn from each other and stay safe.
Both of them are precious stones/gold/silver etc. Also people who have been around the circuit and not new to the security!
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