What we’re not going to do when we go to art shows, craft fairs, or reptile expos.

Failure is step one. Where do I go now? The first nine weeks of 2024 are in t...

What we’re not going to do when we go to art shows, craft fairs, or reptile expos.

Day 30 of 365 days. 335 days left to go.

Friends,

As some of you know, we spent the weekend at the Pacific Northwest Reptile and Exotic Show this past weekend. Every three months, we pack up our friends and head across the PNW in hopes of finding their new forever home.

Now, between reptile shows and craft shows, I have learned a lot about people. I can spot a ‘browser’ from a mile away. I know when someone is shopping for a particular animal or piece of art. I am pretty proficient at recognizing when someone is interested, but needs a little information and one-on-one time to make a decision.

I welcome them all to our tables.

BUT…

My head twitches when another group of people beeline for my table. This post is dedicated to common sense and decorum. Before you read this list- let me explain the reason for it. Vendors have approximately 15-17 hours to showcase their hard work, complete sales, and hopefully bring in a profit so that they can continue to do what they love and support their families.

That is not a lot of time. So walking into a show with this set of recommendations makes your experience more enjoyable and ours too.

WHAT WE’RE NOT GOING TO DO AT SHOWS

We are not going to have a full-on conversation with your friends about where you’re going to have lunch while standing in front of a table. Do you know how many times I have to ask people to move because they spent 15 minutes ‘talking’ to each other in front of my merchandise? No one can get around them. They are not in the market to buy. Personally, I don’t give a crap that Dr. Martin is booked up for seven months, and he can’t see you for your knee pain. Move it along.

Business cards are not a free-for-all!

We are not going to allow your five kids to all have a business card because they ‘like the picture.’ It costs money to make those business cards, and they are just going to end up in the trash. Kids don’t need business cards- they don’t have a wallet.

On that note, don’t take a business card because you don’t want to ‘hurt the owner’s feelings.’ If you’re not intending to buy, don’t buy. It’s that simple. We know we will never see you again. Move on. We won’t remember your face or feel offended.

We know when you are lying.

We are not going to say ‘I’ll be back’ if you don’t mean it. Do you know how many snakes, paintings, and books I have set to the side because someone said, ‘I’ll be back?’ All you’ve done is hindered a potential sale. And given me a headache.

We don’t need your life story.

We are not going to hold a vendor up for 40 minutes because you want to talk about how when you were 17, you wanted to be an artist, author, or breeder. Especially if the vendor has a group of people at their booth looking. We had a lady at our booth for 30 minutes showing my hubby pictures of her two frogs. She also educated him on the care, maintenance, and quality of life of frogs. We have NO frogs on our table. My hubby told her five times that he doesn’t like frogs, and yet she kept talking. I had to intervene, and she acted like I was rude.

If you want to talk shop, find the vendor on social media and message them. Most vendors are willing to talk about their craft- just not during a busy show.

On that note- don’t scroll through Facebook for 15 minutes to find the one picture of a snake you had as a child to ‘prove’ you owned one. We don’t care. We won’t remember. We only care if you are in the market for one now. If you’re not, then you are wasting our time.

Watch your children. They have sticky hands.

We are not going to allow our children to touch, play with, or ‘rearrange’ a table to keep them entertained. Do you realize how many children try to open a snake container or spider enclosure because they think they are ‘cute?’ Or how many of my son’s paintings I had to chase down because a five-year-old grabbed them and ran?

Common sense goes a long way.

We are not going to ask if the snake will bite. Does it have a mouth? Then, yes, there is potential for a bite to happen. I thought this was common sense, but apparently not.

On that note, don’t ask to hold an animal at a show because ‘you’ve always wanted to.’ Animals are stressed at shows. They are looking for their potential forever home. Not having their pictures taken for social media.

Realize that vendors pay to have tables and merchandise.

Contrary to popular belief, vendors have sunk a lot of money into their displays, merchandise, and tables. This is not a free event for us. This means we are already losing money heading in. We want to recoup the money and make a profit. So no, we don’t have much wiggle room to spend 30 minutes haggling over price because you want a ‘good deal.’ You’re not entitled to get a $500.00 snake or a $10.00 book half off because you are being ‘nice.’ I’m sorry, not sorry.

On that note, I like haggling. And if you’re at the 10%-15% level, then we can maybe talk. But stop thinking that we ‘have to give’ a discount because we are a small business. If you can get a better deal at PetCo or Barnes and Noble- then by all means- do you. But don’t make me feel guilty.

And lastly- stop stealing.

If you think that we won’t ‘notice’ that we are missing a painting, book, or reptile, you’re mistaken. I can’t believe I have to say this. But this is a thing. And ironically, it’s not the younger generation stealing vendors’ stuff. It’s adults who think they are entitled.

As a vendor, I have lost respect for humanity in the last two years. I watch people with narrow eyes and quick hands because I know that if I take my eyes off anyone, I have the potential to lose money. Customers think this is rude, but let’s be honest. It’s a wise business practice. We have been burned too many times, thinking that people respect vendors’ hard work. For every ten people who have good intentions, there are two who don’t.

Don’t get offended. It’s not personal.

This may come across as a rude post, but honestly, I think it is something that needs to be said. I’ll fall on this sword. I want people to come to our tables; I want to talk about my passion. I want to bring joy to a family. But I also want to have a good experience. And make money. That’s the reason why I paid good money to have the tables. So have some common sense and realize that this is a business. Treat us as such.

And until tomorrow, my friends- Keep Reading and Stay Caffeinated.