[brian bailey]

I mentioned "asking permission" as a courtesy.

Most folks would be thrilled at a carvers show.

At a retail show where you have many vendors competing, some might consider your "kodak moments" as an encroachment.

[Lynn O. Doughty]

The best thing you can do for any kind of display is get it to the level of the person viewing it. Nobody likes to look at the top of carvings.

Here's what I do and it's worked for years.

Go to Home Depot or Lowes and buy an 8 foot length of PVC pipe that will fit over the legs of the table you are using. Cut four 18" lengths. Slip these over the feet of the table by raising one end, slip them on, and then go and raise and slip them on the other end. Give each pipe a little outward kick to make the table stable. This will raise your table up to around 36"...the perfect height. Now, considering your using an 8' table, a 6'x1' piece of plywood setting on a 6-8" stand will give you another shelf. Cover the whole thing with a nice piece of wrinkle free cloth.

[rick-in-seattle]

Speaking of asking permission to take pictures.

At a carving show a lady came up and asked if she could take pictures of my carvings on display.

I said; sure take all you want.

She then proceeded to take front, back, and both sides straight-on of each of my carvings.

What could I say? I gave her permission without limits.

[mdallensr]

I like to get photos of carvings that are similar to ones I'm doing, or of carvings that are unique and great ideas. I always ask permission, and no one's ever said no. They do thank me for asking permission, and often note that few others ask. Everyone has a good feeling about it and it's a great way to start a conversation. Mike

[Hugh]

I'll second that motion. I'd like to see the model ship that would be better. I looked at a few in Market Square in St John the other day. Let me take all the photos they want Bob. And yes I would think it would be polite to ask first, I hope I would have thought before taking a photo. Good point.

[owlhause]

Hi Marci!

Here is a shot of what my display usually looks like.

For hiking sticks I make a simple box out of 1"x 12" pine aprox. 30" tall.
I then take 2" PCV pipe and cut it into 12" lengths....use enough so they wedge themselves tightly into the box.

The pipe keeps each stick upright and evenly spaced and balaced in the box.

Hope that helps....good luck with your shows!

Greg

[Marci MN]

Wow I like that booth! What did you use for a wall behind you table? It looks like its got a shelf on the top too? Strong enough for the lights I see.

I'd browse that booth in a heart beat. nice set up!!

As far as taking pictures... have any of you gotten orders later from someone taking a picture of your booth? Meaning they had something in mind to purchase..but didnt until later in the season?

[owlhause]

Hey Marci,

The display board is actualy sitting on top of the table...its hinged in the middle so its in a "v" shape and is free standing.

I made each panel out of 1x12 pine...4' long....they're put together like fence sections.
They are a little on the heavy side but not as bad as you'd think.

For an outdoor show I add one more table and board to each side forming a "u" shaped display.
When the boards are all hinged together they are heavy enough to hold up to the wind.

The small shelves on top get attached from the back with little "L" shaped brackets....I drilled a hole in each one to accomadate the swing arm lamps.

As far as photos...no, I've never got an after the show order from someone snapping a picture.

I let people take them...but as some have said, be sure to ask first.
I've seen vendors chase people down and demand the film out of their cameras!

greg

[Thor]

There is a real reason for vendors chasing photographers to get the film.
The wholesale art shows as well as the street show vendors of original work (including woodcarvers) have been targeted by "big" Asian companies that photograph ideas from artists without them knowing it or giving them permission and having teams of folks draw up plans and duplicate them to sell for a fraction of the cost. If you think your work can't be duplicated by someone being paid $1.00 a day in Indonesia or China, you're fooling yourself.

There was a huge article in th March 2006 Crafts Report magazine called "Confessions of a Thief...one man's tale of stealing your designs". This guy didn't ask permission, and did not let you see him take the pictures.
He was employed by a $25 million-a-year greeting card and novelty gift company as a copy-writer. Part of his responsibility was to come up with new product ideas...magnets, notebooks, socks, mugs, buttons, pens, keychains...that kind of thing. He picked up catalogs, took photographs, and went to the trouble to get a name tag with an alias name on it while he was in the show! This was big! It's still out there.
Pretty eye-opening. I personally know of of two artists whose work wound up in Target for 1/6 of their prices.

Another bit of that reality is that a lot of artists have their work on the internet, so it's already out there.
Thor

[BobD]

I've seen carvings on e-bay that look suspiciously like some carvings by big name artists such as Enlow, the Bishops, etc.

with some of these guys, the way they combat it is to make deep crevasses and holes--it's harder to duplicate those details so these theives stick to other pieces that are easier to duplicate...

Bob