This post is for my fellow vendors and market organizers. Whew, what a year! I’ve attended a LOT of markets (27??~!) since July 2025, and learned a LOT along the way! With a LOT of help from fellow vendors and organizers and friends alike, thank you all SO MUCH! Truly, I could not do it without you, since I have EDS. It’s very painful for me, and if you haven’t noticed that yet, I’m glad, because I do my utmost to hide it during the markets. (I melt down at home afterwards and don’t re-emerge for over a day. Especially after back to back markets, like I just foolishly scheduled again, oops!! But I still show up as you can all attest.)
This is also why I’m giving up on Last Thursdays on Alberta during the summer street fairs (June, July and August) – not because it’s not a blast, and incredibly well attended. But the free-for-all nature of it has become highly competitive, forcing ever earlier set up, making for a super long day, especially if you’re alone. And the need to pack up so quickly at the end was just too much for me. Along with the sensory overwhelm from multiple people playing clashing forms of LOUD MUSIC directly across from or beside each other was just too much for me! Oof!
But, it’s how I kick started Photograbee in July 2025, and so I’m grateful. It was a low barrier way to get my feet wet again and see if I was up for this. Foolishly thinking there wouldn’t be many craft markets around – hahaha! Oh that’s a good one Jan!
No, I stumbled on SO many new to me wonderful craft markets indoors and out, from $0-$500/day that I am swimming in opportunity! I’m still pretty small potatoes, but slowly growing, so I tend to stick at $60 or below table fees where possible. Maybe when I get some bigger prints to sell I can swing a higher rate. I’m getting there.
But, the other things I’ve learned in case they’re helpful for someone else starting out in the Portland craft market scene include:
- It really helps to be able to take credit cards and or taps. Not just cash and apps. Yes, I know not all can swing this for a variety of very valid reasons. (No judgement here!) But I was able to jump all the necessary hoops in 2025 to do so and I’m very glad. That is, I’m a licensed business, with a separate business checking account, and separate business PayPal, Cashapp and Venmo. And it’s paying off. I can take cash, apps, cards and taps for the win.
- A 5×5 tent is no easier to set up than a 10×10. It’s just a little lighter weight to carry. And is actually quite stiff. So. If you can swing an 8×8 or 10×10, do it. It will be worth it. (I have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which makes me injure in my sleep every night, so lifting and pushing and pulling are super hard for me. Yes, this past year has been super duper painful, but you all helped a TON, TYSM!! And that’s why I’m slowly pivoting to consignment and wholesale next. Plus online, if I can swing it. Trying!)
- Definitely get wind screens or at least a shower curtain to block wind and rain and even sun on the sides of your tent. Huge help in bad weather. I used a shower curtain with big rings on my baby tent for both shade in the summer (I used a green cloth then), and wind and rain screen sometimes (I use the heavy plastic clear liner then). I’m getting proper wind screens on my new 8×8 that’s coming shortly. (Late September 2026.)
- Definitely bring weights for your tents, any size. Do not skip this step. I don’t care HOW calm the weather is when you set up that day, it can and may well change. Especially if a neighbor who was shielding you with their windscreen suddenly removes it as they’re loading out early (this sometimes happens). I realized I could use water bottles in those black bags with velcro strips. The beauty of this is I can just empty the bottles out at the end of a market so I don’t have to carry that additional 8.3/gallon pounds of water home! (Kind of like hiking in the wilderness, with EDS, every ounce counts for me.)
- Avoid tents with splayed legs that stick out for stability. MYMM will outright not allow them, and no one else should either. They are a tripping hazard and obstacle for disabled access. Straight legs work fine. Just bring weights. (See last.)
- Try to offer quantity discounts. My notecards have individual prices for my S, M and L sizes. But I also offer 3 for a discount on them all too. Ditto my prints. And it works! I’ve often sold a little more when I mention this as someone is struggling to choose from among my many images. (They can then get one for both themselves and their friends/loved ones.) I realize many of you make very unique and beautiful one-off items, and this might not work well for those. But for any of your smaller items in multiples, like stickers, or magnets, consider it.
- Organizers: please communicate early and often about your market. (Most of you do, TYSM! You know who you are! Just a couple haven’t in my experience.) Don’t wait until the last minute to confirm. Or worse, completely FORGET about a market you organized as happened once last year for $50~! (No refund either, boo.) I for one appreciate early confirmation so I can pin my schedule down, and know whether to apply to another market or not, and get advertising right away. And with the numerous markets happening almost daily in the greater Portland, Oregon area, it pays to pounce on us vendors! (You snooze you lose, like the Sleepy Bees taught me last year. Though actually, they snoozed and I lost, technically. Same difference!)
- Organizers: please schedule your holiday markets extra early. Like by September latest if not sooner. And also choose your vendors and confirm as soon as possible thanks. November and December are insanely popular and busy months for craft and holiday markets, and we again really need to know what dates to block out for yours as soon as possible, many thanks! I know, I know, you’re all very busy too running your respective organizations, and craft market scheduling is not always your primary activity. Most of you are pretty good about this, but I’ve been waiting almost five weeks to hear back from a market for 11/28. Meanwhile two other markets popped up that day in the last week or so. I just snagged one of the others who responded right away. (It was also cheaper.) I know, a lot of work. (I’ve organized conferences and support group meetings in the past, I’m away of the numerous details involved.)
- Organizers: please avoid super loud music. A little upbeat background music is totally fine. But ALL of us vendors need to be able to hear and speak to our customers. But especially me. Folks want to know when and where I took a given photo, or how I got the shot, or what I’m shooting with, etc. Seriously. Having to holler over loud music is NOT conducive to business and is extremely taxing on me at least. If you are really just trying to hold a party and are just using vendors to pack the place, skip the vendors, please. Just hold a party. Do one or the other, not both. Thankfully I’ve only had a couple of bad experiences out of over 25 this past year. But just in case this helps anyone else avoid a problem. This is again partly why I’m giving up on Last Thursdays on Alberta Street in Portland in the summer (June, July and August) – it’s not regulated, so I’ve ended up with extremely clashing loud music on both sides of me for my lose. And I’ve skipped the Night Market on the inner eastside too. Way too loud nights 2 and 3. Bully for those who can stand it. (If only there was a Quiet Night Market with early or classical music, I’d be there with bells and bees on!) A lot of artists are neurodivergent too (raises hand), and this can be sensory hell for us. (I know, some are sensory seeking and love that loud scene. Some of you are also going deaf and are forcing the rest of us to lose our hearing also.)
- Organizers: Please also try to avoid sticking folks facing directly into the sun, especially in the summer if possible. I realize this is not always possible based on the locations. But, there was one event in August 2026 that nearly did me in, for real where this was optional. It was SO hot and SO loud, I didn’t sell a thing until the last 30 minutes after the sun went down after roasting for 4 hours straight and being blasted by super loud music. And I got sun sick. (I literally react to the sunlight due to my MCAS. I bring children’s dye-free liquid Benadryl everywhere and have used it a lot this summer.) But I could not put up a shade at that event as it was in front of me, or no one could see what I had! No good! (Another reason I’m trying to pivot to consignment and wholesale and online.) I don’t care if your market is free – this is literally not worth my time and effort and was frankly dangerous for me.
As you can see, the devil, as always, is in the details. But overall, I’ve had a blast, and met tons of great fellow artists, organizers and vendors, and made many new friends – I love ALL of your things! You’re all SO creative, it feeds my soul! (I wish I could buy something from everyone, for real! And I have made some sweet trades!)
I’m learning what works for me, even if that doesn’t apply to everyone too. Some of you may really like and enjoy the super loud music – bully for you! I recommend the Night Market in inner southeast Portland then, trust me – it’s LOUD!!! (Complete with train horns regularly blaring RIGHT BY THE VENUE as it’s next to the train track.) And Last Thursdays on Alberta, if you’re physically up for it. (June, July and August every year.) Go for it! It’s a blast! (For real. I’ll miss it, and may come back as an attendee some day just to say hey.)
And I look forward to many wonderful new markets and experiences. I’m alive and mostly well if a little worse for wear, and will survive. I’m slowly dialing in my artist path and I’m happy. I learn something new every day and market. And that’s the way to be. Flexible, open to change and new solutions and possibilities. Have a great holiday season, everyone! See you around the circuit! And good luck, all!
You can see how my baby 5×5 tent was just a tad too small for my full setup. BUT, it got me started!
