Bead Fest Philadelphia

by Staci Louise Smith

This Friday is the first day of the last Spring Bead Fest to take place in Philly.

(don't worry, the August show will still be held here)

Bead Fest Spring is where it all began for me.  It was my first big bead show AND my first time visiting friends I met online (gasp!)

2013???  2014?  Spring meet up

It has since become something I look forward to each year, and I will sorely miss the chance to come out of winter hibernation and get to see my beady creative friends in April.

I am not vending, and there are no planned meet ups or swaps this year.  However, there are still friends I plan to see there, and I am teaching all day on Sunday as well.

If you have not been to this bead show, and you are in driving distance, you should come out.  It is such a nice show.  I know I like to stock up on my gemstone strands at the beginning of the season.

If you have online friends in the area, have them meet you for lunch.  Diana Ptaszynski of Suburban Girl Studio used to organize a fun bead swap and it was a great way to score some new beads and make new friends.

Not only did I meet a lot of great people that way, I made actual friends!  I love connecting with people from far and wide. 

I am not sure what year this was....maybe 2012?

Don't even get me started on the FUN parties that Melinda Orr would put together for the August Bead Fest.  That was a whole other bonding experience!

 Anyhow, I love that we all can find something we have in common and can remain friends online.  These ladies I have met at Bead Fest has not only been online friends, but they have been REAL friends to me.  Giving me rides to a show, staying over with me before my first time teaching for moral support, watching my booth for me while I teach, that is just a small example of the great friendships that have grown over something as simple as a love of beads.  I am so thankful for their friendship and support.  All because someone like Diana took time to organize a swap!  

here we were doing a mini practice class with Erin Siegel

Diana our lovely swap host

photo by Dianne Bachelor Miller

So just do it.  Yes its awkward at first, for like 5 seconds, when you meet someone from online, but then you see beads and you start to shop and talk and time just flies!!!  It is so very worth it!

I will be around shopping on Saturday, so if you want to meet up, shoot me a facebook message on my business page.

You will probably find me lurking around 

Jenny Davies-Reazor # 522 

and Marsha Neal Studio's # 520 booths!  

So make sure to stop by and say HI to them and make sure to fondle all their lovely beads.  I know I have a list of what I need to get from them!

If you need a coupon to get in, save and print this picture and save $$$ at the door!

On Sunday I will be teaching all day.  Here is a link to the classes. Online registration is closed, but you can still sign up at the show if you are interested.

https://www.eiseverywhere.com/ehome/145551/StaciSmith

First thing in the morning, 8:30-11:30 am I will be teaching this Wild Wire Choker.

It's a really fun class that introduces you to working with larger wire in long pieces to create large focal pieces for your beads.  It is also a great class to practice those wire wrapped loops and learn to work wire while it being free form enough that there are no real mistakes!  Let go and have fun with wire!

Then, at 1-4 pm I will be teaching this Polymer Clay Carving Class.  Carving polymer clay is one of my most favorite things to do!  There are a million ways to use it.  This is an intro class, that will give you the basics, your play and creativity can take it anywhere!

So, I am frantically prepping for my classes (making kits is a laborious task, but I love it!)

 bead blanks to carve

 wire rolls for kits

 student practice blanks to carve

polymer kits sponsored by Polyform

 bronze for wild wire choker kits

wood blocks to raise carving surface for carving class

I am also trying to get some bead inventory made to sell in my classes.  

I am sure to be tired if you see me wandering around, but I will be ready to shop and talk anyway.  Look for my bright turquoise hair and flag me down!  

me- turquoise hair!!!

I would love to meet up and chat.

I do hope you will come out.  Organize a meet up.  Make a friend, shop for beads.....you won't regret it.  Even if you get really really lost (you know who you are!...lol)

 Hope to see you this weekend!

What Makes a Succesful Show?

by Staci Louise Smith

I am sure there are a million posts out there on this topic.  If you wonder why, its because there are a million answers to that question.  And all of us who do shows, learn something new each time we do one. 

Today I will touch on one or two things that I think go into a successful show.

I happened to be at a show over the weekend.  I have been doing this show for 9 years- its simply one of my favorites.  I am always working on my display- every year I change it up a bit...though I really have it quite how I like it now.  So the last few years it hasn't varied very much.  

Last years booth with last years banner

One of my more recent additions was a larger banner that went across the front of my table.  A lot of vendors had them at Bead Fest last year, and Karen Totten's of Starry Road Studio caught my eye.  It showed a very clear sample of her work and really stood out.  I liked how she had individual pictures of her beads on it.

Karen with her banner at set up- note the ones also hanging in the back
www.starryroadstudio.com

Her daughter Nellie also had one in a rainbow of wooly wire

So this year I made a new banner for my jewelry shows, and thought I'd do something similar.  Rather then just show one piece on it (like I had the other year), I could give a better idea of my scope of work with a few pictures.  

Now, if you have done art and craft shows you know that there are always a lot of jewelry vendors.  I mean, a lot.  You really have to stand out, to ensure that the jewelry fans come to check out your booth.  

Well, I had a customer tell me that my banner drew her in from across the way.  She loved that she could see exactly what my style was (which was right up her alley) and it made her come to see what I had.  Otherwise, she wouldn't have stopped in.  She went on to buy some great pieces too.  I really loved that she took time to share that with me.  So I thought I would share it with all of you.  

Another tip is to make sure your business cards have a picture of what you do.  Your customers may pick up 10 or more at a show.  You want them to remember yours at a glance, and why they picked it up.  They should be able to look at it and know exactly what you do.  Below is my jewelry show card.

After all, artists, people who love art, we are visual folks.  Pictures are important.  

I had planned to write about the next tip because it came up with a fellow artist at the show.  When  it came up on Facebook in a bead and jewelry group again, I thought I would definitely write about it. It pertains to allowing customers take pictures at a show.  The question was whether you allow it, and why or why not...and, if you'd consider signage to discourage pictures.  I think it wound up being a great discussion.  It is a very hard thing as an artist, to know that someone may be out to try to make what you made.  Whether it is for themselves (rather then buying it from you) or the to make it sell, and be your competition. 

This is Cori Krewson-Catlow's mom running her booth- she had such a great way with people!  Look at that crowd!
http://www.elasticbangles.com/

Here is my take on it, and I have been doing shows a long time.  

If someone plans to copy you, they will do it, whether you allow them to take a picture or not.  If you are selling online, you already gave them pictures of your work.  

Though it does happen that some people copy, and then go on to sell at the same venue as you (and I am not discounting how much this sucks- believe me, I am sure that it is a horrible thing to have happen!)....but this post is not about copying, its about selling.

Here is Barb Bechtel at a show, look how enthusiastic she is!  I love her energy.

At the end of the day, you cannot practice defensive sales techniques.  As a customer, if I walked into a booth that had a sign saying "no pictures please" I'd walk right out.  Let's face it, it comes across as closed off.  Instead, I encourage you to talk about your pieces.  Talk about how you make them.  Engage the person to talk about what they like about the piece.  You may find yourself in a delightful conversation about color, or texture, or gemstones.  You may find they want to show it to their mom.  I have even had women shop for friends this way, and come back and buy things after their friends texted back that they wanted them. 

Mary-Lynne Moffat with some customers in her booth.  Mary-Lynne is so wonderful at talking about her art.  Her passion comes shining through when she speaks of her creations!
https://www.facebook.com/MaryLynneMoffattArt


 If you are afraid that every customer that comes into your booth is going to rip you off somehow, it will show through in your attitude.  No one wants to spend time and money on someone who is closed off.  What makes us different then chain stores and factory made goods, is that what we make is part of who we are, and our customers get the opportunity to meet us and hear about what makes us tick, and why we did what we did on the piece.....ect.....  

Chris Kaitlyn helping a customer find what they are looking for
http://chriskaitlynjewelry.indiemade.com/gallery/image/img1490edited-1jpg

So my advice- talk!!!!  Talk about why they like the piece they photographed.  Talk about your process, the materials, how you make it. It will draw people in.  They will appreciate your pieces more when they know what went into them, and even more, when they see YOU in them.  I have gotten crowds in my booth explaining how to use bronze clay, or do etching with electricity.  I have had men stay for 20 minutes talking about fossils, and made friends over sea glass discussions.  Will every conversation result in a sale?  NO.  But it may bring them back in.  Or, someone who IS interested in buying but may be shy, may hear about your pieces and buy one because they learned something new.

Customer can easily become friends- Laura Blanck (center) posing with some great customers at a show
http://www.laurablanck.blogspot.com/

Why do you think galleries have a "meet the artist" night?  People want to meet the person who creates the art.  They want to know what makes them tick.  It becomes part of the pieces themselves.

These are just some things I have learned.  I admit, I am a people person- I know not everyone is, but I was shy at first too.  It was hard to find that comfort zone to talk about my work.  When I started to relax, and just think of it as an opportunity to meet creative people, and thought of these people as potential friends with common interests, it came more naturally.  In the end, I have made lot of friends at shows.  I have found customers whom I LOVE seeing. I love to catch up on what is new with them, learn what they have been up to, see what other artists they are into, and on and on.   

I have found such joy sharing my craft, not just the actual pieces, but the passion I have for it as well.  

I hope that you can too.  Don't worry about what could happen, just enjoy what you are doing.  That will shine through, and your customers will get to see you.....really see the honest you....and it will only help you make connections. 

Everyone has their thoughts on allowing pictures, and these are just mine.  I was an art show customer for many years before I sold there, and I know how I'd like to be treated, and what drew me to certain artists, and what turned me off.  This is all just some food for thought.

Back from Bead Fest

by Staci L. Smith

Since I did post after post about Genea and I doing Bead Fest, I thought I owed you a follow up.

 

There was so much work involved in making it happen.........but it all came together, and it was amazing.  We are now thoroughly exhausted.

 

Meeting and spending the weekend with Genea was awesome.  It got a blog all its own.  You can read about that here.

 It took us about 3 hours to go from empty spot to final set up.

 

 

We were still in awe of the fact that we were here, doing Bead Fest together when we took this pic.

 

 

 

 Here is Genea and Ricky at her booth

 

 

Here I am at mine

 

 

I am truly a people person, and so, being able to meet friends in person, customers, blog readers, and complete strangers, and talk beads and jewelry making, it was amazing. 

 

picture from the bead swap Diana P. does every August

 

 

It also got my juices flowing about teaching again.  I pulled out wire more then once to show people how to do things, I just love it.  Thinking of submitting to teach next year.

 

And I sold beads.  It felt so good, to sell my art, to be able to do what I love. 

picture by Diana P of Suburban Girl Studio

 

Speaking of beads, there was lots of trading that went on.  You can read about the stash I came home with here.

 

If you want the whole summary of the journey- beginning to end, with lots of pictures, click here.

 

Yes, there was so much to process, it took me three posts, and 4 days to get through it all.  I am still processing.

 

Thanks to everyone who has encouraged us through this process.  It was wonderful and Genea and I plan to do this again next year for sure!

 

 

 



Online Communities and What I Have Learned

Being online, whether blogging, or facebook, etsy or pinterest, has opened up a whole new world to me.  I have made new friends, I have been able to promote my shops, I have found support, encouragement and advice, and have found some artists that I really admire, not only as artists, but as plain old wonderful folks.

One of the places I have found some very close friends is facebook, through groups.  There is one particular group, that is kinda small, which I love, because I feel like I really know those gals.  Its all beady ladies, one way or the other, and it’s a private group, so its always a party.  It shall remain nameless too, because I am selfish that way. (wink wink)

Here are some beady friends I got to meet in person- friends I first met online

Anyhow, I have learned a lot since I began my online journey.  I'd like to share a few of them.

1.        What I do is no secret.  So why not share what I know.  

I have learned almost everything I know because someone took the time to share a tip, or technique with me.   Who am I to not pay it forward?   I am forever thankful to everyone who has ever helped me to get to where I am today.  Whether it be splitting early bead orders with me, teaching me to solder or tips and tricks in business, I am soooo very thankful.  You all know who you are!  (gosh- each and everyone of you has probably helped me in some way or another)

2.       Put yourself out there.  The good will outweigh the bad.

Yes, I know putting your work online (like on etsy, flickr or facebook) puts you at risk for copying.  It may very well happen.  You can deal with it if it does.  People may try to make what you do, but may only do it once or twice while they try to find who they are as a designer or master a technique.  Yet there are those dreaded people who try to imitate what you make and undersell you, but they are NOT the majority.  Overall, the good that comes from sharing your work and pictures online outweighs the bad.  So don’t hold back out of FEAR.  Be confident in who you are as an artist, and do your thing.

3.       Do not compare yourself to others.

Oh my word.  This is one I struggle with.  Whether I am seeing a design I wish I had thought of first, or know of someone selling more then me, my first instinct is to compare and wonder what I am doing wrong.  DO NOT DO THIS.  I have learned to just say no to comparing.  Concentrate on my work, my goals, my direction, or I will be pulled all over the place, doing this and that and the other thing trying to keep up.

4.       Take care of your friends.  Be encouraging.  If there’s something of theirs you love, share it with the world.

This has been one of the most amazing things I have learned.  There is such a great community out there willing to give a shout out to other artists, a link, a facebook post, its just amazing.  So, be nice to your friends, the artists you admire, give them some “press” and share the love.  Encourage them, celebrate with them.  The relationships I have made with my like minded beady friends are like none anywhere else.  I value them, and hope I take care of them as much as they take care of me.

These are just a few of the things I have learned along the way.  I am sooo very thankful for the amazing people who are always there for me, behind the scenes.

What have you learned from your online adventures?