It is said that if you turn your passion into a job, you will never work again. A creative talent can be marketed so that you profit from doing something you love. Hence, you never "work" again. You are indulging in your creative talent or hobby and deriving a part time income too.

Fear of failure is the number one cause of failure. If you never start, you will never know. You do not have to give up your full time job and security. Work around it. Start by researching.

Research Creative Talent Options

Scour your local newspapers and online for venues that allow you to showcase your talent. Online searches of your hometown will yield you a listing of happenings in your area. Many will include contact information for vendors. A phone call or email will tell you approximate venue visitor count, display area and requirements, cost, and apply by date. Applications usually accompany information request through mail or email. Creative talent and hobbies abounds at:

• craft shows
• local fairs
• yard sales
• flea markets
• farmers markets
• festivals
• tourist attractions
• open-air markets
• bake sales
• trade shows

Go on research tours of these venues with notebook in hand. Note date, time, location, hours of operation, running dates, cost to set up, contact info, requirements, and prices of items. Talk to venue participants, especially those that are the same as or similar to your creative talent. Take pictures. Ask how often they participate in the particular venue you are researching. Repeaters are making an income with their creative talent and hobbies.

Soon a pattern of profitable creative talents will emerge. You will know which venues can offer you the potential for good part time income. Which of these hobbies fit your passion?

Preparing Your Creative Talent

Whether your creative talent lies in physical item creations or a service offering, you will need to prepare for a presentation. The venues listed above will expose your creative talent to a cross section of hundreds of local residents from every walk of life and income level. The one thing they have in common, they are looking for a deal.

To get visitors gathering at your table, give something away for free. The free item should work for you. Make it an advertising item with your contact info or a sample of your creative talent. If you are providing a service, several mini workshops or demos can be scheduled and posted for specified times.

If your creative talent is making physical objects, you need to craft several of each variety to cross section your work. You want to show buyers what you can and are willing to do. Making several of the same object shows you can make consistent quality. Wholesale buyers from retail operations frequent the venues looking for new suppliers. Be prepared that you may be approached to supply your product by the gross.

Featuring Your Creative Talent Or Hobby

Your setup at a venue needs to attract the traffic at hand. Make your table 3 D. The easiest way to do this is to have a neutral cloth to spread over the table. Use the boxes or containers you transport your items to the venue under the cloth to vary heights to feature hobby or craft items.

If your creative talent is a service, use standing display boards with pictures of your work. Provide actual samples when possible such as various painting techniques if you are a painter.

A folding screen can be set up behind your table. Large baskets can be placed under the front of your table. Fill out your space high and low. Keep enough inventory on hand to replenish your display.

Marketing Your Creative Talent Or Hobby

Using your creative talent or hobby to earn a part time income requires some basic marketing tools:

• Business Cards - Your name (and/or company name), contact info, website/blog URL 
• Flyer - Outline what you are offering, include picture(s), contact info, website/blog URL 
• List of appearances - At least post where you will be next so visitors can find you again
• Build a mailing list - Provide a means of collecting name, address, email address, phone number

These marketing items not only brand you, they show visitors that you are serious about you passion.

Even though venues are advertised, advertise yourself. Take out an inexpensive classified ad in your local newspaper:

Gerry's Landscaping                                                      Joe's Birdhouses

See what we have to offer you!                                    Hand crafted birdhouses and feeders

20% off coupon, visit us at                                            Get a free lb of birdseed at our table #32

Fairhaven Farmers Market Sun 1-4 pm                       Whaling City Festival Days July 7-8 10 am-dark

Classified ads are read. Prices run from $1.00 - $10.00 making them an advertising gem. Word of mouth is the best and cheapest advertising. When you have booked a venue, tell all your friends and family. They will in turn tell others. Satisfied customers and clients will keep the trend going.

Keep Good Records

Document everything you do and spend. Make sure you have all the necessary legal requirements and documentation. Do you need to collect state sales tax? Not only do you want to know which venues produced the best part time income for you, you want to know which venues produced future and repeat customers.

Good records will be needed at tax time. If this is not your only source of income, you will definitely need to file a self-employment schedule.  Rule of thumb is usually $600 income requires filing.

Make use of your mailing list. Whether postal or email, postcards and newsletters inform your customers of new additions to your creative talent or hobby line. Maybe you are expanding your talent into offering how-to workshops. Specials, discounts, coupons, clearance sales can all be delivered through your mailing list.

When you are passionate about your creative talent or hobby, it shows. Don't be surprised when your little part time income grows into a full time career doing what you love.

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