Between Two Rivers
Not every event is a win. Some events humble you in ways you can't imagine.
For the first time in a long time, I wondered if I should stop. For a three day event, Two Rivers Ren Faire was the weakest I've had since I started this journey. And honestly? That's not a bad thing.
Setting up was rough. Going from 20F in Idaho to 80F in Arizona was like stepping into a completely different season- and I was feeling it. There was a nice breeze, so I tried to keep my spirits up. My booth was next to the pirates, who told dad jokes the entire event (and honestly? I was all for it. I wrote a few down in my book to take home to pDad).
Events that throw in a random Friday always put me slightly off my rhythm. Typically Friday is super slow, then the weekend is busy, but even for a 3 day event, the hours were fairly brutal. Friday and Sunday ran 10am-5pm while Saturday stretched from 10am-10pm.
Booth placement may not have helped my experience. The traffic felt light- guests walked by for the pirates, but the overall flow was thin... And the heat definitely didn't help. Friday was more of an educational day as tons of students visited. Saturday was long, both physically and mentally. The crowd thinned significantly around 4pm, and sitting until 10pm felt heavier than expected. We were thankfully allowed to close around 9pm for the day. Right before I closed up, Deadpool showed up- and of course, he immediately became the star of the event.
By the end of Saturday, I wasn't just tired- I was questioning everything.
Was I overconfident after SKAL?
Was my product mix wrong?
Was my pricing off?
Was I chasing something unrealistic?
When you have a quiet event, it doesn't just feel slow- it feels personal. Three long days with lighter traffic will do that to you when you're left alone with your thoughts.
But here's the part no one talks about: Sometimes you need an event that humbles you. One that forces you to reflect. To reassess and remind you why you're doing this. One that reminds you that not every event will work for you, and some simply aren't the right fit. What works for one vendor won't work for another.
What I did get out of this event was this:
-Good intel on events my products align with
-4 Tandy Leather locations to visit on my drive home
-Clarity that this particular event isn't for me (and that's okay!)
I wrote out a list of new product ideas. I applied to different events. I found leather I wouldn't have discovered otherwise. And most importantly, I let myself feel the doubt, and then I moved forward anyway.
Would I do this event again? Honestly, if circumstances aligned, I probably would. The vendors and cast were fun, and that's half the battle. I'd come in with a different game plan, different product, and a better aligned mindset. We'll have to see where I'm at next year.