Craft Fair Preparation Demystified! part 3

Aha! It's the day before the day before the big day. Although the day before the big day is actually a pretty big deal because in the case of Maker Faire, as also Unique LA, Friday (tomorrow) is set up day. So I treat tomorrow like the BIG DAY because it's all outta my hands after that.

So:

7. Getting Everything Ready for Move-In

I usually use this day to stay calm & add the finishing touches on things. I go through my check list and make sure everything is in order. Extra business cards... check.

Double check inventory numbers & print my inventory sheet, which doubles as my sales log.
Dress up the extras like stamping craft bags & adding tags to all my plush. I print tickets/directions/information if there are any to be printed. In the case of Maker Faire, I bought a ticket for my weekend helper, Kevin (yay see you soooon!).
& I neatly pack away the goods (top left clockwise):

• packaging: plastic bags for the big prints, newsprint if they want it to be rolled instead, craft bags for prints & cards, and paper bags. My clipboards are also in there with the inventory sheets & extra sheets of scrap paper for my hand-drawn sign up sheets. Pen is also already tied!
• 8x10 prints already packaged and taped in individual plastic sleeves, divided in their own section. Extra plastic sleeves & tape are also included.
• all things SQUISHY & sewn very carefully squeezed into the green chest I put in front of the booth for you to 'sift through & find a friend!'
• framed prints & cards: you can see a glimmer of the new print in the white square frame ;)

The furniture, like the table, shelf, chairs and all that stuff is either in the garage or in my car so that will be taken care of tomorrow when I load up the car.

I learned from previous fairs that the less time I spend preparing a sold item for a customer at the fair the better. I used to have my prints loose and in a big pile, all mixed up. Now I take the time to sign each print & place it in a sleeve well before the fair. I don't know why but my brain goes crazy whenever I make a sale and I suddenly feel all this pressure like, oh my god this customer just bought something. What do I do?!? What do I do!? So I don't know. It helps to have it all ready & good to go.

Okay, time to do yoga & hit Trader Joes. I need my usual snack ammunition of seaweed, gallon of water, coconut water, and dark chocolate peanut butter cups. Oh. And ice cream. For the 15 min drive back home. Whaaaat!? It calms me! :)

Happy

get ready for magic:

F5 2011 RE:PLAY Film Festival. Inductance from Physalia Studio on Vimeo.

thanks for sharing, jo!