OR & WA Shows for Sept 19-20

[abaworld]

Bay Area Fun Festival -- Coos Bay, Oregon

Right in downtown Coos Bay - same area as the Blackberry Arts Festival on Aug 22.

Hope the winds are a little quieter, this time.

[abaworld]

Fun Festival started off with a fizzle. Rain.

Along with the early rain - it stopped around noon time - the Prefontaine Memorial Run at 10am and the Prefontaine Run Award ceremony at 12pm kept the crowds very thin, in the morning.

There was also a parade at 1pm, which had less affect on the crowds, but the vendor day didn't officially start rolling until 1:30pm - 2pm.

The rest of the day was excellent. Weather and sales.

The winds weren't bad on Saturday, however, Sunday was a different story. Not nearly as bad as the Blackberry Arts Festival, but definitely some tent rattling going on, with a few crashes heard around the area.

I saw one dual tent flip during tear down - nice dent in the side of a new dually pickup by one of the milk jug weights...

This event provided an option for quit time on Saturday. The official close for the vendor area was 6pm, which was the start of the “Cruz the Coos” car cruise though the downtown area.

We were allowed to stay open until 8pm (the conclusion of the Cruz), but there would be no vehicle access to the booths during the 2-hour Cruz.

I had talked with a couple of vendors and my wife had talked to others and the consensus was that it was definitely not worth it to remain open after 6pm. Everyone disappears to watch the classic vehicles rev and blow horns for two hours.

I'm not one to follow public opinion, so I decided to remain open, making my wife an unhappy camper... I looked down the vendor row at 6pm and it appeared that about 90% of the booths were closed. Can't be that many passing up a chance at making a few bucks, so I figured I would be lonely for the rest of the evening.

My wife brought me a plate of food (Chinese - pretty good) a few minutes after 6pm. I didn't get to finish it until after 8pm!

Public opinion was very wrong. I had customers in my booth for the entire 2 hours. Easily paid for the space and electricity fees during that time - with interest.

A vendor from a couple of blocks away, who had also remained open, stopped by on Sunday morning to comment on the crowd that he saw at my booth around 7:45pm, when he decided end the day because of darkness.

Couldn't see - but I was still selling. Lamppost behind the tent helped a little bit...

Sunday, overall, was much slower than the typical events in this area. Kind of surprised me. Ended up being an "OK" day.

A young lady was looking at my stuff and I asked her what she was eating. It was a breakfast burrito and she worked at the booth.

It was BIG and only $4, plus she said she would bring it to me. I'm easy - SOLD! It was very good. Lots of potatoes with eggs, bits of bacon (and maybe ham...) No mild hot sauce. I'm English - plain is good...

Promoters (Chamber of Commerce) also provided doughnuts and soda for the vendors.

Ah yes - promoters. I have to say that Friday setup was poorly handled. Typically, they arrive and start handing out vendor spaces at about 5pm on Friday. At least, that's what I was told.

We arrived at 4:30pm - a few already lined up waiting. Assignments didn't start until 6:20pm! Not a lot of sun left - and we were in the front of the line. There were a few still left in line when the sun was disappearing...

I thought my turn would be quick and painless, however, they apparently forgot to place me in a space. The gal said that she remembered my biz name but couldn't find it.

We were also told that the delay was a result of a coffee spill that required rewriting all of the layout and assignment pages - and missing me on the rewrite.

I mentioned that to another vendor and was told that every year there is an excuse for the disorganization on Friday evening.

I was between sunglasses and an artist who did a lot of dragon type art. Across from a water color artist, pottery and kitchen/bedroom cloth handmades.

The booth next to the water color booth, described as pricey by another vendor, didn't show up on Sunday. I'm not sure what they were selling.

From what I could see, only the sunglasses did well. The water color artist said they sold a little bit and qualified that by saying that shows weren't their primary income, so they were happy with the results.

For me, "how much" "$7" "Oh, I only have $5" and start walking "I'll make you one for $5" Sold! Another happy customer! at the end of the day on Sunday.

It was a good event. Good sales. Definitely return next year.

[davejs]

Hi Pete. Nice to hear that you did okay. I couldn't deal with the rain thing as often as you have to. Our weather is more consistent in Kalifornia during the summer, however, we have had distinct variations from the norm for much of the summer.

Could the Sox and Yankees be heading for a showdown this coming weekend. Sox are defintely rolling right now and Dice-K looks good. Just checked the rotation and it looks like you guys will miss Beckett and Bucholz.

At your show, I would have been one of those that closed up 'early.' My luck with customers dropping by my booth 'after hours' has not been very good over the years and we have this policy that 'when it's time to go, it's time to go!!' We don't mess around. There are a number of provens for us. We never do good on Fridays. We do not do good on grass; street fairs with large crowds are fine for us, since we have many items selling in the $10-12 range. We usually do not do good at night. I really don't think that has changed much over the years and probably even more so nowadays with the economy like this. We enjoy doing our shows and making money (what the hell is that?) but when it's closing time...GONE. I never wanted to work overtime when I was employed by the Postal Service and that still holds true in my 'retirement.' Unless there are huge, enormous flocks of people around waving hundred dollar bills all over the place. Go Sox.

[abaworld]

The rainy season doesn't start until the middle/end of October on the coast. It's actually pretty consistent - pleasant with winds - throughout the summer.

Gotta get the rowboat out for the winter, though. If it doesn't rain every day in Nov and Dec -- you certainly think it did!

Temp hit 93 in Coos Bay, yesterday! Thought I was back in Vegas...

You have years of experience with what works and what doesn't. I have to make my decisions based on - I need money! I need contacts! and I need money!

And I hate overtime as much as you do, but it was a no-brainer decision for me. I didn't seriously even consider not staying open after 6pm.

It will be the same deal, Saturday, in Myrtle Point -- Car Cruise starts at 5pm and I have already told them that I will remain open until 7pm.

Should be a good weekend with the Yankees and Sox.

Sabathia has been very strong the last two months, going 8-0 with two no-decisions (allowing a total of 3 runs in 14 innings in those two games).

Pettitte had two wins against the Sox last month - hope he keeps it up...

Joba? Well let's hear it for the bullpen and a decision to pull him quick enough if he starts giving up hits...

[susien]

I usually take my time closing, that way I have a chance at those last minute shoppers, but if the show is bad I am a really fast packer. When we are out of town at a show I figure why hurry to get back to the trailer....

Susie

[abaworld]

Yes, Paula, I've already noticed, in my limited experience, that my best sales seem to occur at the end of the day.

When I looked down the row of booths at 6pm and saw so many already closed, I figured that I would either be enjoying 2 hours of internet surfing or thoroughly enjoying the lack of competition in the vendor area... ;D

And too busy with customers to pack up --- Now, that is what I call terrible dilemma...

Susie, I understand that slow packing routine --- I kind of neglect touching my computer, leaving it connected --- just in case...

Of course, as I'm dawdling, my wife is whipping through the booth grabbing everything that isn't too heavy for her.

She is inclined to count down the minutes to the zero hour, while I'm peaking out of the booth to see how many may still be milling around.

[abaworld]

Super story, Paula!

Lots of lessons in one day - down right scary...

And then to find out, part polar bear and almost making puddles...

Thank you...