I had very high hopes for this show as I have heard that this is a show with good attendance and advertising. It is a show run by the Mental Health Resource League for McHenry County. They run both the Fair Diddley show in Woodstock, IL and the Fall Diddley show in Belvidere, IL (that review to come soon). We decided to give this one a try.
Set-up was a nightmare as everyone had to line up to enter the town center and this was not well posted as to where the line started and where to go. I just found a line and got in it. Two lines of vehicles were trying to merge from opposite sides of the block and there were a lot of middle fingers and screaming from vendor to vendor at this time. Should have been my first clue to just turn the car around and go home.
We finally got to the town center after about an hour and had to hurriedly empty out our vehicle and try to get it out of the way. More vendors were again screaming at each other to move trailers, vans, etc. (Honestly, I have not seen tempers so flared by vendors at a show as this one. I was embarrassed for them. Lucky us had to be located next to one particularly angry individual and his wife). We decided to just put on a smile and hope that things improved.
We got set up, the weather was perfect and we waited. There were a lot of people in attendance, but few buying anything. I had one lady pick up one of my handcrafted pieces and look at the price and exclaim to her friend, “Wow, I have expensive taste! This one is $20!!” Unfortunately, if your items were priced over $5 to $10, sales seemed to be quite low across the board. This is a craft show, not an art show. The only saving grace was the Starbucks that was very close to our booth location. We were able to survive the day on numerous caffeinated beverages.
The parting shot of this show for me was the pan handler that came to many of the vendors with a long story asking for money to see her long lost husband as we were all packing up to go home. We tried to find one of the show contacts to help escourt her off the grounds, but to no avail. Long story short-we will never again do this show. I would have rather have burned the money and stayed home and thoroughly bleach out the litter boxes.
If you are a crafter with cheaper priced items—you may do really well at this show. The people were there and it was well advertised, but otherwise, stay home and enjoy the day knowing that you dodged a bullet with this one.
Comments
As for being a craft show, that is what it is advertised as and no one makes any claims that it is anything other than that. However, I am very familiar with a photographer and a painter who have done the show for years and do quite well.
The last two years the show has closed early and both times were due to storms. In 2012 there were a couple dozen canopies destroyed and a couple of minor injuries caused by a very fast moving storm that came through about 3:00 pm. In 2013 the police and emergency services came through and warned every of a fast moving
storm that was headed for Woodstock. Luckily most people were able to tear down and pack up before it hit. It was quite a substantial storm.
Both the Woodstock Police department and the fire department should be commended for the assistance they provide during both of these storms.
My works are pretty middle of the road price wise ranging from $5.50 to $80.00 and in 2012 I did $2,300 before the storm came through and in 2013 I did $2,700 before we closed at 2:45. And remember this is a one day show. My worst Fair Diddly was 2011 when is was 40 degrees out, 30 mph winds and steady drizzle and I was open until regular closing time and still did over $1,600.
maybe it is time that some exhibitors re-evaluate what they are presenting at shows.
Don't forget the show had to close 1 hour early due to the police and promoter not being on the same page. Plus, it was the high school's graduation. On top of everything, there was a bad storm coming so you had to clean up and get out immediately.
Did this show about 7 or 8 years ago. It is around the town square which has very uneven streets, so you need to bring 2 x 4's to level everything out. The once booth that did great $'s was the kettle/popcorn guy. He had a line of 50 people all day long! That's when I decided 2 things: 1) I'll never make money in craft shows and 2) I should have been born a popcorn vendor! Their fall show in Belvedere is a 2 day show and on Saturday morning the customers line up 1,000 deep. Only problem is the same price level. There they have 2 popcorn vendors and if the weather is good, they both make a killing. Is there a theme here?
Sorry to hear this.
When is this show?