6 helpful tips For Art and Craft Fairs
I've been doing fairs since 2005 from my local village hall to Country Living and the Kirsty Allsop handmade fair in London. I'm not going to pretend I was completely a pro but I know along the way I have made some silly mistakes. Forgetting my float, flask, and dinner and left a box full of lovely items in my studio. Here's a little list of tips to help you on your way. If you are heading to your first fair good luck, You've got this :)
Try and visit the fair beforehand.
It would be worth visiting the fair beforehand and talking to other artists and illustrators and seeing what they think of the fair. Keep your eyes peeled for bottlenecks in the fair and potential good spots for your stall. I've dodged a few fairs that wouldn't have been worth my while by visiting first, which saves time in the long run.
2. Practice putting your stand up.
This is a must! I have made this mistake so many times and I've forgotten something like my table cloth which throws me off at the start of the day and I get slightly panicked and flustered. It doesn't take a lot tbh. I do think if you've had a practice run you've got more chance of being confident which will shine through. It's a good way of working out if you've got enough room and if you've got enough space to hand over money and if you can see to the front. It's a good idea to check with the organisers if you have space at the side of the stand to serve or if you'll be stationed at the back to serve.
3. Have afloat! Take lots of change and have a card machine.
I've turned up to a few of my fairs without my cash float (cringe) especially when you can't change your first twenty-pound note. I know people don't seem to carry around coins as much as they used to do, but it's always good to have a stash of £5 notes and an assortment of coins. If you have a card machine always have a practice run and make sure that if there are any updates on the machine you do them before the fair. The device often has to be plugged in to be able to do this.
4. Believe in yourself and smile
This is a hard one especially if your neighbour is selling none stop, never be disheartened. Your work is amazing and your customers are just waiting to buy your lovely work.
5. Take a chair but try and stand
I always take a chair but I try to stand and keep my phone away soI look engaged with the customer and I can get eye contact and talk to people. I find if I'm sitting then instantly I'm lower down than the customer and it feels as if I stand they think I'm after a sale, which I am but I don't want to scare them away.
6. Make friends with your neighbours
Your neighbours are your friends they'll help you and you'll encourage each other along the way. It is one of the best parts of a fair, meeting your fellow artists and chatting with each other. You can learn so much about a person in six hours.
If you have any more hints please leave a comment section below
