first big craft show and demo

[mellowout]

so this weekend i will be doing my first big juried craft show (nj) and also my first public demo. I think that the way im going to go about doing it is just to work all day and answer questions as they come. I figure this way i dont need to have some sort of lecture prepared for scheduled demos every two hours. I was just wonder what people's experiences have been with this. Does it seem to boost sales? or do they see how quick you make a pendant and say that they dont want to spend the money on something that took ten minutes. should i bring the cc or the gtt bobcat for the demo? ( i figure ill pull some big cane on the cc and then bust it up into hearts of the bobcat). also what is normal inventory (its is a two day show)? i think i have like five hundred pendants. thanks

[steven p selchow]

I brought my torch to a show 1 time, it was 90 degrees out and never lit it. I find my work sells just as good without a demo.

drawback to this is once you fire up the torch, people want to buy something..so if your by yourself..this won't work out to well, unless you have help, plus I have so much work at shows, I'd need another booth to work in..added expense.

people do like to see it being made though, so bring help.

If you only have a small display, then you can most likely fit a work table in the booth, assuming its a 10x10 space.

Good luck too.

steve

[Spider]

If you want to avoid showing the public how fast certain designs are - only make parts - do fun techniques that are awesome to watch - what you'll want to do is watch yourself that no kids steal your tools & product. Many parents drop off their kids at the "glassblower" - they'll get you right when you are focused on the torch. it all depends on your booth/set-up. Offer to make something for the potential buyer - people love to buy what they saw being made. That's my 3 cents - inflation.