Monday, Last Day, On-the-Way-Home Day

The morning has dawned difficult. Yesterday was sunny and sublime, today is rainy and fretful. No coffee yet (I just can't do the little hotel powdered packets), the rumble (and vibration) of morning traffic in the street below is today's music. It's the final day of the summer BMAC. After a blistering set-up, today for breakdown it's expected to be much cooler--though we risk thunderstorms. *Sigh* I'd rather the heat than the wet.

I believe I have my best booth set-up ever. Many of my customers and other artists have commented on how great it looks. The only downside to it is that I had to put all the cardboard boxes for the stands back in the car as I have essentially no booth storage. There's got to be a booth solution that feels open, holds all the work, has storage... and doesn't cost a small fortune!

For the show itself, sales Saturday were good--much better than expected. Of course I always expect to do nothing the first day so it can't be said I have high expectations. Yesterday I took enough orders to put me within reach of last year's sales. My goal is to increase sales by 10%, stretch goal of 20%, and I just might not make it. I know I have one account who wants to re-order and hasn't been by to do it yet.

New this show for me: I had everything priced and all the packets out before opening on Friday. That's the first time I've ever managed that, and this show it was crucial as I am in the first aisle on the right and the buyers stream like lemmings down that aisle first. So far I've handed out about 20 packets. They include a wholesale price list, an artist info card, a best-selling packages recommendations, an order form, a business card, and two postcards showing current work. Orders from people who picked up packets have run at about 5% (1 out of 20). We'll see if more of them bear fruit today.

Today's focus is to get through the slowest day of the show (I *really* hate having it on Monday) and to get efficiently and quickly packed and on the road. The show goes till 4:00 (it should be 3:00) and then I have to breakdown, load up, and get south of DC tonight so I miss tomorrow morning's rush traffic.

And what else is there to say? The glamorous artist's life on the show road is more like a scuffed house slipper than a Manolo Blahnik stiletto. Dinner has been room service or out with another artist or two. I could've tried to to get set up faster and done a tourist thing, or I could've planned a great meal out. But let's face it, I hate business travel anymore. If Dave and Jessie were here it would be different. But as long as I have to leave my family at home, it's just another work comittment.

And speaking of home: Jester broke open a couple of stitches yesterday so Dave is having to wrestle him back to the vet today (in a friend's loaner car) in addition to the normal load of Sprout wrangling. I'm not sure I'm going to be able to make this one up to him.