I see it every day. One pop-up event after another. Vendors saying they will just put on their own events. By all means…do it, but please do it right!!
Being an event promoter comes with many challenges. People do not understand what it takes to put on events. What it takes in regards to cost, licensing, advertising, taxes, planning, zoning, etc. What it takes to deal with vendors and guests. What it takes to make sure that vendors understand what they need in regards to permits, etc.. the day-in and day-out duties, the time it takes to answer calls, texts, emails, and messages that come in at any time of the day or night. Working on the layout, placing vendors, and placing tables and chairs on the layout, can take from hours to literally days. Well for us! Because we do most events with 60-130 vendors. And I try super hard to make sure no similar items are placed near each other. And even after working on it for days, I do make mistakes. In the end, I am human. And some things that happen behind the scenes could be easier if some would be willing to work together…let’s just leave it at that for now. So, you can see there is a lot to it than just placing some tents in a parking lot (I did that one time as well. Oh my, just to deal with zoning… yikes).
Many think that you just take the vendor fee times the number of vendors and that’s what we make! WRONG!! Not even close.
We have to pay:
Rent to the venue, fire marshal fees, city permits for us and each vendor, EFT fees, business licenses, food coordinator permit, advertising (on any media you can think of), business cards, flyers, banners, someone to put up the banners, tools, sign spinners, event staff, and and and. Oh and not to forget insurance!! Their fees are outrageous and don’t even cover certain things.
At some venues, we have to tape up the room in the middle of the night or early morning. Not an easy task.
If the event is at a big venue such as WMCLV, we also have to pay for decorator (pipes/drapes), cleaning, security, EMT, staff, power, forklifts, load-in and load-out days, and everything else you see in there. They call that 4-walling.
Then you have the vendor portal upkeep, credit card fees, assistant fees, and and and. As a matter of fact, my helpers make more money than I do.
But in the end, it makes me happy when we have a crowd come through our shows. When vendors get sales, give out cards, get custom orders, and make good connections. When vendors feel that we at LV Craft Shows®️ did everything we could to give them exposure. In the end, we will bring the people and the rest is up to them, BUT if they do not do well, I still feel like I failed them. Though it’s out of our or my control what people are looking for that day. At all of our events, we have some who do super well, some who do well, and very few who don’t. But usually, there is a reason why they do how they do.
At any rate, I love owning my business, though with all the jobs I did in the past, this one is the most challenging job ever and most time-consuming. Maybe someday I can find another me who can help me take off some of my duties.
Tips for Vendors Seeking Vendor Events
If you are a vendor seeking out events, be sure to do your research:
1. Visit the event between opening and 1 pm and see how well the attendance is. Events tend to slow down in the afternoon.
2. Talk to vendors, and get feedback. How do they like it? Do they feel the promoter did all they could?
3. Check if they are licensed. It’s public information. Ask them even if you can’t find it.
4. Are they handing out tax forms?
5. How and where do they advertise?
6. Is the vendor fee low and kind of too good to be true? If it is low, that’s great. But it does not allow for advertising. Or it could be a scam. Verify!!
7. Does the promoter have a website/FB page?
8. Is the promoter taking applications online or via a legitimate contract? Or are they saying DM me and then ask you to send money via Zelle? Never do the latter unless it’s fully verified.
9. How long have they been around?
10. How is their communication on their social media? Professional? Petty sounding? Competitive sounding?
Just a few things to look out for.
Hope you’re coming to check us out when you can.
Find out more at LVCraftShows.com
Susi Engl
Owner of LV Craft Shows LLC
Susi is also the co-founder of Sir’s Rescue Rangers a non-profit animal rescue group.
- Putting on vendor events – it’s easy! – Not so fast! - September 18, 2022
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