My mother used to set up a “still life” for drawing practice. She was the first in a series of many teachers who taught me the basics of composition and the dynamic relationship between shape, color and light. A “still life” is something like a booth at a trade show. A static representation of life.

Suites at Market Square -Mezzanine

Manning a booth at a trade show at High Point NC is anything but static. We were on duty in the booth from 8am to 7 pm- for six days. From our perch on the top floor of the Suites at Market Square, we quickly learned that traffic on our floor  was sparse at best. The next floor down (the mezzanine) had more traffic but still.. not so much.

                        Many hours in our booth.

                                    Sold!

Many reasons were given for lack of customers but at the end of the day, driving traffic to events is something I know something about. It falls to marketing to turn out the bodies. It’s a marketer’s job to create a compelling context and draw people in. At show time, people who man their booths are pretty much held captive. One or both of us was always there. In the end, we learned a few things and at another time, we’ll learn more. One thing we heard repeatedly-people loved the work!  And, our pricing is very competitive. It was helpful to meet and talk with people about their work and what their experiences have been. I got some new product ideas…

                       My rose for a shade

The people across the aisle find and sell all kinds of antique metal, from fences to ceiling tiles to…lamps made from heating elements. I had time to kill one day and was working out how one of my prints might work as a shade for one of the lamps.

Each time we’ve driven to or from Connecticut, we pass many signs for spelunking in various caverns. I mean to experience a subterranean site very soon. Have you seen this? Looks like some stunning home decor to me! The Cave of Crystals– discovered in Mexico in 2000- a very cool place to see.

Darius Rucker’s music is the best of the south. Darius is a hard driving musician and native of Charleston. He founded Hootie & The Blowfish in college and after much success went out on his own. More so: Wagon Wheel.

Related Images: