Saturday Night Fiasco

[Shisha]

I sell incense and B&B and usually do pretty well at shows. I do a lot of oddball shows that people mention to me. I joke that any festival that includes one or more of the following will be a good moneymaker for me: renaissance costumes, hippies, musicians, bikers, or girls with tattoos. Outdoors is good....Beer is good......I'm friendly and get along with all kinds of people so I do well at these things.

I have a lady who I share tables with sometimes. She does jewelry and her customer base is definitely different than mine...but we get crossover business from each other by having a bigger, more varied booth so it's all good.

She has been trying to talk me into doing more shows with her, including homeshows. I don't think my stuff will do well at homeshows so I nixed that for now, but I did agree to go with her to a dance recital where she said she usually does well. This was a show of adult dancers, not children, who take belly dance, hula, swing etc. classes at the rec center, etc. Supposedly it draws a big crowd every time (friends & family coming to watch mom/sis/friends dance). The lady in charge decided to have vendors to liven up the intermission period & it's been successful in the past (according to my friend.)

Well, I do a lot of belly dance festivals and other music/dance faires so I said yes. Why not, the table cost me less than a movie ticket and maybe I could find some new buyers.

Saturday arrived and it was 100 degrees....I should have known.....

Got my car all loaded up (lots of sweating and cussin) and drove 20 miles to get to the rec center. My friend had already staked out good spots for us at the side of the stage and I thought---this will be good.

Hauled everything out (I have a 6 foot table setup) and waited. And waited. And waited. People trickled in slowly but the chairs never filled up. About 40 people came (expected 200). I blame it on the heat. The rec center had air conditioning but it was sweltering outside. Most of the attendees were were family members of the performers (as expected) but it was a very conservative crowd. Barely anyone made any purchases...from any of the vendors. Most stayed only to see their family member, and then left, without shopping....Basically I made about $20. It was sad.

Here's a pic of my display. It wasn't looking good last night because with the heat, I just wanted to throw it out there and be finished setting up so I could cool off.

[Jane42]

Yup, I feel your pain! :undecided

We did a show last week with the same results as yours....very disappointing!

We also shared a table with my neighbor who makes jewelry....she did MUCH better than we did.....my husband wants to know why I don't make jewelry instead!!! :rolleyes2 It sure is easier for her to pack up her stuff and go...one folding table and a bucket...how I wish it were that easy for me!!!

Better luck next time!

Jane

[dandelion garden]

I joke that any festival that includes one or more of the following will be a good moneymaker for me: renaissance costumes, hippies, musicians, bikers, or girls with tattoos. Outdoors is good....Beer is good......I'm friendly and get along with all kinds of people so I do well at these things.

Hey, you've almost described me. I could be one of your best customers!!! I'm a festival attending, (oft-described) hippie, musician, with a tattoo, LOL

And some of my best friends wear renaissance costumes and/or ride morotcycles.....but usually not simultaneously.

Seriously, I'm sorry the show didn't work out for you. Chin up for next time.