Renting the building, getting insurance, advertising and spending months organizationing doesn’t come cheap. Someone should at least get a basic wage to do it if artists or crafters are making money at the show. There is also overnight security needed for many shows. Tickets make up for booth rental under $500. We have done over 700 shows and some of the craft promoters are regular businesses that run the shows year round so they pay a full time staff.

Costs are out of hand for nearly everything, and this is a way for vendors to still price their goods at sellable prices, so that they’ll actually sell at their tables. If they had to price everything $X higher to cover the costs of having their table, not as many people would buy their goods. I know it sucks for consumers, it totally does. There is a huge craft sale in Edmonton every year at the Butterdome on UofA campus. For as long as I can remember, you’ve had to pay admission at the door.