Friday, February 6, 2009

Getting it Done at California Craft Shows

By Jacen Fanning

Crafting is one of the most rewarding activities a person can do. When you create something, the product is both tangible and tactile and is uniquely distinct from the art of song and dance, for example. You have the capacity to hold in your hands an object of artistic quality and it will be a treat to your senses.

It is the norm for artists and artisans to turn up in California. As people go about their various day-to-day routines here, a lot very often want to stop and smell the roses; just appreciate the finer things in life. This is second nature to craftspeople; their works have echoes of life in them.

If you are a craftsperson already living in (or thinking about moving to) California, then maybe you would want to sell your crafts at the numerous craft shows that happen annually around the state. How is it done, you ask? There are, after all, around 849 craft fairs scheduled to happen in this year alone; and my first advice is to carefully choose which fair to attend.

Well, you obviously have Internet access; otherwise you wouldn't be able to read this. The Internet is almost always the best source of information these days, and a quick search online will get you to an online listing of craft shows with little trouble. Once there, you can get the contact information of whoever is organizing the event. Once done, you have completed the first step.

Of course, communication is a vital skill to learn, and you must employ this skill in selling, starting with the event organizers themselves. Contact them, and ask them how they run things. Typically, these craft shows have a fee to let you use their booths, but the similarity ends there. The benefits included with the rent vary; some offer access to electrical power, for example, while most do not. It's best to know nuances like these beforehand so you wouldn't be surprised. - 15246

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