Table to Booth: Lessons from My First Festival
Adaptability: The Hidden Skill of a Maker
Over the past 18 months, I’ve taken part in many events, almost always with a standard 6ft table—either provided or brought by me. But every event throws up something new: one month I had to transform a single table into a 10ft display, the next I was handed just 3ft.
At first, these challenges felt daunting. Now I see them as opportunities. My display has become modular—almost “plug and play”—able to adapt to whatever space I’m given. The real art of showing work, I’m learning, isn’t just in making the glass itself, but in adapting to the ever-changing conditions of events.
Outdoor? Never… Until Exeter Craft Festival
For a long time, I avoided outdoor events. The UK weather is famously unpredictable — wind, rain, or blazing sun — and most of my anxiety came from imagining the worst: damage to my stock or display. At one point, I even pulled out of an event that required a 3m x 3m gazebo. The stress was overwhelming, and although I lost the pitch fee, the sense of relief was immense.
Exeter Craft Festival was different: heavy-duty marquees divided into booths. It was technically outdoors, but the structures were solid and secure. It felt like a step into new territory, one where I could try something I’d previously ruled out.
Planning, Pinterest, and a Curveball
When I learned I’d been accepted, I jumped straight into research—sketching layouts, pinning ideas, imagining how I’d use the 3x3 metre space. But life doesn’t always run to schedule. My dad’s health was declining, and my focus shifted to supporting my parents. For a while, I thought I might need to withdraw completely.
In the end, I able to attend. My dad had passed just three weeks before, and preparation became a bittersweet mix of grief and grateful distraction. I had to make decisions quickly when I’d imagined months to plan. Through it all, I kept hearing his words: “Just do it. What have you got to lose? Even if it’s a big flop, you showed up — and that’s what matters.”
”Making It Work: Tables, Chairs, and Displays
In my head, the booth felt enormous. In reality, there are only so many ways to make the most of tabletop space, keep a seat behind the stall, have easy storage underneath, and still create a welcoming area for visitors without them being distracted by neighbouring displays. That balance mattered to me: my pieces are small and delicate, and as it turned out, my immediate neighbours were showing large garden sculptures and bold and bright paintings.
I opted for an L-shaped layout, using my 6ft folding table and adding a new 4ft one. This gave me far more flexibility than my original plan of borrowing another 6ft. Yes, it meant investing in new tablecloths to match — but now they’re part of my toolkit for future events.
My usual breakfast-bar stool — perfect for perching above my display at indoor events — proved impractical on uneven ground. I swapped it for a camping chair, which was comfortable but far too low for easy conversations. The unexpected solution? A pouffe tucked into the corner on the visitors’ side of the display. It became an improvised perch that worked brilliantly — comfortable, accessible, and ideal for sketchbook work between chats.
My display was carefully planned but kept intentionally flexible. Alongside my usual white wooden crates and blocks for showcasing pendants, I added acrylic stands for fine art prints, extra chalkboards for pricing, a framed price list, and a poster board on an easel at the front to draw people in — all topped off with the obligatory bunting. What surprised me most was how inviting even a modest L-shape could feel. At one point, eight people were gathered inside the booth — proof that energy really does attract more energy.
The Unsung Hero: Transport
Adaptability also means keeping things manageable. As a solo maker, everything I carry has to be practical. My festival trolley — with its chunky wheels (a tip from a seasoned stallholder who told me to get the biggest wheels I could) — has been a lifesaver. She was right: I’ve tackled cobbled streets, slopes, kerbs, and all-terrain challenges with it. In my early days, a single setup once took 11 trips back and forth. Now, even as my display has grown, I can usually manage with just two trolley loads when packing down. Little adjustments like this make a huge difference.
What I hadn’t considered was the scale of festival logistics: over 100 makers and artists had an entire 11 hours to set up the day before, and even then I queued for 20 minutes just to get my car into the unloading area. We were warned that packing down could take up to four hours. Instead, I used my trolley to shuttle everything back to where I’d parked — just five minutes each way. In the end, I was packed up and on the road in under an hour.
Lessons Learned
These may seem a little random, but here’s what really worked — and what I’d tweak for next time:
What Worked
Seating: The combo of camping chair + pouffe gave me both comfort and flexibility, whether sitting behind or perching in front of my stall.
Pricing: Offering both individual price tags and a framed price list surprised me — so many people preferred the price list.
Cleaning: Best random advice ever: keep a paintbrush handy! Perfect for brushing away festival dust — I probably used it ten times a day.
Signage: My A2 sign on the easel caught attention without overwhelming the space.
Nature calls: As a solo trader, bathroom breaks are tricky. A tip from the festival group chat saved me: rope off the booth. I used bunting and a little sign saying “Back in 5 — nature calls!”
What I’d Change
Vertical displays: Small easels worked, but wall-mounted displays would have given framed pieces much more presence.
Information display: I created several A4 ‘Me & My Glass Fun Facts’ cards mounted on foam board, but it went unnoticed (people’s backs were to it). Next time, I’ll go bigger, bolder, and position it behind the tables — large enough to be read from a distance. After all, a booth isn’t just a display; it’s an experience.
Would I Do It Again?
Absolutely. Exeter Craft Festival had atmosphere, energy, music, and excellent organisation. My only regret was not taking more time to explore other stalls and connect with fellow makers. To make space for that, I’ve decided to apply every other year — so I can also enjoy the event as a visitor.
My biggest takeaway? Adaptability. From changing table sizes to improvising with chairs and trolleys, every challenge pushed me to flex. If my dad were still here, I’d tell him: I showed up, I learned, and it was a success. In that flexibility, I found not just solutions, but creativity itself.