good elephant pottery
  • blog
  • recent work
  • where to buy
  • the potter
  • contact
  • mailing list
  • school

The Mental Arc of a Show

7/21/2015

1 Comment

 
It’s been almost two months since my last show. I love having uninterrupted and productive studio time, but I’m starting to feel a little isolated. My next show is fast approaching, and I’m getting excited. I get to take a road trip, see some of my artist pals, and interact with customers. I have regular customers with whom I have great relationships, very respectful in both directions. Strangers compliment my work all day long. It’s great for my ego. 

It’s hot, and there are threats of bad storms for the first day of the show. If I can get through the first day, the remaining forecast looks like smooth sailing. 

Sales are steady. Every now and then I get those customers, the ones who are outfitting their entire kitchens over time, and buying things in quantities. They say “the pieces I got last year are now my favorites. I use them everyday, and I need more.” This is the kind of affirmation that artists need to sustain themselves. It’s as important as food and air. My energy reserves fill up, and my head becomes inflated with pride. 

Oh no, rain! At this point the heat is so stifling the rain brings some relief. But it also means no customers for a few hours. 

The second day is hot again, but at least there’s no rain. Extremely hot weather does not stop people from attending festivals. I'm a little sunburnt, and my face hurts from smiling and talking all day. In my usual daily routine, I don’t have to talk to anyone except my cat. Talking all day requires muscles I don’t have. I have done so much sweating, I am now covered in a layer of salt. Dinner with friends (we’re all sweaty, so it doesn’t matter), then shower, fall asleep, and do it again tomorrow. 

I win an award! My giant inflated head threatens to burst. The neighboring artists are jealous. That’s ok, I’m usually the jealous neighbor, and it only bothers me for a short time. They’ll be fine.

On the last day, I am running low on pots. So I put away some of my display furniture and condense the pots into a smaller display. It keeps sales going, because my booth doesn’t look picked over. And it gives me a jump start on packing as soon as the show ends. When the final bell rings, this is when I feel really tired. It's been an intense few days, but I still need to pack the remaining pots and break down the display. Once I get everything packed and into the van, I squeeze my tired body and my giant inflated head into the drivers seat, and crank up the air conditioning. Then I head for home, looking forward to a month or two of quiet studio time.
1 Comment

    author

    Mea Rhee (mee-uh ree),
    ​the potter behind
    ​Good Elephant Pottery


    upcoming shows

    2023 show schedule is TBD.

    join the herd

    Receive email notices about upcoming shows/events.


    Follow me on
    ​Facebook and
    Instagram

    RSS Feed


    categories

    All
    Classes
    In The Studio
    Running A Business
    Shows
    The Art Festival Plan
    The Hourly Earnings Project

    archives

    December 2022
    July 2022
    May 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.