Its a real challenge as a new crafts person on the scene to break in to any local craft markets. Every single one has all of the exact same artists and crafters. My work is completely up to the standard of all of the other crafters I see year after year in all of these sales – what does a gal have to do it present and sell some work around here? —Out of it
This article appears in Oct 8-14, 2015.
It’s probably just a matter of applying on time and paying your fee. But if it’s tole painting or bead jewelry or something equally similar then the market is saturated so why bother wasting your time and money? Better, why ask me to waste MY time and money?
Macaroni art and popsicle stick houses, now thats a craft..
Craft shows leave me cold. The ex used to make me go to miniature shows. I hated those. All the teeny-tiny furniture gave me the same creepy feeling as stepping on Lego pieces in a shag carpet. And, yes, you can have too many wee turkeys.
Like most artists their work is never appreciated until after they die. Think Ol’ Maude. Your time will come but no need to rush.
Here’s a secret – it’s hard to break into any established market. Deal with it.
Plug time!
My daughters are selling muffins and jewelry they made themselves from train-squashed pennies at the Historic Farmers Market in the Keith’s Brewery tomorrow morning 🙂
They are doing a Kid’s Market there now, so anyone with crafty kids who wants a free table and opportunity to teach their kids valuable entrepreneurial skills should come and check it out!
And OP, in my experience, if you are doing something someone else is already doing, even if it is great work, market oraganizers will not want to load up a bunch of the same. Who knows though.
That is AWESOME Furious!
Great to hear Furious! I love to support kids in their entrepreneurial endeavours. If you don’t pay $5 for a glass of lemonade or a piece of kid-art (provided they are worth $1. or less) then you are a vey bad person!
Haha. Muffins are 2 bucks and a pair of earrings are 5. But for you? Muffins are 2 bucks and earrings are 5 🙂
I visit these often with my spouse. In the core city, the same vendors appear at all of the events, so it may indeed be based on word of mouth rather than a meritocratic system. Try some of the craft markets in the outlying areas.