vinnibeast Posted December 11, 2005 Share Posted December 11, 2005 I'm in the middle of my last show of the year and I'm feeling.......screwed and confused. I've never done a show with this promoter before (Metro Management in Illinois) and there were many openings immediately before the date, so I knew there was an element of risk. Setup was confusing and many crafters had their spaces switched, some more than 3 times!! Nobody could find anybody who had done the show before.....it turns out that it was the first time at this location (cities away from previous years). The promoter published that it was the 6th year there. Okay, strike one. The show began, but it was hard to tell because there were NO customers. Now, you can't guarantee a successful show, we all know that. However, the promoter had published expected turnout to be 12000 (how do you do that for a first show?) and "tour buses of eager shoppers" but the only thing that any of us saw were shuttle buses that nobody could find (the few customers that did show up)that dropped off the occasional shopper. Strike 2. In their defense, advertising was done. I saw it, people heard it on the radio and customers had newspaper ads. We were told we had to donate( $40 Plus) to a raffle benefiting a charity......apparently, the charity is registered nowhere, (strike 3)so we took our donation back (my DH is a stickler for donating to reputable charities only, and, having worked at the Red Cross, I am a stickler against fraud). So, of course, vendors were starting to get angry and some of them were leaving and it wasn't even noon, and the show had just started at 10. Then, a lawyer appeared handing out a sheet about the promoter being a convicted felon, with (implied) aliases and fraudulent claims. All hell broke loose. Lots of angry vendors, the police were called, a TV news camera showed up and vendors left in droves. I didn't and still don't know what to believe. If nothing else the promoter has misrepresented the show to attract vendors, but is she guilty of anything else besides betraying crafter trust? In any case, I and about 30 other vendors ( out of 240 or so) decided to stick it out, so I'm going back today. Mostly, I'm concerned about customers showing up and no one is there. Also, I must admit, I just didn't feel like breaking down during another snow storm, especially as my break down is 2 hours. So today will be interesting. What else could happen? Sorry I have rambled on and on......this has never happened to me before and I'm not quite sure what to make of it. I would like to investigate the promoter further, but am not quite sure how to go about it. Any ideas? Not so much to convict her of anything, but to avoid any further dealings with her.( apparently, she has done previous craft shows under another name) Altho' I guess know your promoter or someone who does would be good advice to follow. My motto for the day.I'll keep you posted if anything interesting/disturbing/just plain wacko happens today..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celicagtca Posted December 11, 2005 Share Posted December 11, 2005 WOW:shocked2: Hope you didn't invest a lot of $$ into this show. Obviously the police know of this person and seem to have things under control, just leave it in their hands. Hopefully you'll get some or all of your $$ back.Good Luck!Let us know what happened. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinInOR Posted December 11, 2005 Share Posted December 11, 2005 You're right, I would make a big stink about it. Doing other shows under a different name? That would be another strike - I'd imagine she'd want to do it all under the same name so it would become known by vendors - guess not Isn't there a site that lists all the shows that also allows you to put in ratings, if you're a member?Hopefully today people might show up after seeing the mess on TV. Make sure you get in front of a camera and do an interview :cool2: - lol free advertising! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LynnS Posted December 11, 2005 Share Posted December 11, 2005 No craft show should be organized or set up UNLESS for a good cause.Non profit, Church group etc.I do know sometimes crafters rent a place and get other to participate.That is fine and sounds like what this was but she was the only one getting money and all crafters were donating to a fraudulent cause.Sounds like she did this crooked thing all on her own.Probably couldn't find anyone to do it with her.LynnSHope things are better today.I just cannot imagine police and all coming and raiding.I bet it was scary and all may have wondered what was going on.If I saw police come in like that I would think a huge robbery just happened or a drug bust coming down.Seem that is when raids are but they were raiding her and wanting all of you to know what was happening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patti - IL Posted December 11, 2005 Share Posted December 11, 2005 Was going apply to be a vendor at one of the shows by Metro Management but decided not to because of another show we were invited to be in.Where in Illinois was this one at? I know they do run quite a few shows all year round and are not cheap to get in. Let us know what happens today since I am also in Illinois and will stay away from this group.Patti IL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerrie Posted December 11, 2005 Share Posted December 11, 2005 OMG!! I guess people will stoop pretty dang low to make a few bucks. Hope they bust her, that's just not fair for anyone involved.Hope today is a good day for you.I don't blame you for sticking it out, it's a lot of work to set up and tear down, and the customers just want to buy hand crafted items, they shouldn't be punished. Some may travel a great distance to go to the show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vinnibeast Posted December 12, 2005 Author Share Posted December 12, 2005 Well, another bizarre day at the craft show......I underestimated the number of crafters remaining, appeared to be 60 - 80 left, all of us wondering why. Got there this morning to 2 police cars, wondering what the #@!# has happened now. Apparently, one of the crafters decided at 10 PM last night to go get his stuff out of the show, met by a security guy (also a crafter) who refused to let them ( keep in mind, doors were closed by 8) and a fight ensued, police were called again....the fight continued in the morning with a crafter taunting the guy and making it all worse.....customers continued not to show up and crafters were leaving throughout the day. I've gotta say, I've never seen so many surly crafters. Yes, they might have had a reason to be but what happened to respecting each other? At 4PM there was a promoter warning that leaving early would not be tolerated - did they not notice there were maybe only 40 vendors left?! Show was supposed to end at 6, we left by 5, customers (the few that there were) had long stopped coming. And then the fire engines arrived.....I never did find out what that was about, not sure I want to know. In any event, I did manage to break even thanks to other vendors. We had nothing else to do so we all wandered around buying each others products.The show was in Northlake, IL. The promoters have another one coming up in February,(in Lisle or Woodridge, can't remember exactly where) but I can't imagine anyone with any knowledge signing up. I was luckier than many, I actually ended up breaking even. My only problem was I invested $3000 in inventory beforehand, expecting a good show. Not that I can't use it in the spring, but I would have liked to have the cash to pay down some bills. O well.I intend to make some phone calls, to the attorney general re the so-called charity, but mostly for my own knowledge, and not to take it any further. I'll keep you posted on what I find out. In the meantime, has anyone heard of a promoter called "Mommyandme"?So now I think I'll have a beer.....or maybe mulitple beers..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharyl55 Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 What a disaster! Think I'll stick with my little local run shows. They are small but at least I know who the promoter is. Glad you at least broke even. By the way I used to work in Lisle back in the 70's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvcandletarts2 Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 What an ordeal to have to go through. After all the time and money spent in making your products, the fun part is selling and you had to go through this. Glad to hear you at least broke even. Your next one will go much smoother, I am sure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bravo5 Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 Tee hee, I live in Lisle! I am sorry that this was such a disaster! We were considering a show by this promoter, and glad that we didn't do it. They have another one in the spring that we were considering too, I think in Tinley Park- they sure do make the shows sound good to crafters! I will avoid them like the plague now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vinnibeast Posted December 12, 2005 Author Share Posted December 12, 2005 If you're interested, you can find more crafter opinions if you log into craftlister.com and look up the Woodridge show. People are.....a tad ticked off.:rolleyes2 So, what other shows do you do around here? I'm wondering if I've run into you anywhere...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bravo5 Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 Interesting.... when I went to look up the Woodridge show at Craftlister, this is the message I get."The promoter of this event has their account on hold until they contact us or has been banned from listing their events on EventLister.com and CraftLister.com. The details of this event will not be shown. Sorry."I guess there were quite a few ticked off vendors!!! vinnibeast - I'll PM you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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