Posted by Chuck Lisner on October 22, 2015 at 2:40pm
I just finished my first show and it exceeded my expectations and goal. Having said this, my goal was pretty small, taking a great tent shot. I did this at sunset after spending about 2 hours setting up my tent and putting my display together. The next day was the show.Tyler. Texas is where I grew up and some of my family lives. While I tried to give a family member one of my images he insisted on supporting my business so he was my first and what I thought was going to be my only sale. I called it my sympathy sale. For the longest time I was a little sad even though my goal for this show was to only complete a tent picture. But then I had a little interest.The Tyler show is a true craft show (people making things) and I felt I was above what appeared to be the standard price point. This was my justification for no one buying anything. Everyone said how much they liked what I had but I wanted some action which to me is money changing hands. Then someone came in looked around and bought my largest image along with a second one. WOW!!The next day I sold a few other items and again was very happy. I took down the tent and put everything away. This went a lot quicker.The weekend was successful and I feel like my first show was a very good success. I learned what people liked and what they thought of my work. I was surprised by two things: 1) what I thought would sell generated little interest and 2) Two of my images were bought by two different people.Now I am on this blog looking for what others have to say about some upcoming shows.
Thank you Christine for your comments. After I wrote the note I read something online from the side of a Judge about booth shots with some great booth shot examples. What I thought about mine being pretty good doesn't come close to being in the same league with the examples. But, I will enter a few more shows and see what happens. As you said "always learn."
All I can say is Good for You! You put it all out there and got a good response. Next time, I hope even better. It's like deja vu - what you thought would sell, people passed by. Boy, have I been there! Always good to make a couple of big sales, though. That should fill you with confidence. It takes a long time, often many shows, to find your buying audience. Trial and error costs money, but once you are on to your market, you will go far. The thing is to hang in there even with disappointments, and to learn - always learn. Keep a positive but humble spirit and you can't go wrong!
Chuck...congratulations! This is a timely critique for me as I have my first ever show coming up next month and I'm filled with trepidation and doubt. I hope I do as well as you did and if nothing else, I'll chalk it up to a learning experience. Thanks for sharing this with us and keep it goin', you're off to a great start.
Comments
Thank you Christine for your comments. After I wrote the note I read something online from the side of a Judge about booth shots with some great booth shot examples. What I thought about mine being pretty good doesn't come close to being in the same league with the examples. But, I will enter a few more shows and see what happens. As you said "always learn."
All I can say is Good for You! You put it all out there and got a good response. Next time, I hope even better. It's like deja vu - what you thought would sell, people passed by. Boy, have I been there! Always good to make a couple of big sales, though. That should fill you with confidence. It takes a long time, often many shows, to find your buying audience. Trial and error costs money, but once you are on to your market, you will go far. The thing is to hang in there even with disappointments, and to learn - always learn. Keep a positive but humble spirit and you can't go wrong!
Best of luck to you!
Chuck...congratulations! This is a timely critique for me as I have my first ever show coming up next month and I'm filled with trepidation and doubt. I hope I do as well as you did and if nothing else, I'll chalk it up to a learning experience. Thanks for sharing this with us and keep it goin', you're off to a great start.