Forgetting something?

[PendulumsbyMarlaina]

So the way things are going it looks like I will be doing possibly 2 shows this summer. I'm making a list of everything I will need for my shows such as bags, receipts, extra pens, and all the other little things that I will need and other things such as bringing a friend to help great customers, deter thefts etc.Any other tips?

I'm just worried I will forget some major thing like my inventory lol. Has anyone ever forgotten something for one of their shows? If so what did you do to compensate for it?

[AshleysRoots]

I had a dream the other night that I forgot change!

[andidanie]

I pulled into the parking lot to set up for a show that was 45 minutes from home and realized I forgot my table covers. I had washed them the night before and left them sitting on the table in the front hall.

I was about to run to target for some sheets, but the event organizer had extras, that even went with my display!

I've also driven off without my canopy. Fortunately I was still close to home when I remembered!

[YAHAccessories]

I work with a checklist. Print it out on my cp so I don't have to write a new one every show.

[Former_Member]

Although I have a fairly extensive checklist that I use, the thing that I forget most often is my lunch.

Many times that little cooler is left sitting on the kitchen table.

But it makes for a nice dinner when I get home!

[TigersandDragons]

- Checklist
- Having a place to put items as you think of them, a little pile as you will.
- Having dedicated cases where certain items go, so it's more obvious whether you have an item, or need to replenish in between shows (bags, tissue, change, tape).
- Putting everything that goes to the show near the front or back door (whichever way you will be exiting to pack the car). Take a GOOD LOOK around before you lock up the house and leave.

- Do a countdown of everything in the car before you drive away.

You'd be surprised how often you can cope when you forget something.
Over the years we have forgotten table covers, tarp sides for the tent, money, extension cords and other small things like tape and tissue. If it was a show within the city, one of us left to go to the store, or drive home and get the forgotten item.
If it was a show on the road we could sometimes rent (table covers) from the display company, or go to the store before or during the show. Sometimes other vendors could help us (change).

When some stock was left, well we just got by with the stock we had. Once time I called my friend who was watching my house and had her courier the stock to me. Once I left important jewellery tools at home, and I was away for 3 shows in a row and trying to do work. So I called a store and had them ship me the tools I needed, got them in 2 days.

Gosh, I know it that list of mistakes makes me sound like a butterhead, but I've been doing this for 14 years. Most of the time it is my partner who forgot to load some case. We have turned around a block away, once we drove back and lost 4 hours, but really needed that item This is why we started the "countdown", and I started putting everything that goes in the entryway, and I take a LAST LOOK around before locking the house. Sometimes my partner would miss a dark bag sitting in a corner, so I started using bright coloured "candy" bags for important stuff, so he would notice them.

[khmetalwork]

I forgot half my jewelry once - shit happens.

I keep all my show supplies in a 3 drawer (plastic) rolling chest. all the business stuff, boxes, change, etc. stays in the drawers. A bungee cord goes around the chest and it gets tossed in the back of the car with all the other equipment.

[BlackCatStudio98]

Before I did my first show I dreamed I forgot my tables, lol. I've only done a few shows, but fortunately I haven't left anything home yet. Good thing since I live an hour away from most of the shows I do.

I use a checklist too, but I absolutely DO NOT check anything off the list until it's in the car. Then before I leave I look at the checklist one more time to make sure everything is crossed off. And like others said, take a look around before leaving.

Good luck!

[Former_Member]

I've actually forgot my tables! I know! How? I was doing a show2 hours away, picked up my sister who's table I was going to borrow. Got excited, started talking about the show and forgot the tables on the porch. We remembered half way there stopped at the only store in town and paid 100 dollars for two flimsy card tables. Lesson learned. Make a list!

[Former_Member]

My 1st show was this past weekend and I didn't have any cash at all and really didn't need any. The first few cash customers had the exact amount and I was able to give change later through the weekend.

[brendascrochetnsuch]

I forgot bags for purchashes. I has just bought some cool ones. I called my mom and she brought some used grocery/walmart bags. Turns out I didn't use any with my 2 sales. One of the sales was my mother who bought 2 towels from me, so lucky she came or I would have made only $3. LOL!!

[Former_Member]

I once forgot to get change from the bank and only had 20s the morning of the show...i woke up my mother at 3am to ask if she had any 1s and 5s i could use.

And once i forgot my pin and pendants. I had them sitting right by the door but left without them. I had my stock of pots in the truck but i had been making more pins and pendants so had the container of them in the house to be a last minute pack but that last minute came and went lol.

[Former_Member]

So far i've been lucky and haven't forgotten anything but i too had a dream once that i had no money, change, etc. and went wandering around the area of the show trying to find some. As it turned out, I was gone for about 1/2 the show and finally made it back to my booth. The promoter had gone to my booth while i was gone and re-arranged everything, changed my table covers, displays, etc to some god awful looking combination of things that didn't match at all. VERY strange dream.

[ThistleBeePottery]

The last thing to go in my car is my cart that way it's the first thing out when I start to unload. I got to a venue 1 hour away and guess what I forgot. The cart! The show was in a school and it was a loooooong walk from the curb to my booth. Lucky for me a couple of "husbands" took pity and gave me a hand.

Also, lucky for me my husband was able to drop off the cart so I would have it to pack up. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have had such luck getting help at the end of the show since I'm usually one of the last ones out.

[SomeKindOfPretty]

Every craft show, no matter how good I am with a list I still manage to forget something! lol Its usually change, I usually end up with 20's. But I did like the idea mentioned earlier about printing off a list...I might have to do that!

[Former_Member]

I, too, have found myself with only 20's the morning of a show. Call me wrong, but I stopped and got a Coke - paid with a $20. Stopped for a candy bar - paid with a $20. LOL Stopped for a donut - paid with a $20. In ten minutes, I had enough change to get started. Hey - it worked!

[heathercashart]

OMG yes! I forgot tablecloths at a big show, and my boyfriend ran home to get them, but didn't get back in time before the show opened! The lady next to me let me borrow some old ones, and I was still setting up while people were walking in - it was AWFUL.

Now I finally have my stuff organized in bins, "a place for everything", so that I'm sure not to forget anything! Also from now on I am *always* going to take advantage of the day-before setup opportunities!

[TigersandDragons]

Yes, setting up the day before is great if it fits your schedule, no worries if you forget something.

[brushcreekwoolworks]

I found that when I pack my vehicles I make sure certain things always go in the same place in the vehicle.
Then as you pack , you automatically put the items in " where they go" and you tend not to forget anything.
Plus once you have your system down, packing up at the end is easier and everything fits back in.

[BlackCatStudio98]

Oh no, Holly! Not a good way to start off the morning of the show by spending money on flimsy card tables!

And Brenda, I forgot that I forgot bags once too at my first show. I didn't just leave them at home, I didn't even think to have them! When my mom came by to visit the show she offered to go buy some bags for me. I was so glad to get them because I had a couple of customers who seemed irritated that I didn't have any and of course the first customer I had after getting them gave it back to me and said she didn't want it, lol.

[ArdentlyCrafted]

I once forgot some of the hardware needed to attach a big display to my table. I had to send my husband home to get it. (thankfully that was an option) in the mean time we anchored it down with a few bricks I had in my car (idk why) and hovered near it to catch if needed.

A checklist is my best friend. But I need to be careful to not leave things off that too!

[TheHomespunLoft]

I always forget a chair...I do stand 99% of the time so.. it is okay.. I have used a tote to sit on the edge if I want to sit for a minute.

A chair is now something I pack 1st in my suv!

[wildeyes]

my first big show i forgot sunblock. and of course i wore a sleeveless top. still have the tan. LOL. and i took a custom order and forgot to get the customer's contact info. good thing i stapled my card to her receipt and she finally emailed me. wont do that again.

[Former_Member]

I got to a show last weekend and realized I had forgot my price displays. Thankfully I had spent the night at my parents' house because they live much closer to the show than I, and so my dad showed up about 15 minutes after it started with the displays.

[CarolBradley]

I forgot my table once. We were all allowed only one table, otherwise I would have forgotten three. :) Fortunately, we were setting up Friday for a weekend show. I was asking directions to WalMart when my booth neighbor said she had an extra table. How wonderful!

Another time I forgot my table covers and my table risers. I had some sheer curtains that I used for the back 'wall' so at least I had something I could use. It was ugly but not as ugly as bare tables.