Who do you take to shows with you?

[wmfjones75]

I did an indoor holiday market last weekend and took my sister so I could have someone there if I needed to go the bathroom etc. She didn't do much but sit there but since I was selling some of her hairbow holders - I thought it was an ok trade-off. I have a show scheduled for 12/6 and I was going to do one next weekend but both are outside which means I need to set-up a tent. No one will go with me. Everybody says - it's gonna be cold. Good lawd - we live in Georgia - it doesn't get that cold! My poor mom would help me, but I need her to watch my girls for me since football will be on tv and my husband totally tunes everything and everyone out when that is on. I thought about paying my 12 year old nephew to help me. He could definitely carry things and help me set up and he's outgoing so I could see him selling a bow or at least flirting with the tweens - but I don't think I could man the booth and keep up with him all day.

Sorry for the novel - I really only have two questions:
1. How do you take with you and what do you pay them?
2. Do you think I could get an easy-up tent set up by myself?

I have been wanting to do craft shows and festivals for years, but looks like I may have to give it up if I can't figure out how to do it by myself.

[wmfjones75]

bump - anyone - I'm trying to decide about the one next week.

[specialhome]

I take my mom or my dh. They usually trade out going with me or staying home with the kids. As far as paying them, I do not pay my dh and for my mom I usually just buy her meals and drinks. She usually doesn't let me do that though. I have set up a tent by myself before but it wasn't the easu-up, it was something else. I think you could probably do one by yourself. Try it ou the night before and see how it goes.

[geboraco@sbcglobal.net]

You need an extra person to do the ez up tent, but if you can't find anyone to go with you, I always find that fellow crafters are willing to help you out. It only takes a few minutes and just asking nicely will usually get a "no problem" from someone.

I take my mom. She says that "she works for food." I usually take her out to dinner after a show. She helps out the week before a show too, doing the grunt work of getting things together and packed. It is nice though, because we get to spend time together and talk. It is funny, because she has picked up my whole spiel about each product, so she can answer just about any question without my help, which is nice if we are really busy or if I am bored and want to walk around and look at other booths.

I agree with Sarah, football doesn't start at 7 am, so get your husband to get up and help you with set up and then come back at the end to help you pack up.

[jmkuhns20]

I pretty much only do shows that aren't too far away and so my husband (and 2 little ones - strapped in the stroller) come and help me set up and then he comes back at the end to help me pack up. That's a good idea about asking for help from another crafter. I have done the same when I need to go to the bathroom. I do have a friend that I have done a couple of shows with and I don't pay her because she is selling too on those occasions. Good luck!

[imadoll]

my husband usually goes with me. He sets olmost everything for me i just tell him how and where i want it. He brings me food and drinks. He helpes me Alot!!
Fellow crafters always have offer to help when we are opening the pop up tent..

But i myself am in your same situation right now..My husband is working tommorow and i need someone to help me set up. Its between my dad and my mother in law..I will probably take my mother in law since i can talk to her and she would probably help me more!

[kaneohegirl]

I take my 12 yr old son... he helps pack the Van, unload the van, helps set up the tent/tables/displays/merch (which is helpful and not cause I like things a certain way), bathroom/lunch break, wander stretch the legs look around break, pack up, breakdown, reload the van, and unpack the van once home.

I work the kid pretty good... he gets fed, he gets 10% of my days take minus booth fee and sales tax. from time to time he gets some spending that may or may not come out of his 10% to buy something that catches his eye.

he has his own cell phone and tends to wander when I dont need him looking around at other booths/merch, or plays outside, or listens to the music player on his phone and I call him when I need him to come back... if we have a really early start and hes tired he will take a nap in the car or under my table that I have a floor length table cloth on (at least he doesnt snore LOL)

when I come back for eating or the bathroom I have ppl tell me hes a enterprising young sales man.... LOL... hes still learning subtlety LOL he tries too hard but the adults understand LOL its kinda cute to watch...

but he made the connection of if I make $ then so does he.... so now Im taming/tempering him...

hth

[jfreeman]

I take a good friend with me most times - she helps me with set up and tear down and will watch things while I take breaks. If she isn't shopping we just chit chat when we aren't busy. If she isn't available I usually take one of my adult daughters with me but they tend to not be as much help LOL

[creativesidebows]

You absolutely DO NOT need anyone to help you set up the ez up tent. A good idea might be to take your tent outside in your yard and pop it up and down by yourself a couple of times just so you are comfortable with it but yes, you can do it yourself. I love doing craft shows for a couple of reasons and one of them is that I get to get away from everyone for the weekend. I take my tent, 14 grid walls with all the baskets, hooks and other "grid wall things" plus a 4 foot table plus 12 large totes of products plus 4 small totes of product. I do it all myself, everytime. (sorry, can you tell I'm an advocate of liking to do this myself?LOL) I couldn't imagine taking my dh or my 3 dd's with me. UGH! LOL!

It may be a little intimidating the first couple of times you go by yourself but once you get the hang of it you will LOVE it.Good luck

[kaneohegirl]

Originally Posted by creativesidebows

(sorry, can you tell I'm an advocate of liking to do this myself?LOL) I couldn't imagine taking my dh or my 3 dd's with me. UGH! LOL!

It may be a little intimidating the first couple of times you go by yourself but once you get the hang of it you will LOVE it.Good luck

LOL yea it can be done alone... done it once... but going to the restroom blows... how do you do it? what do you do when you need to go LOL