Thievery on the Show Circuit HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR WORK by Bruce Baker

Illustration by Larry Knox

Theft. It's a constant concern when you exhibit at craft fairs for a living. But common sense and some simple preventative measures can go a long way toward protecting you, your artwork, your money and your vehicle.

After-dark booth safety
If you assume it's safe to leave your work in your booth because the show has overnight security, you're making a mistake. "Our show has overnight guards, but they are there to protect the booth structures," says Rick Bryant, director of visual arts for the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts in State College, Pa. "We provide locked rooms on campus for small artwork. Folks with large artwork schlep [things back to their vans]. But people leave all sorts of things in their booths overnight, and I'm shocked. I've gone out at night to check for damage after a big storm, and found myself picking inventory out of puddles around the booths."

Carol Romine, president and CEO of the Coconut Grove Association, which produces the Bank of America Coconut Grove Arts Festival in Coconut Grove, Fla., says her festival pays for around-the-clock coverage by the City of Miami Special Forces and private security guards. "But we're in an urban environment," she adds. "We urge everyone to empty their booths at night. Our artist information packet recommends hotels with locked areas or security guards in the parking lots, and hotels with safety systems or lock boxes to accommodate jewelers."

Common sense and some simple preventative measures can go a long way toward protecting you, your artwork, your money and your vehicle.

Avoiding show thieves
Another problem is theft during a show. If you are alone at a show, be sure to use a show volunteer when you take your breaks. Barbara Hobbs, artist coordinator for Coconut Grove advises, "Use a booth with an enclosed back, and always keep your cash in a fanny or waist pack that stays on you at all times." At highest risk, of course, are jewelers and those with small items that can be easily palmed when the booth is crowded with several customers vying for your attention. "Volunteers may be available as extra eyes, but if you possibly can, bring someone with you to a busy show," adds Hobbs.

But what about shows where you leave your artwork with volunteer salespeople to handle the transactions? For Tamara Paulits of Lafayette Hill, Pa., relying on a volunteer once resulted in theft. "It was a boutique-style holiday show at the Wallingford, Pa., Community Arts Center," recalls Paulits. "Volunteers sold the work, then sent customers to a sales desk in the middle of the entrance foyer. I guess I should have worried when I brought new inventory to the show, and walked past the sales desk with a big, empty box and no one stopped me. People could wander in and out of the show easily. I had several of my hand-loomed knitwear items stolen, and there were other thefts as well. I'd suggest that anyone doing this sort of show check out the setup before agreeing to exhibit. There should be a very narrow exit with the cash table right at the door."

And then there are wholesale shows. Although they seem to be the safest venues possible, I personally lost several hundred dollars worth of silver bracelets from under my display table during a show at a major wholesale market center. Artisans were set up in several showrooms that were locked by security guards overnight, and I packed my inventory in boxes under my table. On the third morning of the show, I arrived to find my boxes stacked exactly as I had left them, but at least six large cuffs had been stolen. Despite the fact that everything pointed to a theft by a security guard, show management was indifferent -- after all, I had signed the contract absolving them of all responsibility. This was the only time in 25 years of attending retail and wholesale shows that I had been robbed. I attribute the loss to my own laziness; if I had been willing to haul the boxes out to the van, it could have been avoided.

Maximizing personal safety
You should also consider your own safety when walking through a dark or over-crowded parking lot.

"Use the buddy system -- pair up with another craftsperson. Or ask what the volunteers can do for you," advises Bryant. "Ask for an escort out to your car. Don't be embarrassed to ask for help, because if your money is in danger, you're also in danger."

Protect your merchandise from theft
Even back on the road, you are still not without risk. Carol and Mark Reynolds, kaleidoscope makers from Austin, Texas, were horrified when they emerged from the Coconut Grove Inn Bed and Breakfast last February between shows, and found that someone had simply lifted their Wells Cargo trailer from its hitch and taken it away. "We lost everything," says Mark Reynolds. "Thirty thousand dollars worth of trailer, tools, stock and display booth. It was quite a blow."

Reynolds says the trailer was unmarked, with no hint of the contents, and he hadn't thought theft was very likely. "Still," he admits, "if I had it to do over, I would park with the back of the trailer blocked, making theft impossible.

"My insurance company wouldn't cover the contents of the trailer," he says, "and insurance to cover the trailer itself was very high. I always figured if I were in a wreck, the trailer would be the least of my worries."

Reynolds is working to rebuild his inventory for his spring shows, but he remains philosophical about the loss. "It's really bad short-term," he says, "but when I figure how much insurance I would have paid on the trailer over the years of using it, I think I still lost less money having it stolen than paying insurance."

Richard Kooyman, a mixed-media artist from Kaleva, Mich., had his van stolen from a motel parking lot a number of years ago. He advises artisans to always pack their inventory in unmarked boxes, rather than the shipping boxes from electronics or other commercial goods that thieves may see. His empty van turned up on the side of a highway that night. "Use an alarm and a [vehicle anti-theft device]," he advises. "They're the cheapest insurance you can buy."

Insurance: Do you need the extra coverage?
Insurance -- in all its forms -- is something to consider, research and stay informed about. Some people just assume that insurance coverage would be too costly. Those who do have coverage often don't know the details of their policy. "Most people don't know what their insurance coverage is," says Bryant, who once worked in the insurance field. "Find out ahead of time. Your insurance company may offer business insurance or a fine art floater that would cover your stock. Discuss it with your agent. ... It's a complicated, professional field. And insurance can help if you do get robbed."

While insurance coverage can help you recover financially, Bryant adds, "Even if you do have insurance, the sense of violation following a theft can't be fixed with money. Always be alert, be prudent."

Carrie Groves is a former jewelry artist, based in Springfield, Mo. She and her husband recently opened a commercial embroidery company.

Copyright© 2001

JUNE 2001: TABLE OF CONTENTS