Curious About Craft Sales

[Pinkfire]

Just a quick question.  How do you generally find out about craft sales?  I don't have any friends or families that craft, and I was wondering how you find out enough in advance to actually rent a table.

Also, what is the average price to rent a table?

Thanks!!!!

[Madmatigan79]

I am in the same boat...I have been trying to find a venue to sell my handbags. So far, I have only done the Regina Folk Festival Arts Market (last year) - the table cost $75 but that was for the three day festival. I have a friend who sells at Bazaart every spring - that is about $100-150 for one day. Other than that, I really don't know what else is out there. Sadly, there aren't too many 'indie' craft sale opportunities in Regina...if there are, I am certainly missing out on them!

I guess you could call around to churches or community centres in your area...or try the U of R - sometimes they have tables in the Riddell Centre or the hallway of the Lab building (have never looked into this option though...just thought of it).

[craftydame]

I have only done the Regina Folk Festival Arts Market (last year) - the table cost $75 but that was for the three day festival.

ohmygod!

when i looked into the vancouver folk festival, their prices were 10 times that!

[Pinkfire]

Thanks for the info, I will definitely consider the folk festival this year.  I hear for the good events there is a waiting list to get a table.  I guess we will see how things go.

[Pinkfire]

I just found this the Cathedral Village Arts Festival:

http://www.cathedralartsfestival.ca/index.HTML

Looks like $100 for a craft booth, unless you live in Cathedral then it is $65.

It said they expect 25,000 to 30,000 people to walk through this event.  Pretty good numbers.

[Madmatigan79]

Thanks for the link! I will have to check it out...

[Madmatigan79]

Look what I just found:

http://www.saskcraftcouncil.org/2006%20Calendar%20of%20Annual%20Events.pdf

Yay Google! (although it is geared more towards juried shows throughout the province...it is a start!)

[Pinkfire]

Cool, I will definitely have to check that site out as well.

How did you do with your bags at the Regina Folk Festival last year?  Were people looking to buy stuff or more there for the entertainment?

Thanks!

[Madmatigan79]

I did quite well on Saturday but only so-so on Sunday. It seemed like the Saturday crowd was there to browse and shop while the Sunday crowd was pretty much just there for the music. It may also have had something to do with the artists that were playing - the Friday & Saturday night shows tended to draw a younger (late teens - 30-something) crowd while the crowd on Sunday seemed to be more of the old-school folk fest crowd (45+ hippies-turned-yuppies in their birkenstocks & white socks). Sunday was still worth it, just to sit there and watch the people while enjoying the music as I made more than enough on Saturday to cover my costs for the weekend.

If you have any more questions, ask away!

[PattyC]

Hi there

I just stumpled on this forum and you post was a while ago, but here's my 2 cents...  I started out at our local farmers market and just by talking to the other vendors learned about other craft sales.  Another way is to call town offices, they can usually direct you to the person organizing their local craft shows.  Hope that helps!