This is a play on the phrase “Law of the Jungle,” which generally translates to “every person for themselves” or “eat or be eaten.” On a regular basis at craft shows, a customer will decide for various reasons to leave my booth and come back to purchase the pot they want later. Only to find that somebody else got it first. When it happens, I shrug and say “sometimes that’s The Law of the Craft Show.” I try to be lighthearted about it to ease the customer's disappointment. Most of the time, they understand it was their own fault. Every once in a while, the customer will seem genuinely upset with me. Go figure.
At the end of a recent show, I heard a voice say “Oh no! It’s gone!” She was very understanding and immediately started signing up for my email list. I shrugged and said my “Law of the Craft Show” line. Her boyfriend/husband got very excited. “Oh my god that’s so true! It happened the other day at the farmer’s market. Only it was ME who won! I was buying this beautiful little potted tree and a woman came running up saying ‘I was going to buy that!’ and I was like ‘Well you should have gotten here before me BUT YOU DIDN’T. I got here first so I win! IT IS MINE! You were too slow and I beat you!’ ”
He went on like this for a good minute. Let me make something clear, there was no trace of malice in his excitement. It was more like he was making fun of himself for feeling so good about it. He was so funny it’s possible he was a professional comedian. I am paraphrasing his words, I don’t remember the exact words because I was laughing so hard. I only wish those people who ever held it against me were there to hear his gleeful and victorious rant.
These days, a nearly-empty booth at the end of a show is not that unusual for me. Not every show goes this well, but it’s not uncommon either. “Buying it later” will subject you to The Law. Just fyi, if you want to purchase something large or heavy but don’t want to carry it around, you are welcome to pay for it and leave it in my booth until you are ready to leave. I do that all the time, and I'm pretty sure most artists will.
At the end of a recent show, I heard a voice say “Oh no! It’s gone!” She was very understanding and immediately started signing up for my email list. I shrugged and said my “Law of the Craft Show” line. Her boyfriend/husband got very excited. “Oh my god that’s so true! It happened the other day at the farmer’s market. Only it was ME who won! I was buying this beautiful little potted tree and a woman came running up saying ‘I was going to buy that!’ and I was like ‘Well you should have gotten here before me BUT YOU DIDN’T. I got here first so I win! IT IS MINE! You were too slow and I beat you!’ ”
He went on like this for a good minute. Let me make something clear, there was no trace of malice in his excitement. It was more like he was making fun of himself for feeling so good about it. He was so funny it’s possible he was a professional comedian. I am paraphrasing his words, I don’t remember the exact words because I was laughing so hard. I only wish those people who ever held it against me were there to hear his gleeful and victorious rant.
These days, a nearly-empty booth at the end of a show is not that unusual for me. Not every show goes this well, but it’s not uncommon either. “Buying it later” will subject you to The Law. Just fyi, if you want to purchase something large or heavy but don’t want to carry it around, you are welcome to pay for it and leave it in my booth until you are ready to leave. I do that all the time, and I'm pretty sure most artists will.
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