Stay away from these shows - Fall 2009

[davejs]

I decided to start this thread to give advice to our 'drop-in' guests and to our forum members also. We are getting a decent number of visitors each day and we can put the word out to them to avoid certain shows through our experiences.

I want our readers to become aware of these shows here and we would appreciate if drop-ins would contribute and let other's know of these really bad shows. This is how we can spread the word. Tired of doing these bad shows where promoter's screw you over, etc. Putting it simply, Speak up or shut up. Help our fellow vendors to make them aware of these bad shows. Let's help eachother. One good turn deserves another. Okay?

[davejs]

Richmond Homefront Festival by the Bay. This show is being held on October 4 and is only one-day this year. A number of us were there last year and it wasn't good. It's $75 for one day, which isn't bad. Most of California had bad weather that weekend and Richmond was no exception as we picked up strong winds from the Bay along with showers. The people have no money there and it should be even worse this year. Read my review from last year. www.starvingvendors.com/events_homefront_festival.html

[davejs]

Daly City Fil-Am Festival, September 19-20. They had this event in June last year in the parking lot of Serramonte Mall in Daly City. Very bad. They put us way, way out away from everybody else in a cluster of 5 non-profit booths. Very strong winds. Had to use their canopies, which were raised into the air by the winds. Read my review for more details.

www.starvingvendors.com/events_daly_city_filam_festival.html

Very much a cultural festival where people don't buy very much. Mostly just sit around and watch the entertainment and freeze to death (in June). Now held in September.

[davejs]

Two years ago we did Harvest Days in Vacaville and both weeks it was bad. Amusement park area closed 6 months ago because of a lack of interest. This is held at the 'new' Nut Tree complex there which is the site of the popular stopover of the 60s and 70s.

This show requiree a $2M liability policy, which is the largest I have seen. Years ago a visitor at the Vacaville Onion Festival (defunct) was hit by a vendor's vehicle and received something like $4M. Doing this show is degrading. They force you to provide them with your SSN and Driver's License No. so they can run a police check on you. We are not criminals. City requires this, city requires that......that's all I heard over there, especially when I inquired about the porta potties, which were located quite a distance away. Losers. If they are still requiring the police checks, please boycott the show.

Here is what I wrote in Craftmaster:

About the event: Promoters had no clue. I did it two weekends and both were bad. For the second week they located the booths adjacent to the pumpkin patch. They had a medium amount of people, but 80 percent of the people jumped out of their cars, ran to the pumpkin patch and raced back to their vehicles, not even bothering to visit the vendors. These people have little money. Weather was nice. Toilets were about 1/4 mile away at the front of the complex. They required each vendor to pay them $25 for a POLICE CHECK, like we are some type of criminals. I have heard that the amusement area has gone out of business. The old Nut Tree plaza was wonderful, this one can not compare to it in any way, shape or form.

About the promoter: Required a police check. Never do an event where they require this of you. They ask for your driver's license number, social security number. They make you pay $25 for this. We are not criminals people.

[weesewcute]

Let me add 2 to the list.

The Lodi Street Fair. It is held in Oct and in the spring. The last one was a mess. It poured rain and when the vendors tried to leave they were told that they could not. Also no refund on money due to bad weather. The also stopped looking at the applications. There were a million of the same booths. I know the product I had there were around 10 to 15 other vendors selling tutus and wings and things. They are greedy and will not limit it so the vendors will make money. Also I have had the promoter come to my booth 2 different times trying to get me to sign up. The have low vendors obviously. I have spoken to many vendors who have said they will never come back.

Rio Vista Bass Fest. This is new this year in place of the Crawdad Festival. The are just now soliciting vendors for a shoe that is next month. I told the promoter when she asked me to join I was booked and any good vendors will be at this late date. She basically told me she realized she should have started earlier. I would stay away.

[davejs]

I will definitely agree with you on those two shows. Lodi Street Fair and the Rio Vista Bass Derby.

Lots of vendors at the Street Fair and you can't make very much. A mess. One of my least favorite shows.

The Rio Vista Bass Derby has been around for awhile....or maybe they redid it. We have done it twice and both times it was bad. It can get pretty hot there and downright windy. My wife let our neighbor tie his canopy to our sides and it took off in the wind and took out our front right side, bending the legs, etc. Stay away from this show especially with this economy. They have a carnival and if you don't have stuff for kids, you will do absolutely terrible.

BTW. They eliminated the Crawdad festival, up the river from here. Mostly bickering amongst city agencies and whoever is promoting the thing.

[davejs]

We did this event a couple years ago. Not sure if they are having it this year. The local organizations really worked hard to put this show on and at one time, it was a 'decent' show for vendors. At least for a November show. Two years ago, we were located in a 10x10 space outside along with perhaps 12-15 others. More insidel Really beautiful weather. Several people made $0.00. We caught the fee, but not much more. The people of Orinda DO NOT SUPPORT this event. They all know where it is and when it is, but they prefer to stay away...kids soccer, jogging, etc. Shameful. Last year, I passed by the place and there were just 3-4 booths outside. I guess the vendors found out.

Anyway, if they have the show again this year, STAY AWAY. Especially in this economy.

[davejs]

In past years during November they have had a one-day show over on Fruitvale Avenue. I heard it was cancelled and now I hear that it's on again. Don't know. Don't want to know.

This is over the first weekend of November and it coincides with the religious All Souls Day. Do not ever consider this event. I have done it twice over many years and it is bad. They should call this the "Shoplifters Festival" as so many people are coming over there with the intent of stealing. Many low life's there. When I did it (2003), I had to watch my stuff. One of my friend's did it perhaps 4-5 years ago and he sells jewelry. He had it inside closed wooden/glass cases on his tables. When he glanced the other way, one of the Mexicans grabbee one of his cases and walked off with it. He began to pursue him, but he saw his friends standing closeby, just waiting for the opportunity. He could do nothing as the group of Mexican's just stood there laughing.

Believe me, there are many vendors around that can tell you about this show. They will steal more from you than you can sell......especially nowadays;

[mark]

omg this event de los Muertos is just like Dave says they rob you blind !they get lots of people <to bad there not the kind that buys>i did this event once about 3 or 4 years ago i think the booth fee was $250 for one day.STAY AWAY FROM HERE !YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

[mark]

I have done the Lodi Street Fair for many years sometimes i make a little green other times i don't.they have way to many vendors i think its like 700 and weesewcute you right there just interested in making money and could care less about the vendors, i did there last one in April of this Year it rained all day i only had a few sales during the 20 mins it didn't rain and i lost money there booth fee is to high in my opinon for what you get!they need to reduce the booth fees and less vendors!