Events, Discussions and Reviews - Sep 4-6

[davejs]

Good ol' Labor Day Weekend. What shows are you people doing?

[davejs]

Right now, with less than a month to go before the holiday weekend that signals the end of summer, something of which we have not had this year in this part of California. Much cooler than usual.

I am trying to decide between two shows which neither are any spectacular. I am leaning toward the Cayucos Peddler's Fair down on the Central Coast, north of Morro Bay. Booth fees are only $90 for three days and the spaces are 22 feet wide. Might be telling you something there which is not very good. I haven't heard any good reports about the event. Still considering Casa de Fruta (Knapper) but I haven't done well there in year's.

You know, a few weeks back I was talking to another vendor about the shows and told her that I planned on doing an event that wasn't very good. She replied by commenting "if it's so bad, then why do you do it?" You know, there are just a few of us out there in the pits that are not strugging and you have to take what you can get. I would much rather do a crappy event rather than staying at home for the weeking. If I were still working with a job during the week, sure thing I would stay home. At least you make something at the event, albeit a tiny profit sometimes. But at least I am out there trying.

Gosh, I would love to do the Rib Cook Off up in Sparks, but I just can't get away for 6 nights in a motel. I've heard that people have done fantastic there and the crowds are huge, except for periods during the weekday afternoons. Millbrae might be okay but that $400 booth fee is high and I was turned down a number of year's ago because I am considered 'commercial.' Some people have told me that it's a decent show.

[caricatureartist]

I'll be doing the Rib Cook-Off again. It was my number 1 best event for last year. Hope its the same again this year. Every day of the week I did really well there. They get large crowds during the weekdays, too, and I'm not surprised if the other vendors do well, too. Wish you could go up there, Dave. But I know your situation and its hard on you guys. If you could go, you guys would have a really good time up there. Its the best event around.

[bmermaid]

I was going to try the rib cookoff too until my little brother moved out of reno. The nerve.

I'm doing my usual Blues by the Bay here in Eureka. It's literally down the street from my house, super easy setup, etc. It's a bit spendy for a music fest (crafts only the past few years) but they do give you passes for 4 'helpers', so I invite all my friends and we really party. Can't wait for this one!

[rmanuel]

Aug 12, 2010 8:02:32 GMT -5 davejs said:

Right now, with less than a month to go before the holiday weekend that signals the end of summer, something of which we have not had this year in this part of California. Much cooler than usual.

I am trying to decide between two shows which neither are any spectacular. I am leaning toward the Cayucos Peddler's Fair down on the Central Coast, north of Morro Bay. Booth fees are only $90 for three days and the spaces are 22 feet wide. Might be telling you something there which is not very good. I haven't heard any good reports about the event. Still considering Casa de Fruta (Knapper) but I haven't done well there in year's.


You know, a few weeks back I was talking to another vendor about the shows and told her that I planned on doing an event that wasn't very good. She replied by commenting "if it's so bad, then why do you do it?" You know, there are just a few of us out there in the pits that are not strugging and you have to take what you can get. I would much rather do a crappy event rather than staying at home for the weeking. If I were still working with a job during the week, sure thing I would stay home. At least you make something at the event, albeit a tiny profit sometimes. But at least I am out there trying.

Gosh, I would love to do the Rib Cook Off up in Sparks, but I just can't get away for 6 nights in a motel. I've heard that people have done fantastic there and the crowds are huge, except for periods during the weekday afternoons. Millbrae might be okay but that $400 booth fee is high and I was turned down a number of year's ago because I am considered 'commercial.' Some people have told me that it's a decent show.

Hi Dave,

I am also trying to decide if this event would be worth it. I live about 30 minutes away.

Have you thought about doing Los Alamos Old Days? Just thought I would throw another Central Coast event idea your way since I live here. The festival is two days and includes a parade and is located in an old west town.

[davejs]

Hi Dave,

I am also trying to decide if this event would be worth it. I live about 30 minutes away.

Have you thought about doing Los Alamos Old Days? Just thought I would throw another Central Coast event idea your way since I live here. The festival is two days and includes a parade and is located in an old west town.[/quote]

Hi Manuel. Welcome to our forum. Isn't Los Alamos down near LA?

Regarding Grover Beach. What you are doing is completely different than selling merchandise. I can bet that the Stoned Soup Festival will be at least 30-40 percent worse for the vendors. There is a good number of kids at this event. Since you are local, your expenses are kept to a minimum. I can't recall what the booth fee is. Do you require a full 10x10 space? If you have a smaller setup, maybe you can negotiate with them. Regardless, time is running out so you need to get in your app quickly. I think that you will make out okay.

I am not going to do Cayucos but will do Casa de Fruta. Not a good show, but my total expenses are one-half and it's a commute back and forth. This is a Peddler's Market and pretty much anything goes. I really can't see a lot of kids going there because I can picture a bunch of 'antiques' or moreso, junk being sold there. Don't take my word on it though. It's cheap. If you don't have anything else to do, then try it. Best of luck and be sure to let us know how you do.

[rmanuel]

Aug 22, 2010 9:18:46 GMT -5 davejs said:

Hi Dave,

I am also trying to decide if this event would be worth it. I live about 30 minutes away.

Have you thought about doing Los Alamos Old Days? Just thought I would throw another Central Coast event idea your way since I live here. The festival is two days and includes a parade and is located in an old west town.

Hi Manuel. Welcome to our forum. Isn't Los Alamos down near LA?

Regarding Grover Beach. What you are doing is completely different than selling merchandise. I can bet that the Stoned Soup Festival will be at least 30-40 percent worse for the vendors. There is a good number of kids at this event. Since you are local, your expenses are kept to a minimum. I can't recall what the booth fee is. Do you require a full 10x10 space? If you have a smaller setup, maybe you can negotiate with them. Regardless, time is running out so you need to get in your app quickly. I think that you will make out okay.

I am not going to do Cayucos but will do Casa de Fruta. Not a good show, but my total expenses are one-half and it's a commute back and forth. This is a Peddler's Market and pretty much anything goes. I really can't see a lot of kids going there because I can picture a bunch of 'antiques' or moreso, junk being sold there. Don't take my word on it though. It's cheap. If you don't have anything else to do, then try it. Best of luck and be sure to let us know how you do.[/quote]

Thanks Dave. It's actually Los Alamos not Los Alamitos. This is a very small old western town between Santa Maria and Santa Barbara. This event usually attracts many tourists from around the Central Coast. The peddler's mart they offer is right on the main street and there are a lot of antique and merchandise vendors.

Here's a link to the event... you should check it out:

www.losalamosvalley.org/events.html

[davejs]

Thanks Dave. It's actually Los Alamos not Los Alamitos. This is a very small old western town between Santa Maria and Santa Barbara. This event usually attracts many tourists from around the Central Coast. The peddler's mart they offer is right on the main street and there are a lot of antique and merchandise vendors.

Here's a link to the event... you should check it out:

www.losalamosvalley.org/events.html[/quote]

Okay. I found it, located south of Nipomo. I do not have a show for that weekend, so I might give it a shot. I can drive down there on Friday. Booth fee is reasonable. $120 for two days.

Speaking of Nipomo. They have a one-day show there during the fall. Have you ever done it. Don't know if it's worth it for me to go down there for one day. I've done Los Osos Octorfest, but this is when the gas was cheaper and the economy was much better. However, that show is packed with dogs and seems like just a social gathering.

The Strawberry Festival (AG) was one of my favorite events but had to give it up because it was expensive and our sales were decreasing our final 3 years there. Most of all, I was up there on the Main Street (space#35-just before that big parking lot; in front of a realtor on the right hand side heading into town) and had to tear down on Saturday night. Good show. Lots of people.

If you do it, try to get up on the main street. I'm sure that you know a lot about the show already. The booths were in quads but man oh man, what a mess getting in there at night to load up. Narrow in some spots. I would always be parked on that street at 6:00am to set up. Around 7-8:00am it gets crazy. Down by the bridge and beyond is somewhat okay, but you get more foot traffic up above. As you progress past the bridge and away from the food booths, I think that your foot traffic decreases.

[rmanuel]

Aug 22, 2010 23:28:41 GMT -5 davejs said:

Thanks Dave. It's actually Los Alamos not Los Alamitos. This is a very small old western town between Santa Maria and Santa Barbara. This event usually attracts many tourists from around the Central Coast. The peddler's mart they offer is right on the main street and there are a lot of antique and merchandise vendors.

Here's a link to the event... you should check it out:

www.losalamosvalley.org/events.html

Okay. I found it, located south of Nipomo. I do not have a show for that weekend, so I might give it a shot. I can drive down there on Friday. Booth fee is reasonable. $120 for two days.

Speaking of Nipomo. They have a one-day show there during the fall. Have you ever done it. Don't know if it's worth it for me to go down there for one day. I've done Los Osos Octorfest, but this is when the gas was cheaper and the economy was much better. However, that show is packed with dogs and seems like just a social gathering.

The Strawberry Festival (AG) was one of my favorite events but had to give it up because it was expensive and our sales were decreasing our final 3 years there. Most of all, I was up there on the Main Street (space#35-just before that big parking lot; in front of a realtor on the right hand side heading into town) and had to tear down on Saturday night. Good show. Lots of people.

If you do it, try to get up on the main street. I'm sure that you know a lot about the show already. The booths were in quads but man oh man, what a mess getting in there at night to load up. Narrow in some spots. I would always be parked on that street at 6:00am to set up. Around 7-8:00am it gets crazy. Down by the bridge and beyond is somewhat okay, but you get more foot traffic up above. As you progress past the bridge and away from the food booths, I think that your foot traffic decreases.[/quote]

I think you might be talking about the Octoberfest in Nipomo. Yes we are signed up as I have heard many good things about this event. Here is the link: www.nipomochamber.org

As for Los Alamos Old Days, I am stuck between 2 events. There is also the Arroyo Grande Harvest Festival going on the Friday and Saturday and the Old Days is that Saturday and Sunday. I'm thinking I might have better luck with my Temp TATS at the Harvest Festival since it is Arroyo Grande. They have a good reputation for special events. I'm still thinking you would fare good at the Old Days festival because you offer what people go there to buy.

Here's the link for the Arroyo Grand Harvest Festival:
www.agharvestfestival.com

[traveler]

I'll be at the South Dakota State Fair. Don't know how good it will be. The Minnesota Fair is running still and that one is as good as Texas is. (So I'm told) so anyone who's anyone will be in MN. At least it's a STATE fair and not another county run one. Then starts my trek southward towards HOME!

[davejs]

Did the Labor Day Edition of Mike Knapp's Craft Shows at Casa de Fruta. Very nice location but we are only interested in the botton line, which is making money and that just does not happen here. The disappearance of vendors (10 less than last year) pretty much speaks for itself.

I did somewhat okay considering the number of people that came there. Many vendors did not and we all spent hours just sitting there with some of us dozing off including moi. Weather was beautiful. We had a number of buses stop there for their trip to the bathrooms and I derived some sales from them.

You can read my review of the event:

www.starvingvendors.com/events_Casa_de_Fruta_Sep__2010.html

[mark]

:'(Just finished Casa De Fruta.....i did very poorly here .....i was surrounded by $3 jewelry....i can not compete with that.....lots of vendors selling jewelry El Cheapo stuff.Anyone selling any nice crafts didn't do well here ...if you were selling cheap crap mostlikey you did ok.

[traveler]

:)HI everyone. I just got back from the South Dakota State Fair. I would have to say that it was SUCCESSFUL!!! My space was THE best in the building and my neighbors were superb!!! The weather was good for 4 of the 5 days, and let us have it on Monday, the last day of the show, but the urgency to get that item on the last day outweighed the urge to go home and watch the rain from the house. I heard that this is one of the biggest events in the state that everyone looks forward to. 1250+ camp sites on the show grounds and 90% of the people have stayed at the fair for EVERY YEAR SINCE BIRTH as ...the... THE... ~~T.H.E.~~ thing to do for the year. People still were quite frugal, but looked towards Christmas shopping. They did buy trinkets and little items but they were pulling money out. I had NUMEROUS large bills brought in to this venue. I will DEFINITELY try to do this show again next year.... Well.... Unless I am picked for Minnesota which overlaps. (Fat chance!! 5+ year wait on that one!)

[caricatureartist]

Once again, the Nugget Rib Cook-Off in Reno, NV is absolutely positively the best event of the year out here in the west! I could tell on the very first day that the attendance looked like it was going to surpass the previous year. Eventually I heard by late Saturday that the attendance was up 10%. Thankfully, my sales showed it and I even did a little better than last year. You guys should seriously think about selling there. The weather was nice and hot all six days, and the days are long but if you want to party a little afterwards you always can! In a way its sad because this event puts all the others in California to shame!

[davejs]

Sept 7, 2010 22:23:02 GMT -5 caricatureartist said:

Once again, the Nugget Rib Cook-Off in Reno, NV is absolutely positively the best event of the year out here in the west! I could tell on the very first day that the attendance looked like it was going to surpass the previous year. Eventually I heard by late Saturday that the attendance was up 10%. Thankfully, my sales showed it and I even did a little better than last year. You guys should seriously think about selling there. The weather was nice and hot all six days, and the days are long but if you want to party a little afterwards you always can! In a way its sad because this event puts all the others in California to shame!

As I sat in my booth at Casa de Fruta dozing off, I kept on thinking about the Rib Cook off. How I wished I could have done it. Glad to hear that you did well, Nito.