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| The Lucky Paw Booth with Dot Paolo (Me). |
I just returned for a weekend in Cape May, NJ. While I was
there I participated in the 21st Promenade Craft Show. It is a two day show on
Saturday and Sunday, Rain or Shine. I went with my sister Mary and my niece
Bridget.
This is the 5th year I have participated in this
specific show, same time as last year. Again, I spent way more money than I
made and this year I got rained on and had to close down early one of the two
days. The real question is…Why do I do it? Can you make money doing outdoor art and craft shows?
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| My niece Bridget and my sister Mary help me set up. |
I am not sure what my attraction is to standing outside like
a sideshow barker trying to sell something I made by hand for a low price. My
dad always told me to make a lot of something and sell them for a small price.
I always felt that it would be better to make less things and sell them for
more money. In this case I just want to find something I can sell.
The thing that really bothers me the most is that the show
clearly asks for a photograph of your work and states that all work must be
“Original” and “No Kits”. There are plenty of dealers selling items that are
clearly not handmade by them. Why don’t I just import something from China or
Taiwan like these other people do?
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| View from the booth across for the beach. |
Instead, I explore and build on my variety of craft and art
skills to try to find the pet rock of craft shows. I am beginning to think that
finding the “Thing” is the challenge that had sparked my interest in this field
of study in the first place. Fundamentally,
that is what business is about. Trying to find something that someone will buy.
