Getting the balance of vendors for festival
Our Festival is still five months away, and we are getting in applications most every day. Two of the biggest problems with arts and crafts vendors is getting good ones, and getting a good balance to be in the event.
"Good" vendors are the type with articles to sell that are well made, well designed, well painted, and are of interest to the current buying market. These vendors watch the markets and make items that are currently in vogue in home decorating, yard art, or personal adornment.
By balance, I mean not too many of any one particular area. Most of our fine arts artists are so very different that they are not a problem. But we have jewelry makers coming out the wazoo this year. I love good, beautiful hand-made jewelry. Jewelry that is NOT like everyone else has made. But there seems to be a limit to the number of diferent kinds of jewelry one can get applications from. A couple of the Spring arts and crafts festivals around here had waaay too many jewelry sellers. And most of it was NOT hand-made. Well, maybe it was, but in China or Mexico, -definitely not by the person selling the pieces. Another area I'm getting lots of applications from is scroll saw art--y'know, the little puzzles that are in the shape of animals, the crosses to hang on the wall, the openwork clocks. Some are very, very nice. Some are not.
Wonder what will be the next big influx of articles? Anything "green" - items made from recycled goods? Who knows? I'm anxiously awaiting to see what comes in.
"Good" vendors are the type with articles to sell that are well made, well designed, well painted, and are of interest to the current buying market. These vendors watch the markets and make items that are currently in vogue in home decorating, yard art, or personal adornment.
By balance, I mean not too many of any one particular area. Most of our fine arts artists are so very different that they are not a problem. But we have jewelry makers coming out the wazoo this year. I love good, beautiful hand-made jewelry. Jewelry that is NOT like everyone else has made. But there seems to be a limit to the number of diferent kinds of jewelry one can get applications from. A couple of the Spring arts and crafts festivals around here had waaay too many jewelry sellers. And most of it was NOT hand-made. Well, maybe it was, but in China or Mexico, -definitely not by the person selling the pieces. Another area I'm getting lots of applications from is scroll saw art--y'know, the little puzzles that are in the shape of animals, the crosses to hang on the wall, the openwork clocks. Some are very, very nice. Some are not.
Wonder what will be the next big influx of articles? Anything "green" - items made from recycled goods? Who knows? I'm anxiously awaiting to see what comes in.