Official Luthiers Forum!

I've attended the last 4-5 Indiana Fiddlers' Gatherings in Battle Ground, Indiana. It's outgrown the "fiddler" persona nad has become 3 great days of jazz, old-time, blues, etc.

I usually put a couple of ukes with a friendly vendor and just hang out with friends.

I've been thinking about renting tent space and setting up a simple shop. I would go nuts sitting in a vendor space all day without something to do. It would be interesting and generate some conversation if I set up a simple shop and build for the four days.

I have access to power, but don't want to get too elaborate.

Has anyone done this sort of thing? Any thoughts about what could/ could not be done. is it worth the pain of assembling shop, tools and materials?

Geoff...Sounds like a great idea. Since I'm a fellow Hoosier (Warsaw), I would like to attend and see your tent. Keep us posted as to Date, Time and Location.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

For several years, Diane and I use to make county fairs and craft shows with my jewelry boxes and on occasion a guitar or two. We did not want to be tied to the booth all day so we would keep the displays as small as possible, and as easy to pack up as possible, so that when we wanted to take an hour or two to go look around we could. We would lock up the products in the truck or motel room. Post a sign "Back at 2:oopm" or what ever. If at an outdoor event, we would always close up shop at dark because that is when most of the best shows are on and shopping traffic diminished. I have always built both the jewelry boxes and guitar on a by order basis so we did not carry a bunch of saleable merchandise, At the most one or two guitars and four or 5 jewelry boxes and a catalog of pervious example work and price list.