tables, a few chairs, lots of fun & relaxing

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Posted by jenaye (in BC) on May 31, 2001 at 16:10:13:

In reply to: tables, shade, sides posted by Catherine Cartwright Jones on May 31, 2001 at 14:19:19:

I agree with Catherine that if you can, a couple of small tables
covered with some sort of cloth (I have a large celtic design cotton
cloth with tassles at each end that I put on any table (or floor)
that I work on). I put all my books and any info on one table and
all my working supplies on the other table (here, some craft fairs
and festivals will provide one really long table so I put books at
one end , I work at the other end). I bring 2 or 3 comfy fold up
garden chairs for clients and usually have fun chatting henna and
laughing alot with them. I always have a crowd around my table,
people looking for designs or watching me work, and I'm usually
answering questions and chatting while I work! If you can, create a
photo album of all your best work and display it with your books so
people can see what to expect, and possibly choose a design from it.
I also market henna as a historic body adornment rather than a "wham
bam temp tattoo". My business card says it all..."Henna Pleasures,
the Ancient Art of Henna Body Decoration". Soon enough people will
get to know you and will look for you at the events in your area,
maybe even call you for private hennas (people here do that). I
don't make tons of money, but I do make enough for the business to
support itself, that's good enough for me because I love to henna so
much. Enjoy, laugh alot, you'll meet some wonderful people and it's
nice to know you're giving something loving & personal to others. Jen

: Start with one little table for hennaeing, and one other table for
: books of patterns and info. People (Americans at least) are apt to
: blunder into, lean on, fiddle with, knock into and generally jostle
: what's right in front of them, so make that your book and info
table!
: Put your work table back a bit, so they can get nicely mesmerized
with
: your hennaeing, but not actually smash into you and skew your
lines!
: Then, if sun gets intense ... go for shade; if wind gets ugly, go
for
: sides. If it's rainy, go home.
: I like having dog mats for people to sit on while their henna is
: drying .... and I like to have them put the NS on themselves. That
: saves me time, and it makes them stop and appreciate the work they
: just got!
:
: I have a leisurely setup when I work ...
: .... people sit and leaf through book after book of patterns while
: waiting, make friends, chatter ... and then there's the drying and
: sealing time for more sitting around and talking. Make the whole
: experience relaxing and enjoyable! Though there is much of
the "Wham
: Bam" thing happening as henna is marketed as a novelty body art ...
I
: prefer to make it an experience closer to the original . Sitting
: around, taking time, enjoying gentle touching by another person.
: Something changes in the dynamic of conversation and interaction
: during the hennaeing process, just because there is time and
: companionship there. That sort of thing can't be rushed. And.....
: people are keen to come back for more!
:
: If people have a chance to learn about henna as a behaviour to be
: enjoyed, not just a novelty to be acquired, henna should experience
a
: renaissance, not just a quick cash blast (then gone and forgotten).
If
: you can, give henna, and people, that chance! In my experience,
: they're very happy to know that henna is 9000 years old, and
practiced
: over 50 countries! It makes them love their henna far more when
they
: appreciate its depth, and that it is an art celebrating life and
: sexuality!
:
: I appreciate that many people can't market henna in a way that
: reflects its history and complexity. Try, if you can, though,
because
: it will pay you back in the long run!

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: I agree with Catherine that if you can, a couple of small tables : covered with some sort of cloth (I have a large celtic design cotton : cloth with tassles at each end that I put on any table (or floor) : that I work on). I put all my books and any info on one table and : all my working supplies on the other table (here, some craft fairs : and festivals will provide one really long table so I put books at : one end , I work at the other end). I bring 2 or 3 comfy fold up : garden chairs for clients and usually have fun chatting henna and : laughing alot with them. I always have a crowd around my table, : people looking for designs or watching me work, and I'm usually : answering questions and chatting while I work! If you can, create a : photo album of all your best work and display it with your books so : people can see what to expect, and possibly choose a design from it. : I also market henna as a historic body adornment rather than a "wham : bam temp tattoo". My business card says it all..."Henna Pleasures, : the Ancient Art of Henna Body Decoration". Soon enough people will : get to know you and will look for you at the events in your area, : maybe even call you for private hennas (people here do that). I : don't make tons of money, but I do make enough for the business to : support itself, that's good enough for me because I love to henna so : much. Enjoy, laugh alot, you'll meet some wonderful people and it's : nice to know you're giving something loving & personal to others. Jen : : : : Start with one little table for hennaeing, and one other table for : : books of patterns and info. People (Americans at least) are apt to : : blunder into, lean on, fiddle with, knock into and generally jostle : : what's right in front of them, so make that your book and info : table! : : Put your work table back a bit, so they can get nicely mesmerized : with : : your hennaeing, but not actually smash into you and skew your : lines! : : Then, if sun gets intense ... go for shade; if wind gets ugly, go : for : : sides. If it's rainy, go home. : : I like having dog mats for people to sit on while their henna is : : drying .... and I like to have them put the NS on themselves. That : : saves me time, and it makes them stop and appreciate the work they : : just got! : : : : I have a leisurely setup when I work ... : : .... people sit and leaf through book after book of patterns while : : waiting, make friends, chatter ... and then there's the drying and : : sealing time for more sitting around and talking. Make the whole : : experience relaxing and enjoyable! Though there is much of : the "Wham : : Bam" thing happening as henna is marketed as a novelty body art ... : I : : prefer to make it an experience closer to the original . Sitting : : around, taking time, enjoying gentle touching by another person. : : Something changes in the dynamic of conversation and interaction : : during the hennaeing process, just because there is time and : : companionship there. That sort of thing can't be rushed. And..... : : people are keen to come back for more! : : : : If people have a chance to learn about henna as a behaviour to be : : enjoyed, not just a novelty to be acquired, henna should experience : a : : renaissance, not just a quick cash blast (then gone and forgotten). : If : : you can, give henna, and people, that chance! In my experience, : : they're very happy to know that henna is 9000 years old, and : practiced : : over 50 countries! It makes them love their henna far more when : they : : appreciate its depth, and that it is an art celebrating life and : : sexuality! : : : : I appreciate that many people can't market henna in a way that : : reflects its history and complexity. Try, if you can, though, : because : : it will pay you back in the long run!
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