Now that we've applied to the show, you know, in our little mind schedule or fake show um and we've gotten in right because we made that killer application with great photos we need to start preparing so the first thing is to create a task list this happens boy before the show let's say that this is a holiday show and it's over here you should be preparing over here like my timeline starts six to twelve months before the show and these are things you've got this always going you're always working there's no like oh I work in show season no, you're always working maybe you're be easier doing a different kind of work in show season, but if you're prepared organized with your time you shouldn't be a stress ball during the holiday show season you should be chilled out in knowing what you're doing because you prepped ahead oh um you guys are probably guessing this is one of my old booth um I did a show and I had been doing shows for many years and I forgot this top part of my rolling rack r...

ight there do you see all my things or on hangers I had nothing to hang them on. It was an inside show there was no tent I had nothing so I take all my shirts off the hangars, fold them and put them on a table believe me, I didn't do very well at that show today I did find you know it was not total bomb but I would have done much better if people could actually like touch my stuff and like, you know, when you go to a store it's like you have two unfolds like I don't even want to unfold this to see what this shirt looks like, you know? Because then I'm gonna have to re fold it don't make me work, huh? Let's talk about how to plan your time uh starting early I feel like I'm really stressing these things but they are very important you'll have your own stuff to dio but then shows will often ask you to do stuff too pass out post cards, promote online, get some paperwork in you know, there's you want to make sure that you're not doing your stuff when they ask you to do something you want to be able to do that thing to keep that relationship up. We also have this bonus material here, which is our timeline checklist so this along with all those other bonus materials we've been talking about these are the things that are going to save you time save you money keep you not stressed out keep you saying yet starts six to twelve months before the show and it goes all the way up until after the show so these air this is my time line you're gonna come up with your own but having having this template you might rearrange things you might add things that you have to do that maybe I didn't have to dio but this is gonna be great for you guys the other thing about people often ask me how I I get so much stuff done it's true I wasn't this wasn't something I was going to talk about today but it just popped into my head people really do ask me like how do you do all this stuff? You know, how do you do this? And I'm like I am really organized about my time I start everything really early if I could do something now I don't wait to do it I just don't that's why I'm quick about answering those emails if I can answer it right then I answered if you were to take the time to read it, answer it don't read it and think you're going to answer later if it's keep everything short to your your email responses there's not an e mail class but those years very hopeful tips eso then you don't want to use that timeline checklist and you want to be realistic about what you can do in a certain time period so I like teo and I learned this from my wedding photographer so this is this was actually at my wedding this is how you know I am is it? I had this sign when people walked in so that they would know exactly what time we were doing everything you know, five thirty there's going to be a parade and you better be there for that parade six o'clock that it's time for cocktails that is a cocktail drinking time you know what everybody came in and they saw this nobody looked at it nobody cared I needed to know to know that that was there but my wedding photographer told me whatever it is that you're doing at fifteen minutes to it because every bride runs late guess who did not run late guess who was hanging out for forty five minutes before they got married just kicking back with a little champagne feeling totally relaxed me you know I was getting to spend time with my loved ones that's how I want you to be before your craft show I don't want you to be rushing you know it starts at eleven and it's ten fifty nine year still putting the finishing touches on your mood I want you to be chilled out having your booth assistant watch your booth while you walk around and check out other people's boost shop, get inspiration network meet people and then reward yourself for doing a good job you complete those tasks on time great you can either give yourself a break or you can do what I like to do is just start working on another task so that's how I reward myself is with another task because I'm addicted to checking things off my to do list so however you'd like to reward yourself glass of wine bath more things to do just do it uh some time management tips you could tell that there are some points that I feel really strongly about because they keep reiterating them so thinking seasonally which we talked about you want to think about the climate you want to think about the holidays too don't wait until the last minute do it as soon as you know to do it you're not unless you're waiting for some new information this is a life lesson two if you have a decision to make you generally already know what you want what you want to dio if you're waiting to make that decision do not wait unless you're waiting for more information that's it somebody ask you to do something you don't want to do it just say no don't wait to do anything and space your tasks out you know when I showed our sheet the beginning we're talking about our goals like put one task here put one tests there you know space it out had your personal things that task lists you know you are you trying to make something so you write on your list that day you know apply to show we've on my loom for twenty minutes you know make dinner for my family spend twenty minutes doing accounting whatever it isthe and then on the day of the show I hope these things I'll go should go without being mentioned how does that saying go? But I hope everybody knows this stuff I guess is what I'm trying to say don't be late don't be too early don't want to show up when like the producers were like frazzled trying to get everything done you want to be there on time ish you know you don't want to leave early even if the show sucks don't leave early it's just it's really in poor taste and I recommend being set up a half an hour before the show starts if there is some kind of an issue notify the producers were going to go into that but you wanna have that contact information you want to at least let them know hey, I respect you enough to let you know that I'm not showing up today my cat just had kittens and I need to stay home and cuddle with them right now so I cannot come to the show today and I understand I forfeited my goofy make your list checking it twice this list listless list uh we're going toe kind of show somewhere these air back to our bonus material of our timeline checklist, huh? And they're going to pull a couple items out from these sections so we've got like six to twelve months one to two did it in a so I pulled a couple items out so six to twelve months that's when you're making your master show list, you're assessing your inventory and you're making new products that's happening way before you should not be frazzled the week before the show, putting those findings on those earings tagging stuff doing all that stuff you have all that time uh, working on your online presence so that when that application time comes around, you're not scrambling to, you know, re do your website or you're not scrambling to update it with new photos the's air things that you're constantly constantly doing throughout the year, you know, this is just general business maintenance that's going to keep you going and then two to three months before this is generally when applications open it varies every show but it's usually in that two to three months month range that applications will open was when you want to order cards and promotional materials. You know, having your business cards in the booth is, you know, essential in my opinion I also always like to have a postcard too that had, like a couple lifestyle shots, you know, online coupon code to give people to take home so in person customer turning into online customer and then back into in person and then it goes into a big circle on them they're your super regular customer you're going out of town show you want to make travel arrangements then and then we have one two three months before and these air again users a couple things pulled out of there you want to conceptualize your booth design and secure your assistant you wantto one to two weeks we're going to be printing your info in vendor maps and creating your checklist and promoting your also promoting that here you're promoting, promoting, promoting I think one two, three months before that's when you start promoting, I have no problem with promoting three months before a show if you already know you're in do not promote a show and say that you're going to be there unless you've gotten that acceptance notice this happens all the time and those vendors actually end up getting denied so the day and the night before the show charge your phone, pick out your clothes, don't you figuring out your outfit that morning you have better things to worry about, please eat breakfast and give yourself a pep talk and double check your packing list so there's tons more in each of these sections they're all in our in our bonus material, which is thie craft show timeline old ultimate timeline

Class Materials

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Craft Show Secrets Syllabus.pdf

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Craft Show Readiness Checklist

Craft Show Timeline Checklist

Profit and Loss Worksheet With Examples

Packing Checklist

Craft Show List

Benefits and Goals Worksheet

Branding Worksheet

Post Craft Show Checklist

Craft Show Application Checklist

Brand Mood Board Exercise

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Nicole Stevenson

For most of her life, Nicole Stevenson had a different answer when asked, “What do you do?”At age 9 when she started her first business, a handmade stationary shop housed in a refashioned refrigerator box in her front yard, she

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Ratings and Reviews

user-1b0a09

It was an awesome experience. I learned so much from Nicole. She is entertaining and so knowledgeable that I feel I left the show with soooooo much info. I loved being in the studio audience, I met so many great people, crafters and new friends I feel we all became one big support for each other. I am putting to good use everything I learned. I look forward to coming back to Creative Live for another learning experience. Craft Show Secrets taught me all the ins/outs of craft shows ...I'm excited for my next craft show. Time to Create!!!

Lisa Jones

Great Class! Full of practical information + tools about how to REALLY succeed doing shows. I have attended many a craft show and found an enormous amount of useful tips. I especially loved the bonus material! Thank you Nicole and Creative Live for keeping it real + FUN!!

a Creativelive Student

I've been growing my business successfully online for the last six years, but hadn't shown my work in person for a decade. As a refresher, I took Nicole's craft show class to be sure that I made the most of the time I would have in front of my customers. Because of the preparedness and mindset that I gained from Nicole's teaching, my show was a huge success. My interactions with the customers, producers, and other vendors were genuine and joyful, building a stronger foundation for future business and relationships. This course took the worry and stress off my shoulders so I could enjoy the opportunity that I had. Thanks, Nicole! Tamara Kraft Pithitude

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Preparation: Create a Task Timeline

Preparation: Create a Task Timeline

Lesson Info

15. Preparation: Create a Task Timeline

Lessons

Craft Shows Should be a Part of Your Business

Introduction: How to Have a Successful Craft Show Experience

Why You Should Be Doing Craft Shows

Is Your Business Ready for a Craft Show?

Now is the Time for Craft Shows

Get Your Product Ready

Branding Your Business

Pricing Your Products

Smaller Craft Shows & Unusual Venues

Research Potential Shows

Apply to a Craft Show

Your Website & Online Presence

Writing About Your Business

Stellar Product Photos