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Back Road BearsI'm just curious (as the countdown to 3 big back to back shows is on for me!)....
When you are making bears for a show do you give thought to your display first and make bears that will look well together or do you make bears then worry about how you will display them?
BruinwerksIn one of my former jobs, I was a display designer for boutique stores, so I'm always fascinated by how people display their bears at shows. I'm so bad, I don't plan out anything and just play during the setup time at the show so you can take my observations with a grain of salt! 
I have seen gorgeous displays with bears obviously made to match the display elements. The problem with that is something happens in the collectors subconsious mind that says "If I take that bear, the beautiful display will be ruined" and they will walk away! I've seen it happen in all sorts of retail settings with all kinds of products.
Your bears should be what people see, not your display elements - if customers are commenting more on the quilt your using as a table topper than your bears- get rid of it!
As a general rule, if you do strongly coloured bears (red, blue yellow etc) I would do a very simple monochromatic muted back ground like tan, black or even an olivey green and your risers should be the same colour.
If you do traditional colours, you can opt for a stronger background (although black would still work).
Cheryl 
Egad, Dee!! Three shows back to back? That would send me over the edge!! I'm halfway there anyway.
I'm a bears first kind of gal. I wait until the week prior to figure out my display. That way I can see how many bears will actually be presented so I don't pack in too many or too few props.
Best wishes for successful shows!!
Warmest bear hugs, :hug:
Aleta
Past Time BearsUnfortunately, my display is way down on my show priority list. Always first is trying to crank out enough bears to take. I have been using the same display for about 8 years . . . think maybe it's time to make a few changes here and there.
Bears by EdieNever would have crossed my mind to think in terms of the display when making my bears for a show, Daphne. I make the bears and then worry about how to display them, always trying to pick up a few tips over the years from Cheryl and seeing her always fabulous displays, even if they are last minute! 
I like to change my display each time I do a show so that it doesn't look too much like just the same old thing - especially if I still have some bears left over from a previous show! I wonder if that does help as I know I have frequently had the first bear I've sold at a new show be one left over from a previous show!
My stand is purpose built to accommodate the size of my bears in the main and to display them to their best advantage. I've opted for plain black and gold ... that way I can create whatever bears I fancy ... trad colours, outrageous colours ... they all work with it. I want my customers to notice the bears, not the stand, but on the other hand, I want them to think they are buying from a smart 'shop front', so I don't theme the stand because I think it might distract collectors from what I want them to see. So, to answer your question Daphne, I just make the bears I want to make and let the my stand take care of displaying them .. a 'no frills' approach works best for me.
Back Road BearsOK, so I'm nuts to be concerned about 'appearances'! I've never given much thought to my display before making the bears that will be in it. But I've seen some beautifully displayed bears at shows that I've thought MUST have been a very well thought out plan to make bears who's colors coordinated and sizes created an interesting visual appeal. Perhaps it was all pure luck!
Cheryl, I'm not so sure I was thinking about the display props as much as I was the bears creating an eye pleasing display themselves..... But I can see your point. I've found that if bears are sat teetering on a prop no one wants to touch it for fear they'll never get it back to stay or if the bear is holding something they won't pick it up because of ruining the visual.
Little Bear GuyWe are kinda in the same boat as you Daphne, I don't really have time to think about displays either. We usually come up with something within the last few days. We are doing about 5 shows back to back, Starting with the Schaumburg Show on Oct 27- 28 and the next weekend we are in Huntvalley, then the follwoing weekend we are at a shop signing in Michigan and then the week after that in Toronto for a show. I think we get a free weekend after that one but then on to California to do a presentation at a Bear club which also has a show and the day after that we are teaching a class in California (not sure where as Steve does all the organizing for the California trip) So sometime between now and the end of Oct we need to have roughly 50 bears completed . Trust me we have started working on them and have about 24 cut out and sewn and partially stuffed but it seems like such a daunting task, but it's a good thing that we love what we do .
Looking forward to seeing you Schaumburg
Big Hugs
Shane
MerBear OriginalsShane...does that mean you are NOT going to Octobearfest in Kitchener?
Marion
Laurie Lou BearsI am doing my first show in a fortnight and still have 6 bears I am trying to finish I have just tried to make a selection of different sizes and styles of bears.There are a few that I have done that I have already decided will go well together.I am hoping to finish just in time though so that I can set them up at home and see what bears will go together and hope there will be none which would look out of place.There is no reason why you couldn't make bears with a theme in mind but then you would be making bears with the display in mind rather than choosing materials etc that you really want to work with.
Laurie :hug:
Back Road BearsShane... you two are crazy! What can I say! 
I will stop whining about my wee 3 shows!!
Tami Eveslage Original Teddy BearsWe are kinda in the same boat as you Daphne, I don't really have time to think about displays either. We usually come up with something within the last few days. We are doing about 5 shows back to back, Starting with the Schaumburg Show on Oct 27- 28 and the next weekend we are in Huntvalley, then the follwoing weekend we are at a shop signing in Michigan and then the week after that in Toronto for a show. I think we get a free weekend after that one but then on to California to do a presentation at a Bear club which also has a show and the day after that we are teaching a class in California (not sure where as Steve does all the organizing for the California trip) So sometime between now and the end of Oct we need to have roughly 50 bears completed
Looking forward to seeing you Schaumburg
Big Hugs
Shane
When I read your schedule I said aloud to my computer screen "Holy s***!" Yes, you made me cuss!!! 
That's pretty impressive. Daphne's back to back three would be enough to send me over the edge! But I'm sure you'll all pull it off with flying colors.
Daphne, I have a very simple display which I add to or subtract from from time to time. I don't try to make bears to fit a display theme, I just make what I feel and somehow it all works together.
Gosh I never have enough time to think about the display til I get to the show and unpack hehe... Actually I was marvelling the other day when I was looking at the Hugglets preview bears- I dont ever have time to even photograph bears before a show
Like Tami, I make what I wand an they all seem to fit in in the end, I wonder if its cos they are all made by the same person so all have some kind of family resemblance 
Back Road BearsOK, well here are some of my observations - and I'm sure the fact that I've done so much merchandising in my career makes me pay attention to this more than most:
Some bear show booths have had such a colorful array of bears which is eye catching but makes it very hard to focus on any one bear... especially if there are a lot of bears piled in there.
Some booths have had mostly darker colored bears against a similar background and that's made it hard to see the bears. Alternately some have had predominantly light bears, light background. These are certainly easier to focus in on... those dark eyes really pop out at you!
So, I do give thought to what color table covering I'll be using, whether most of my bears are light or dark, thus what props will show them off, not draw attention to the props themselves.
I guess this season I'm simply finding that I'm giving a lot of thought to what I'll be using for props to create the look I want and thus what color and sizes of bears will show up best. I have a closet full of mohair I bought because I LOVE it so I don't have much of a problem choosing a material to work with. And it's really helping me to have a 'vision' and creating bears to bring that vision to life. I've been having an issue with lack of direction... so perhaps maybe I'm the only one who is going to find my strategy helpful!?
Little Bear GuyDaphne I do agree that you really do have to think about background and table covering. You do want your bears to pop off off the table and catch the eye of the collector. We were told from the time we started doing shows from a really good friend of ours not to load your table to full with bears. The problem being is collectors walking by can't see the bears for the bears (you know what I mean). We try and set ours up in such a way that each bear has it's own space and enough room around it that you can basically see the entire bear as you walk by. I myself as a collector will usually walk around the show room looking at tables, but if a table has so many bears on it and display stuff that I just keep on walking. I want that bear to jump off the table at me as I walk by, so I always think that you should have fewer bears on your table than more. You can always have other bears under your table and as you sell you one put another one out. If you have three or four bears that are from the same fabric and same design well not all of them need to be on the table at the same time. We have done themes before and they work out well, with the shows coming up we are going to keep it simple with a black covering. Since a lot of our bears are bright colours we figure the bears will show up better, any that we have that are darker I will put a piece of bright fabric underneath it so it doesn't blend in with the table.
Tami I'm sorry I made you cuss :crackup: :crackup: (trust me I'm sure we will be cussing by the time we are done). We just took a weeks vacation and went camping. Believe it or not we took 17 bears with us, I had them all traced out ahead of time and each day I cut out a few and Steve would pin them together and then I would stich a few head together by hand. Granted there are two of us but it is still an daunting task. We just don't really think about how many bears we have to do, we just keep trudging along.
Marion no it doesn't look like we will be doing the Oktobearfest, that's one more show to add to the list and I think we will likely be bonkers by the time that show comes around .
Daphne aren't all of us bear artist a little nuts, I think what makes it all worthwhile is when you get to the show and you meet up with your friends that you haven't seen in a long time. That part just kind of makes the stress go away, even if it's just for a short period of time (oh plus the California trip we are staying for an extra week with friends in Hollywood and then going to their other home in Palm Springs, so there is a light at the end of the tunnel)
big hugs
Gosh I never have enough time to think about the display til I get to the show and unpack hehe...
but your table always looks stunning Karen! I gave the little anime ballerina of yours from the Jupiter's show to my sister when she was over from the UK a couple of weeks ago 
I miss that little bear
I have tried several times working to a theme but I can never stick to my plan.... I find that the mini mini size I make somehow always looks messy on a table and also it's very easy for peoples' eyes to gloss over them - especially if one is surrounded by "big bear" artists whose bears catch the eye. I totally noticed at the Jupiter's show this year that once I had sold my focal pieces ( a couple of bears in tea cups) there wasn't anything big to capture people's eye. While those bears were still there I had very busy sales and as soon as they were gone you could see peoples' attention just wasn't captured. A show is visually overwhelming for a buyer and I know myself my eyes tend to flit to whatever spangly sparkly thing captures my attention.
However if I ever do get back to the bear making and make it to an aussie show next year I have a bit of a theme planned.
Back Road BearsShane... everything you said... well said and I agree. Even about the nuts part but I wouldn't trade it for anything! Once I'm at a show and with friends it's all worth it! But seriously... over loading a table, I agree it's not necessarily the best way.
Melissa... I couldn't even begin to figure out a way to display mini bears. But I'm glad to hear you've got a plan in mind for next time!
:hug: :hug: :hug:
Posts: 1,836I LOVE this kind of stuff, but I was going back and forth with table design for a while too. I was feeling trying to get a holiday theme in my table without going overboard or taking it to a level I'm not into personally. I finally had to stop over thinking it and do what made sense to me....staying true to the style of the bears and me as the artist (my web/blog design, etc).
Complimenting your style and bear style so all flows and ties together is what I like to see in all of the table pics. Each business has "a look" just like the bears themselves, & sticking to that made sense to me and put my mind at ease!! I'll still have a "kiss" of holiday, but it's not a theme at this point. I could use my table display anytime of year.
Daphne, If I was helping you out with a table I'd go with things that convey The Back Roads of Maine...warm woodsy tones...either fall or winter. If you're using cubes or crates to gain height maybe tweak them to keep the design theme going...paint them (the spray paints out there are fantastic...with textures and all), maybe distress them if their wooden, or cover them in fabric using a spray adhesive. (???)
Scanning over the show and travel pics is one of my favorite things to do out here! I love the tables full of bears and looking at each design
:hug:
~Chrissi
Back Road BearsGreat idea, Chrissi! I used to do that whole back roads/woods thing but my bears blended in, and I let mom be in charge of props... I had a jungle! She meant well and I could see where she was trying to go but we both had a hard time balancing the less is isn't enough, more is too much thing. We really over-did it. So.... I'm sticking to 'natural' in color more or less as you suggested but I'm leaving the trees in the wood! LOL!
I've got my displays figured out as far as the props I'll be using. One show I'm driving to so I can 'bring it all'... the other two I'm flying to, will be using someone's crates at one and the other.... Hunt Valley... well.... I'm still working on that one. But I'm mostly trying to work with fur colors and bear sizes... making sure no bear's fur/mohair clashes and that I've got variation in size. That's when I started wondering if anyone else got this anal about the bears 'matching/blending' and creating an eye pleasing display with the focus on the bears, not so much the props.
It's entertaining if not mind boggling to be nuts! :crackup:
Drea's BearsI (like Cheryl) leave it all to the last minute and let the display create itself..........just like we all know our bears do no matter how hard we fight it! 
I always have enough black fabric to cover my table and several additional peices of the same black to cover any boxes I bring for height. Then I go to the fabric store and purchase ends of fabric that are usually on sale for a few dollars in a bunch of different colours and drape those peices acordingly across the table and over the boxes depending on the colours of the bears I have. The black fabric makes the colours pop and the colours make the bears pop! Not to mention it's easy to pack!
Shane I can't imagine doing 5 shows back to back! I have a four day art tour over Thanksgiving and then the TBOV show in Toronto in November and that alone has got me praying for some fast hands and major inspiration!
You guys are two brave souls!
AndreaM
Little Bear GuyWell Andrea it is going to a busy busy fall for us, thankfully there are two of us so it does make things go a bit quicker. Really have to be organized though and sometimes that is a chore in itself, plus you gotta still find time for friends and family in there. Maybe I should have a big stuffing party one weekend :crackup: :crackup: , but I'm so anal about how the bears are stuffed I'd likely wind up restuffing them all anyway . I'll let you know in December if we survive or not haha.
hugs
Shane
Posts: 1,836Daphne,
What about "logs" for adding height and interest to your table? Maybe a 2-3 inch thick flat circular cut, well sanded top with the bark still attached. If you could get a longer/length wise cut for 2-3 bears to sit on that might be cool too. Maybe light weight faux resin river stones or faux fall leaves placed here or there on the table top (???).
I'm having flashbacks of playing in the woods as a kid
:hug:
~Chrissi
..... but I'm so anal about how the bears are stuffed I'd likely wind up restuffing them all anyway
Shane I know exactly what you mean!!! I've had family offer to help, thinking that the stuffing part would be an easy no brainer.... NOT!!
Tami Eveslage Original Teddy BearsChrissi, I have a couple of real looking fake stumps which are great for displaying bears both in my home and at shows because they are lightweight (this is key for traveling to shows) and made of cork covered in real tree bark. I have wanted to get more (a good friend gave me these which she bought form a bear store going out of business) but I have no idea where to find them. I also saw that Jean and Jan Olsen (who do very natural looking bears) had a large fallen log made of the same stuff. Those things would make great "Back Woodsy" displays. But if anyone knows where to find them I'd love to have a fallen log.
Jare Hares & BearsMom and I use basic colours for our displays. Black table covers have worked the best for us. I have found that while I like reds and burgundies then tend to make it hard to see the bears. Depending on the colours of the bears you are displaying will dictate the colours of your backgrounds. Stay away from busy patterns they will detract from your bears. My best advice is to keep it simple and make your bears stand out. People are there to see your bears not your stand.
We found some cardboard risers from a company have worked out great for us when traveling by plane. Otherwise stop by our booth in Schuamburg to see what we use. We make more traditional bears and have used orange boxes, wire display racks, and many other items to show off our bears.
We also have also found that grouping like bears together works best. Keep all of your holiday bears and winter bears together, traditionally coloured bears together, and so on. Usually, our display starts with traditionally coloured bears, then patriotic bears, then fall, then holiday. This does change from show to show, depending on the time of the year. But that basic formula works for us.
The use of light is very important. At Schaumburg I have found that the use of 3 to 6 lights makes all the difference in the world. Place them in key spots to provide overall light and a few more to highlight selected spaces on your table.
