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Just Us BearsHi girls...no TT for me this week...getting ready for a show on Sunday. 
BUT...I have heard that the lighting in this venue is not up to par and was advised to bring lighting.
Can anyone advise on the best type of lighting to go for? Something that shines on the bears but doesn't blind either the customers or exhibitor?I remember seeing lights on Jenny's show table in one of her pics and also some tables at the Nevada City show.
Anyone have pics they can share? Time's running out!
Help! 
Back Road BearsI use small clamp on lights.... 6 of them! They light up the bears without blinding the humans. But it would depend upon how you set your booth up. When I use those I have shelving that I can clamp them on to. I don't have photos to show you though.
I've seen some artists who rig up a simple wood or PVC frame with a bar across the top above your booth to which lights are mounted and hang down to light up your table.
I find it looks best to have the light coming down from above or from the sides. Lights up the bears faces and creates fewer shadows and less of a chance of you looking into the light.
Not sure I've been helpful here...... anyone else have ideas?
Oh, be sure to use light colored material for your table covering and/or back drop.
I have fantastic two floor standing lights....again they are not hot or blinding. I am upgrading for the next fair in November to some proper exhibition lamps, but these have served me well over 4 years but I need more light really.
We recently tried to get clip on lamps but they seemed to be out of stock everywhere...so I decided to get the purpose made ones..there's a specialist firm near me. I found it by searching the exhibitions centres links so you could try your local exhibition centres links.
I say get as many lights as possible ...make the bears stand out!!
Hayley
Please check that the lighting you take doesn't have to be tagged by an electrician. Some venues insist on this. I would not like to see you take the lights all the way with you and then not use them.
I am looking forward to September!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just Us BearsThanks Lisa..yes, that's a point my hubby made last night too. Especially when using 240 volt. I'm hoping to use some 12 volt downlights but am running out of time to fiddle around looking for lights. I will email the promoter and ask.
The Melbourne Teddy Event was always held at a racecourse...huge big windows and the most amazing natural lighting...hard to beat.
Yes...I'm looking forward to September too. At least in a shopping centre there should be no need for extra lighting?
Daphne and Jenny...thanks for your posts...I appreciate your input. Daphne..the only clip on lamps we seem to have here are workshop type ones...and they get very hot.Gotta get back to stitchin'
Hayley...At my next show, I am going to use inexpensive little clip on lights like you get at the stationery stores.
Hmm...lighting at Sandown was good if you were in the right spot - if you happened to be between the downlights or as we were last year, in front of the window, lighting sucked big time. We had so many people give up on even trying to look at our bears and just walk on by. Alexis's tiny bears just disappeared.
ooh which show are you going to in September - the gold coast one? I'm thinking about coming accross for the weekend if I can get reasonably priced flights. would be cool to catch up with you.
I hope you have a great time this weekend - I am mourning the loss of my annual trip to Melbourne 
Just Us BearsMelissa, I'm not familiar with the lights you are talking of...any chance of finding some on the net so I can get a visual? I like the sound of 'inexpensive' and 'clip on'. 
Yes..I guess the windows at Sandown could be a problem if your table was against the light...bit hard on the eyes. I guess I was just thinking of the overall light feeling and it was good for photos without having to use the flash.
The show in September is The Australian Bear Convention www.australianbearconvention.com It is the weekend after Bears in Brisbane and is on the Gold Coast at Broadbeach. The show with take up the entire third floor of the Oasis Shopping Centre and is a two day show which makes it more worthwhile if you are travelling, as I am. There is also a drinkies evening on the Friday night and a seafood banquet get together on the Saturday night. This show is where the awards will be presented for the Australian Bear Awards (judged the week before at Bears in Brisbane) too, so lots to go for. Yes, would be so lovely to catch up with you again, I loved meeting you all last time. We'll miss you this weekend!
EsmerldasI can tell you what we have for lights.
My husband used pieces of 2x4 as the bases drilled partly through to allow a PVC connector with screw threads to be glued in.
We use 3 or 4 inch "C" clamps to fasten that base to the table, then the pieces of PVC pipe are screwed into the bases (all of these parts are painted flat black to blend in with my table cloths).
Our lights are the clip on desk lamps and I use the "daylight" spiral flouresant bulbs which put out a lot of light without using much electricity or making much heat.
We plug everything in to surge protectors which makes it easy to turn off the lights overnight too.
The supplies for all of this came from Home Depot or Lowes (the hardware stores love to see us coming!)
