The Permanent Jewelry Event Checklist: What to Bring, Track, and Review After

Before the event: prep checklist

A chaotic setup costs you sales. Having everything organized before you arrive means you are calm, professional, and ready to weld the moment customers arrive.

Chain and materials

• Count your chain inventory for each metal type and gauge
• Confirm you have enough for your expected weld count (add 20% buffer)
• Pack jump rings for each metal type in labeled bags or containers
• Include backup chain in a sealed, labeled bag
• Pack charm inventory in a sorted organizer, not loose in a bag
• Note your starting chain lengths in your tracker so you can calculate usage after the event

Equipment

• Pulse arc welder (fully charged if battery-powered, or with tested cord)
• Extra welding tips (burn through at least 2 to 3 per busy event)
• Flush cutters for sizing chain
• Ruler or sizing guide
• Magnifying glasses or loupe if needed for fine chain
• Extension cord and power strip if your setup requires outlet access

Display and branding

• Tablecloth or display surface matching your brand aesthetic
• Chain samples displayed on neck or wrist forms
• Price list visible without requiring customers to ask
• Business cards or QR code to your booking page
• Goldknot profile link or card so clients can find and review you

Payments

• Square, Stripe, or your card reader of choice with a fresh charge
• Cash float ($40 to $60 in small bills for cash customers)
• Venmo/CashApp handle visible for contactless options
• Confirm your processing rate so it is already factored into your prices

During the event: what to track

Tracking in real time sounds tedious but takes under 10 seconds per sale. The data pays off immediately when you are doing your post-event review.

• Each sale: metal type, chain style, length, price charged, charms added, and payment method
• Timestamps: note when your busy rushes hit, so you can request better booth placement at repeat events
• Walk-bys vs. stops: rough mental tally of how many people engage with your display versus walk past - useful for evaluating table setup
• Questions customers ask: if five people ask "what is the difference between gold-fill and solid gold," add a sign explaining it

After the event: the profit review

This is where most artists drop the ball. They pack up, count their cash, feel good or bad depending on the number, and move on. That misses the most valuable part of showing up to an event: the data.

Within 24 hours, calculate:

• Total revenue: every weld, every charm, every upgrade
• True material cost: measure how much chain you actually used versus what you expected
• Booth and travel cost: exact, not estimated
• Net profit: revenue minus all costs including your time at a fair hourly rate
• Revenue per hour: divide net profit by total hours including setup and teardown

Building your event history

After 5 to 10 events tracked with real numbers, patterns emerge quickly. You will see which venue types generate the highest revenue per hour, which seasons are slowest, which chain styles sell fastest, and which charm price points customers accept without hesitation.

That knowledge compounds. Artists who track their events consistently price better, negotiate better booth fees, and know which opportunities to turn down.