I have a question about booth set-ups. I’m just starting to apply
to large juried shows and am starting to think of my booth. If you
are doing a show in another state can you fly your set up with you
or do you have to drive? Is there a moderately priced company in
California that I should look into for an EZ up? Are they really
neccessary? What about theft? I have some glass topped wooden
cases that work great for smaller shows but I’m wondering if
they’re too simple. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Vanessa Madrid
Los Angeles, California
nessafly@aol.com
There is a woman I met who flies to all her shows. She takes:
-her tent, not an EZ-UP, but a sturdier similar tent checked on.
-her exacta set up and the glass,drapes and fixtures which are
very simple and light (cloth covered foamcore) all fit into one
large hard side suitcase which is checked. -her jewelry all goes
in her carry on with her other “must have” supplies.
She sits on the hard side suitcase behind the exacta which goes
across from the front. Once in a while for a longer show she
ends up doing a UPS to the hotel she stays at for additional
clothes, etc.
She does not rent a car and says at the hotel closest to the
site, makes friends with other artists for rides or takes a cab.
The hotel usually shuttles her from the airport. She said she
doesn’t miss important family events this way and is careful
about frequent flier miles and airline discounts. I couldn’t do
it, but she makes it work.
Where is the best place to get an exacta set up? I am looking for
a new display system. I currently am using wooden custom made cases
on tables (for my more expensive work), along with boards that hang
around the perimeter of the booth (for my cheaper earrings). I
think that putting jewelry under glass gives the illusion of
greater value as well as affording protection from theft. We do
shows almost every week, so I need something light and easy to set
up. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Janet, enjoying the beginnings of Spring in Phila.
I have a question about booth set-ups. I’m just starting to apply
to large juried shows and am starting to think of my booth. If you
are doing a show in another state can you fly your set up with you
or do you have to drive? Is there a moderately priced company in
California that I should look into for an EZ up? Are they really
neccessary? What about theft? I have some glass topped wooden
cases that work great for smaller shows but I’m wondering if
they’re too simple. Any help is greatly appreciated.
I use an EZ-UP but have a motorhome to travel to shows. You can
get a light weight EZ-up for about $100at Sams Club,Costco, or
Orchid supply or some such place. Never used that model, but they
are lightweight and easier to carry. My standard modes weighs
about 50 lbs.If you are outdoors you will need shade sooner or
later.
I got my EZ-UP from the company and got a pre-production model
that has the heavy roof and Mid weight frame. Called The
Enterprize, I think. The pitch was that it will be in the line
sometime this year. That was in Oct of 97. Haven’t looked to see
if they were truthful or just being salesmen. The price was good so
I got it. BTW they have a Seconds and returns Outlet. You live
close enough to run up there. I don’t think they ship from the
Outlet Call for info 1-800-SHADE ME
Mercifully free of the ravages of intelligence
Bobert
Carmel,CA
I don’t know if you meant exacta or if you meant to say
Abstracta ( the display case set-up with tubes and connectors)
The Abstracta set up is great as far as compactness, It is kind
of a pain to put together and take apart. They also seem to get
nicked up pretty easily and probably the more shows you do the
worse it is.
I hear people complain about them and then say they couldn’t
find a better option. So, I guess what I’m trying to say is that
if you like the way it looks it might be for you. I like mine
for the most part. I recommend that you have the glass cut
locally-so you don’t have to pay shipping for heavy glass.
The phone # I have for them is 818 503 0999 or 800 223 7315 this
is in Calif., but I’ve heard other people say they got theirs
from New York. I think they have a web site, too. Good luck!
abstracta:tubular steel structural systems for display, exhibits,
store fixture etc…
If this is what you are looking for, and I am guessing it is. You
can contact:
Abstracta Structures, Inc.
347 First Ave.
New York, NY 10016
(212) 532-3710
If I wasn’t clear about what they are, here is the deal. They
sell all kinds of tubular shapes and connectors and the findings.
You will have to have the glass for tops cut on your end. The
people I have seen with this system find them light and flexible.
They are quite modern looking and you will need to have some sort
of curtains to fill the empty space under the cases. Kind of
look like a high end tinker toy arrangement, it is extremely
packable and portable but you will need to design it yourself. I
think it is possible by your use of it to make it look cheap or
classy. They sell lighting systems, shelf supports etc.
They are used at all levels, stores, industrial etc. I don’t know
if this supplier is cost efficient comparitively or not. They
come in Chrome or black, in my opinion the black looks classier.
They are a commercial company, in other words…you need to have
the documents to buy wholesale, like a tax I.D. #. If you don’t
they will probably refer you to a retailer near you. This system
can look good for extremely low cost.
I used to put my beautiful oak cases on tables and was told I was
rejected from shows because the table looked amateurish…I have
seperate stands for all of them now. Whether or not you can get
away with table and “earring boards” probably depends on the
calliber of the show.
Karen, thanks! I had heard of Abstracta, but nobody would tell
me exactly what it was. I looked up their web site, www.abex.com
and ordered catalogs online.
Best,
Karen…not not that Karen, the other Karen.
Karen Christians
Fly Fish Design
282 Lexington St.
Woburn, MA 01801
Birdwalk@U-C.net the light weight model from EZ up will not
stand up to much abuse ie: wind or rain. they do make heavier
models that are quite nice. I believe EZ up is located on the
west coast. I got mine several years ago - the top of the line
model- and have been very pleased with it. We have set through
storms and watched the cheaper tents leave.
One thing that took us a while to figure out is cold avoidance.
Current theory is that cold virus is mostly transmitted by hand
contact. Handing rings in and out is a good transference method.
We now take two steps to avoid this. one is to get the cheap
sandwich bags, not zip-locks the cheap flimsy kind. It is possible
to keep foleding this down so your hand never touches the bread or
use as a disposable glove to grab a snack. The other method is
use of a product called hand sanitizer. Has been used in food
industry for a number of years. Brand we have now is called
Purell got from Pep Boys. Other brands around and have seen at
Wal-Mart. Just rub into hands and towel dry - all germs dead. use
frequently.
As far as this goes…hygeine at art shows in general is pretty
chancey. You end up using alot of porta poties…they frequently
don’t have hand wash stations and you are eating. YUCK!
Our solution is cruising the sample Isles and the baby product
aisles of the grocery/pharmacy and getting the little travel
packages of anti-bacterial handwipes. Use them all the time. Even
if out hands our clean I still wipe down before I eat because other
people are touching your stuff all the time. Other must have’s:your
own toilet paper, alcohol for wiping off earring backs,duct tape &
clamps (you never know when those will come in handy).
Karen, Northern Illinois, my crocuses came, lasted two days and
were taken out by a thunderstorm…March in the midwest!