Question to ask event planners

[Former_Member]

I'm currently looking to do my first craft fair .

I called on today to find out information about the event and she had very little information.

It was going to cost $150 and she couldn't tell me the following ,
1 how many vendors have signed up
2 how many vendors can fit in the space
3 how are they driving traffic to the event

Which I think is crazy ! If you are going to pay that about you should get at lease this type of information. I didn't sign up for the event , she was very rude !

What type of questions do you recommend to a new comer ?

[Former_Member]

Those are all great questions. And you were smart to back away.
This time of year I don't spend anymore than $50.00 for a two or three day event. Now, there are shows in my area and neighboring states at $150.00 to 200.00 but I don't play.

!) Are the vendors juried or is there a handmade criteria.
2) Will retail or re seller's be aloud?
3) If the show allows both handmade and resell are those two groups separated or are they inner mingled?
4) Does the event planner offer tables or electricity?
5) What type of advertising has been planned, radio, online, large street side banners,print or new papers?
6) What are the hours?
7) Is there a door fee for the customer?
8) Will there be food vendors? Beverage vendors?
9) Security??????? Over night?
10) Parking for vendors? Where?
11) Will promoters be on site to assist with follow-up and setup and tear down?

I'm sure I am missing something.

[OutoftheBeaker]

Nice list of questions going here...

I also like to ask

- How many people attended last year?
- How much time do they allow for set-up? Is it just the morning of or can you bring the "bones" of the set-up the night before?
- Do they have lots of returning venders? To me, returning venders means that the show is typically profitable and the venders are treated well...

That's all I've got for now!
Good job backing away from an expensive and vague promotor! I'd have done the same! :)

[FoxandRavenJewelry]

Great questions! I'm making a list.

[FoxandRavenJewelry]

Do they have info on previous winners? Pictures from previous years? That might be a good place to start, & get a sense of what they are looking for.

[Former_Member]

That's insane that an event charging $150 couldn't answer such simple questions. I do a Christmas show that has been running 25 years and still only charges $80. There are fees up to the thousands at Christmas in my city. Any event coordinator should be able to answer some basic questions like that. If they can't then RUN in the other direction.