After the Show

Ever wonder what happens after a show? Do artists wander off in the sunset, happy to have been sitting at a show all weekend selling lots of work and chatting with customers? Well sometimes, yes. But more likely the show work continues on after the show is over. For me breaking down after a show takes about 2 -2 1/2 hours. Then it's the trip home which varies depending on where the show is located. At the other end there is unpacking and putting the tent, display items and all my work away. Whew, are you tired yet?

Sometimes the work goes on to the next day as it did this past Monday. The show in Cohasset ended with 2 storm systems coming through on Sunday afternoon. One was a thunder and lightening storm with 2 really close lightning strikes! I have to admit it was a little scary being in a tent with metal poles! We had to break down in the rain so everything was thrown in the Windstar wet. On Monday morning the tent had to be set up in the back yard, hosed down to get the acid rain off of it, and dried out to be ready for the next show. The floor mats also had to be hosed down as they were muddy from the rain. All the garments had to be pressed. Creases form when they are damp and put in the garment bags for transit. I still have to unload a few boxes from the car. Are you tired yet?

This is the unglamorous side of being a craft show artist. So why do we continue to do this? Are we all crazy?! Well, yes, a little! But I like to think it's really about passion. Artist's are passionate about what they do! Artist's need affirmation. When you buy our work it is the greatest affirmation we can receive. It tells us that you are paying attention and relate to what we are doing. We like to tell you about our work and we like to see your eyes light up when the work speaks to you. We are sharing ourselves with you.

It's a special treat when someone connects perfectly with a piece of your work so that you know it was meant for only them. That happened to me this weekend when a lovely young woman bought one of my shrugs titled "Tribute to the Women of Jane Austen". It was to be her birthday present. When she tried the shrug on it was like magic. It was perfect on her. When I told her the name of the piece which was created after watching the PBS series on Jane Austen (you can read about it if you go to the archives under April, 2008) she told me how much she loved Jane Austen and was a big fan of all her work. Perfect!!!! That shrug has been waiting for her!!! That moment was worth all the work it takes to do a show! I hope she has many years of wearing that shrug!