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As most of you know, I'm in Australia.  And that the art fair/show scene is rather different here - there are very few art shows in my area as most artists sell their work through galleries, shops or exhibitions.   Shows (art & craft style) that restrict to handmade are not around me either.   Consequently I have to find other venues to sell my work at and this past weekend attended:

* a preschool "shopping night" fundraiser

* an open garden weekend on a rural property 20km out of a town.

Firstly, the preschool fundraiser.   I'm all for supporting local groups and having been a past board member of our local preschool thought I'd help by going along with my jewellery to this one.   It was more like a 'table' show - in a large hall with poor lighting and tables crammed together and went for 3 hours.  Wine and cheese was available to purchase.  55 people/businesses took a 'table' about half of which ws handmade.   They had pre-sold 200 tickets and sold more on the night.   The hall was poorly situated in town but at least parking was available.

Of the handmade contingent there were two artists - one doing framed work and one doing cards and the rest of 'handmade' fell into the crafts category (children's wear, children's accessories, toys, fabric bags amongst the decent items - candles, decorated small glass items and decorated stubby holders (for keeping a beer can cold, in case you don't have them) etc., amonst the lower end. )  There were 3 others there with jewellery but mine was higher end than the others.   The poor lighting actually helped me - I was the only one to request power, so had been put adjacent to a power switch to which I connected my lights and bingo - it was like moths to a flame!  

Attendees had to pay to get in - there was live entertainment as well (although I'm very glad I wasn't up that end as there were so many people milling around no one 'shopping' could get into their stalls!)

The cost of a table was low . It was about 150km away and I didn't stay the night, so the only other cost was fuel.  I sold about 25x table fee and had lots of enquiries for custom work.

The second event was an 'open garden'.  If you don't have those over there either, these are when keen gardeners open their garden to the public to come and view.   Overseen by the Open Garden Scheme Australia, there is only local publicity and gate takings (around $6pp) are donated to a charity of choice who also runs the gate and usually the food availablity too.   I knew the owner and she asked me to come along.  Only one other person was there selling and that was a garden stall with plants and garden accessories.  

Cost was a donation to the charity (I gave $100) and I gave a gift to the garden owner as a thank you.  It was about 50min drive from home.  I knew about 10% of the people that came past since it was close to local for me.

Traffic varied from a trickle to I don't know as I was too busy to see!   I took around 20x booth fee.   In fact, the second day felt like "the good old days" when people used to buy without thinking about the price too much!  The garden stall also did well.

Unfortunately, events like this are only once a year for me, but they are definitely worthwhile.  

Perhaps you don't have many shows where you live either.   Or perhaps shows aren't giving you the returns you need.   If so, where do you go with your work that aren't the usual sort of  "art fairs" or similar ?

The opportunities for getting out and about with my jewellery increase as Christmas looms.   Consequently I have just started the 4 shows in 4 weeks timetable that I love ... but don't think I could keep up with regularly!

Last night I attended the first in these - a 'table' show, held by a neighbouring town's central school.    (Out here in the country we tend to have 'central schools' - that cover all grades from kinder through to Yr 12 as the population base is low.  In larger towns you find 'primary' schools - kinder to Yr 6 - and 'high' schools - Yr 7 through 12.) This town has about 700 people - in town and the surrounding farming areas.   There is definitely a well to do contingent in that population base and have $ to spend.

The event was billed as a "Ladies Night" and was run by the school's P&C Assn.  This is its second year and after a successful year last year, they moved it from a large classroom to their school hall (auditorium).   The hall was generous in size, well lit, had air conditioning for the rather hot afternoon temperature and on arrival was well set up - each 'table' was actually 2x 6ft tables  set up in a  <  shape along the sides of the hall.   A roll of red carpet ran down the centre from the stage for a fashion parade.   The show started at 4.30pm and went to 8pm.  Set up was from 3pm and the only draw back was a rather difficult entry for carrying items in - either steps or a longer (but flattish) walk.  I opted for the latter and used my hand cart (dolly?) but thank goodness I didn't have to take anything heavy/large on the route!

The organisers do a great job but fell down a bit with advertising this year - at least according to some attendees.   They apparently placed an advert in their local paper over the last 3 editions (a fortnightly paper), had radio spots the week leading up on their community radio station, plenty of mentions and adverts in their school newsletter and did some last minute flyers in local businesses but some people only found out it was on by word of mouth. Last year they did a letterbox drop instead of the local paper.  There was no signage so if someone was new to the area they may not have known where to go! 

I was the only one with handmade.   The other people selling were definitely vendors or party plan type people, however the  quality of these manufactured products was pretty
high and the prices were mostly mid range (and probably high range for
this rural area!).     There was only one seller with cheap and nasty.  They could really do with some proper art and I think it would sell quite well to this area, but they limit their art (as happens regularly in Australia) to galleries.

The cost of the show for those there with their wares was a donation of an item to the school's christmas raffle - and they weren't fussy as to what that donation was. 

There was a $10 cover charge which included a wide range of tasty looking nibblies, punch, champagne and more.  Free childminding was provided in the school's library.  I was asked for jewellery for the models to wear in the fashion parade and they brought the clothes over for me to select suitable pieces which they only took just before the parade started and returned immediately afterwards.  One of the pieces worn was sold that evening.

I was set up around the opening mark and people were already milling about.  It was by no means a huge crowd but they were my target market and I made my first sale in the first half hour and it continued with interested and chatty customers for the rest of the evening.  My last sale was around 8.30pm after everyone else selling had packed up and left.   (As usual, I'm always the last to pack up - but I'm sure I get extra sales this way).  It certainly doesn't hurt to have a little bit of champagne flowing to open purses!

Sales were about 40% new customers and 60% previous customers.   Overall sales were up around 30% on last year and I was very happy with them - another instance of just like "the good old days" (pre GFC).   Bonus is that its only 45 min from home. 

I was busy from start to finish so didn't get to chat to any of the other sellers, but the ones near me appeared satisfied/happy with their night.

I failed to take my camera - but will try and remember for next week's show - a large indoor one day event about 2 hours drive away.

Hope you've enjoyed the look into another show Downunder.

Cheers!

Annette