Calamity, CONGRATULATIONS on your "first". Everyone has one and you have to start somewhere. Now you will know more what to expect. I too wish your sales were better, but you did it! For that, you should be proud!

Great idea for the classes. You NEVER know what will come out of your experience! Good luck.

Becky

Oh first show jitters. If u do more they get better sometimes. Some are worse then others. You just have to go with the flow.
Have my first show of the year coming up this weekend and it is outside. Art show and it is calling for rain. YUCK. Oh well i have 14 more after that.

Glad about the classes though.

Great Janie,it does get easier...I have been ask to teach lessons but don't have the nerve to do it.I think you could do real well teaching.

I've been wondering why so quiet lately...I'm starting to jones for a calamity creation fix! It sure sounds like you had a lot of fun! I don't know if I could have let any of that wonderful art go, no matter what the price! Congrats on your first show and for getting a class to teach, that will be fun! Keep us updated on the continueing adventures of calamity in mosaic-land!

You'll get there Jane! If you got your expenses, that's a start!! You'll be a great mosaic teacher!!

I think it sounds like terrific exposure! congrats on the classes too - you'll be a great teacher!

You got exposure, you will get word of mouth advertisment...people will remember you that saw your work......and having classes will be so fun and you will get paid for it too! You'll be a wonderful teacher...from my short-time with you in PV...you are addictive, in that you are fun to be around and easy to talk to, and someone you WANT to be with!!!! So you'll do GREAT! This is only the beginning for you....you gotta crawl before you walk...that old saying!! You're off and running now!!!!

What all the above have said, especially GYPSIE's comments re your personality. You'll be a really fun teacher. Then I envision you and your students working together this year, sharing ideas, and then y'all can get together to have a nice group of mosaic vendors at the next show. I totally admire you for taking this plunge and getting your name out there.

Hang in there and it'll get better. Once you learn what people are buying and how to price things. I've never participated in an art show but I used to set up at antique toy shows and there were times when I broke even but I learned something every time. The first show I sold everything way too cheap and other dealers had my items for re-sale in their booths for twice the price.
Some shows I did very well and it was always worth it because it was fun.

I think teaching mosaics will be fun.

Good luck,
Carol Ann

Thanks everyone! I have so many ideas from the comments I've recieved here and from the vendors, that I am going to sit down today and write them down so I can remember better, the things that I learned. I woke up at 3:30am in a panic, "I can't have people come here with my yard the way it is!!!" lol! I'm thinking of Riana's yard and Slow's!!! I better get weedin'!!! And smashing, nipping, tumbling, Oh My!!!

I've got some gals coming Friday AM for a mosaic lesson...my yard looks God-awful...have not had any free time to get my hands dirty with earth......it's been too cold or it's been raining on my "time-off." I do not have the time to groom my yard like it should be......working gets in my way, along with all the other hats I have to wear on a daily basis..IT IS WHAT IT IS!...

Jane, I second all everyone else has said. Your first, you did it, you broke even, that is fantastic for a first show.

I was in publishing sales for over 14 years and been to more shows than I can count in as many other states, and there is such a powerful excitement the first day of any show, and some days you will be spending more time talking with other vendors than customers, and other days you'll go hoarse from talking, but they are all learning experiences . And you learn so much from other vendors that will be helpful, like shows you didn't know about, which ones are worth going to , ete etc.

You never know when one of those booth visitors or vendors will no some one or buy something later.

and the class idea is BRILLIANT!! You are going to be a natural . You go girl!!

CONGRATS!!!!PJ

If I lived near you I would want to be a teacher's helper in your class!

Yep. With a craft room like that, the class will have a great place to meet!!
This sounds like a great opportunity for you!

Congrats with it all. You've put yourself out there and that's an important first step. The classes sound GREAT and like Bama said, you have the perfect workshop for that kind of thing.
WAY TO GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sounds like you learned alot and had a great time! You'll be a great teacher, maybe I'll come back over and be your little helper, keep those students away from your stash, wait till they see....I can hear the squeals of delight!

Sounds like you did great for a first show, and remember to charge enough for the classes that you make some money!:)

I still want to come and be your student! I'll bet they'll all love you.

Seems like the economy is stopping people from buying .
Except for us, we are always buying supplies.. That and teaching is where the $ is I think.
Maybe I'll be a supplier when I grow up! ( a pusher is more like it.." want to buy some glass little girl???")

HAHAHA!!! To think, I'm just wanting to sell this stuff so I can go to Texas to see Slow and Flag!!lol! I really appreciate Everyone's support with this! I ran into a guy today at the local Flea Market, who was at the Garden Show(I remembered him cuz he had these HUGE Calla Lillies, like on steroids!!) and he told me to get my butt down to Victoria next weekend to a show down there that is for Mother's day, he said there is way more shoppers and it's Mother's Day!!! I'm thinking of looking into it tomorrow, as I seem to be as free as the breeze these days...Bachelorette #1, come on down!!!heh heh! When DHs away, the wife will play!!heh heh!

http://by112w.bay112.mail.live.com/att/GetAttachment.aspx?tnail=0amp;messageId=58f7316e-b9e4-4fd4-8401-5c17d8188e8c&Aux=4:0:8CA7C948C66D710:

Oops, sorry, I'm trying to get pics off my email to show ....

How exciting! Congratulations on a success story!