The rules were:
- Be at the hall from 7.30am to set up
- No food or drink in the hall
- No packing up until 3pm
That’s seven hours without food or drink (except water) unless you use the coffee van outside, which sold the worst coffee I’ve tasted in a long time - very weak and very watery - and you had to stay outside to drink it.
The only food provided was a sausage in bread or bacon and egg roll. Absolutely no catering to any dietary requirements and again, you had to eat it outside.
As a true nonconformist, I baked a banana bread last night to take with us. I filled two containers with fresh fruit - one with watermelon and one with every berry known to mankind. I also took 2 fresh apples.
I took two big bottles of filtered water, which was allowed.
As for the coffee, BGWLBH bought the first latte for me and it tasted like dirty water so I returned it, offering to purchase another, but the gentleman insisted that they provide a fresh cup free of charge. The lady who made them offered a double shot so I gratefully accepted.
It tasted like dirtier water.
After a couple of hours, I texted Adoring Husband and asked him to deliver one of his fresh home made lattes.
It was perfect.
We kept AH on his toes this morning.
After the initial trip to bring our screen, mini table, easels and bench seat, we texted him four times to:
- bring BGWLBH’s reading glasses
- bring BGWLBH’s phone
- bring my iPad
- bring me a coffee
He was very accommodating.
Socially, it was a very successful day. I got to chat with lots of my old customers and many locals who I hadn’t seen for a couple of years.
Luckily BGWLBH made affordable, practical greeting cards to sell because they were our only sales for the day.
Our prices ranged from $2.50 to $10 to $25 to $40 and as high as $220 and there were lots of admirers and tyre kickers but no sales other than the cards.
The majority of stall holders complained of poor sales but others, like the plant stall, bragged of excellent sales and they even had to go home to bring more plants!
The woodworking man also had a good day, as did the lady with home made children’s clothes.
There were 3 other stalls selling art. One of them sold 2 pieces and another one sold 3 or 4. The third, like us, sold none.
The other stalls were selling:
- Plants
- Crocheted rugs and baby clothes
- Organite pyramids
- Painted rocks
- Jewellery
- Plants
- Cakes
- Signs
- Glass work
- Hand made bags
- Towels, pot holders and wine glass covers
- Cards
- Resin trays
- Woodwork
- Woven pots
- Framed pebble pictures
More that I can’t remember.
By 1pm, the hall had emptied of browsers and customers, so the stall holders began wandering around to look at all the goodies on display.
At 2pm some stall holders packed up and were chastised by the organisers for doing so.
At 2.30pm, BGWLBH and I began packing up. As she opened the back door, somebody said “I don’t think you’re allowed to leave yet.”
She replied “What are they going to do? Sack me?”
With that, everybody laughed and began packing up as well!
Unless the organisers make some changes to the rules and the opening hours, I doubt that we will return next year.
We were home, unpacked, hungry and exhausted at 3.30pm.
After we ate something substantial, we all retreated to our relaxing spots for the afternoon. Mine was in front of the TV for the football.
I played with Harley until he almost collapsed from exhaustion! Crazy dog.
I cooked an easy dinner of chicken and salad.
It’s now almost 10.30pm but feels like midnight! I still have caffeine buzzing through my veins - it usually takes 12 hours to wear off and it was midday when I drank my coffee so that sucks.
I will, however, attempt to sleep.
I wonder if the organisers of the art and craft expo will issue an evaluation survey to all of the stall holders to get feedback? I’m guessing not. They should.
Time to sleep now.
Nite all.
