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These are some ideas for show organizers to consider
increasing security at their shows.
Prepare the participants long before the show by giving
them instructions in your quilt guild newsletter
Include instructions on:
- How to attach a 4" wide hanging sleeve on the back
- How to label quilts
()
- How to take pictures of quilts
()
- How to document their quilt
()
- You may also want to include information on quilt show
etiquette such as not handling the quilts, whether photographs are allowed,
no smoking, etc.
Encourage participants to have their quilts appraised
before the show
For valuable antique quilts, art quilts, and heirloom quality quilts, recommend
that an appraisal
()
be done before the show. Request copies of the appraisal for insurance purposes.
Encourage participants to take photographs of their
quilts before the show
At a minimum, they should have a photograph of the quilt and know its dimensions.
Have a Polaroid camera or a digital camera at the drop off point and give the
quilter a picture if necessary. Why? Just visit the lost quilt page
()
and see how many missing quilts are
listed that do not have pictures.
Make it a requirement that every quilt must be signed or labeled
Have a pigma pen on hand for the quilts that are not and have the quilter/owner
sign their quilt before they leave it. It is preferred to have a label that is
attached in a way that it cannot be easily removed (either a label that is quilted
through or a signature directly on the backing fabric).
Provide insurance for the quilts
Quilt guilds that are a member of the National Quilting Association
() can get insurance for their shows through the NQA.
Blockade the display area during drop off and pick up times
Keep security tight and only allow a minimum number of people access to the quilts
during these time periods. The drop off and pick up point must be a secure location,
ideally with only one exit.
Lengthen the drop off times to avoid a rush
Make the drop off times and pick up times long enough that you won't have everybody
there at once. Give yourself time to carefully check in or check out each quilt.
Keep the quilts for as short a time as possible
The longer you keep the quilts, the more your risk increases. Don't collect quilts
weeks before the show starts unless there is a very good reason. Don't keep the
quilts long after the show unless there is a very good reason. Remember, you are
taking responsibility to protect these quilts until they are returned to their
owners. Keep the quilts in a very safe and secure place before and after the show.
Ask each quilter to drop off their own quilts
Encourage them not to give that responsibility to a husband, son or daughter,
friend, etc. That way they know it arrived safely. If possible, let the quilter
see where the quilt is placed once it is received so they are assured that their
quilt is taken care of.
Do not allow anyone to drop off quilts in opaque trash bags
Accept quilts only in clear plastic bags. You may want to have some clear bags on
hand just in case someone comes without one. Quilts dropped off in opaque bags can
easily be mistaken for trash. There is reason to believe this may have actually
happened at one quilt show
().
Also, it would also be easier to smuggle out a quilt in an opaque bag. Tape the clear
plastic bags shut so quilts cannot slip out onto dirty floors.
Give a receipt for each quilt that is dropped off
Two quilt show representatives should sign the receipt that the quilter keeps.
The quilter should also sign a receipt that the guild keeps. Have a notebook to
record each quilt when it is dropped off. Make note of the condition of the quilt
when it is dropped off: pristine, used, worn, age stains, etc. Make note of who
will be able to pick up the quilt.
Have tables available to place the quilts on as they are dropped off
Never stack the quilts on the floor. If you must stack quilts on top of each other,
don't stack them too high and make sure the quilts are not folded too much, especially
the ones near the bottom. You don't want folds to be crushed into the quilts.
Safety pin a card to each quilt with the name of the
quilt and the quilter
Use a stiff paper such as an index card and make sure it is attached in a way
that it will not be torn off accidentally. For small quilts and wearables, safety
pin a bell to an inconspicuous corner. This will serve as an "alarm" if an item
is removed from the display.
Recruit plenty of volunteers
Now is the time to get all of your members to participate. Sign up volunteers to
walk around during show hours. Have them wear white cotton gloves. Give them
identical t-shirts or name tags so they are easily recognizable. If possible, try
to recruit one volunteer for each aisle. These "White Glove Ladies" need to prevent
viewers from touching the quilts. They can also answer questions or show the reverse
side of a quilt, but their main purpose is security.
Make sure all exits are closely monitored
At least one person should be at every entrance and exit. These people should be
willing to search large bags, baby strollers, and other places that a quilt could
be hidden.
Display quilts in a secure manner
Quilts should be hung in a way that would make it difficult for someone to remove.
For instance, a quilt that has a hanging sleeve can be hung from a rod. The ends
of the rod should be secured so they cannot slip out of the stand easily. With
this system, a person would not be able to pull a quilt down easily and walk away
with it. On the other hand, quilts hung by straight pins or clips would be fairly
easy to remove. At least one quilt was stolen during show hours because it was only
hung with pins.
Have a barrier between the viewer and the quilt
Whenever possible, place a barrier between the crowds and the quilts. This might
be as simple as a rope or a small fence. This makes it easier for the "White Glove
Ladies" to see a person who is getting too close.
There should always be a minimum of two people protecting
the quilts
Under NO circumstances should the show hall be left unattended and unlocked during
off hours. It is a good idea to have a few people sleep overnight with the quilts.
For larger shows, consider hiring a temporary security guard.
Require that the quilt be picked up only by a pre-designated person
A receipt should be required to pick up the quilt. If there are a lot of people
that you would not know, consider asking for a photo ID. The person picking up
the quilt should sign your registration notebook again indicating the quilt was
picked up in the same condition it was dropped off in.
Copyright © 1999 - 2003, Maria Elkins, All Rights Reserved
Reprinted with permission from LostQuilt.com.
www.thequiltercommunity.com
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