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Open Studio/Art Trail Experience....

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  • Shake Your Glass
    Junior Member
    Moderate crafter
    • Jun 2014
    • 25

    Open Studio/Art Trail Experience....

    Hi I'm Elisa,

    this month I'm taking part in my first open studio event - opening up my garage.

    I'm a little nervous and was wondering if anyone who had experience of this had any top tips for me!
    or even what not to do's.

    Thanks in advance,

    Elisa
  • Thebowlerhattedturner
    Senior Member
    100+ crafts club
    • Sep 2013
    • 342

    #2
    Hello Elisa, I took part in my first arts trail earlier this year, standby for a fantastic experience! I thoroughly enjoyed meeting an talking to artists of different mediums and also collectors and those "just looking". I could talk for England but wish I have taken sweets with me as I ended up with a sore throat through talking too much. I spent 9 days just talking and smiling and I made some sales and got some commissions to boot!! My advice would be take time to ensure your display looks good drink plenty of fluids and ensure you have a break now and then as it is very tiring(or I found it to be anyway) Take plenty of work with you to show.
    Good luck.
    Twitter:johnbaitken
    website:The bowler hatted turner.co.uk
    Facebook:John Boyne-Aitken

    Comment

    • Shake Your Glass
      Junior Member
      Moderate crafter
      • Jun 2014
      • 25

      #3
      Thank you John for your encouraging words, oh that's good to hear I do love a new experience! Yes I'm a talker too so I'll add sweets to the list

      Comment

      • Critchley
        Super Moderator
        Super mega humungous crafter with too much time on their hands and chats too much!
        • Jun 2008
        • 18988

        #4
        Can't offer any advice but wanted to say "Good Luck" and I wish it was me. lol.
        Carol
        God helps them that help themselves.

        Comment

        • Shake Your Glass
          Junior Member
          Moderate crafter
          • Jun 2014
          • 25

          #5
          Thank you Carol lol x

          Comment

          • Handmade Lives
            Senior Member
            100+ crafts club
            • Jul 2011
            • 120

            #6
            Elisa here is a whole article of advice right down to the nitty gritty stuff:
            Words of remarkable wisdom on:

            How much stock to take

            Getting your display right

            Checklist of what to pack

            Handling money

            What to wear

            Pre show marketing

            That article is here

            There is another article about the actual show days
            Craft Show Survival

            You & the Organisers

            You & other Stall holders

            You & the Visitors

            You & Disappointment

            I know you won't have other stall holders but the rest is relevant ( well I hope the disappointment bit isn't that article is here
            Helping UK craftspeople make a living http://handmadelives.wordpress.com relaxing reads, quizzes, mentoring, profiles

            Comment

            • mama
              Senior Member
              100+ crafts club
              • Jan 2013
              • 181

              #7
              I think in all honesty, it depends on how much work you put into it and the area you live in.

              I did it last year and stupidly signed up for 10 days, which meant that I was stuck in my studio all that time. Because I live in quite a rural area with no other crafters around, I only had a handful of visitors and only a couple of sales. Apart from Mailchimping my local customers, I did no other publicity.

              On the other hand, a friend of mine opened her studio this year for the first time and she did loads of publicity and put up plenty of signs. She found it quite successful.

              People like to go on a trail and see lots of studios in a small area, so if you have other artists around, it could be good.
              Carole x
              www.caroleallenjewellery.co.uk

              Comment

              • Shake Your Glass
                Junior Member
                Moderate crafter
                • Jun 2014
                • 25

                #8
                Thank you I will sit down and have a read with a cuppa tomorrow

                Comment

                • Shake Your Glass
                  Junior Member
                  Moderate crafter
                  • Jun 2014
                  • 25

                  #9
                  Carole, I think it will be mixed I have done lots of advertising - managed to get a local press article too but I am the only person in my area. Thanks for the heads up.
                  I will report back after the event. Thank you, Elisa

                  Comment

                  • Shake Your Glass
                    Junior Member
                    Moderate crafter
                    • Jun 2014
                    • 25

                    #10
                    @Handmade Lives

                    Thanks Dixie, love your no nonsense approach.

                    Certainly few things I need to address. I certainly struggle with less is more.

                    Not afraid of change though.

                    Will feedback my studio experience to the thread. Thanks again.
                    Have a great day,
                    Elisa

                    Comment

                    • Shake Your Glass
                      Junior Member
                      Moderate crafter
                      • Jun 2014
                      • 25

                      #11
                      Just to let you know I had a fabulous event. Most of it came from my own advertising although a few did come from the trail booklet.
                      I demonstrated glass bead making which visitors said made their experience better as they liked to see art in action.
                      Thanks gain for your support. Elisa

                      Comment

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