Expo! Expo! Read All About It!

I signed up for my first trade show.

Okay, technically, it’s not my first trade show by a long shot. (For those who don’t know, my last career was trade shows. I basically grew up in the industry, thanks to my hard-workin’ Mama). But this will be the first show where I’m running a booth and not the dock.

I am equal parts excited and nervous.

In the past, when it was time for the conference to start, my job was finished. I could literally hide behind the curtains until everyone had left. Not so anymore! I will have to find my courage and gasp talk to people! Or at least stand around and watch people walk by and think, “well that is… colorful.” (AND IT WILL BE.)

I’m nervous because one of my goals is to become such a successful artist that I can justify being eccentric enough to never leave my home. I’ll only have friends over for annual house parties, but they will be catered and very posh and exclusive. And no one will be able to judge me because my work is so brilliant. (Okay, so not really. But I am very comfortable not leaving my house for long periods of time. A fun excursion out is typically a second trip to the grocery store for the week.)

I’m excited because one of my goals is to take up space. I don’t want to feel like I need permission to share my thoughts, ideas, and art. Or, better yet, if I could just use a relevant hashtag on Instagram without having to basically do research first– man, that would be courage! And I think part of what motivated me to sign up for a show was that it forces me to physically take up space too. 80 square feet, to be exact! Dedicated for my work– to share my art. With others. On purpose.

And of course, hopefully to sell something too…

Even if I don’t though, I’m excited for the opportunity and challenge to demonstrate for at least a little while that I can be as bright and bold as my illustrations.

Maybe.

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I’ll definitely share the event info as we get closer! But I couldn’t wait to share the initial excitement now!