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Quilt Show Committees???

Have you ever served on a Quilt Show Committee? Chaired a show?

Our guild is approximately 15 years old and they have NEVER done a show... or really even thought about it! I was on our Show Committee for my Minnesota Guild when they did their first show... and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Lots of work... but also lots of fun.

I'm trying to see if I can't get some support at my current guild to sponsor a show. Several of the people I've talked with have interest -- and would even consider being on the committee BUT (there is always a BUT)...

They are terrified (no exaggeration!) of being the first to do this. I've searched my computer files to see what notes I could find from 5 years ago when I was on the Minnesota committe and found a few documents. But I think if I could gather info and consolidate it so they don't feel like they are inventing the entire show from a void... I might get more support (and volunteers to serve on the committee!!!!)

If you have served on a show committee and have information (specifics... like documents....) that you would be willing to share with me, I'd be forever grateful. What I would most appreciate having are copies of budgets (that would help me wrap my head around the various expenses you need to be prepared for... and an approximation of the costs), copies of timelines (I'm thinking if we started now -- maybe we could do a show in summer/early autumn of 2009!), copies of your volunteer slots (jobs needing covered at the show), layout plans or ideas (I know this would vary from venue to venue -- but again it would give ideas on how to best utilize space) and anything else you think would be helpful to a first time show committee. I'd eliminate any personal information that would identify individuals or your guild name if you wish -- that wouldn't be hard to do at all. I'm looking for ideas regarding the "big picture" not necessarily your nitty-gritty details.

I'm not afraid to chair the show committee.... I'm willing to step up. But I can't do it alone and I don't want to be viewed as the show "dictator". So if I could gather material together for various "jobs" on the committee.... I think these ladies could take the information and cull through it and reshape it to our needs. But starting in a vacuum... most are too afraid to even consider volunteering. It's always easier to "edit" than to "create". I just need the data to start them editing!

So if you have files you'd be willing to share.... I'd be most appreciative. If anyone has any general comments they would like to share here.... either things that worked especially well, or those that caused no end of trouble.... I'm sure others would enjoy reading that as well.

And if you've never been on a committee, but have been to shows.... share the things you liked most about them (please be as specific as possible) or the things that you found most annoying.

Thanks in advance. (Those that can send files will could possibly find squishys in their mailboxes! ;-)

I think we have enough members to have a FANTASTIC show... but I can't do it alone. I just need to help some of my guildmates feel confident that they can do this too!

Thanks!!!!!!!

Kate in MI

Reply to
Kate G.
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I was in a little guild that put on a show some years ago. We held it open 2 days (weekend), and everybody had a good time. No need to put on the Show of the Century! We used a school gym. Besides hanging 2-3 quilts from every member, we did refreshments (coffee/tea and homemade cake at a reasonable price), demos of machine quilting, hand quilting and applique, and a raffle.We charged a small admission fee.

Getting volunteers is not that hard, as long as you can tell them exactly what needs to be done. They need to see that the job has an end. Instead of asking if somebody will run the coffee bar (vague and open-ended), ask for a volunteer to rent a large coffee machine, bring an electric kettle, and purchase coffee and tea, plus stand behind the table filling mugs on the day. Ask the most likely person if she will do this, and you'll probably find that she will also be willing to cut and serve cakes and organize some helpers. Roberta in D

"Kate G." schrieb im Newsbeitrag news:C_idne5Xwuq_okDanZ2dnUVZ snipped-for-privacy@comcast.com...

Reply to
Roberta Zollner

All I can say is make sure there is room for ppl in wheelchairs to get thru without worrying on running over the base of the quilt holder. Haven't done it, but saw it done....ever see a quilt falling on a group of gals???Not fun or funny. Fortunatley, it was only the end quilt and it wasn't attached to the next quilt and the next, etc. YIKES!

Same with vendors--make sure you can get a chair between the back wall and outset tables. I took a whole table down as the Vendor directed me into her booth. Lucky her DH was there and caught the table before it spilled the whole lot.

Butterfly (Don't know the width of a wheelchair cause I don't have one here)

Reply to
Butterflywings

Kate: Well, I've served on a few Show Committees, but lost whatever notes I had. Here are some starting points:

follow Roberta's advice to keep it simple; find a place that will provide free or low cost space, then work out the date; available space will dictate lay out and activities; research *NOW* for quilt display racks (make, buy, rent, borrow); let committee decide about prizes, but I suggest just Viewer's Choice(s) voting; consider having a few members (briefly) demonstrate HQ, appliqué, MQ, redwork, etc. consider asking boy scouts or other group to set up a refreshment area as their own fund raiser.

HTH. Good Luck! PAT in VA/USA

Reply to
Pat in Virginia

Even with a small show, it is worth arranging a rota of 'stewards' (white glove ladies). Ours wore brightly coloured sashes, as well as their gloves. Advertising, by means of A-frames, on the day is helpful (in case there are visitors in town), as well as advance advertising. Decide how the quilts are going to be labelled and make sure that everyone who wants to display a quilt or quilted item has a form so that all labels can be the same. . In message , Kate G. writes

Reply to
Patti

I was the show chair for our guild's show 2 years ago. The guild has had quilt shows for years so this wasn't a first time thing for us. It is a lot of work. We have committee chairs for everything - vendors, set up/take down, food, quilt intake, advertising, door prizes, mini quilt auction, etc. Our show is a fairly large show. It lasts 2 days. We usually have at least

30 vendors, and have around 90-100 quilts - more some years than others. Advertising is the main thing. The money from our mini quilt auction always goes to an organization we have voted on prior to the show. The last 3 years it has gone to a local women's shelter. If you would like to email me off list, I will be happy to answer any questions you have.

Sherry Starr

Reply to
Sherry Starr

When I was the set-up/take down chair for the guild in Lompoc [CA], I had taken a measuring tape and measured out the rooms and did a to- scale layout. MeSue was coming, bringing her daughter, so I accounted for a full size wheelechair with leg board/side board plus attendant, and made all aisles wide enough to accomodate that. Some of the guild members were not happy because I had to be real creative to show all quilts, but there was enough room to actually see the quilts ;))

General tips: know your local fire codes, know who is CPR/first aid certified in your guild, eat chocolate.

G> All I can say is make sure there is room for ppl in wheelchairs to get thr= u

Reply to
Ginger in CA

My guild occasionally does a show, but we keep it super simple. Only members display quilts. No judging, no prizes. The show is one day only, and we hold it in a local church. We display the quilts by draping them over the pews, and from the choir loft. The ladies group from the church makes and sells lunch (they profit from that, so it makes them happy). We get a few (5-6) local shops and other quilty type vendors to set up in the church basement hall.

A guild show doesn't have to be a huge blowout, it can be simple and un-stressful while still being lovely.

Reply to
Tracey

We hold a yearly quilt show in conjunction with a local festival. We use the municipal auditorium and the festival association pays all of our expenses. Our show is a big draw and the festival people know it.

Probably the hardest and the costliest thing is figuring out is how to display the quilts. We have adjustable racks that we, as a guild and the festival association, have purchased. I know they are expensive.

Get info out to potential vendors now. You can usually send notice of a show to various quilt magazines. Local vendors will want in. Try to get a judge lined up. If you have a state or regional quilting group that you belong to, they may be able to help you with finding a judge.

This year for the first time in 25 years, we aren't bothering with a boutique. We decided we were just selling our wares to each other and it wasn't worth the hassle.

We rack our brains to come up with a unique ribbon topper every year. We make them ourselves, mostly based on the dreaded sunflower, duh. We get our ribbons printed and order them in bulk.

Everybody brings food and we feed the vendors and the judges and volunteers.

I think the first thing I would do is see if there is already a local festival or celebration in place that you could latch onto. That will do lots for your publicity budget.

Feel free to email me, too, if you have any questions.

snipped-for-privacy@cox.net

Reply to
teleflora

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