Sometimes it is good idea to consider combine legacy tool with new technologies. This is especially true statement, when we are talking about such product as Microsoft Great Plains. It is virtually written in former Great Plains Dexterity, which in turn is C shell and IDE with its proprietary programming language sanscript. In this small article we would like just to highlight you the way and give you the initiative to probe coding, customization, integration and technology deployment

–Dexterity. This tool allows you relatively simple prototyping with new or alternate Great Plains windows (window is actually object, belonging to form). The strong point of Dex is the fact that it allows you to integrate your custom object into GP workstation or fat client interface and security realm. From Dexterity buttons you can call dll procedures, which in turn could be programmed and debugged with MS Visual Studio C# or VB dll project. To go beyond the prototyping - you should be aware that Dex allows you everything and access to unlimited resources in GP, however it is not classical object-oriented tool - it is rather procedural and cursor oriented, when we are accessing DB

–eConnect. Low level of eConnect is mainly the set of stored procedures, which means that its performance is a way better than Dex performance. But this is not the only plus - eConnect has modern interfaces: XML web services, for example, plus its designers tried to organize eConnect “objects” to reflect natural GP master records and transactions: customer, employee, Sales Order, Invoice, etc.

–Cross Companies. Dex has limitation to one company security realm, with some exemptions, beyond the scope of this article. When dex scrolling window is based on dex temp table, which in turn is based on MS SQL Server view - you can combine multicompanies data in one dex scrolling window

–Solution. Create Dex new screens, where place scrolling windows, based on multicompany data. Then deploy eConnect power to manipulate Microsoft Dynamics GP objects

–Industry examples. Imagine you need to create agent settlement report and functionality in freight forwarding business. You have several subsidiaries in the USA and internationally and you need to pay agent invoices as well as receive payments from the agent, when you close agent transactions at your headquarters. This is where you combine Dexterity and eConnect functionality to do the job

Andrew Karasev, Alba Spectrum Group, http://www.albaspectrum.com http://www.enterlogix.com.br help@albaspectrum.com 1-866-528-0577, 1-630-961-5918, serving customers USA/Canada nationwide: Illinois, California, New York, Quebec, Ontario, Colorado, Utah, Wisconsin, Florida, Texas. Local service is available in Houston & Dallas: Richmond, Sugar Land, Katy, Rosenberg, Missouri City, Pearland, Friendswood, Meadows, Mission Bend, Jersey Village, Fort Worth; serving GP customers in Chicago, IL: Naperville, Aurora, Joliet, Wheaton, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Lyons, Niles, Downers Grove, Lisle, West Chicago, Barrington, Schaumburg, Elk Grove Village, Lombard, Morris, Ottawa, Marseilles, Seneca, Oswego, Plainfield, Darien, Winchester, Hinsdale

You spend a great deal of time, effort, and money into making your home exactly as you want it. Your home portrays everything about you. It signals your tastes, your style, your wants, needs, and desires. Therefore, it only makes sense that your furniture send the same messages. Adding Pulaski curio cabinets to your home decor in any room will display your own sense of elegance, quality, and style.

Pulaski curio cabinets are created by the Pulaski Furniture in Virginia. Opened in 1955, Pulaski Furniture has established its name with a variety of furniture choices that range from bedroom sets, to dining room sets, accents pieces, and the ever popular Pulaski curio cabinets. The Pulaski Furniture name has been synonymous with innovative, stylish, and high quality furniture for more than fifty years.

The company has lasted so long thanks to their commitment to only the highest in quality, design, and full line of furniture. After fifty years, Pulaski is still named one of the United States top forty manufacturers of furniture and for good reason. On every Pulaski curio cabinet, they take great care in construction. They have what is called a seventeen step process for finishing that keeps the curio looking as good years from now as it was the very first day it was manufactured.

Pulaski curio cabinets provides you with the flexibility you want in your display case, allowing you to adjust the glass shelves as needed for your collectibles, as well as sliding doors for access at your convenience. Each cabinet comes with doors that are lockable, ensuring that your collectibles will remain safe and secure, giving you added peace of mind.

Each piece is constructed by hand right in America with the precision of the Pulaski name and the quality that you have come to expect. Pulaski knows the definition of value. Their idea of value is a curio cabinet that is priced right competitively, of the highest possible quality, speedy delivery, fashionable options, and the best buying experience you can possibly imagine.

All of these values combined make Pulaski curio cabinets the best possible investment in your home decor. Ensuring uncompromised quality and complete and total customer satisfaction is what has kept Pulaski Furniture going strong for fifty years and will keep it going strong for fifty more.

Flor Serquina is a writer who happens to have a great appreciation of fine furnishings in her home. You can find many useful articles and other resources on traditional and contemporary curio cabinets from her website, featuring items from the well-known Howard Miller and Pulaski curio cabinet makers More than 150 models of glass curio cabinets are available.

Do not worry your mind, just be happy! Everyone has the worry gene. Some people develop the gene more than others. The worry gene tells you that if you worry everything will work out just fine. It is just the opposite. If you do not worry everything will work out just fine.

It is mind over matter. If you do not learn to use your mind to expect something good to happen, it really does not matter. Mark Twain said over one hundred years ago, “It is not what you do not know that will hurt you the most, it is what you think you know, and it just isn’t so.”

Expect something good to happen! When you do not expect something good to happen; something good happens anyway. However when you expect something good to happen, you participate in making it happen even better.

Three kinds of people. Those people that make things happen. Those people that watch things happen. Those people that wake up and say what is happening here? When you worry you are watching things happen. Get off the sofa! Walk around the block, pick up cans. Do something! Put a stop to the worry gene. You might say, “I can not help but worry. I inherited the worry gene from my Grandmother.”

Worry never paid a bill; worry could not climb a hill. The only thing worry can do is worry. You cannot live your life looking back on past experiences. The past was so interesting. The future is pure excitement for those that expect something good to happen! If your expecting misery, your going to get misery. Misery loves company. Forward ever backwards never! Life takes place in a decision not to worry. Your possibilities are located in your own personal expectations. I cannot wait for the next moment to surprise me!

What ever you expect with confidence tends to materialize!

Mike Marino, Jr. aka “In Person,” is the co-author of two books and a Distinguished Toastmaster who helps people fall in love with learning. He speaks and writes on the love of Knowledge is the root of all good!. To book Mike for your next association meeting, conference or corporate event, contact Mike Marino, Jr. In person 504 833 4405 or email marinojr@bellsouth.net
Proud member of the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau. All presentations are available in PowerPoint or Keynote.

Everyone gets a stiff neck sometimes. Often yoga can help. Of course, before you do anything, it’s important to know if your neck pain is the sign of something more serious. Make sure to see your doctor if:

–Your neck pain persists for more than three days or keeps coming back.

–You suffer from neck pain after a fall or accident.

–Pain radiates from your neck down your arms or legs.

–Neck pain is associated with nausea or dizziness.

Yoga Exercises for Neck Pain

If you determine you simply have a stiff neck, specific yoga exercises will help strengthen muscles and increase flexibility in the neck. Even gently exercising your neck helps lubricate and speed nutrients to the area. Here are a few exercises for your neck that are particularly helpful.

Neck Stretches

Follow these steps when practicing neck stretches:

–Start in seated position (cross legged)

–Sit up tall, reaching up through the top of the head

–Draw shoulders back

–Exhale, drop chin towards chest, keeping elbows and shoulders pulled back

–Inhale, raise the head back to center

–Do this five times, then on the last exhale, drop the chin and stay in this position for three breaths, breathing through the nose

–Inhale, raise head back to center

–Exhale, slowly drop right ear towards right shoulder

–Inhale, raise head back to center

–Do this five times, then on the last exhale, drop the ear towards the right shoulder and stay in this position for 3 breaths

–Inhale, raise head back to center

–Repeat on left side

Half-Circles

Rolling your head around in a full circle-as some people do to “loosen” their neck muscles-can actually cause more damage, so avoid it. The neck is not a ball and socket joint and is not meant to move around in circles. However, half circles in the front can be done instead. To do this, first drop your chin to your chest. Move your chin towards the right shoulder then back to your chest. Then move your chin towards the left shoulder and back towards the chest. Repeat this movement three to five times.

Shoulder Moves

Hunch your shoulders as high as possible, then let them relax completely. Repeat this movement 5-6 times. Next, roll your shoulders in a backwards circular motion (lifting shoulders up, squeezing them back, dropping them down and then bringing them forward again). Repeat this motion 5-6 times, then move your shoulders in a forward circular motion. All these shoulder movements help to relax the muscles in your neck and upper back. Many of us hunch our shoulders unconsciously much of the time. Notice how they feel when they are relaxed and try to keep them this way.

Chest Expander

Stand up with your feet close together. Bring your hands behind your back and interlace your fingers. Tuck your tailbone in, so you don’t arch your low back too much. As you inhale, lift your hands away from your tailbone. Squeeze your shoulder blades together and you lift your arms and stay in this position for 3-4 breaths. On your next exhale, lower your arms back down. This exercise helps strengthen the muscles in your upper back and relieve tension in your upper back and shoulders.

Arm Lifts

Bring your arms straight out in front of you with your palms facing each other. As you inhale, reach your arms overhead, bringing your arms next to your ears, if you can do so without any pain. As you exhale, bring your arms back down in front of you. Repeat 4-8 times. This helps to relieve tension and build strength in the muscles in the upper back.

Press It

Place the palm of your hand against the back of your head and gently press while resisting with your head. Hold for a count of ten. Repeat with your palm on your forehead. Now place the palm of your right hand against the right side of your head and press, again resisting the movement with your head. Repeat on the left side. This exercise helps to strengthen the muscles in your neck and makes them less prone to strain.

Prevention is the Key

There are many things you can do in your every day life to prevent neck pain in the future.

1) Improve your posture

Sit and stand, so your head is properly aligned over your shoulders. Many of us tend to drop our head to look down at what we are reading or writing or have our computer situated in a way that forces us to tip our head forward. But, poor posture isn’t just how you sit and stand. It’s how you hold your body when you function-moving, sitting, standing, bending or lifting. It’s how you hold your body while you are active or inactive. To maintain good posture: Sit up straight and tall, raise your chest up, relax your shoulders down and pull your head back so that your ears are directly over your shoulders, not in front of them.

2) Hold the phone

Rather than propping the phone between your head and shoulder-which can strain the soft tissues in your neck and the muscles in your upper back-hold the phone in your hand. Or better yet, buy a headset or speaker phone.

3) Check that pillow

The wrong pillow is a common cause of neck pain. But rather than taking someone else’s advice, try different ones and find one that works best for you. Any cervical pillow that provides support to the neck ligaments can be very helpful. Avoid pillows that push your head forward. You may also want to try a cervical roll, which is designed to slip under your neck while you’re sleeping, reducing strain on neck joints.

4) Make your workspace work for you

When you read or write at a desk, prop your books or papers up so your head doesn’t have to tilt down. While typing at your computer, install a copy holder that’s flush with the screen. Keep your computer monitor at eye level. At least once an hour, get up and walk around and stretch your neck and back.

5) Manage your stress

Pay attention to your stress level. Excessive stress can lead to tight and knotted muscles, particularly in the neck and shoulders area. Taking a yoga class is a great way to not only relieve stress, but to also learn how to manage your stress levels throughout the day.

Following these simple tips will help to keep your neck and upper back pain-free and functioning well. To learn more tips and exercises to help your neck and upper back feel their best, visit: www.yogatg.com/ys-upperbackneck.html

Nancy Wile, Ed.D. is the founder of Yoga To Gohttp://www.yogatg.com - a yoga organization that provides simple and effective yoga programs for busy people around the world - and the Yoga Education Institute http://www.yogaeducationinstitute.com - a yoga teacher training organization.

In an effort to discuss some very new and extremely effective ingredients used in today’s skin care products, we begin a new series of articles entitled “Beautiful Ingredients”. The first ingredient we will explore is lactic acid, an ingredient used in a variety of products that range from professionally administered Lactic Peels to more mild formulations that can be used at home.

I had always thought lactic acid was that stuff that made my thighs burn when I ran for a bus, but when used cosmetically, it becomes a popular ingredient used in exfoliators. In a nutshell, lactic acid, a member of the Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) family, is derived from milk and when fermented, becomes a powerful but gentle exfoliating ingredient. Because of its ease of skin penetration, lactic acid is one of the most effective AHAs to be used in cleansers, masks and anti-aging skin care creams. It is said the use of lactic acid goes all the way back to Cleopatra who was reported to bathe in sour milk.

Because lactic acid is a naturally occurring human metabolite, there is much lower chance of allergic reaction using this type exfoliation and is an excellent ingredient for those with sensitive skin, rosecea or acne. One with sensitive skin should use caution when using a higher strength lactic acid product as it can cause unwanted side effects such as sensitivity to sun exposure.

While the name includes the word “acid”, lactic acid is, in fact, a preferred exfoliating ingredient and is very safe when used in conjunction with recommended dosages and frequency of use.

Kimberly Kolodzizejski
Vice President of Media Relations and Customer Service for Chella Professional Skin Care

Become a member of our newsletter and receive 20% off of your first order and also receive a free sample of our Skin Firming Serum with every order! Click here to join … it’s free and takes only a few seconds!

As a web proprietor, your job is to sell and to sell from your website is the most effective way of doing so. Your website should be designed to not only convince your prospective buyers that they should indeed purchase what you have to sell but also make it easy for them to complete the purchase after they have made their decision.

Un-hide Your Order Link to Increase Sales

Perhaps the most important aspect of creating an easy buying experience on your website is to have your order button located in an easy to spot location. Your order link or button should be placed in such a spot that it is free of clutter and distraction. You’ve worked hard to sell your product, now make it easy for your customer to purchase.

Additionally, every page on your website should have a link to your order page. Since every page of your website is designed to increase your sales, this is more than likely an obvious tip, yet is often overlooked.

Increase Your Sales With More Than One Payment Option

PayPal is great, I love PayPal, but some of your customers may not. In fact some of your customers may not even have the ability to use PayPal. By adding additional payment options for your customers you will be able to easily increase your sales and not alienate up to fifty percent of your prospective buyers.

Another great thing about more than one payment option is that sometimes one payment processor is down for upgrades or maintenance. If that happens to be your only option for taking customer payments, you have just lost a sale and possibly future or recommended customers.

Faster Loading Pages Increase Sales

If a potential customer has to sit and watch your page load instead of reading your sales text or other sale boosting information, he or she is quite apt to click away to another website that does not make them wait. There is no sense in sending somebody with credit card or PayPal in hand to a competitor or away from your page.

Speed up the loading of your pages by minimizing the use of graphics, flash, video and audio. If any of these are essential to your sales pages, build your page in such a fashion that these load after your pertinent text loads. In this fashion, your sales process will have started and the added features of the slower components will help enhance your message.

Additionally, you can also make sure you are optimizing your website’s components as far as they can be optimized without losing quality. There are many programs available to help reduce the file sizes of these items and by using them your pages will load faster which will help you make more sales.

Of course, there are numerous other factors that go into increasing the sales from your website, however, these three quick tips will get you quickly on your way to making more money.

Making money online can be tough but very rewarding when it starts to pay off. For more information about building your website and making more money from it, check out these: Website Design Tips.

So, you’ve been in a car accident - now what do you do? Did you remember all of the steps you’re supposed to take at the scene of the accident, like exchanging information and documenting the scene itself? Have you done the proper follow up? Is the insurance company for the driver who was at-fault giving you the run around? Were you injured and now missing time from work to recover? Have you decided that it’s time to hire an attorney to help you?

If so, do you know what to look for in a personal injury attorney?

First, you should look for one that specializes in auto accidents. Every state’s laws are different and often very complicated, so it is essential for the success of your case that your attorney be a specialist in this area of practice.

Second, you need to consider the experience of your attorney. He may advertise that he’s an auto accident attorney, but has he actually settled or won cases for his clients? You may want to ask how long he’s been in practice and ask for a list of client referrals you can call. Also ask for a list of cases settled and the amounts awarded to his clients.

The third item may be one of the most important that you consider. Does your attorney have any litigation experience and how many of his cases has he won?

Brian J. Glick, Esq. of Boca Raton, Florida comments on the subject by saying, “If your attorney doesn’t have litigation experience, you need to look for someone else. Not all insurance companies are going to settle with fair compensation to the victim, so your attorney must be prepared to go to court on your behalf. And win.”

A fourth quality your attorney needs is compatibility and chemistry with you, the client. Does your attorney listen carefully to your concerns? Does he encourage your feedback as well? If you don’t feel you can communicate openly and honestly with your lawyer, it’s time to look for another lawyer to help you win your case.

Please click here for more information regarding auto accident law in the Boca Raton, Florida area.

Presentation, presentation, presentation is the name of the Public Speaking game!

You may be the most knowledgeable person in the world on a given subject, you may be a PHD with clusters, but if your presentation of the presentation does not have presentation skills your presentation will fail! “Now that was fun!”

Have you gone to a seminar you were really excited about and if you made it to the end, got nothing out of it? Let’s take a look. When the presentation started this is what your heard; Welcooome toooday. . . . . . we will talk abouuut . . . . . .blah de blah, blah blah, blahblahblah. “Monotone, I hate monotone!”, “Drives me absolutely crazy!” Standing in one spot, like a mannequin and has the excitement of watching ice melt. Got the picture?

Continuing the series of “So You Want To Become A Public Speaker?” we are going to dive into Presentation. Not to be confused with the presentation itself, but how it’s presented.

Remember, a presentation is a performance, like an actor. Always bring your “A” game. No “B” movie acting here! How you are being perceived is critical to your longevity in this business.

Dress properly for the occasion. As stated in a previously published article in this series; you can always dress down, but not up.

If your topic is serious, be serious, but not stiff. Present the desired image to your audience. Be enthusiastic, confident, carry yourself with pride, but not cocky. Remain calm. Appear relaxed, even if you feel nervous. Remember the duck story; calm and collected on top of the water, even though your feet are going like heck below the surface.

Speak slowly, articulate clearly, and show appropriate emotion and feeling relating to your topic. But don’t be phony your audience will pick up on that immediately. Take the time to connect with your audience. (Refer back to “Public Speaking Pre Preparation” in the area of “know your audience”.) Speak to the person furthest away from you to make sure your voice is heard from back of the room. It’s okay and encouraged to ask that furthest person in the back if you can be heard. Fluctuate the tone of your voice and dramatize if necessary. If sound equipment is required, as was determined during your pre preparation, adjust accordingly. DO NOT TALK MONOTONE!

I was taught to speak with conviction as if I really believed in what I was saying. Throughout my public speaking career I have changed that teaching to, “Speak with conviction as I truly believe in what I’m saying!”

The material you present verbally should have the same structure as a written research paper, i.e. INTRODUCTION to BODY (strong supporting arguments, accurate and up-to-date information) to CONCLUSION (re-state intro, summarize, and a logical conclusion) with a verbal presentation, add a questions and answer period.

Body language is critical. Standing, walking and moving around using appropriate hand gestures is a MUST. Never present a presentation sitting down or standing still, reading from a prepared presentation. I encourage you not to use a lectern. “Here, check this out” American Heritage Dictionary - lec·tern (lěk’tərn) A stand that serves as a support for the notes or books of a speaker. Now here’s my definition - “A lectern is a crutch for the unprepared speaker.”

Audio-visual aids are okay; don’t torment your audience by creating a lengthy overhead presentation and reading it out to them. You will loose your audience for sure and most importantly your credibility.

Do not read from notes. It’s okay to glance at your notes, but personally I don’t use them. However, I do use overhead presentations so if I loose my place I can glance up, adjust and continue on. Know your subject! If you make an error, correct it, inject some humor and continue.

Add humor when appropriate. Keep your audience interested and relaxed throughout the entire presentation. Caution; don’t be a clown! Humor is great to get your audience relaxed and at the same time relax you the presenter. Don’t open with a joke. This is a bad practice. Trust me there will be plenty of time and opportunities for humor during your presentation. Remember that an interesting presentation makes time go by fast, but a boring presentation is always too long to bear even if the presentation length is the same.

Maintain good eye contact with your audience. Have direct eye contact with a number of people in the audience, and once in a while glance at the whole audience while speaking.

Maintain a constant visual on your audience. Their body language will tell you if you need to adjust your presentation. Speak to your audience, listen to their questions, respond to their reactions, adjust and adapt on the fly.

Your presentation of the presentation (gotta love it) is critical to your public speaking career. Voice tone, eye contact, humor, body language, subject matter knowledge, visual-aids and structure are items you must understand and implement. As stated in previous sessions, “You’re a walking billboard for your Public Speaking career and these are some of the tools in your toolbox of success. Good luck and see you at the next session.

Mr. Simmons has been public speaking since 1973. Mr. Simmons has presented hundreds of public speaking presentations from business concepts to motivational. Mr. Dale Simmons, known as the “WHY” man, is a interactive motivational and “self-help” public speaker.

You have just spent the Winter months creating all of your gourd masterpieces. Now what? It’s time to get them out of your hands and into the hands of someone else. One way to get your art into the public eye and (more importantly) get it sold is to take a look at doing shows or festivals. But there are so many nowadays. Which ones should you do? To help in your decision-making, here are 7 insider tips for selecting where you will sell your art.

1. Location, Location, Location!(I’m sure you have heard of this before)
Things to consider:

A. Is the venue close and easily accessible to the public and vendors? Is it close to Metropolitan areas or is it out in the sticks? What is the probability that someone will drive out to the show and spend money on gas, food, lodging, parking and entry fee, plus spend money on buying your art?
B. Where is your booth or your art located at the event? Will it be visible, in the natural flow of foot traffic? Or are you hidden away and put in a last minute overflow area of the event?

2. Type of Venue
Is it an art gallery show, city/county fair or a “mom and pop” festival? What is the draw? Fairs and art gallery shows are usually well-funded and have budgets for advertising the event, along with large followings and a target list of qualified buyers (which is what you want). The more people who know about the event, the more people will show up.

“Mom and pop” festivals can be great! They usually take place on private property, but they generally have small to non-existent advertising budgets. They are generally less crowded and have a more relaxed atmosphere than the county fairs. They also tend to attract similar artists and niche buyers to your type of art. In other words, they may buy, but there will be less of them to buy. Therefore, consider how many other vendors and artists will be selling and competing for the smaller pool of buyers. Also, consider the fact that mom and pops put on festivals to promote themselves, their products, and provide a venue for others to do the same. Overall, mom and pop shows are a good place to network with other artists, find out where the “best” shows are, and build lasting friendships. For these shows, bring art in all price ranges (more in the smaller prices and less in the higher), plus offer supplies and information because the artists that attend are more likely to buy your supplies and info and just get their ideas from your art.

County/City Fairs are in the business to have shows and draw large numbers of people to their venues. They need the people through the gate to help pay for all of the advertising they put out. They are not necessarily as concerned with how many buyers specifically. They are more focused on getting a lot people to the venue. The philosophy being that they get the attendance, and it’s up to you to make the sale, regardless as to whether they are qualified buyers or just looky-loos. Although usually well-organized, the overall feel as a vendor/artist is one of non-emotion. You are more of a number and will rarely interact with the show organizers. The huge plus to these types of shows is the number of people and chances you have to actually sell your art. It’s a great way to get exposure and to increase your mailing list. It is also a great way to reach people who may be interested in your work but would not have found you otherwise. For these shows, bring art in all price ranges (a nice mix of low to high) and offer a free drawing to collect their information (for your mailing list, of course).

Art gallery shows are there to promote and sell art to as many people as possible. The draw for a gallery show is much more intimate. However, the buyers who walk into a gallery showing are more apt to buy, and better still, they are more likely to buy the higher priced art pieces. The art galleries definitely want to sell your art because they need to pay for their overhead. Therefore, the promotion and burden tends to rest on how well they can advertise and present each art piece. And due to the labor involved, they will spend more time, money, and effort promoting the higher priced pieces. Also, consider they have a reputation that they must maintain. Your effort to get into a gallery is limited by whether you are approved by the gallery staff. For these venues, select your very best. Keep in mind, however, that you will take a large cut in the price that you will receive. And remember that the ultimate price tag that is set for your art by the gallery must match what your art is worth to the buyer. You should never UP your prices to a gallery just to get more in the end. That will only hinder the sale of your work, not help. Go into a gallery, knowing that you may not make as much as you would normally on the piece but the likelihood of your work selling at that higher price is better.

3. Juried or Non-Juried
This can work for you in two ways: If you are just getting started, and your art gets juried in with better art and well-known artists, it gives your art more credibility and possibly increases its value. It also feels good and builds confidence. If you go to non-juried shows, and your art is mixed in with beginners, stay optimistic; your art has a better chance to stand out! Either way, you will want to have an eye-catching and appealing display to draw the people and buyers to your work.

4. Age and Credibility of Show
How many years has the show been on? Is it a new show or has it been around for many years? Chances are, if a show is new, it may have some bugs to work out and may not be run as smooth as a seasoned show. Plus, the likelihood is greater that not many people may know about it or attend. On the other hand, if Martha Stewart decided to put on a show/festival next weekend, chances are that it is going to be a huge draw! Find out who is putting on the show and who are the key sponsors. This could make a difference in the show’s success. On the flipside, no matter how seasoned or long an event has been held, if the promoters or organization is difficult, unorganized, not very accommodating, or only has a self interest attitude (not care whether you sell anything or not), they bank on making their money from you the vendor and public entry charge. No matter what, they are going to make their money. Otherwise, they would not put on the event, which is OK as long you make money also. Trust your gut feeling. If you have or get a negative feeling about a show, then chances are, so do others (artists, vendors, attendees), and quite possibly, you should reconsider.

5. Word of Mouth
Ask anyone who has been to the show/festival you wish to attend. Ask about their personal experience; whether they were a vendor/artist or viewing (buying) public. Was the show worth the effort? Would they do it again? How were they treated? Can they offer any recommendations? These types of questions could save you a tremendous amount of money, time and head or heartache.

6. Facilities: Indoors or Outdoors
Venues such as fairgrounds and art galleries tend to be very clean events. Usually held indoors, protected from the wind, sun and dirt/dust (which can be devastating to your art and health), have nearby parking, places to eat, clean bathrooms, first aid and are generally vendor and public friendly. Mom and pop festivals, if outdoors, can be dusty if not on pavement or grass. You will be exposed to the elements in one way or another. However, there are those who make the effort to accommodate the vendors and viewing public. They generally do very well and are usually fun to attend. They provide shaded or large covered areas to display your art such as a barn or massive canopies (keeping the elements like sun/drizzle, falling branches, and birds with digestive disorders away from you and your art) They will generally have concrete or grass flooring (handicap accessible), nearby vendor and easy public parking, food, and clean bathrooms. All these should be normal at any event. If the promoter/director cares about you and the facilities, you will most likely have a good show and come back again.

7. Costs
What will it cost you when it is all said and done? Consider the time and money it takes for you to prepare, before, during and after the festival. Before you even leave your studio, it starts costing you. Application and registration fees, making and sending photos of your art to get juried, commissions or percentage of sales (which can eat your profits) getting booth set ups, gas, food, lodging, more gas, and other incidentals like buying art or more supplies. It all starts to add up! So estimate as close as you can, what you think you might spend and the minimum of what you realistically think you can sell and see if it is worth it to you. If you manage to break even, had a good time, met some new people and gained some experience, it may be worth it. The hope is to have a good time, sell art and make a profit at the end of the show. The drive home becomes a lot shorter and sweeter.

The bottom line is, shows are a lot of work overall, and you want to do well personally, professionally, and financially. If you need to, make a list of pros and cons for each show. You are the only one who can decide which shows to do or not. Use these tips in making a decision on a show that is good for you and a win/ win for all involved. And most importantly have fun!

Patti Diaz has been a festival director for 10 years and an owner of two art galleries. She is the current Editor of The Gourdzette at http://www.gourdzette.com, the official interactive web site for the gourd art community. She is also the marketing director for California Gourds at http://www.californiagourds.com, one of the top gourd craft suppliers online. She shares her years of experience in marketing, festival planning, and art sales by publishing a free bimonthly newsletter and writing articles for magazines and the Internet.

What you are about to read is the culmination of information from many different places and resources. I hope you enjoy it.

Home interior decorating is a perfect opportunity for you to express yourself. Home interior decorating allows you to showcase your interests, interests in furniture, art and even different cultures. Every decorating style is different, with some being elaborate while others are plain. However, there is a home interior decorating style to fit your personality as well as your budget.

Budget is normally at the top of the list when making plans for home interior decorating. It is easy to look at a picture and want to recreate it in your space. Sometimes the details in home decorating pictures are quite expensive which may introduce obstacles for you. There is no need to be disheartened however, there are always alternate ideas to help you achieve your ideal space. Resources such as magazines, books, television programs and Internet websites are very helpful with suggestions and ideas for home interior decorating. Using these resources you are bound to find alternatives to any problems you may have with home interior decorating.

If you are an individual who loves color and authentic home interior decorating, there are several designs to choose from. Primitive home interior decorating is interesting because it concentrates on old and handmade items. This is a wonderful opportunity to display collectables and handed down treasures. This style suggests using accessories and furniture which appear extremely old, worn, stained or antique. If you are a person who likes antiques, primitive interior decorating might be right for you. When choosing a paint color for this design, dark and warm shades are recommended. Deep grey or red brick would work well in this space.

Another home interior decorating design that you may find interesting is whimsical decorating. This design allows you to go wild with your imagination. Using any and all of your favourite colors, you space should be decorated thoroughly with various patterns and colors. This home interior decorating design is all about color. The important detail to remember however is, if you choose bold vibrant colors, stay within that hue of color. If you decide to use pastel colors, stick with colors in the pastel palette.

If you have difficulty moving from the past into modern home interior decorating, traditional design may be for you. This home interior decorating style combines the modern look with the elegant look of the past. Space is important in the traditional design. To help create a spacious atmosphere, neutral colors such as neutral, beige or mushroom is recommended for the walls. To add a punch of color to this traditional design, darker colors such as burgundy, mauve, blues and greens are suggested for the upholstery, fabric, rugs, etc. When choosing accessories for this home interior decorating design, china and crystal objects will compliment this style. You might also like to add some artwork to your space. Paintings with wood frames go great with this traditional theme.

These are just three of the many designs for home interior decorating. There are many and there is one, just for you. Browsing sources about home interior decorating designs will give you a better idea of their characteristics regarding color, furnishings, flooring and accessories. With your individual tastes and interests at the forefront, you ought to be able to find a style that works for you. Home interior decorating can turn your home into an oasis of pure enjoyment. Accept the challenges, so that you may feel the exhilaration of victory.

I hope you have gotten some good ideas from this article and that you are able to use them.

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