Wedding Fairs?

[Ricesnaps]

Just had the chance to exibit at a local fair at short notice. Never done a fair before, so a couple of bits of help if that's ok?

1. Is is worth doing one this year - I only have 5 saturday dates left during the "season" this year, or will most couples be looking for next year?

2. What's the best thing to use to advertise - I was thinking a single T-bar, couple of scans and my sound set up?

3. Are fliers a must? or is it just about talking?

4. What are the best "perks" to help sell (or none at all?) - should I offer somethi ng? like a free bottle of bubbly with a booking on the day. Or is it money off - 2006 price for 2007 if booked today? 10% off? or what?

Many thanks guys

[CRAZY K]

Not done any personally but from other posts and sites it seems you need to be careful about things like the following ( not related to your questions but important )

how is it advertised?

are there other Discos there?

if so whats the position of your "pitch"

how much are you paying?

whats the potential turnover of people visiting?

is it a good day---i.e. not clashing with World Cup or other events?
Last night my event had a lower turn out than normal due to Bank Holiday.

That decides if its worth considering--or maybe you have done the research?

Im sure the other guys/gals on here will have plenty of help--having read a lot of these posts around the majority seem negative--however one or two seem to be positive--whether this is due to competitive pricing I dont know.

Best of luck anyway,

CRAZY K

[dj_ags]

Last night my event had a lower turn out than normal due to Bank Holiday.

Not forgetting Soccer Aid, the celebrity football match played to raise money for UNICEF, that was on last night.

I was out last night so didn't get the chance to watch it but watching the repeat on ITV2 now if anyone else missed it last night.

[LastMinuteDJs.net]

Not done one before but doing one in September so also keen to find out what other people think?

Are you paying for a pitch at the fair? I know the cost of pitches at one of these things can be quite a bit.

We aren't paying for ours. We have been asked to provide the PA, provide background music throughout the day as well as music for the fashion shows that are taking place. They normally use another company I deal with - Woosh Entertainments - but they aren't doing so much on the Mobile Disco scene anymore so couldn't help this year. Think they did it as a favour before for a bottle of whisky or whatever.

Woosh passed on our details and we got the call. They said they could offer us a nominal fee - or provide us with a free pitch and advertising board which costs other exhibitors £200 or so. I know the people involved in the organisation so took the latter option. Doing it as a favour if you like, and any free advertising is a bonus.

[Corabar Steve]

Just had the chance to exibit at a local fair at short notice. Never done a fair before, so a couple of bits of help if that's ok?

1. Is is worth doing one this year - I only have 5 saturday dates left during the "season" this year, or will most couples be looking for next year?
You'll find that most of the people attending at this time of year will be booking their wedding for next year


2. What's the best thing to use to advertise - I was thinking a single T-bar, couple of scans and my sound set up?
That would be fine as long as you're not doing anything else like sound & lights for the fashion show (if there is one). If you take a basic set up, make sure you have plenty of photos or a laptop running video clips of your full rig / you in action. Any customer feedback / thank you cards you have are also good to have to hand (making sure you obscure their contact details if any are visible), maybe in a folder.


3. Are fliers a must? or is it just about talking?
Yep, take plenty of flyers, brocures & business cards. If you're busy talking to a prospective client there may be others interested in your service that don't want to hang around (til after you've finished with the one your dealing with) to talk to you, having info / contact details readily available will help "snare" these.


4. What are the best "perks" to help sell (or none at all?) - should I offer somethi ng? like a free bottle of bubbly with a booking on the day. Or is it money off - 2006 price for 2007 if booked today? 10% off? or what?The "discount" would be the way to go, giving away freebies smacks a bit of desperation.


Don't for get your diary, & maybe some samples of your paperwork.

Angela could probably give you more advice as she organises things when we do them, I just play the music.

[Corabar Entertainment]

We've done quite a lot and yes, some have been VERY lucrative, some not so, but I would say it is worth doing them on the whole, providing you are getting a very good deal (We have never yet paid to exhibit at a Wedding Fair, so the only 'risk' we are taking is our time). Crazy K has made some good points, but it can come down to whether it's nice weather or not: if the weather is miserable a lot of people decide to stay at home on a Sunday, at those that do come can have their moods matching the weather - miserable! You are unlikely to get much interest then!

I have to say, it is unusual to have Wedding Fairs in June - they usually stop during the summer months and start up again for the Autumn. Is it an established Wedding Fair? Is it run by an experienced company?
1. Is is worth doing one this year - I only have 5 saturday dates left during the "season" this year, or will most couples be looking for next year? Most will definitely be for next year - even in January of this year, it was about 50/50 for late this year or next year.
2. What's the best thing to use to advertise - I was thinking a single T-bar, couple of scans and my sound set up?Depends on what sort of room you have for your 'pitch', but remember you will also need room for your literature, any photos, references, etc (whatever you can manage!)
3. Are fliers a must? or is it just about talking?I would say that some literature is a MUST. Yes, people will want to talk to you, but not everyone wants to - they are just there to browse, pick up ideas, leaflets, cards, etc. If they like what they see they will call you - maybe months later. Another thing that some exhibitors do is put leaflets on the chairs for the fashion show (if there is one).


4. What are the best "perks" to help sell (or none at all?) - should I offer somethi ng? like a free bottle of bubbly with a booking on the day. Or is it money off - 2006 price for 2007 if booked today? 10% off? or what?Some offer discounts, prizes etc, some don't. At the end of the day, I personally don't think that a bottle of bubbly will make them book you if they weren't going to already! The other thing I would say is don't pressurize people into signing up on the spot, or you could lose them altogether. If you can get them 'pencilled in' and send paperwork to them after the show, you will find that 9 oout of 10 will probably come back to you with a confirmed booking.

Hope this helps a little!

[Ricesnaps]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I have now found out that there is going to be one other disco present. They are charging £125 for a 6ft pitch and I am told that they have sent personal invites to 200 "girls". Haven't asked where else they are advertising - will try that next.

Any other comments or thoughts would be apreciated - it's next Sunday, anyone know if there's anything major happening?

Just trying to get an idea if you guys thinks it'll be worth my while!

[Corabar Steve]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I have now found out that there is going to be one other disco present. They are charging £125 for a 6ft pitch and I am told that they have sent personal invites to 200 "girls". Haven't asked where else they are advertising - will try that next.

Any other comments or thoughts would be apreciated - it's next Sunday, anyone know if there's anything major happening?

Just trying to get an idea if you guys thinks it'll be worth my while!
Probably worth your while, I don't know if It's the same nationwide, but you wouldn't get a pitch that cheap i the area we cover. Even if you only get 2 jobs out of it that's recouped your outlay.

We've got bookings at wedding fayres that have had other discos exhibiting, you just have to raise your game a bit, nothing wrong with a bit of healthy competition.

[Corabar Entertainment]

A couple of things that have occurred to me:-

1. You say that you have been given the opportunity to exhibit: pitches are available to anyone who pays. If they have contacted you direct at this late stage to try and sell you a pitch, are they having trouble filling the pitches???? If it is not well attended by exhibitors, you have to ask yourself why.

2. 200 invites is not that many, as most will not attend. Most of the fairs that we have done have had 2-300 brides through the door.

3. Are you and the other DJ in separate rooms? If not, you will be 'fighting' each other music-wise.

4. Is there a fashion show and is the other DJ doing the music and commentary? If that is the case, they will have a much higher profile than you. I have to say that we have done wedding fairs where we are in the main room doing the main background music for the fair, plus the fashion show and another DJ is set up outside the main room in the corridor (along with other exhibitors) and they have packed up and gone home half-way through the day because it was "a waste of time". However, we have done others where the other DJ had done fine - it's all down to placement, so make sure you get as much information as possible.

[Corabar Steve]

1. You say that you have been given the opportunity to exhibit: pitches are available to anyone who pays. If they have contacted you direct at this late stage to try and sell you a pitch, are they having trouble filling the pitches???? If it is not well attended by exhibitors, you have to ask yourself why.
This could explain the low price of the pitch

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

If there is another disco present, I wouldn't bother.

I've done quite a few wedding fayres over the years, but only if we were the only entertainment company there.

[ian8limelight]

Some very good points have already been raised here.

I do two wedding fayres a year and find it useful to speak to whoever is doing the Bridal Show to find out the kind of music they need. And I usually pay about £150 for a 'pitch', and they are normally in March & September.

Take along some literature about yourself, letters of recognition/thanks, ............. and your Diary (as Steve has already said).

My only advice would be ........... if there's no Bridal Show, then it's unlikely that it's going to be well attended as this is what draws most Bride's to attend.

[Ricesnaps]

By bridal show, do you mean fashion show?

[ian8limelight]

Yes, that's the one. I did one once without one and it was very poorly attended.

[Corabar Entertainment]

There are some very well established shows that do work fine without a show, but in general, I agree with Ian - those with a show are better attended than those that don't...... it does make for 'peak' and 'trough' times though - ie, you will be running around like a headless chicken with potential customers coming out of your ears just before and after the shows, but there's hardly anyone around at other times (another good reason to have plenty of literature, because you physically cannot talk to everyone at these times)

Another thing..... after the ruch from the last show of the day has gone, everyone starts packing up. (Never done one where everyone sits there until the end!)

[ian8limelight]

Another thing..... after the ruch from the last show of the day has gone, everyone starts packing up. (Never done one where everyone sits there until the end!)

I certainly agree with Angela there.

Are your fingers running away with themselves (ruch ????) :lightbulb

[Corabar Entertainment]

Oopps! :embarasse ..... it's something very similar to a 'rush', but all bunched up!

[pagan_flame]

4. What are the best "perks" to help sell (or none at all?) - should I offer something?Well you could take a huge chocolate fountain along... :teeth:

[Ricesnaps]

Well you could take a huge chocolate fountain along... :teeth:
which was the original idea, but there are two there already!

Anyway, I am booked in now, my stand is in the room with the bar - not sure if thats a good thing or not, but have a good feeling it's not a bad place to be. The competition look good, but are based in Chelmsford, so I might get the Suffolk brides as we are more local than them. I asked about advertising and it does seem the lady has worked hard - will be on local radio on the day as well.

Just need to make sure my information is up to scratch - was thinking of taking the bubble machine? Lots of large prints of gig pictures, leaflets, cards etc... I have a table, but no "display stands". Wife suggested I got some of those small had held bubble tubes and stuck our details on?

[soundtracker]

Have a look at Mark Weller's article in ProMobile Magazine, called Marketing at Wedding Fairs- think it was about 2 issues ago.

[CRAZY K]

Maybe you could offer a special deal for the Chocolate Fountain and Disco combined?

Then you can use the wife as a roadie :)

That might give you a marketing edge on the " competition"

Have you got any client recommendations in writing or feedback emails to show people saying thanks what a great night etc. --or my favourite---give them the numbers of happy customers to ring from previous successful Weddings.

I use this strategy and find it works quite well.

Not sure about the advantages of a bubble machine for a Wedding?

Best of luck, let us know what happens--

CRAZY K

[dj_ags]

Not sure about the advantages of a bubble machine for a Wedding?

Generally keeps the younger children entertained if you have a bubble machine...prevents them from sliding everywhere on their knees! Also, the guests like them if they have a baby or toddler in the family, keeps both parent and child very entertained! IMHO, they add that extra atmosphere to the function itself

They also come in very useful for taking photos of the bride and groom in the venue. You can get a nice picture of them with a few bubbles floating around in the picture, but that is just my personal suggestion!

[Corabar Steve]

Maybe you could offer a special deal for the Chocolate Fountain and Disco combined?I was going to suggest that

was thinking of taking the bubble machine? I wouldn't, a) the venue might not like it, b) it might become a health & safety issue if it's a hard floor in the bar area, c) there's a good chance that it will p*** off most of the exhibitors in close proximity to you, dressmakers & cake makers won't take too kindly to being covered in bubbles & if it's a photographer that's near you the soap in the bubble fluid can damage photos.

[Ricesnaps]

I was going to suggest that
I wouldn't, a) the venue might not like it, b) it might become a health & safety issue if it's a hard floor in the bar area, c) there's a good chance that it will p*** off most of the exhibitors in close proximity to you, dressmakers & cake makers won't take too kindly to being covered in bubbles & if it's a photographer that's near you the soap in the bubble fluid can damage photos.
Ah-ha, we've already thought of the "book a disco and a fountain" thing - discounts available. Also sort of lets us introduce the fountain business at the fair where we're not displaying the fountain (although obviously I will be very very careful doing that with other fountains there!).

Was also thinking about framing some of my photo's as part of the display - photo paper bought!

Now, on to fliers, as a first off I was going to produce my own and print them out. Is that a complete no go?

[Corabar Entertainment]

Now, on to fliers, as a first off I was going to produce my own and print them out. Is that a complete no go?So long as you've got a good printer and decent paper, go for it.

With the print quality of some home printers these days, and the range of papers available, an awful lot of people do their own.

[Corabar Steve]

Ah-ha, we've already thought of the "book a disco and a fountain" thing - discounts available. Also sort of lets us introduce the fountain business at the fair where we're not displaying the fountain (although obviously I will be very very careful doing that with other fountains there!).

Was also thinking about framing some of my photo's as part of the display - photo paper bought!
Make sure you have some good photos of the fountain with you if you decide to go with tht idea.

[CRAZY K]

I go with Steve on this--my last experience with a bubble machine ( so to speak)
was at a PTA function where it was outside and the wind blew the bubbles( not mine) all over my mixer and amp causing a horrible wet mess on the mixer---very dangerous mixture--electricity and water--- got them to move it somewhere else!

Agree with Steve its a hazard on the floor and sorry to repeat this--your PLI may not cover this risk!

Also if you are trying to promote an upmarket image I dont think flyers are the answer--they dont suggest quality necessarily--- print your own Brochures maybe?

Anyway its your call Rice!

CRAZY K

[Paul James Promotions]

I use a number of postcard designs (see one example below), which i print myself.

Useful to just leave on a table for people to take one. You can buy a pack of 25 glossy cards for £1, and any decent photo printer will do just fine.

Just a thought

Jamie

[Corabar Entertainment]

Agree with Steve its a hazard on the floor and sorry to repeat this--your PLI may not cover this risk!Agreed - in fact more and more PLI policies are specifically mentioning Bubble Machines as excluded from the cover


Also if you are trying to promote an upmarket image I dont think flyers are the answer--they dont suggest quality necessarily--- print your own Brochures maybe?We have traditionally done a mixture of the two.

[CRAZY K]

Something else Rice, your dress---no no --how are you dressing for this show?

I went to have a nose at one up the road at Wicksteed Park, Kettering which is quite a big venue, about 4 Discos there--noticed a couple of the DJs were wearing Evening dress and did look very smart.

So do you think this might make a difference?

Just a thought

CRAZY K

[ian8limelight]

Something else Rice, your dress---no no --how are you dressing for this show?

I went to have a nose at one up the road at Wicksteed Park, Kettering which is quite a big venue, about 4 Discos there--noticed a couple of the DJs were wearing Evening dress and did look very smart.

So do you think this might make a difference?

Just a thought

CRAZY K


I would agree with the 'dress code' but even a smart suit and tie would do the trick.

[Corabar Entertainment]

Yes - definitely smart, but personally I agree with Ian - a suit would be better.... black tie can look a little over the top at 10-11am, and could give you a little bit of an unaproachable look. The other thing, don't keep yourself stuck behind your console if you can help it - again, this can give off an unnaproachable feel - get out front of your pitch so that you can talk one-to-one with potential customers.

[Ricesnaps]

I would agree with the 'dress code' but even a smart suit and tie would do the trick.
It's black tie all day - no compromise here!

[CRAZY K]

Bearing in mind I think Rice wants to attract bookings at Hotels, Manor Houses etc. in Suffolk I rather thought this might be the route he was going down--assuming these kind of people are attracted to this event--

I think people who are after this more formal approach will talk to him anyway because thats what they are after--horses for courses I guess--not that I can talk much about Dress Code ---in a yee ha check shirt!!!! :teeth: :teeth:

CRAZY K

[musicinmotiondi]

Black tie is a must for upmarket venues in this area as Rice knows before his move to Tractor Boy land - I reckon at venues that are more upmarket fine but the less upmarket punter may think that you are over dressed and avoid I would dress smart casual and have a photo or towo with the DJ on it - they can see for themselves that you will not turn up in Polo shirt and Jeans

[soundtracker]

but the less upmarket punter may think that you are over dressed and avoid
Which is exactly what I aim for!! :teeth:

[CRAZY K]

That was my point as well and I think what Rice is aiming for in future.

CRAZY K

[musicinmotiondi]

Which is exactly what I aim for!! :teeth:


Then you don't have anything to worry about do you?

Unless your suit is two sizes too small or in need of dry cleaning

:teeth: :teeth: :teeth:

Hope you are succesful at the Wedding Show you attend.

[soundtracker]

Unless your suit is two sizes too small or in need of dry cleaning

:teeth: :teeth: :teeth:


Oi!! Who blabbed??? :teeth: :teeth:

[musicinmotiondi]

Oi!! Who blabbed??? :teeth: :teeth:


Found the old one in Charity shop for £2.50 - seriously have you seen prices of suits in Matalan at moment £49.95
:teeth: :teeth: :teeth:

[soundtracker]

Found the old one in Charity shop for £2.50 - seriously have you seen prices of suits in Matalan at moment £49.95
:teeth: :teeth: :teeth:
What shell suits?? :teeth: :teeth: :teeth:

[Corabar Entertainment]

No... cat :omg:

[soundtracker]

Wot ala Justin Hawkins? Is that an Armadillo in your pants, or are you just pleased to see me type scenario?

[Corabar Entertainment]

What do you think the " :omg: " was for..... picturing some of you in THAT!! Come to think of it, more like: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg:

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

WARNING.

The above post has suffered from Smilie over-use.

Do not look at this post for too long, as it may cause lasting damage.

[Corabar Entertainment]

WARNING.

The above post has suffered from Smilie over-use.

Do not look at this post for too long, as it may cause lasting damage....but not half as much damage as seeing you lot done up in catsuits!

[Corabar Steve]

WARNING.

The above post has suffered from Smilie over-use.

Do not look at this post for too long, as it may cause lasting damage.
If you look at it long enough they start moving! :omg:

[soundtracker]

Are we still talking about the smileys here?

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

If you look at it long enough they start moving! :omg:

As long as they don't start moving from the screen and into the room, then that's OK. :teeth:

[Corabar Steve]

They're coming! Arrrrgh!!! They're coming! They're coming! :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg:

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

You been sniffing ajax again Steve?:D:D

[soundtracker]

Have a cold shower!

[Corabar Steve]

You been sniffing ajax again Steve?:D:D
Can you still get Ajax?






















































Prefered Vim anyway! :teeth:

[ian8limelight]

Can you still get Ajax?


Only near Amsterdam !!!!!!!!! :lightbulb

[Ricesnaps]

Anyway, guys - as the thread seems to have degraded into a cleaning products debate!

Going right back about 4 pages, I am aiming for the higher class client at the fair, so it WILL be black tie (I understand the other disco attending also offer toastmaster services and will be dressed accordingly).

Jamie, many thanks for the "postcard" idea, had a play around with that yesterday and it looks perfect - not sure how my poor ink cartridges will handle it, but a trip to Vistaprint on an overnight might be a good plan.

Have spoken at length to the organiser with all of your comments. It would seem that the fair has had a huge amount of publicity - all the local papers over two weeks, local radio will be there on the day and they are including food for all exhibitors in with what you all rightly said was a bargain price.

Only slight problem for me is having a gig the night before!

[CRAZY K]

Hmmm-in the cold light of day ( and boy its cold! ) I would ignore all the hype and see exactly how many people attend, how many book and how many cancel.

Then reassess the value of the exercise in a few months time,

Good luck with it,

CRAZY K

[Corabar Entertainment]

Good Luck with it all Matt - yes, the gig the night before is always a sticking point.... still, you can survive a day or so without sleep! :teeth: :teeth:

[Corabar Steve]

Good Luck with it all Matt - yes, the gig the night before is always a sticking point.... still, you can survive a day or so without sleep! :teeth: :teeth:A day or so???? I did the whole of December last year! :teeth:

How late / far away from you is the gig? & How far away / early is the wedding fayre?

[Ricesnaps]

Good Luck with it all Matt - yes, the gig the night before is always a sticking point.... still, you can survive a day or so without sleep! :teeth: :teeth:
Well, at least the gig's a local one and I have a roadie now - well I have two, so need to work that one out!

Vistaprint are doing a postcard offer, so that's on express order, frames for some pictures this afternoon, price lists and we're go!

[ian8limelight]

A day or so???? I did the whole of December last year! :teeth:

:cry: :cry: :cry: :rolleyes: They're the closest I can get to a set of violins !!!!

[Corabar Steve]

:cry: :cry: :cry: :rolleyes: They're the closest I can get to a set of violins !!!!
You could be a bit more sympathetic, some of the gigs were for you!!! :teeth:

[ian8limelight]

Oh I am sympathetic, and I much appreciate you !

[Corabar Steve]

Oh I am sympathetic, and I much appreciate you !
Ooh, I feel ever so humble :embarasse

[musicinmotiondi]

Ajax etc do not advertise very often at Wedding Shows - another hijacked thread.

Come on Admin you tell us off for it so toe the line

[Wolfie]

Ajax etc do not advertise very often at Wedding Shows - another hijacked thread.

Come on Admin you tell us off for it so toe the line


he's got a point you know..

All i can say about wedding fayres..


choose carefully, some may charge you to exhibit & then you discover that the wedding show you just paid £200 to go on is a poor showing because it's a cold winters morning or City are playing at homethat afternoon.
make sure you get a good pitch, nothing worse than being stuck up a corner on the top floor. ideally you want to be near the door or close to a bar or crowd pulling exhibit
don't be boring. When i do wedding shows, i try to have a laugh with people. last wedding fair i did i turned up with 2 speakers, a single light, mixer/amp/cd player & a box of wigs. While the big show at the other end of the room was posing with his moving heads & scanners & playing the "love Album" or "Pan pipe moods" i was playing stuff like Mouldy Old dough & having a laugh with the punters putting the wigs on them then taking photos. I gave out a lot of cards that day & had people constantly round my stand.
always be prepared, i've done wedding fairs where i have been asked to compere the fashion show
take a wander, get to know the people who are exhibiting as well as the punters... you may find some good rewarding work may be passed on from a caterer or dress shop who you stopped & said hello to on the day.

[CRAZY K]

Ajax--yeah you can get it down the Co-op, I did yesterday to clean my Boat!

On a serious note good luck with it Rice and give some feedback to us on Monday, it is this Sunday is it?

CRAZY K

[musicinmotiondi]

he's got a point you know..

All i can say about wedding fayres..


choose carefully, some may charge you to exhibit & then you discover that the wedding show you just paid £200 to go on is a poor showing because it's a cold winters morning or City are playing at homethat afternoon.
make sure you get a good pitch, nothing worse than being stuck up a corner on the top floor. ideally you want to be near the door or close to a bar or crowd pulling exhibit
don't be boring. When i do wedding shows, i try to have a laugh with people. last wedding fair i did i turned up with 2 speakers, a single light, mixer/amp/cd player & a box of wigs. While the big show at the other end of the room was posing with his moving heads & scanners & playing the "love Album" or "Pan pipe moods" i was playing stuff like Mouldy Old dough & having a laugh with the punters putting the wigs on them then taking photos. I gave out a lot of cards that day & had people constantly round my stand.
always be prepared, i've done wedding fairs where i have been asked to compere the fashion show
take a wander, get to know the people who are exhibiting as well as the punters... you may find some good rewarding work may be passed on from a caterer or dress shop who you stopped & said hello to on the day.



Thank you that man.

Ajax for the mother-in-law to wash her mouth out with !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ricesnaps]

Hurrah!

I survived! My first wedding fair and I am STILL alive! Although nearly eaten alive by the bird on the next stall - offering teeth whitening dental products, but don't think she was really interested in my teeth!

Anyway, very busy morning, dropped off about 2pm, finished at 4pm, phone rang at ten past and I picked up a top package booking! I am told that's rare and that most of the bookings come over the week after the fair! But still, that booking paid for it!

So what have I learnt? Don't print so much bloody information out! Hire a :Censored::Censored::Censored::Censored::Censored::Censored: of big flame machine and take no notice of the other disco in the next room because actually he's only cross because your stand looks better than his!

Oh and if you have a Joan Rivers lookalike in the same room, trying to sell anti aging products to brides (god honest truth), then be very afraid!

[Corabar Steve]

Glad it went well.

This thread didn't show up in my new posts section, Angela told me it was here.

[Vectis]

So how does one get invited to participate in Bridal Fayres in the first place? I often see flyers tied to lamp-posts or ads in the local rag for these things, but they're generally the same weekend as they're happening.

Whose door should I be knocking on? :confused:

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

So how does one get invited to participate in Bridal Fayres in the first place? I often see flyers tied to lamp-posts or ads in the local rag for these things, but they're generally the same weekend as they're happening.

Whose door should I be knocking on? :confused:

Bridal Fayre organisers!

Once you've done one, you seem to get loads of invites to lots more.

[Ricesnaps]

So how does one get invited to participate in Bridal Fayres in the first place? I often see flyers tied to lamp-posts or ads in the local rag for these things, but they're generally the same weekend as they're happening.

Whose door should I be knocking on? :confused:
Generally, you don't usually get invited - unless you are very well known on the scene (and trust me there are people whe seem to run a buisiness just attending fairs, there is a whole community based around them!) or the organiser needs your type of business (we've been invited personally to two - or rather my wife was - because they had no other chocolate fountains attending).

Usually (unless you are very lucky), you have to pay to exhibit (generally around £100 - £200) so most people ask if they can attend based on the success of the show. The bigger ones charge more, but have more brides coming. You get what you pay for. You should also be a little wary of out of season shows - autumn and early new year is the key time for them.

How do you get to know? Well, Google is your best bet. A lot of the wedding sites have lists and if you find one in your area or nearby that's not quite right for you, email and ask - they usually know of others in the area!