Chapter 3   Our Motor Home Gets Stolen

Our most cherished possession goes missing!

A lot of people who are vendors at shows have motor homes.  You can do shows all over the place without worrying about motels, etc.  Of course, we do have an assortment of other worries.  If you have a motor home, you most certainly are not going to be able to keep it parked in front of your house for long periods of time unless you have a long driveway or some large property. Then you have to worry about city ordinances. Many of us have no choice but to put it into some kind of storage yard and pay their fees.  I had found a place on Jackson Street in Hayward, approximately three miles from our house.  I thought that it was pretty secure because it had one of those automated gates where you use a security code to enter and there was a high fence around the perimeter.  There happened to be approximately 35 motor homes and trailers stored there. 

This is the beginning of chapter 3 in my book, Street Fairs for profit, fun and madness.  Just click on the link for more information.  Great book.

Street Fairs for profit, fun and madness

I have written a book about our experiences selling at festivals, A&C Shows, Street Fairs, County Fairs, etc.

Read about what we have gone through in our many years selling at street fairs, A&C Shows, festivals and county fairs. Get a firsthand account of what we have had to endure as I describe many of our adventures, experiences and nightmares. I am not sugar-coating it for you and I am telling you how it is, no holds barred.

Learn what it’s really like to be out there in the streets, week after week having to survive awesome weather extremes, ranging from freezing temperatures to sweltering heat. Many times we encountered strong and highly destructive winds which toppled canopies. We have had to endure torrential downpours of rain and overcome continuous obstacles

For more information, check my website:
http://www.streetfairsbook.com/index.html

Craft Show Vendor Liability Insurance

IMPORTANT:  I have written a book about our experiences selling at Street Fairs, festivals, A&C Shows, fairs, flea markets.  I know that you will really find reading it quite enjoyable and you'll be able to relate to a lot of things that I describe.  Having to endure 71 mph winds, heavy rains, floods, lying and cheating promoters.  You'll love it.  Only $14.95.  Street Fairs for profit, fun and madness

I have been compiling a listing of companies that offer insurance for vendors at craft shows, festivals, etc.

Specialty Insurance Agency. I looked at their website and it's hard to find info about policies. The policies run from September to August and it's roughly $350 per year. You really need to wait until September in order to get your money's worth. I have a friend who is insured through them and he says they are excellent. They also have an ad in Craftmaster News (pg 121 Feb/Mar issue) paper issue. You may subscribe to this publication. Best around.

Center West Insurance Agency. Tel 800-455-6974. centerwestinsurance@lanset,com I saw their ad in Craftmaster and looked at their website but didn't see anything about specific policies. Recommend emailing them for info.

RLI Home Business Insurance. This looks like it might be decent. Check it out.

To see more, please visit my website for the complete listing

If you know of any others, please let me know.... thank you

Whiskey Flat Days - Kernville, CA

54th Annual Whiskey Flat Days, Kernville, CA. Feb 13-16, 2009. website and vendor application info. One of the most popular Festivals in all of Southern California. A short 3 hour drive from Los Angeles to the Lake Isabella recreation area and the quaint town of Kernville (50 miles east of Bakersfield on Hwy 178). Whiskey Flat is a leap back to the good ol' wild west days when the area was settled by gold miners, cattle ranchers and trappers. Join us when Kernville reverts to its old name "Whiskey Flat" for four nostalgic days of fun for the entire family. I quoted this from their website.
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This event is not listed in Craftmaster's yet. I guess that they get around 50,000 visitors for the event. They have a really nice parade and other festivities. Great show if you can survive the drive through the Kern River Valley and if you can find an inexpensive motel room. Lots of curves. It snowed here 4 years ago and they often do get some rain, but not much. Kind of cold in he morning.

Please check my review of this past year's Whiskey Flat Days. Quite a large number of vendors do this event. They come from L.A., Bay Area, Modesto area, Sacramento and other places. Good crowds.

Starving Vendors - Page One! Features

Please visit Page One, the newest feature of our Starving Vendors website. Read the top headlines and stories relating to vendors, artists, issues, etc. along with appropiate links. Around the corner, around the world, around the clock, we bring you the important stuff you need to read.

We have loads of reviews from festivals that we have done along with relevant information for vendors. crafters, artists, etc.

Pages of event listings include European and Philippine Festivals, Flea Markets, etc,

Starving Vendors Website

We are constantly updating and improving The Starving Vendors website. Great source of information, especially for vendors. People think that selling products, Arts & Crafts as an easy occupation. Uh uh. No. Sometimes things go really great but a lot of times, some shows turn into nightmares....unwelcome trips to the twighlight zone. I have loads of reviews of shows that we have done over the past several years.

Do you ever go to a festival, etc., and see lots of people walking around enjoying themselves? But you really don't know what the vendors have to go through from the time they search out a show and send in an application until the time they close that door on the van, truck or whatever and drive away.

I have all kinds of information there....even pages about my favorite food, The Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich and much, much more. You have to see it to believe it. Awesome.

Auburn Mountain Mandarin Festival Nov 22-23

Auburn Mountain Mandarin Festival Sat/Sun Nov 22-23.
Nov. 22nd Saturday: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Nov. 23rd Sunday: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Admission $5 age 16 and overSeniors (60 and over) $3 Parking $5 no animals admitted (service dogs only
http://www.mandarinfestival.com/

The annual Mountain Mandarin Festival celebrates the new crop of delicious, locally grown Mandarin oranges, a Mandarin Recipe cooking contest, professional chef demonstrations, food, crafts and activities featuring the Mandarin orange, free children’s area, live music and entertainment. Proceeds benefit the scholarship fund of the Newcastle Area Business Association.

When I am up here, I get reminded of the years I lived in New England...lots of trees and leaves all over the place and a bit cool at times. This is a nice show for people to attend and is located on the fairgrounds. Three buildings full of Arts & Crafts, but they are located on slopes and you have to climb the stairs, etc. to get to them. I guess you can get any type of weather here as Auburn is located in the lower parts of the Sierras.

You can even start your Christmas shopping on our website http://www.dandlcreations.com/ where we sell custom-sized shell (puka, etc.) necklaces, cowrie shell chokers, wrap around skirts and a lot more. Thank you.

As a vendor, there are a number of people that had poor sales and I have always had a bad location here. You need to be out on the main walkway and there are vendors that do pretty good, depending upon what you are selling. We don't do this show anymore and you can read why on our website.


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