Wedding Fair - cost/benefit?

[HTG Events]

Shakermaker Gary's Wedding Fair success story got me thinking about these as we've never done one before

Have done a search on the forum and not easily come up with much info about costs - those of you that do Wedding Fairs, what sort of price are you charged and how does it tend to work?
e.g.
Does there tend to be only one DJ/music exhibitor per Fair or more (can imagine this getting a bit like a very discordant duelling banjos!)
Does the exhibiting DJ tend to in fact be the resident for the venue and if so does this affect how much you're charged?
Any idea how what you pay compares to what everybody else pays?
How many/how often do you do them?

As ever, any advice gratefully received:D

Dave

[rob1963]

those of you that do Wedding Fairs, what sort of price are you charged and how does it tend to work?

As far as I know, the going rate for a stand at the decent wedding fayres round here is around £250 - £300.


Does there tend to be only one DJ/music exhibitor per Fair or more

When I did wedding fayres, there were usually two or three discos in attendance.


Does the exhibiting DJ tend to in fact be the resident for the venue

Not in my experience.


Any idea how what you pay compares to what everybody else pays?

As far as I know all exhibitors pay a set price for the same sized pitch, ie usually a 6 foot table.

When I used to help my friend do wedding fayres, he did about 4 a year...a couple around Jan-Feb and a couple around Sep-Oct.

[DJMaxG]

As far as I know, the going rate for a stand at the decent wedding fayres round here is around £250 - £300.

Not bad atall then - One Wedding would pay for the stand :)

[ppentertainments]

Not bad atall then - One Wedding would pay for the stand :)
Or 3 if you lived up North :sofa: :D

In all seriousness though, I think there must be regional price differences. Apart from National Wedding Fayres held around here I have never known anyone to charge more than about £150. Most of the ones I do are sub-£100 and include some very nice venues and are really popular fayres.

I done one last week at a venue I am now a reccomended supplier, cost £95 and gained over £2500 work of bookings.

[wensleydale]

Or 3 if you lived up North :sofa: :D

In all seriousness though, I think there must be regional price differences. Apart from National Wedding Fayres held around here I have never known anyone to charge more than about £150. Most of the ones I do are sub-£100 and include some very nice venues and are really popular fayres.

I done one last week at a venue I am now a reccomended supplier, cost £95 and gained over £2500 work of bookings.

I was talking to one in Surrey the other day (albeit a small one) and they wanted £100 for a 4ft stand.
For what we are doing I dont see that size makes that much difference- as long as they can see what you are offering if they are interested I would imagine people will come and talk to you.

[Dynamic Entertainment]

Does there tend to be only one DJ/music exhibitor per Fair or more (can imagine this getting a bit like a very discordant duelling banjos!)
Depends on the venue. Some prefer just to have one, others want a couple.



Does the exhibiting DJ tend to in fact be the resident for the venue and if so does this affect how much you're charged?

Not always...but be careful their Resident DJ may be there and be in a better position than yourself. I done one a while ago where they had 3 of each service. We were told that we couldnt use our sound system as it would be terribley noisy (fair enough) and the background music would be played through their in-house system. Me and the other DJ got there to set up (i knew him) and found their resident with a full rig...in the best stall....pumping the music out...



Any idea how what you pay compares to what everybody else pays?

You pay the same as everyone else, BUT i have managed to work a discount, and even a freebie, but offering to compere and run the sound and lighting for them and the fashion show.

Theres mixed opinions about compering, some prefer not to, as it takes you away from that face-to-face interaction. It depends on each individual fayre IMO. Ive done them wereive been that busy i wouldnt have had time to compere. My last one was different. It wasnt well attended and i was in a corner and only had about 4 guests down as far as me, so i compered. Got up on the catwalk and gave it what for. Ive since piced up more bookings just from people who heard me...but didnt come down to the stall. ;)
How many/how often do you do them?



As ever, any advice gratefully received:D

They are worth doing as long as they are well advetised (as with anything ;) ). Get as much info as possible before signing up, which other operators are there, whos doing the sound, where (roughly) will you be situated etc etc.

You can get a higher turnaround from face to face discussions than with email/phone IMO. That last one of mine has resulted in 4 different clients spending over £400 each...one of them i had spoken to on the phone first and they were originally just wanting the cheapest disco so it does work.

I work on the idea that the fayre has been a sucess as long as my income from it is more than the cost of the fayre + my time there that day ;)

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I'm doing another one on 25th October at a very nice venue in my area. My wife usually does this one and it costs her £50.00 as she knows the person that runs it really well. After the success of last weeks, my wife asked me if I wanted to do this one and I said I would only do it if I was the only DJ there. As I understand it (I've played at the venue about 10 times in the past), they don't have their own resident DJ so I was under the impression that there would be other DJ's present but the person running it has told my wife that I will be the only DJ there - Result!

What's even better is that I get 8ft worth of space and next to my wife and it's costing us £25.00 each.

[Spirits High]

I'm just about to do 2 on the bounce on the next couple of sundays.

This sunday at Makeney Hall they're organising it themselves, they have a maximum of 3 suppliers of the same type although I'm pretty sure there's only 2 Dj's this weekend, costwise it's £105 for a 6ft pitch.

Next sunday is the Millenium Galleries in Sheffield run by a specialist Wedding media company. I have an exclusive Dj pitch as they muffed up the last one I did for them double booking me and another for the fashion show so owe me a favour ;) This ones more expensive at £190.

Got one more in October on the 31st at Shottle Hall where they are having a Wedding Open day again I'll be the only Dj there and as they invited me so it's not costing anything :D The dancefloor will be making it's debut (if not booked sooner;) ) aswell so hopefully a good day there.

I find personally they are worth it, get yourself some flyers, some decent cards and a slideshow type affair and go for it ;)

[Shakermaker Promotions]

That's exactly what I did last week mate and I have just designed some newer brochures on Vista Print and ordered them.

[Corabar Steve]

Not bad atall then - One Wedding would pay for the stand :)
I can't even begin to tell you how inaccurate that statement is.

You have a lot to learn young Max.