Asparagus Festival

[bmermaid]

Well, I did it. I finally applied for the Stockton Asparagus Festival... if I get in, it will be the most expensive show I've ever done. $550, plus $50 for a corner which doesn't seem too bad for 3 days and 85000 ppl. My dad lives there and says it's madness. I usually stay away from shows in this area, but Dad's been bugging me for years. We'll see!

Has anyone done it or attended??

[laptoo]

I hope you do well there and please report back about it. I considered applying there, and have a very good friend who works for the Stockton government. She said it's very crowded but since she isn't a vendor, she looks at it with different eyes than we who sell at these kinds of events. My sales at outdoor fairs were so poor in 2009 and this year that I don't know if I will apply for any for 2011. It can also be very hot in the Stockton at that time of year. Good luck! Laura

[davejs]

I hope you do well, also. Is this strictly for A&C ("hand made")? I have considered doing this show for many years. I've heard good things about it, but this economy is getting worse and getting harder and harder to show a good profit. I am not too keen on paying more than $250-300 for a show nowadays.

This event is held in mid-April (same weekend as Pacific Grove's Good ol'days festival, I think) and I would be scared to plop down more than five Franklins for a show 4-6 months in advance with the strong possibility of rain. Huge crowd there for sure. I read the reviews in Craftmaster's and somebody mentioned that you have to 'haul in.' Hope not. I would love to do this show at least once but not for awhile now. I don't have the $30-50 items to make it worth while. Too hard to $5-8-10-12 my way to a good profit.

[caricatureartist]

I did this fest last year and it was a really good one...one of my best for 2010. I know my product is 100% different from everyone else's here, so take it for what its worth to you, I guess. You will see lots of tattooed and pierced up people, of the 20,30, and early 40's age groups. Seemed like most vendors said they did well, from what I "overheard." One of the only ones I actually talked with was the face painter and she always does gangbusters there. It was in the '90's (hot) in April all 3 days. Very nice. Not sure if I will do it again, as the price went up for me from last year. Also, I was living in Manteca last year, now I am in Monterey County, so I'd have to spend the night which equals more expense. So, probably not.

[bmermaid]

Dave, it is handmade only... which is one of the reasons I want to do it. I have done so few shows in that area, and none that were handmade only. So I have no idea how I'll do. It's hard to imagine that many people and not doing decent sales. Most of my goods are priced in the $25-$40 range. Of course, if the crowd is younger, like Caricature (mark, right?) says, that could hurt. I tend to do better with older folks.

Bah, I figure I have to go for it. At the very least I will certainly cover my costs, and my dad lives like 10 blocks from the show. I can force my little sister into servitude for an indian taco. lol.

[walkersstics]

I think the Asparagus fest is located at Webers Point in Stockton, I did the new "Taste of San Joaquin" festival there (Webers Point) in 2010, it was our first event ever...we were lucky enough to be able to drive right too our space...our sales were just the break even after all expenses.....not sure we would do the "Taste Fest" again....only if I have the day off...it is a one day event, most peeps seem were just there for the food.....I really thought the Food would be awesome...IMHO is was not...you would have thought since it was the west coast BBQ shoot out...one woulda been able to find a hot tri tip sandwich, everything we tried was cold...and I think my cooking BBQ is a heck of a lot better, lol....hey maybe I'll quit carving and start cooking