Festival & Craft Show Check List

You made it into the local Craft Show or Festival and now you’re wondering “What do I take?” You’re first show will always be the ‘testing ground’ for the next and where you learn ‘what works and what doesn’t’. No matter how many shows I do, I always learn something new or how to do it differently. I’m always ‘testing the waters’ for new ideas, displays and setups. But first, getting to the show is the most important part of the whole experience. Below I’ve put together a Basic Show List of what I take (and I’m always adding to it).

Show Check List
1.Dolly – I found that this makes moving from car to booth much easier and quicker.
2.Cash Box & Cash; suggest getting to the bank a day or two before the show for your cash. Make sure to have a good mix of bills and plenty of coins.
3.Invoice/Receipt Book (suggest double copy and carbonless)
4.Credit Card machine, slips, clipboard & CC Signage
5.Business Signage (If you have one), Business Cards & card holder
6.Camera – I always try to take several pictures of my booth, from different angles, showing the different displays and then a couple of the over-all booth. This gives me pictures of what it looks like, what worked and what didn’t. I also use them to send in for juried shows.
7.Extra writing tablets (Taking notes, ideas from customers or for taking custom orders)
8.5-6 pens (no matter how many you have, you’ll always come home with less)
9.Show Kit:
oTape
oMarkers
oScissors
oCalculator (try to have 2 on hand if more than one person is working the booth)
oColored dot stickers (for mark-downs or special pricing)
10.Sales Tax sheet & copy of State Sales Tax Certificate
11.Bags (small, medium, large),
12.Tissues (cut several squares so you have plenty on hand to wrap your items)
13.Boxes (Jewelry boxes because that is what I sell)
14.4-6 mini customer browsing baskets (I give these to customers for them to ‘hold’ their selections)
15.1-2 Mirrors (If you are selling jewelry)
16.Tables & Chairs (If you are not renting from the show promoter)
17.Displays
oFloor & table display racks
oWire racks & risers
oJewelry busts & Earring holders
oBaskets, or anything else you use as a prop
18.Table cloths, scarves & drapes
19.Lighting or lamps you use for lighting
20.Several heavy duty 200’ extension cord, tri plugs, & electrical tape
21.Kleenex, alcohol wipes, extra paper towels
22.Jewelry Tool Kit
oPliers: round & flat nose
oCutters & snipers
oCrimp bead pliers
oExtra findings in both gold & silver: ear posts & wires, crimp beads, hoops, jumprings, headpins, & clasps
oBeading wire
oArtistic & Sterling wire
23.Your Product
24. Several hammers, drills, screwdrivers, & pliers
25.Water, snacks and lunch if you’re not going to leave your booth
26. Your cell phone


And always pack your car/truck the night before and go through everything to make sure you have it all. Murphy’s Law applies…no matter how much you anticipate and plan, you’re always going to forget something!