The Tackiest People Encounters Of Craft Fairs.

Have you ever wondered what it's like to work at a craft fair? Well. let me tell you, it's not fun or glamorous, but the tacky people can sometimes be entertaining! I am a jewelry artist and a stay-at-home mom. Three years ago I started my own business called Feminine Flair Jewelry and began selling my handmade jewelry to friends and family. That was going well and I was receiving many compliments, so I thought, why not expand into craft fairs? I will tell you now that you can always make more money at home parties and have more fun than at any craft fair.

The negatives of craft fairs are that they attract people who are tacky and cheap. Now, I am not talking about quality art fairs, art shows put on by artists' organizations (I belonged to the Leavenworth Artists' Association in Leavenworth, KS and they have several profitable and fun shows a year), ladies' night out (these are usually profitable), or holiday shows where people are shopping for Christmas gifts. I am speaking specifically right now about your average, small town fairs and craft fairs. If you think that it would be fun to rent a booth at one of these for your home business, let me let you in on a few things to consider first. Your day starts out at about 5 a.m. when you get up, load up your car with all your folding tables, merchandise and food for the day, and drive to the town where the fair is going to be. Then, you have to unload your stuff in all kinds of weather (I've been rained on, snowed on, and had 100 degree heat), and drag it a few blocks from the parking lot designated for vendors to your actual assigned spot. Sometimes you don't even have an assigned spot and it's first come, first served, which is even worse. While you are setting up all your merchandise, you are usually dealing with other vendors who are sleep deprived and grouchy.

I usually try to do all this with a smile on my face because according to my 6-yr-olds' book about the human body, it takes 19 muscles in your face to smile and 43 to frown! Sometimes others appreciate my positiveness and it gets them in a better mood too, but for those Ultra Oscar the Grouch types, this seems to make them even madder. Well, usually when they find out I have more unique and original jewelry designs at cheaper prices than their run-of-the-mill stuff they don't like me anyway.

After all your equipment is set up, you usually sit there for 2 to 3 hours before your first sale occurs. This is because most of these po-dunk fairs require you to be there way earlier than anyone would actually show up to shop. By the time the first round of customers start showing up, you usually have to pee really bad!