How do you handle your cash at venues?

My husband and i have been doing art fairs for 4 years now, and always try to be carefully strategic as to where to put our check out counter and cash area to ensure it is accessible only to us.  And until yesterday it was a great strategy.  Neither of us are certain how, but believe that it was toward the last minutes of the show that someone got in and took all of our $20 bills from below the till.  i am certain this was while i was distracted to the front of the tent by one customer, and my husband was pulling the vehicle up behind to begin the load out.  I shared our story with some of my friends who are fellow artists, and have had a variety of responses for how they handle cash.  The majority have indicated either an apron, fanny pack or some sort of bag that fits snug to the body.  I would love to hear your thoughts on how you handle cash.  I feel like such an idiot that i must have left up my guard for just a moment or two.  The only other explanation is that my neighbor has light fingers... because i expected her to be at the back of her booth, and thought nothing of seeing her close by.

Votes: 0
E-mail me when people leave their comments –

You need to be a member of Art Fair Insiders to add comments!

Join Art Fair Insiders

Comments

  • Saw a potter in Aiken last month. She had a small cigar box filled to the top with paper bills on a small table....Why not put most if not all of it in her pocket and keep a small till of $100?

  • I used to have a cash box but was always worried about it. Now I have a nylon pouch, attached to a belt, so my case is right on me at all times.

  • ^^^^ = Like

  • A great collection of information for the right person.  I can't believe people will publically tell where they hide their loot.  Incredible.

  • And away goes your cash and your lunch :)

  • Sorry about your experience with thieves recently.  They are everywhere and they are smart.  You have to stay one step ahead of them. 

    Here is a link with links you can click on.  Most relate to keeping your money safe at an art show:

    http://www.artfairinsiders.com/main/search/search?q=cash+money

    I hope you find some info that helps.

  • Everyone, Thank you for your feedback.  It makes perfect sense to simplify it to a cross body bag... and i greatly appreciate the great discussion that came from this post.  It is quite good to know that this forum is a wonderful opportunity to gain insight, and to share advise also.  Thank you all.

  • Ruth Jellema,

    I have a huge beach bag that the cash box goes in, and i toss a current project on top of it so it looks like just my projects and stuff.  i agree that open visible cash box in hand is a big target.

  • Always on your person, keep large bills different from small bills. Lu always uses a body purse. She will let me know when she has large bills. It depends on what is availible as to were the large bills end up.
    The main thing is to always stay alert to what is going on around you.
  • I'm with the majority.   Always on my person. 

This reply was deleted.