Normally, we country folk are not afraid of much. Some of us live surrounded by rattlers, others by bears, wolves, and mountain lions, and we handle them just fine. Still, this little virus varmint has gotten even a number of us scared to the point of not wanting to do anything that involves other folks, the ones who don't belong to our own families.
With COVID-19 giving everyone fits of fright, regular sales channels for Buckaroo Bling have mostly dried up. Back in May and June, I faced a hard decision when I found out all of my scheduled live events for the summer had been cancelled. I had to decide whether to let Buckaroo Bling completely fold, which meant throwing away all I put into it in the past two years, or figure out how to go with the flow and keep the business afloat until better times come.
The show must go on, they say. That's not always the case, especially when organizers are completely dumbfounded by all the new public health rules which differ from state to state and from county to county, sometimes without rhyme or reason. The easiest thing to do when faced with potential lawsuits and exorbitant fines is to cancel the event, refund the vendor fees, and swallow the loss hoping things will get better next year.
Participating in live events is part and parcel of a maker's business. There also comes a time when you have to decide whether to do only local shows or to travel out of town for other opportunities. Is it possible to have a good out of town show experience on a budget? Peek behind the scenes at Buckaroo Bling to find out.
Can you believe it? There are only 56 days left till Christmas. Only 56 days to plan, only 56 days to shop, only 56 days to wrap gifts... But, before panic sets in, let me get you in on a piece of information that'll make your gift shopping and gift wrapping much easier and more rewarding this year.
Summer in Montana is the time when a lot of art and craft shows are happening. After all, we want to catch all the tourist traffic we can get during our short summers, and show the visitors what we, Montanans, are capable of. This is also the time when county and regional fairs take place. So, what would happen if the two types of events were combined?
Oh, the things that can go wrong with an outdoor show! Wind that blows your art away, rain that soaks your jewelry down (hello, tarnish!), sun that burns you, the artist, to a crisp... That's why I've been avoiding outdoor shows like a plague for many years.
Those of you living in the South probably wish you could find a shady spot and hibernate with a cold glass of sweet tea during the months of July and August, but here in Montana, things are hopping. Our short Montana summers are the perfect time for outdoor art and craft shows, and Flathead Valley has no shortage of them. In this post, I'm giving you the list of five biggest and best shows in the area, so if you're visiting Glacier National Park this summer, you might want to time your visit around one (or more of these shows).
There comes a point for every artist and craftsperson when we start considering the value of exhibiting at live events. Art shows, craft shows, pop-up shops, trunk shows, wholesale trade shows, and in-home parties all fall into this category. On one hand, getting more exposure for our work is a no-brainer, but on the other, putting ourselves (and our work) out there and dealing with the expense and effort needed to participate in live events can be quite scary, especially if we are doing it for the very first time. So, what should be done?
When you visit an art show, can you even guess how many hours the vendors spend preparing before the show? If you have ever wondered what goes into preparing for a show, today is your day. I am taking you behind the scenes to show you what I did to prepare for Made In Montana Wholesale Trade Show.
Part of life as an artist and a maker is applying for shows. Although there are some similarities in the process, different shows have different rules and requirements, and sometimes, making sure one meets those requirements feels like jumping through hoops.
Normally, we country folk are not afraid of much. Some of us live surrounded by rattlers, others by bears, wolves, and mountain lions, and we handle them just fine. Still, this little virus varmint has gotten even a number of us scared to the point of not wanting to do anything that involves other folks, the ones who don't belong to our own families.
With COVID-19 giving everyone fits of fright, regular sales channels for Buckaroo Bling have mostly dried up. Back in May and June, I faced a hard decision when I found out all of my scheduled live events for the summer had been cancelled. I had to decide whether to let Buckaroo Bling completely fold, which meant throwing away all I put into it in the past two years, or figure out how to go with the flow and keep the business afloat until better times come.
The show must go on, they say. That's not always the case, especially when organizers are completely dumbfounded by all the new public health rules which differ from state to state and from county to county, sometimes without rhyme or reason. The easiest thing to do when faced with potential lawsuits and exorbitant fines is to cancel the event, refund the vendor fees, and swallow the loss hoping things will get better next year.
Participating in live events is part and parcel of a maker's business. There also comes a time when you have to decide whether to do only local shows or to travel out of town for other opportunities. Is it possible to have a good out of town show experience on a budget? Peek behind the scenes at Buckaroo Bling to find out.
Can you believe it? There are only 56 days left till Christmas. Only 56 days to plan, only 56 days to shop, only 56 days to wrap gifts... But, before panic sets in, let me get you in on a piece of information that'll make your gift shopping and gift wrapping much easier and more rewarding this year.
Summer in Montana is the time when a lot of art and craft shows are happening. After all, we want to catch all the tourist traffic we can get during our short summers, and show the visitors what we, Montanans, are capable of. This is also the time when county and regional fairs take place. So, what would happen if the two types of events were combined?
Oh, the things that can go wrong with an outdoor show! Wind that blows your art away, rain that soaks your jewelry down (hello, tarnish!), sun that burns you, the artist, to a crisp... That's why I've been avoiding outdoor shows like a plague for many years.
Those of you living in the South probably wish you could find a shady spot and hibernate with a cold glass of sweet tea during the months of July and August, but here in Montana, things are hopping. Our short Montana summers are the perfect time for outdoor art and craft shows, and Flathead Valley has no shortage of them. In this post, I'm giving you the list of five biggest and best shows in the area, so if you're visiting Glacier National Park this summer, you might want to time your visit around one (or more of these shows).
There comes a point for every artist and craftsperson when we start considering the value of exhibiting at live events. Art shows, craft shows, pop-up shops, trunk shows, wholesale trade shows, and in-home parties all fall into this category. On one hand, getting more exposure for our work is a no-brainer, but on the other, putting ourselves (and our work) out there and dealing with the expense and effort needed to participate in live events can be quite scary, especially if we are doing it for the very first time. So, what should be done?
When you visit an art show, can you even guess how many hours the vendors spend preparing before the show? If you have ever wondered what goes into preparing for a show, today is your day. I am taking you behind the scenes to show you what I did to prepare for Made In Montana Wholesale Trade Show.
Part of life as an artist and a maker is applying for shows. Although there are some similarities in the process, different shows have different rules and requirements, and sometimes, making sure one meets those requirements feels like jumping through hoops.
