I didn't even get a lousy t-shirt!   :D  But, seriously folks, I was busy as heck. The ASUNM show I already talked about, and then Saturday, November 21st, I had another show at Bandelier Elementary School, the 2015 Bandelier Bazaar. 

Many folks there I remembered well from last year, and I had a couple of repeat customers. (Just like at UNM!) It really does an artist's heart good to hear, "I remember you!" It was also my first show with a booth fronting on two walkways. I decided to go with a double-sided configuration, since I had the furniture to pull it off. This is something about these shows that I am learning I need to pre-plan for ... I might not know until I get there whether I have an end space (like at UNM), a corner spot (Cleveland Middle School), a double-sided space, or whatever. Which means I need to have several possible booth layouts on quickdraw! Same furniture, different configuration. 

Interestingly, the city has a chart of fire marshall approved booth layouts, and that is what got me thinking about how -- in the heat of the setting-up-shop moment -- NOT thinking could be such a huge advantage! What is it I do when I unexpectedly have booth with 3 sides customers? OH RIGHT I ALREADY PLOTTED THIS OUT. Seriously, I need to help Future Me in these ways.

The show at Bandelier was fantastic. It was a bit of an ass-kicking, with vendors cruising around shopping in between waves of visiting customers. But there was a DJ spinning actual vinyl and even over an elementary school PA system, some tunes just help folks get groovy. It wasn't even holiday music! When I heard a Donovan song and Cat Stevens and others in that vein, I knew I was in the right place. Not because I like that stuff, but because I secretly like that stuff, and hearing it in a room full of others who maybe ALSO secretly like it forms a temporary bond of congeniality. 

In other words: the atmosphere was not totally unlike some of the college parties I went to in the 90s. 

Also, this year, I figured out that there were coffee and baked goods for the vendors, and I took good advantage of this. Especially because MOST of the day was spent hustling both sides of my booth. Much is being learned about good ways to run a booth, and ... less-good ways. Learning is, generally, a pain in the cortex, and this learning is not different. But it is GOOD STUFF, and I am looking forward to applying the lessons learned. Also, I continue to be amazed by the creativity, skill, and social grace of fellow vendors!

(Unrelatedly: Is there a feminization / neutral version of 'fellow'?)

It's 5pm on a Sunday after, the sun is nearly down, and I kind of feel like today has been a whole week of activity unto itself. Not in a bad way, but definitely in a tired way. More posts + photos to follow during the week, but in case you're taking yourself off the internet for the holiday: happy Thanksgiving!​ Try to really, actually focus on what you're grateful for. Maybe it sounds childish, but realistically, if you're reading this, your life is better that someone else's in a lot of ways. Just accept it!

In a completely shameless way, I used this show to gather feedback and critiques about my booth setup. I solicited input from other vendors, particularly those who I know are doing brisk business. I asked everyone who came to the booth to see me (the person, not me, the artist). I think Micah* and I rearranged the booth at least 8 times, and finally settled on that configuration on the right. 

Today at the Bandelier Bazaar I am going to attempt to recreate both the booth and the success without benefit of a backdrop, side fences, swank carpet, or good lighting! (I'm in the cafeteria of an elementary school, where all of those things would be serious liabilities.) Should be an interesting day. Last year's event at Bandelier was fabulously fun and good business, so I have high hopes for today.

Also -- ASUNM is a STUDENT ORGANIZED show. Holy crap, man. All the vendors were commenting about how the show is mellow and fun and a good scene. And it is all those things, but also, it's smooth sailing. There aren't weird hiccups and surprises. It's kind of awesome.

* My booth babe this time was Micah Nauck of Big Creek Designs, who does outstanding work and has an eye for pretty wood. We definitely share a philosophy about how and why woodworking is meant to be done! Also, we crack each other up all the time, which makes a long show like ASUNM much easier and more fun. Big thanks to Micah, who bounced back up from the flu and an ankle sprain so bad it slowed him down (even though it happened to his wife).

The pen you see there is a simple twist pen with copper fittings and a spalted pecan body. I sold it at the very end of the day yesterday, about 5 minutes past closing time. The building security guy was *already* hovering over the booth to make sure we understood it was closing time. (Seriously dude, 5 minutes? In New Mexico??)

Nearly everyone in the booth picked up this pen yesterday, even I picked it up a few times. It's a beautiful piece, and I know the guy who bought it is going to love it a lot. He even gave a great compliment, he said, in Europe he'd have to pay 400€ for it, and he'd still be tempted! That may have been an over-estimate, but it was nice to hear, and very encouraging.

I know there will be times today that I look for that pen, expecting it to be in my inventory. Because it's such an arresting visual experience, and also it is fun to hold, with the contouring and knobby-ness. I'll be disappointed every single time I go to look for it and it's not there.

Happy for him, he's got an awesome new pen. (I so much enjoy seeing pen-love and pen-lust in people's faces!). Happy for me, I sold some of my work for a good price and can go on making things. But the sadness of missing that piece, of never having it again is there, too. I KNOW I can make more beautiful pens. I KNOW I can always look at the photo. But that's not much like touching it, writing with it, showing it to someone else. 

Anyway, I've got two more days at UNM, and then I'll be at Bandelier on Saturday. No rest for the wicked, or something. 

The show was very slow at the beginning, and picked up some momentum toward the end. I don't know for sure, but it seemed like there might have been more vendors than visitors at some points. In the future I will ask how many vendors will be allowed into shows!

I'm not exactly complaining, mind you. I DID have a good show. But at one point I went on walkabout to see what the other vendors had going on, and after some wandering began to wonder if I was going to be able to locate my own booth again! 

Very affordable booth fee, but the booth was small (6'x8') and the sheer number of vendors meant there was competition for visitor attention as well as dollars.

The early down time was spent discussing with my lovely booth assistant Vanessa whether I should put more energy into separating my Art from my Craft and making sure to find suitable venues for each. The short answer, of course, is yes. 

Although I didn't get any pictures at that show, I offer you a nice map for my next show! Please do visit me at the ASUNM Arts & Crafts Show (52nd Annual!) this week, Wednesday -> Thursday -> Friday, from 10am - 6pm. By Friday at 4:30 I should be powerfully punchy. Probably a great time to hit me up for a bargain of some sort.