ok, ok…i know the title indicates a pretty negative take on this past weekend, but the truth must be told! albeit, i’ve only done one other festival, but in my extreme lack of festival experience, i’m pretty sure this one rates low on the totum pole.
i’ll start with the positive:
- day 2 was crisp, but bright and sunny
- long lost friend, kim, watched my booth several times so i could have little breaks, and she even brought me dinner on the first night
- received several other arts and crafts festival invites
- had a professional advertizing photographer want to photograph my stuff
- had one wholesale offer
- people of like-minded style had really positive reactions to my products and displays
now on to the not so positive, but kind of hilarious:
- my booth faced a parking lot.
- the first night of the festival, there was no light provided for the vendors. all of our booths were literally in the dark after the sun went down. i later found out that this was the first year they had ‘tried’ it on a friday night. i assume they’ll have that kink worked out next year. (although, i certainly won’t be there to find out!)
- my booth was in-between two vendors who were also selling baby products at very different price points. (and although her style was quite different, my neighbor stayed busy selling $1-$5 items.)
- there was very low traffic compared to my previous festival.
- my canopy and furniture were literally sinking into the mud pit i had to set up in. oh, i was also on a hill, so everything was leaning back, and it just continued to lean further and further back because the ground was so stinkin’ soft.
- in relation to the mud hole, i had to buy an ugly blue tarp to put down on the ground. pretty green grass would have been much more inviting!
- i heard passer-byers say things like, “well that’s a fancy one,” “no, we don’t need all that,” and “that’s buy stuff kind of stuff.” these comments were oddly encouraging to me, as they communicated what i was thinking; which was that most people came to this festival to get their kids’ faces painted and to find holiday wreaths and to eat funnel cakes, not to shop.
i have learned some small lessons through this. first of all, i need to ask better questions before these festivals: “what’s the traffic like?” “where will my booth be located?” “how many vendors are there?” “will vendors selling similar products be dispersed?” i also learned to never do a one day festival. there is just entirely too much work that goes into the set up for a one day shot. i also confirmed that it was much more fun to do the festival with a friend. someone to dish with during the lulls, to help with the checking out process, to help with the set up and break down, and to man the booth for potty and food breaks.
although the day and a half of the o’fallon fall festival was a little bit of a disaster, when people were in my booth, appreciating my items, i felt such a sense of joy, much like at the first festival; so that’s what i will focus on and use to keep me energized. thanks to those of you who visited me and supported me in thoughts and prayers!
here are some pictures of the set-up.
i will be working on getting all my products on etsy in the next couple of days.
love love!
Wow, Ev! That looks pretty awesome! I definitely would’ve been drawn in! Regardless of outcome, your stuff is amazing and so are you…so who cares about…funnel cake-eating-…well, I’ll be nice! Love ya
Evie I agree with Sarah. Your booth looks awesome! Anyone who didn’t enter your booth missed out on some great stuff!!!!
…wreath finding, face painting little urchins. Sorry Sarah I just could not resist finishing the sentence for you! 🙂
I do, however, totally agree with Sarah and Debbie! Evie, you did a fabulous job and you are amazing! I’m proud to be called your momma.
I was somenoe who stopped by and definitely admired (my baby had a blanket in a fabric that matched yours!). While I didn’t buy, it was only because my fabulous sister-in-law must be your creative twin. Keep doing what you’re doing because you are so good at it! I want that courdoroy blanket “big-people” sized for my couch! 🙂
Thanks for all the sweet words ladies!