120 Ways to be More profitable at Shows.

[genek]

For those of you that have seen my booth at a show or seen pictures of my Booth, you will see a Doll house. You will see High end product hanging on the walls of My booth. The doll House is there to draw the children in, if I get the children in I have the parents. I always have something to catch peoples attention, and if I do the same show each year I change things and move things around, I never have the same booth two years in a row.

Here is a article that will help you with Making more money at Shows.


http://www.craftsreport.com/show-basics/355-120-ways-to-profit-at-craft-shows.html

[scottp55]

Very specific article Eugene with a lot of good tips we hadn't thought about. Thanks:)

[Brian Harnett]

We do mostly outdoor shows, I designed my trailer to be our display its sturdy and convenient especially in the chaos that is at setup time at most shows.

The advise about tying down your booth many need to read, it is not just an issue for the booth owner but the vender's next to them

If it is a show I am demoing at I have a popup to carve under I made 14 inch angle iron stakes to tie it down or if it is on pavement weights usually a few logs.

For power I put solar panels on the trailer with deep cycle batteries and a 1000 watt inverter to power my smaller tools at demos, we also run fans to get a break from the the heat.

Its getting to the season again our first show is in may, I will hear how long does it take you to make that? Another million times this year

http://i.imgur.com/JTTPh8Q.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/yoNX7VV.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/lCn1EKS.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/LaXYVn0.jpg

[scottp55]

Glad you posted Brian, Thought about you when reading about the outdoor shows as we have 2 this year and have never even done indoor or outdoor. Bringing the Desktop to all, and have the Maker Crate as a workstand/storage unit, but still worried about theft and rain. Don't think a trailer is in the cards this year, but that certainly seems the way to go. Did you start with the trailer or did you try any of the pavilion type tents first? Just started looking at tarps/pavilions yesterday and hard telling well designed from Junk. Was hoping for a quality like Bill Moss as I had both tarp and tents designed by him and they really shed wind/water well. Any brands anybody would recommend for 1-2 man setup would be very welcome as well as show newbie tips.
Thanks

[gundog]

Another thing to draw people in is free candy buy a jar of candy at the grocery store it is cheap and pulls in a lot of people. I usually buy an assortment of candy they sell by the pound.

[myxpykalix]

Brian,
It is definitely a talent to use the chainsaw to make your sculptures.....
By the way...How long did it take to make that?:eek::D:rolleyes:

[tri4sale]

Did a show with indoor/outdoor booths a few years back in the fall, and it was a windy day. It was our first year at this show, so we were in the outside area. About 10 minutes after the show opened, the wind started to pickup and toss tents that were not held down good. Some of the tents reached thirty to forty feet in the air before they came crashing down. Luckily no injuries. By an hour into the show, about 90% of the outdoor vendors had packed up and left. That show only has indoor booths now :)

[Brian Harnett]

Glad you posted Brian, Thought about you when reading about the outdoor shows as we have 2 this year and have never even done indoor or outdoor. Bringing the Desktop to all, and have the Maker Crate as a workstand/storage unit, but still worried about theft and rain. Don't think a trailer is in the cards this year, but that certainly seems the way to go. Did you start with the trailer or did you try any of the pavilion type tents first? Just started looking at tarps/pavilions yesterday and hard telling well designed from Junk. Was hoping for a quality like Bill Moss as I had both tarp and tents designed by him and they really shed wind/water well. Any brands anybody would recommend for 1-2 man setup would be very welcome as well as show newbie tips.
Thanks

Scott I would go to an outdoor show and look and talk to some of the vendors, some have setups that cost thousands but last for 20 years others go with the ez up brand or a clone type I have an ez up clone, caravan brand, I do not recommend that brand the plastic that connects the frame in brittle and prone to breaking.

One fair I do I set up a 20' carport tent I got at home depot it takes me by myself 45 minutes to put up and takes up a bit of space for transport but this fair is 1/4 mile from my shop so I bring all kinds of junk.

One great idea for tent weights is 6" pvc pipe around 18" long filled with concrete with a u bold inserted for tie off.

[scottp55]

Thanks Brian, Posted this thread to the others before our teleconference so they could see your rig. General consensus was to rent a trailer this year for the Acadian Congress show that's 3 days outside and we have an inside booth for 3 days. Turn's out Kirks Dad has pop-ups for carving shows and we can use one over the trailer doors. Painted canvas over rental trailer as his Dad is a Whiz with a brush. I feel better padlocking Desktop and control computer and inventory. We have 2 small shows inside before the 50,000 person show to tweak our set-up. Thanks for advice and we'll scope out others set-ups and then buy our own so we don't have to rent and mooch.