Friday, November 23, 2012

One down, two to go.....


                                               
Day one of the Carolina Designer Craftsmen show, done.
I sold a few barns, some stars and met a lot of really nice people. All in all, not a bad evening. Here are some shots I took while roaming around waiting for the show to start. Gerry came over and helped me set up on Wednesday, so I basically had nothing to do today until 4pm except make sure my lights were on for the voltage check. And since my booth was the most down and dirty booth I have ever done, it took no time to finish up.
It is really quite a hillbilly booth, but since I set up trade shows for a living for about 20 years, I'm just not that into the whole booth set up thing. I have my work at eye level, it is easy to see and it's not cluttered, so I'm good with it. I should make a better effort, maybe next year.... There are some people at this show with amazing booths that took them a couple of days to set up, and I just have better things to do. I definitely won't win any best booth award, that's for sure! The couple across from me did 30 shows this year, this one being the last of the year. They are weavers, ironically, and it was interesting to see how many people came into the booth and tried things on, but I'm not sure how much of it sold. I really don't want to do 30 shows on the road. When do they find time to weave? and where is the joy in making beautiful scarves and things with that kind of production going on. I just don't want my life to be like that.


My booth does not photograph well, but the work I have in the show is my best yet. I really like all of these pieces.
 Here are some pieces by Daniel Johnston, can you tell who influenced his work..... really nice work though....
 My good friend Deb Harris has some beautiful celedon carved pieces. Deb's work is always so well crafted. I loved this bowl. Porcelain, black slip, and celedon, nice!


Deb also coordinates the high school booth for the show. There are always some great pieces in this booth, fun to see and it is almost always heavy on the clay side. My favorite was this banana phone. Stop by and take a look if you come over.

 I would have photographed more pottery, but no one was at their booth when I was walking around and I started feeling weird about taking pictures without asking. Maybe I can try tomorrow...
 Here were the views around my hillbilly booth later in the evening. I got bleary eyed and tired by 8pm and still had an hour to go. Two more days and then two more weekends. Lord, I just want to make stuff, this booth sitting drives me up the wall. I DO like all the nice people I meet, but the lighting, the awful piped in music, the noise, the crowds, the hot air, just make me want to run outside and try to breathe.
I used my ipad tonight with propay for credit card transactions and it went very well. Stepping into the 21st century with my technology and it actually worked without a glitch. Cool!

















So crowded,view from my stool, 
can you say claustrophobia....


                                                                                                        me, very tired...








 

8 comments:

cookingwithgas said...

it is hard work doing shows. All I want to do is hibernate right now. I have not been in the studio but to walk through since unloading.... I need some down time.
Good sales to you.

Tracey Broome said...

So right, shows are hard! I marvel at these people with their mega booths that took them hours to set up and they are on the road all year going from show to show. What kind of life that must be! I have been doing shows in some form or another since I was 22 years old, it's time for something else!

Sandy Miller said...

Not sure what I would do if I didn't have a counter between me and the floor! Good luck!! I think we are all on burn out. One more show for me and orders to fill..... A book, mug of coffee and the woodstove loom large :)
Snowing here this morning .......

Good sales to you!

Tracey Broome said...

Sandy, definitely on burn out and I am just getting started! the book, coffee and fire sound way more inviting than getting in my car this morning! Enjoy some of that for me!!!

Michèle Hastings said...

There are a lot of shows that are all about the booth and awards, but the bottom line is how much money you make. I am all for clean, neat, and easy! Good luck and bring home lots of empty boxes.

Susan Wells said...

Well now, from here, your booth looks great and so does your work! I'm sure you make everyone feel right at home. Good luck today- another beauty perfect for shopping!
And thanks for posting fresh work by Daniel and Deb. Both, impeccable potters who know who to look to for form and esthetic guidelines. I LOVE Deb's new scraffito work- saw it at claymakers.

smartcat said...

Sales are a crap shoot, no getting around it. Things seem slow this year...hope it picks up for you.

I'm trying to remember to take breaks and get up and move around. I may end up permanently frozen in position with a brush in my hand!

Amy said...

beautiful pottery, Tracey. and two more weekends? I can't imagine doing a bunch of shows either. Just not my thing at all! Would rather be in the studio.