Are trade shows worth it?

[Justin.Morris]

Hey all,

I know most of you won't have any experience with this, but perhaps the T11 artists and other professionals will know: Are trade show's worth it?

I was offered a booth at an upcoming trade show (a wedding expo), and it's quite pricey to buy a booth. Does something like that bring in enough business to make it worth it? (it would have to get me 4+ shows to financially justify it)

What do you think?

justin

 

[Deechristopher]

When I first read the title I was like "YEAH MAN!! Trade shows pull in the pennies!" but I was talking about performing for someone at a trade show on their stand!

As for wedding expo, I imagine it'd be quite a good thing to do, I don't do it personally, but you're basically shoving yourself in the faces of people potentially looking to book you, it's handy to stumble across a good entertainer rather than having to seek one out!

D.

 

[RickEverhart]

I guess I'd have to really think about how much the booth was running me and whether or not I could definitely make a profit. If only getting 4 gigs out of it was just going to allow you to break even....then...I don't know. To me it wouldn't seem worth it.

Dee is correct though.....that you are definitely putting yourself right there for people to potentially book you and they don't have to go through all the hassle of looking up entertainment on the web or making phone calls, etc. That is one major benefit.

Let us know how it goes if you do decide to follow though with it.

 

[Randy]

Well if you can't afford it then don't do it. But from what I have read on the subject a lot of trade show guys make bank. You do HAVE to remember tho that often times you aren't advertising yourself, you're advertising a product that the company or people want you to show off. So you have to work your show around marketing that item.

As well as the fact that this is a GREAT way to get potential clients that will pretty much be high paying gigs in the long run.

But it's really up to you. If you have the material and feel like you are ready for it, then go for it. Otherwise you can turn it down and most likely some where else down the line another gig like this will most likely turn up.

 

[Justin.Morris]

Ya, that's the thing. I'm promoting myself, not someones product. I have the right material, but are enough people coming to Bridal Fantasy, going to book me for their weddings?

 

[TeeDee]

It depends how good you are as a salesman really. It'll be very easy to get a lot of people to take your card and say that they'll call you to arrange a booking, but that's pretty much a waste of good business cards. The key thing is to create some urgency by saying that if they book there and then you'll give them 50% off your normal fee or something like that.

 

[cm763]

It depends how good you are as a salesman really. It'll be very easy to get a lot of people to take your card and say that they'll call you to arrange a booking, but that's pretty much a waste of good business cards. The key thing is to create some urgency by saying that if they book there and then you'll give them 50% off your normal fee or something like that.

I think this would be key. Give them a reason to book you then and there. Whether they get a special tradeshow discount, a special price (not in the form of a "discount", per se, but rather just a special reduced price), get extra time (book a 45 minute show right now, and get half an hour of walk-around FREE), etc.

If you go with it, good luck, and please do report back how it goes!

 

[Wonder]

Trade Shows

Yes thay are worth it, but you have to be good & you could get booked by alot of people afterwards thats where you'll make most of your money in the long run.