craft fairs are a waist of time

How should I advertise the craft shows that I do?
The people in charge never seem to advertise like they promise. It really sucks when we put the effort to show up & set up our booth and nobody knows to come.
We loose a bunch of money when this happens. We pay for: gas to get there, food while we're there, a place to stay if it is far away. There is even a booth fee. The booth fee is suppost to pay for things like advertising.
If we sell a few things, part of that money goes to materials. We spend time to make the items and we also spend time to sit around and try to sell them. There is wear and tear on the items we sell, our vehicle, tent, tables, & us!

The people that do show up, don't seem to be expecting it... even if it is one that was highly advertised. They come to something like a craft fair or county fair and don't bring any cash. Do you really expect us to take credit cards? Do you go to a farmers' market and expect Billy Bob to accept credit cards?.. would you even want Billy Bob to have your credit card info? Crafters and Artists are usually very honest people, but you should be careful anyways.
Why would someone even leave the house without a little bit of money? Why would you leave your purse in the car? Why would you even get out of the car without your valuables? Why should we trust that your check is any good?

Accepting credit cards is a hassle. It includes transaction fees that the vendor will have to pay.

Maybe we should just sell on the internet and quit going to craft fairs.

Choo Choo Craft Show

Tomorrow, Dec 13, is the last day of Choo Choo Christmas. It is a market that only has handmade items. It is a great place to come for christmas shopping, for that person who has everything or yourself.

* There is a face painting booth. They are really talented, the style reminds me of the musical "Cats".
* A guy that does hammered recycled aluminum, I bought a really pretty plate from him. Plates, platters, wrist cuffs, and ornaments
* Stained glass awesomeness! ornaments, wall hangings, pendants, necklaces, plant pokes, & fan pulls
* Wood that has been cut out with a scroll saw... very pretty designs. She also has wood puzzles. She can do a custom picture for you.
* A guy that has some really cool celestial art done with spray paint
* wood puzzles
* Wood Nativitys and other carved wood ornaments... really cool/durable 3D nativity
* Hand made brooms
* Pottery... really cool rough style that is painted in wild colors and designs... functional = food & dishwasher safe
* Pottery... classy looking vases that are done with horse hair to make squiggly lines or copper to give you all the beautiful colors that copper can be (blue, gold, purple, & orange colors)
* wire wrapped pendants and semi precious stones
* Melted record art
* Blown glass humming bird feeders (drip-free) and ornaments
The Usual things you would find at the Choo Choo
* Choo Choo rides: $1 for children, $2 for adults
* Arcade
* Old time photographs
* Sweet Shop - ice cream and chocolates
* Scrap book store
* They have their usual souvenir shops

more info here
http://www.choochoo.com/localevents.php?dest=15

December 13, from 10am - 6pm

My mom and I will be there, selling our handmade fashion accessories.

Please come and support local crafters/artists/small business/handmade items
Most of the venders really need the money (including us). We have been there since Friday and no one has really made very many sales. It costs us gas money to get there and back, a booth fee, and our time... so we start out with less than nothing and then need to make that money back before we can actually make a profit. We all need more people to show up.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!!