I'm tabling at a graphic arts festival next weekend, what do I bring?
May 1, 2015 9:02 AM   Subscribe

I haven't tabled at an event like this before. I've got my merchandise, signs, display items, business cards, float, sketchbook, and pens. It's two full days, with hundreds of other exhibitors and thousands of attendees. What am I not thinking of that I should bring or do to make this go smoothly? Do you have any other tips or tricks for events like these?
posted by robot-hugs to Work & Money (11 answers total) 3 users marked this as a favorite
 
If you're hoping to sell, do you have a Square for your phone or change to accept cash?
posted by amaire at 9:08 AM on May 1, 2015 [3 favorites]


Cloth/cover for table? Scissors, marker, paper, tape. Some ppl ask for receipts. Bags/packaging. Snacks. Cash box.
posted by TheGoodBlood at 9:18 AM on May 1, 2015 [2 favorites]


if it is TCAF (I love your comic, it often sustains me, sorry if this is creepy), i find post cards really helpful. Also if you have one thing that costs like 2 bucks or 3 bucks, as a calling card, esp considering the BEgullings love of minis, that might be helpful. YOU ARE SO GOOD AT WHAT YOU DO.
posted by PinkMoose at 9:24 AM on May 1, 2015 [4 favorites]


- Extra pens
- Throat lozenges and hand sanitizer
- Mints or gum (for your breath after you snack/lunch at your table)
- Water
- Lots of small bills for change
- Snacks you can dip into without getting crumbs and junk everywhere or getting your fingers all messy
- Some way of logging your sales (could just be a page in your sketchbook where you write the tallies)
posted by cadge at 9:41 AM on May 1, 2015 [2 favorites]


- Don't tape your sign to the front of the table. Go high and behind.
- A few long extension cords if you'll want electricity
- Consider what you'll do when you have to leave your table temporarily
posted by JackBurden at 10:01 AM on May 1, 2015 [3 favorites]


A cash box with a $200 float. A cash box you can pick up and take to the loo with you.
posted by DarlingBri at 10:09 AM on May 1, 2015 [3 favorites]


Do you have a minion to help man the table while you run to the bathroom, eat lunch, look around the event, or decompress? Snacks and drinks to keep you awake and talking to shoppers? A plastic bag to hold trash?

I wrote the Artist Alley Survival Guide several years back and have a page on what to bring to the con that might serve as a useful checklist (link in profile).
posted by telophase at 10:27 AM on May 1, 2015 [2 favorites]


TCAF is the best. Anyway: cloth table cover, SNACKS & WATER, lots of change, square or other credit card swiper, inventory checklist so that you can keep a tally of individual items and check them off as they're sold, hand sanitizer (con crud is the worst), clear pricing signage both for individual items and maybe a "menu" for all items, and no merch bags necessary.

Also decide now whether you'll do trades. Some artists love to and others are strict about not doing trades, period. The volunteers at TCAF are amazing, so let them help you. Also, make sure that you go walk the con as a civilian for at least a quick run-through. Often, you can have your table neighbors, a friend, or a TCAF volunteer cover your table.

Make sure you wear comfortable shoes. Standing up to engage people is the best way to signal that you're ready to chat and sell. Be rested, TCAF is amazing, but it can be exhausting, especially if you're running on empty. See you there!

Also, the library is huge and there are lots of always empty bathrooms on the upper floors.
posted by quince at 10:38 AM on May 1, 2015 [3 favorites]


Hand lotion, lip balm, and tissues.
posted by bile and syntax at 3:05 PM on May 1, 2015


I see people recommending hand sanitizer, which sounds like a great idea, I just want to add another similar idea: wet wipes. I'm an avid user, and they can clean cheedle* off your hands entirely (leaving it all on the wipe) in a way that I don't think hand sanitizer can do. A can of Wet Ones with 50 wipes costs like $2.50 or somesuch. It can be a little tricky to thread the first few through the little + hole in the cap, but don't worry if some get torn or whatever, by the 3rd one or so, they will be coming out normally (in my experience).

If you do go this route, obviously you will need to have a trash bag for them.

*cheedle is a term I remember from my childhood reading of the Sniglets books and means something like: "the residue left on one's fingers after eating cheetos or doritos or some other cheese-powder-covered snack". Also: my cat loves licking this stuff off my fingers! :)
posted by megafauna at 8:26 PM on May 1, 2015 [1 favorite]


I'm hoping it's TCAF too, and I'll look forward to seeing you there. I love your Cativan comic. I'd suggest something to take pictures with - there are a lot of interesting, fun people to meet there, and it's nice to have a memory of them like that when you meet so many in a short time.

And as someone who's worked a lot of shows (antique) I always bring a few changes of shoes, because I find "change your shoes, change your mood" to be true. They're good for tired feet if you're standing.
posted by peagood at 8:54 AM on May 2, 2015


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