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September 04, 2004
So, how's the show?
I blew outta here so fast this morning, I never had a chance to update before I left...The show ran from 10-6 today (10-5 tomorrow) and I have been surprised at how many folks made it...In the past million years, the show has been the first weekend in November, at a local Jr. High..this year, its Labor Day weekend, in a new location...I figured there would be a lot of strikes against it, but I was wrong...the location is nice - very big and spacious, well lit, comfortable and tons of parking...plus no one is outdoors getting rained on...Inside, I'm at a small single table since I knew I wouldn't have enough stuff to handle an entire booth...I've met a bunch of local folks who you might see in the Comments section from time to time (like Jill Wiseman)...And no, I haven't sold all my stock, I have PLENTY of stuff left for ya'll...In fact...
I think I will offer an "After Show Special" on Monday just for ya'll - since you can't be here in person...I expect tomorrow to be quite slow, Sundays usually are much quieter than Saturday...
How's the show going for me personally? Pretty well..not as well as last year, but that could be a lot of reasons...and I HAVE made money, so its not like its a complete bomb...I'm having a good time and bought 3 bracelets from the booth next to mine...I'll post some pics once I get a chance (its dark out now)...There are not a lot of lampworkers, its more finished jewelry and loose stones/beads/findings, so my competition is good...Overall I'm glad I signed up and have attended...Funnily enough, I'm contemplating doing the Bead & Button show next year - would you be interested in coming to Wisconsin to see me in June? Man, I'd have to be SO GOOD at setting aside perfectly good sets of beads and not sell them to ya'll - that is the hardest thing for me to do...I LOVE listing stuff for you to buy and not just cause it means money (which is nice) but because I enjoy providing beads that you enjoy...So, let me know if you think I should do it or not..I'm at about 25% ready to go right now (which is higher than I was a week ago)...but of course I'd need to be 100% in order to do it..Its expensive for the booth, flight, hotel, food (not to mention all the stuff I'd buy - tack on another couple of grand)...Oh, and my booth setup is not all that hot, so I'd need some groovy displays...now its starting to sound like work...ugh...maybe i'll just stay home and make beads for ya'll afterall...that sounds like more fun to me!!
Posted by Donner at September 4, 2004 07:58 PM
Comments
Hey Donna,
Since I live about 15 min. from the Wisconsin border.....I'd be there to see you at the Bead and Button. I've never been and almost went 2 years in a row but I'd have real incentive if I knew you were going to be there. So come on up North :)
Tara
Posted by: Tara at September 5, 2004 08:54 AM
I live near Tara and Wisconsin, too. How fun would that be to see the actual, live, in-person, super cool Donna?!!
Posted by: Beth at September 5, 2004 09:24 AM
Donna, I live near Wisconsin and went to Bead and Button last year. I noticed several lampwork artist combined resources (Kate McKinnon, Michelle Goldstein, and Dustin Tambor) to make more of an impact. I'd love to visit you there!
Posted by: Annette H. at September 6, 2004 08:23 AM
I went to Bead & Button for the first time last year. Talk about sensory overload. It's a great show for buyers, but there were A LOT of lampworkers there, some of whom were quite famous in the beadworld, so maybe you could check with them as to how sales were. Thursday night (preview night) was extremely busy, I noticed sales seemed to slow down on Saturday, with mostly novice beaders and family beaders there. Heard comments like "I cannot believe how much some of these people charge!"
I make dichroic glass, it would not be a good show for me. A lot of the gemstone dealers were selling dichro from Mexico or China or wherever they get it, at very cheap prices.
Good luck if you go.
Patti
Posted by: Patti at September 9, 2004 05:24 AM