G
Guest
I did a county fair in August where the estimated crowd was 250,000, but they stuck me and a lot of other first-time vendors to the fair in a basement of a remote building with very low foot traffic. Over three days, I made nothing. It became clear that having my booth staffed for the long hours they required - 10 am to 11 p.m., I would spend more than I was making. So I, and the other vendors in my area, packed up and left after three days.
I lost a whopping $1,200. My $460 booth fee, the $300 or so dollars I spent on materials for inventory, and $140 for someone to watch my son while I was working and $100 for the extra person to help staff my booth.
So be very careful about high crowd estimates. The economy sucks and people may come but they may not buy much...or at all.
I did a small Strawberry festival two months earlier with no crowd estimates, on a 110-degree day. We were inside, in the air conditioning and we pretty much sold out.
I lost a whopping $1,200. My $460 booth fee, the $300 or so dollars I spent on materials for inventory, and $140 for someone to watch my son while I was working and $100 for the extra person to help staff my booth.
So be very careful about high crowd estimates. The economy sucks and people may come but they may not buy much...or at all.
I did a small Strawberry festival two months earlier with no crowd estimates, on a 110-degree day. We were inside, in the air conditioning and we pretty much sold out.