Booth Etiquette
Sunday May 14, 2006
We've all had rude "neighbors" at craft shows. Sometime it seems like we get the most obnoxious exhibitors at the entire event right next door! While most irritating things crafters do at shows are not considered "against the rules" of the show, there are some things you can do to ensure you are not remembered as a bad booth neighbor. What are some of the worst experiences you've had at shows with fellow crafters?
Comments
I have been fortunate to never have had a bad booth neighbor. However One show I will never forget was where there was a competitor who gave me slack right from the beginning when I went to check out her booth (I make home made dog treats). She started to interrogate me!! I gave her answers that must have knocked her into the middle of left field. She bombarded me with questions regarding licensing, my kitchen set up (I have 2 commercial kitchens in 2 different states!)etc… Worst of all, she wouldn’t sell to me or my family members!(a little insecure?) Fortunately for me, I had a good friend there at another booth, she bought a few things and we tried them - no wonder she was a little concerned about the competition - we couldn’t even swallow her product it tasted that bad. (one thing I pride myself on is that my treats are good enough for anyone to eat and I also sell to humans who like a Bow Wow Brownie with a cup of coffee, or a Peanut Butter Carob Chip Biscotti as well). I have learned that it will only ruin my outlook for a show if I let rude and obnoxious booth neighbors to get to me. As they say, be nice to your competitors, it will make them wonder what you are up to
for you! The best way to kill a bad situation is with kindness!
I’ve never had a “bad” neighbor either, fortunately. A better question might have been: what acts of kindness have you experienced (either received or given) at a show? I’ve had many: assistance with another tarp during a torrential downpour; advice about getting hula hoops after we dried off from that storm; giving setup and booth-sitter help to a crafter who was alone; lending supplies; and giving/receiving great advice!
I’ve had people use our up-rights to hang their items on. I’ve had people use our space to sit there things or themselves in. There are so many more things. I’ve really had more great neighbors than bad so I’ll stop now!
Kat
Only one “bad” neighbor for me that comes to mind - I had a table with my tablerunners next to their table. They sold candy - between them & their customers, they used my tablerunners (high quality fabrics with silk on the back!) to lay their products on them - I moved my table over - they still used them. I moved the table over again - they still used them. Guess I should have said something (I was afraid of possible stains on the runners) but I didn’t. Only other “bad neighbor” wasn’t one by me but to the side on next row behind. The lady got into a shouting match with the crafters behind me - over intrusion of space. They were all quite loud & obnoxious about it.
Our booth features my holiday decor and also my husbands fishing fly gifts (wall mounts, fragile Christmas ornaments, etc.)
One year, the booth next to us placed a rack of those neat stretchy “scarves” that are all the rage, right at the edge of our ornament display. Customers were standing in our booth, leaning (with purses, etc) right over the top of the ornaments (displayed on table stands) and pulling the scarves into our area to look at them. Talking to the lady with the other booth did no good, she didn’t want to move them - they were her best draw right where they were. We moved our most fragile items out of the way, but it severely affected our displays layout and space.
We decided then and there to invest in our own tent. We make sure the sides are down when there are booths next to ours to keep that kind of thing from happening again. It’s been a real blessing and provided all kinds of display options we didn’t have before for items.
I have had very few bad experiences. One time the people behind me had a large display and when her hubby came to help, he placed his chair behind their display and therefore in my space. I had to sit crooked and could not move behind my stand very well. I asked him to move and he did, about 2 inches! He was nice enough, but. .
At the same show my neighbor had a family emergency. Her younger brother was rushed to the hospital by a family member. Her parents were out of town. She stuck it out to the end of the show, but it was nice to help her tear down before I did so she could leave. By the way, her brother is ok.
My worst neighbors were a group of Boy Scouts! They were selling cotton candy at an event and the tents were right next to each other with no space in between. The scouts overflowed from their tent with tables and stands and stood in front of my tent to hawk their wares….not just one of them, but several at a time, blocking the my display and entrance. I don’t blame the scouts, I blame the adults and when I reminded them time and again that they were blocking me, overflowing into my space and being noisy neighbors, they seemed appalled that I would complain to them. They are next to me each year, and I complain each year….wish I could move, but people know where I am and look for me there.
Only a few bad experiences in many years of crafting. The lady next to me had two large spaces and the person next to her, which was a corner space, did not show up. The promoter gave the entire corner to her. She now had 2-1/2 spaces to my one space. I put my chair on the line and she came and stomped her foot down on the line stating I was over the line an inch and said Move your chair! I said Move your foot! I stayed where I was, and she continued on and on. Extremely rude!