Multi-day shows

[TheShedStudios]

Hi, folks,

I'm new to craft shows, and did my first show in October. I took it easy on myself with my first one - it was only about a mile from home, 1 day, easy set up and breakdown - and I did great, even though the weather was terrible that day!

I'm doing my next craft show in April - this is a big 3-day event, and I've been busy working on inventory and displays.

My question - how do multi-day shows work in terms of security? Do you pack certain things up with you every night, or just leave everything out and trust it will still be there in the morning? Do you put the walls on your tent and zip it up at night, or is it better to leave it open so any security patrols the festival may have can better see everything?

Thanks in advance for advice - this team has been so helpful!

--Brett

[ExpressionsInLeather]

Personally, I leave all my display racks, tables and covers. I make sure my canopy is well secured with weights and put up all four sides to keep things left overnight secure underneath. I pack up and take with me all my inventory. I know a lot of people leave their merchandise over night but I would lay awake all night worrying if I did that.

[SweetConfettiCo]

All my multi-day shows have been inside so I know the building is locked when not in use. I just place a lightweight sheet over my display. I always count my inventory at the beginning and end of each day to make sure everything adds up. So far I have never had an issue.

[RedThreadBows]

I leave it all up, unless weather is going to be a factor. I did one two day show where it poured overnight Sat and although an EZ up is water resistant, it is not waterproof.
I zip my four wall shut and secure everything well, but I do leave all of my inventory. I've never had a problem. My individual items are not expensive though and I don't sell jewelry or something like that. Most vendors at the shows I do leave it all.

[TheShedStudios]

Thanks, everybody! This is helpful! My jewelry is small enough that I could probably pack up my inventory at the end of the day without it being a hassle... maybe I can come up with a storage/packing system that I can carry it out with me each night without having to bring a vehicle in.

[OutOfTheWoodsUSA]

When setting up at an outside show, we use the weights and put the sides on. At the end of each day, we just zip up. Since it takes us two hours to set up, we leave everything - including the artwork. If rain is in the forecast, we put a heavy weight plastic tarp over the top (overlaps the sides a bit) of our EZ Up tent and secure with bungee cords.

You may also want to ask the promoter what most artists and crafters do. After all is said and done, you need to do whatever you feel comfortable with.

[JustMeToo]

For an outdoor show, I would ALWAYS take home stock, and just leave the display set up. At indoor shows, I put drop sheets over everything, and leave it there. Good luck at your next show!

[wavejewelry]

I make silver and gold jewelry so I pack up and take home all of my inventory. I cover my table and display with a large tarp and secure it with rope. I lower my weighted or staked down tent to the lowest position so that it is less likely to catch wind. I don't use the side walls so that the security guard has a clear view of whats under my tent.

[woodsmokewoolworks]

If the weather is good, I put up the walls and walk away. If not, because damp affects my stuff, I pack stuff up and put it in the centre of the tent. I don't put up the walls and drop the tent as low as it will go and re-tie it.
A jeweller friend uses a tent that the legs come off. He drops his tables, lays stock flat on them, removes the legs of his tent and drops that right on top of it all and re-ties the tent. He's been doing that for years and never had a problem.

[TigersandDragons]

First - check the show info. Do they offer any night security? Even if they do, pretty much every show says they are not responsible for theft. A few shows even offer a crafts lock up area, for example a cargo container. Crafts people pack up their stock and wheel it over to the lock up for overnight, then pick it up in the morning and put out again.

When it comes to precious metal jewellery, most jewellers I know pack up their stock every night at outdoor shows.

We have a large wooden lock-box (with a padlock), but used to use a large metal trunk. It sits under one of our tables, on top of a tarp. At the end of the night, we take our jewellery boards and frames and stack them in the box. We also pack up some jewellery into cases and take those home (or to the hotel).
Sheets are thrown on top of the tables (to absorb moisture), then tarps (in case the tent leaks or blows away). We use spring clamps to clamp the tarps to the table. Then we close our tent. We just use ball ties, but some people use zip ties that they cut off each morning. Sometimes we will lower the tent down, to make it difficult to get in, as well as in case of strong winds overnight.
Because of the possibility of rain flooding the ground of our spot (it has happened 2x in the last 2 years) I am careful about leaving any containers or cases on the ground. If these aren't waterproof, then I put them in plastic garbage bags. ,

[TheShedStudios]

Thanks, folks! this is all very helpful!

[PJCRAFTSWORLD]

On these multiday shows we pack up and take all inventory with us. No matter how good security is they cannot watch each and every booth all the time. We pull all display items inside and put up and secure the walls.

[ImLaughingMyGlassOff]

My stuff is heavy, but fragile. My plan -doing my first multi day show in August - is to at least pack everything in bins overnight. One swift breeze could put me out of business!

[PlaynwithScraps]

I have my first 2 day show in May. I asked for an indoor booth. I'm planning on leaving the jewelry displays set up but taking all my jewelry. The jewelry fits into a medium size plastic tote so it's easy to transport. I have 2 big earring towers that I put in covers and then in boxes which I will put under the tables. I'm going to cover my ribbon skirts, ornaments and jewelry displays with sheets to help with dust.

[RadicalWorks]

Indoor show with security: Cover everything and pray.

Indoor show without security/in an open hallway: Pack away my knitted items, leave my soap bars, cover everything. I can always make more soap bars, but reknitting things would be a NIGHTMARE.

Outdoor show with or without security: Pack away my knitted items, cover everything, and seal up the canopy. I would sleep with my canopy if I had to; it's my livelihood, and hotels are expensive!

[whatleyphotography]

I only have done multi-day shows. They have all provided security and I don't have any individual pieces that are really high dollar. I moved everything to the center as much as possible and put up my walls. I might get bitten the future, but so far it has worked for my. I do only do larger shows and they have good security. If I was at all uncertain I would take my stuff home.

[Former_Member]

We've done indoor multi-day shows at Convention Centers & Shopping Malls. The Convention Center closes up tight & is locked, so we just cover our products with a variety of sheets to keep everything out of view. Same with the Shopping Mall. Although people still walk around the mall in the evenings, they have security guards patrolling throughout.

We'll be doing more outdoor shows this year with our new canopy but most of those will be 1 day shows. I'm not really looking forward to doing an outside multi-day show. Although we can seal up the canopy with the sidewalls, my comfort level with leaving all our products in our canopy outside is just not high enough yet. A night of bad weather could play havoc with our canopy & in our case, soap & rain definitely wouldn't be a good mix, lol.

[ArteOfTheBooke]

It really depends on the type of show, venue, weather, and tent/canopy. I would never leave inventory in the tent if it was a street fair, but always leave inventory in the tent if in a dedicated event area, like a park, particularly if we're camping nearby.

Indoors is easier, as most large events lock the doors and have security staff. We've never had a problem, knock on wood.

[stringnstone]

We have done a 2 week-end outdoor show and while we took the jewelry with us on Sat nite, we packed all the inventory and left the tent and tables through the week.

That being said we now only do one 2 day outdoor show.. We still take the jewelry home and leave tent and tables but the soap and knits are put in tubs and left under the tables...tent sides on and tent lowered to lowest position... it is easier to deal with rain pooled on tent when it is lowered and hard to get into in that position.

[CoquetteBath]

I only do a couple multiday shows in the year. Honestly, they are just too hard with a full time job.

but when I do (and always indoors) I simply cover up everything with sheets and hope for the best. Only a few times has anything disappeared (and I know cause I restock before covering up) and then only a few things. Not enough to consider taking stock with me.

but, if I had jewelry, I would. Definitely. Would not even think twice about it.

[ArteOfTheBooke]

I have to say, though, that I LOVE multiday shows. they are just so much easier, because you only set up and tear down once but you get several selling days. :-)

[TheShedStudios]

Thanks everyone! this has given me some good stuff to think about! it is an outdoor street show, so I think I'll be packing up my jewelry each night to take with me -

[Former_Member]

As a rule, I always take my inventory with me if it's an outdoor show. I have had people come into my tent at a show in Vermont--they stole my food cooler and ransacked a friend's tent next to mine, damaging his inventory. If your inventory isn't there the next day, you don't have anything to sell so why risk it?

Additionally, I lower my tent to its lowest settings, tarp over my display and secure it, and make sure that anything left is in a waterproof container. I swear by Ikea storage containers: they're inexpensive but sturdy and they stack well. I can easily load my entire system onto a luggage cart (spend the extra money and invest in a really well-made one), and away I go. All of this gives me peace of mind and I sleep well through the night.

Basically, cover as many bases as you can and then rest easy knowing you did everything within your power to protect your investment. Good luck!

[RedThreadBows]

Quick story- one multi day outdoor show I sold at had a vendor who conscientiously packed up all his inventory and locked it in his trailer overnight. He thought it was secure. Thieves stole the WHOLE trailer. It was parked n the vendor lot and I guess they saw him load it up. They drove in, attached it to their car and off it went. They lost everything.
Ironically, those of us who left our merchandise in our tents didn't lose a thing.

[TigersandDragons]

My friend lost a whole case of sterling jewellery while he was packing up at an outdoor street fair. The thief waited until he had his back turned, grabbed the case and ran!