Booth designs

[bonny]

Before the open-air markets get into full swing this year, it's time to re-evaluate our setups for what works and what could use improvement.  We can learn from each other, so add a picture of your booth from last year, and some notes on what you found worked, and why you thought it did.  

[rtfulk]

We've added PINK flooring this year and when I say PINK, I mean PINK

[bonny]

Oh my, that is PINK!

@bonny 

[TCCreatesNow]

Love your pink flooring! I'm new to being a vendor at markets, just had my first last month.  SO this is a starter booth and I would love any advice!  I make one of a kind fused glass jewelry so my pieces are small but I have hundreds of them because I love making fused glass!  Here is my starter booth. I've changed the name to Wild & Free Fused Glass and will have a new banner soon.

I tried to upload and image to this post but it had invalid HTML.  So I put the booth design on this items description, It is the last photo.

https://tc-creates-unique-fused-glass-pendant-necklaces.square.site/product/80s-style-purple-and-blu... 

or if someone could let me know how to insert images that would be great!

[rtfulk]

Your jewelry is beautiful, we've been working state fairs since 1989, I would be happy to try and answer any questions you have. to add an image click on the camera icon and drag or upload you photo into the window that popped up. to the right you can resize the photo, Large, Medium or Small and then save it and it will appear in your comment window.

[bonny]

I do open-air markets through the summer. This one is out on the coast and has a challenge I discovered that has to be preplanned for.  Every day, about 1:30 pm, the wind gusts pick up to about 30 miles per hour, so all the displays and products have to be weighted or tied down.  I've developed ways to clip and pin things in place without taking the focus away from the products. 

I use 2'x4' adjustable height tables, so no matter the market, I'm able to combine the tables to fit the variable booth sizes found in the indoor markets. They are topped with black spandex table covers for an instant professional look, and the black doesn't compete with my products. What you can't see, my notecards are held in place with clear elastic string.  

When I do the in-town markets, they are literally a piece of cake to set up because I don't have wind issues to contend with.  I might add a side or back tarp for shade on hot days. 

Bonny Wagoner - Artist/Illustrator

[MarianG]

I love your booth! I plan on putting my walls to the tent up to hang my art on. Do you think that will help with the wind situation, or hinder? 

[bonny]

Thanks @MarianG!

Walls will be a challenge.  I tried putting the sides that came with the tent up to block the wind, and in the process, it turned my tent into a wind tunnel, knocking even more stuff off the tables.  Wind is a funny thing to figure out.  In the end, I opted to weigh everything down and let the wind pass through without obstruction, since the obstruction was causing more issues than just letting it do its thing. 

I've seen the artists' tents that have the hard, almost rigid type of walls.  From the outside in, they appear to do ok with them, but I will say, from watching from down the lane from them, it's an enormous task to set up and take down.  They have to have a van or truck to haul their equipment in and out.  It's not fast, nor is it easy, but it works for them.  What you see in the picture of my booth, I haul with my station wagon.  

Hope this gives you food for thought. Oh, one more thing, not only do you need to think about securing your walls, but keeping the artwork safe on the walls, too.  Wind is such a challenge, but it's easier to prepare for it than to have to be in respond mode all the time.