My booth at an outdoor show

[Shepherdess]

Last week end I did an out door show. I have a pop up tent and the venue was a park in a well to do part of town. It should have been a great show but it rained all weekend.
Here are some pictures for you to critique. I will say that it felt very crowded with the sides of the tent on. When the sides aren't on I hang some things around the tent and people can see through so it feels much more open.

glebe booth 1 by Shepherdessann, on Flickr

glebe booth 3 by Shepherdessann, on Flickr

glebe booth 2 by Shepherdessann, on Flickr

glebe booth 4 by Shepherdessann, on Flickr

glebe booth 5 by Shepherdessann, on Flickr
This last one is during a brief dry spell where I could get a few tings out front.
So critiques the set up and make suggestions. Be honest, what do you like what do you hate.

[lyn]

I think you chose well in buying a white pop-up tent (I've seen booths of green and other colours and they look so dark inside and distort the colours of the display).
The white really lets the light in - essential to felt objects!

I can't find fault with the way you've displayed your items - my eye is taken around the display very easily and you've used the height to great advantage.
I really like your use of the model head and dummy to display items.

[MTRuth]

I think you're right about the set up seeming a little crowded when you have all the tent sides up. I have seen some people who sell scarves that have a set up that has parallel bars running along the side of the tent with the scarves covering the entire wall but then they don't take up any room into the center of the tent. Then you have essentially a wall of colorful scarves.

I also think that you need a large banner or sign. Perhaps on the back wall of the tent or on the front of your table? You've done well on getting a variety of heights and as far as I can tell from your photos, your description/price signage looks good.

Do people seem to move easily into your tent or do they stay around the outside front edge? The last photo where you were able to move some of the work outside looks the best.

I agree with Lyn that the use of the dress forms and head are great.

Did you sell anything?

[Shepherdess]

Thanks Lyn and Ruth. I didn't sell much. I didn't see much of anything being carried as people went by. they didn't stray much form the path for anyone. People do seem to come in. When the weathers better I usually put the hat stand outside at the front. I need to replace the teared stand on the table. the one i have is getting pretty beaten up. I was thinking of one about the same height but 2 deeper steps rather than 3. It needs to be easily transported. that one that is there has removable shelves and then it folds flat. I usually tuck my visa stuff under it. this week I am setting up at the farmers market. it will be a challenge because we have to have a table for bread as well. I will take pictures once it's up.
A sign would be good. I would have to figure out how to atach it to the table cover.

[jufergu]

I am finding that sales are few and far between now. I have made a drastic change in my work. Doing much smaller pieces. I have limited space and large wall hangings are hard to store. I do enter shows that are juried and in good locations. But I have dropped those that are not profitable. I may be too ancient before this economy picks up again. It is getting harder to carry all the display. Everything in your booth is so beautiful. I did not see anything that I did not like.

[Shepherdess]

Judy that's very sweet, thank you. I agree the economy is not helping at all. Carting the displays around is the hardest parts. I have lightweight grid that I take with me. I have one heavy set that I don't use very much. I have not found a good way to move the grid walls around. everything else could go on a dolly.

[zed]

I agree, I think you've set up your display really well, Ann, especially considering the weather and having to bring it in the tent. Lyn made a good point about the white and Ruth's suggestions are good.

[Shepherdess]

Thanks Zed