One of the biggest factors that make people buy things in craft shows is because they are tourists in the area. They understandably want to have a physical object that will help them remember the place they went to once they're back home. Therefore, it is a good idea for any craftsperson to check the location of the next show, and let his or her works be influenced by the culture of the place. If you attend craft shows and you grew up in the area, this wouldn't be too much of a problem. But what if you are a visitor here, too?
If you are not from the area where the craft show is held, then chances are you will not have a direct affinity with the culture of the place. But this can be developed over time. Check out the works of your fellow craftspeople attending the event, and try to make friends with them. Getting close to some of them will rub off on you, and you may start to exude some of their culture over time.
That won't do the trick by itself, of course. The only way to understand the culture of a place is to spend some time in it. Don't hole yourself up in your booth for the duration of your stay. Explore the place in its entirety; have a short break, and look for interesting things that you can do there. You'll be surprised at how quickly you'll pick up a few things.
When everything has been said and done, you'll have to go "back to the lab" and try to integrate their culture with your own unique signature. Don't try to lose your identity in the process! Let your techniques be influenced, but don't try to outright copy the feel of the crafts that came from that culture.
Finally, it is important to remind you to not force anything. Don't be too alarmed if your piece ends up without the feel that you wanted it to have for that culture; if you force it in, you may end up with an object that doesn't have a personal feel. To me, the soul of an item is important, and you just can't have a soul of the object itself is forced.
If you are not from the area where the craft show is held, then chances are you will not have a direct affinity with the culture of the place. But this can be developed over time. Check out the works of your fellow craftspeople attending the event, and try to make friends with them. Getting close to some of them will rub off on you, and you may start to exude some of their culture over time.
That won't do the trick by itself, of course. The only way to understand the culture of a place is to spend some time in it. Don't hole yourself up in your booth for the duration of your stay. Explore the place in its entirety; have a short break, and look for interesting things that you can do there. You'll be surprised at how quickly you'll pick up a few things.
When everything has been said and done, you'll have to go "back to the lab" and try to integrate their culture with your own unique signature. Don't try to lose your identity in the process! Let your techniques be influenced, but don't try to outright copy the feel of the crafts that came from that culture.
Finally, it is important to remind you to not force anything. Don't be too alarmed if your piece ends up without the feel that you wanted it to have for that culture; if you force it in, you may end up with an object that doesn't have a personal feel. To me, the soul of an item is important, and you just can't have a soul of the object itself is forced.
About the Author:
You will never run out of opportunities to earn when you know the schedule of Craft Shows located close to your area. Visit Craft Fairs as often as you can, and have a successful small business using your own talents!
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