How to Produce a Successful Crafts Show

Rating:
Summary: Crafters AND Customers should read this book
Review: This book neatly details what goes into producing craft shows, and makes points along the way for what both the crafters and the customers are looking for in a good show. This is an excellent book also for those putting on charity bazaars as well.

My only quibble with the book is that the author does not come down strongly enough on the "truth in advertising" about what type of crafters a show accepts. It is unfair to a customer to pay an admission fee for shows which purport to be "crafts handmade in the USA" only to see imports and junk that is featured in every gift shop you walk into.

It is especially bad for the crafter/artist who winds up in a flea market next to framed prints and kitchen gadgets when they thought they were entering a "fine art and craft" show. Caputo says that she is not willing to use security to escort the offending merchants out, but she could at least advocate the use of some form requiring that monetary damages be paid (at the very least the crafter entry fee refunded to all of the other artists). I also don't see why you as producer can't have someone walk around observing what is for sale (taking pictures if necessary) as soon as booths open as is practical to catch this type of flagrant fraud.

Having said that, she does a good job going into how to minimize expenses, piggyback onto events, and making up welcome packages for the crafters. A valuable book.