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- Uncategorized (19)
- 18. December 2008: Off
- 3. December 2008: Been cookin'...gonna cook some more
- 30. November 2008: Crazy time
- 21. November 2008: The Make-do
- 19. November 2008: If Homer Simpson were a potter...
- 16. November 2008: Studio sale 2008
- 14. November 2008: Should have been "How to BUILD a glaze spray booth"
- 14. November 2008: How to glaze a spray booth, reel cheep...
- 13. November 2008: Soup, lovely soup
- 12. November 2008: How committed are you?
Craft Fairs during a time of economic crisis
I’m just a day back from doing the Peters Valley Craft Fair in New Jersey. It’s sponsored by the PV Craft Center, and is held in the Sussex County Fairgrounds, up in the hills of NW New Jersey, just a hop and skip from the Delaware Water Gap. It’s mighty scenic country, and pretty rural, not what you’d think of when you picture New Jersey. The folks who run it are quite nice, and the proceeds go to a good cause, namely keeping the doors open at Peters Valley, which is getting harder and harder every year as funding is cut back. Last year they had record crowds, but this year was a different story. While people did come out, the threat of rain and tropical storms, along with the uncertainty created by the financial crisis, seemed to take a toll. The area is distant from NYC, but the target audience for the show is NYC and environs, and I heard a lot of talk about people and places in trouble during the show. My sales were down significantly, and most of the other exhibitors I talked to fared about the same. I didn’t have high expectations going in, so I wasn’t surprised, but still, it is a blow when one’s work languishes on the shelves. People did come, and look, but I guess one group’s interaction with me kind of summed up the weekend. These were people who have been good customers of mine in the past, and I know the really wanted to buy, as they spent quite a while in the booth caressing pieces and talking, but in the end, one of them said, “we’re not going to buy anything today…none of us know whether we’ll have jobs by the end of next week.” I guess some serious belt tightening will be in order, but as a potter who’s been at it for some time, I do know that I can go a couple more notches without really hurting that much. Hard times are sadly not a stranger to most craft artists. It is going to be an interesting ride for the near future.
I’ve attached several photos of my booth setup during the show, for anyone interested.
Now I’m going to take some time to rest and clean up before fixing up a nice dinner at home. All of the show food gets old.
29. September 2008 at 21:28
hey, no pics were attached to your blog entry
sounds like Peters Valley was rough. makes me wonder how the remaining shows for this fall are going to be.
5. October 2008 at 17:02
Usually, Pottery is one of the first things that people quit buying, It is the same here in the NC mountains, gas availibility is keeping folks from even traveling, they feel they will not be able to find gas. But as usual, pull your belt up tight, go ahead and get the inventories up and just make good pots. Thanks for the insight.
21. October 2008 at 21:10
Your work ethic, blog, and especially your creations are an inspiration to us all. I was interested in how you are handling the other studio mates at this time. What with the new electric kiln and all. I had read your article from the 80’s years ago, then saw your feature in the 90’s. I just finished up a show in Memphis, I’ve participated in it for the past 10 years. This was the 2nd biggest haul yet for us. The country’s financial state has me second guessing every step I make. I have to agree with Ron though, getting the inventories up and making them good pots.
26. October 2008 at 08:56
Alex, The studio is working out just fine right now. Two of my mates fire all electric, so the new kiln is a boon to them, giving them more options for firing and cooling cycles. In particular, one of them makes large sculptures, and this will make firing them safely a lot easier. It also takes some of the pressure off when all of us are getting ready for shows.
Thanks for the kind words…I’m just a potter, with good and bad days like all of us!
Glad to hear your last show went well. I am hoping to hear more such reports, but I fear that we’re entering a difficult phase, saleswise. As long as I don’t listen to too much doom and gloom on the radio and tv, and keep working, I’ll be fine.
Good luck to you, and thanks for stopping by!
26. October 2008 at 08:58
Ron,
Hope that you are doing well down in NC. When sales dry up there, in the promised land of pottery, I know we are in trouble! I’ve been trying to follow my own prescription, and keep working hard. Have some glazing and kilns to fire soon, and I’m hoping for nice color and texture.
Take care,
Richard