©1997-2002 Betty Chypre, All Rights Reserved

~  Outdoor Show Survival ~

Art & Craft Shows, Fairs & Festivals

Information for Craftsmen & Artists

 

    Outdoor shows are not for everyone.  If your product is fragile or will sun fade, or if you have allergies or suffer from weather extremes, you may prefer to do only indoor shows.

     Fd.

• Don‘t wear aftershave, perfume, or perfumed deodorant, hair spray, etc. Yellow jackets and bees are a problem, especially August through October.
• Sunscreen, and a hat with a four-inch or wider brim . Baseball hats aren’t enough protection, they leave your ears and neck exposed.  When they’re turned around to protect your neck, it leaves your face exposed.  Don't wear after-shave, perfume, or scented hairspray or deoderant, it attracts bees. 
•   Dark glasses.  You can’t smile and be pleasant if you have a blinding headache and a sunburn.

• A long-sleeved light-weight garment ; you can get a sunburn through a T-shirt.

• Sunscreen agent . Use SPF #30, and replace it every few hours. The good news is that it’s effective, -the bad news is that after a year, it loses its screening ability. Buy just a small bottle, unless you have a large family. Throw leftover lotion away at the end of the season.

• Broad-brim hats:  Hats with a 4-inch or wider are ideal to cover your face, ears and neck.  A baseball cap leaves your ears and neck exposed; if you turn it around to protect your neck, your face will be exposed.  Skin cancer rates are climbing.  Hats are good protection, - in Australia, the law demands that school-age children wear broad-brim hats outdoors because of the rise in skin-cancer, yet Americans seem to be oblivious to these dangers.
• Boots; the grass is wet in the morning.

• Take warm gloves , too; we had ice on the water-buckets Memorial Day weekend in Accord, NY, and that’s not even high-country.

• Comfortable shoes, and an extra pair of socks, so you won‘t have wet feet all day.

• Sweat-shirts, nylon wind ­jackets . If you dress in layers, you can take them off one at a time, and be comfortable.
• Tick and insect spray with DEET ; -spray your clothes, not your skin.  OFF brand foam insect repellent is nice on your face, neck and hands and works against most flying insects, but it’s not effective against ticks.
• Extra clean cloths, and a large towel ; these are wonderful if you are caught in a downpour.
• Handi-wipes, or wet washcloths in a zip-locked bag.
• Tissues and paper towels .
• Large waterproof tarp, or heavy-weight plastic for emergency cover-up of your display; make sure everything is dry before you pack them away, or everything will smell musty!
• A package of clip-type clothes-pins to anchor plastic tarps, table covers, etc. in wind and rain.
• If you have glass display cases, be prepared for dust; pack Windex and paper towels . - If you don’t have glass cases, - what do you need to help you cope with dust?

• If your eyes suffer from wind, dust, and pollen, buy a bottle of lubricating eye drops , -not the kind that gets ‘the red out!’ There are several excellent brands; the best ones (with few preservatives which can cause allergic reactions) are Hypo Tears, Tears Natural, and Baby Tears. There’s another type that has no preservatives, and comes in a box of 30 ampoules: "Refresh" and "Celluvisc". Celluvisc is more viscous for very irritated and dry eyes.

• Refresh is made by the same manufacturer, is less viscous, and suitable for sun-stressed or dust-irritated eyes and normal use. The ampoules are tiny, and are sterile until broken open, and store well, (about $12/box 30.) Your eyes are your most precious resource; carry some sort of eye lubricant in your toolbox.
• Cheapie plastic drop cloths as extra cover ups . They cost about a dollar, and are great in surprise shower.  Drop over your merchandise and clothes-pin in place or weight down as best you can.
• Large trash bags , for emergency pack-down, and to cover boxes of inventory, etc.
• Rubber bands, Zip-lock bags .
• Leveling boards : buy a $5 bundle of wood shingles at a lumberyard/supply center to use as shims, (they break into pieces easily) or use pieces of paneling, or thin plywood; you will never set up on level ground.
• Hammer/hatchet, rope .
• Poncho or rain cape to leave in car till needed.
• Thermos or ice chest with water/juice/soda/coffee, etc. (non­alcoholic beverages.)
• Blanket, chair, and a rug to stand on in cold weather.
• Munchies, and real food in case you can't get away.

• Don’t forget to pack all your gear for indoor shows, too, including extra receipt books and a copy of your show contract stashed in your cashbox where it’s readily accessible in case of a discrepancy.  If you paid for 1 1/2 spaces, a corner space, electricity, etc, your proof is on hand.