Hosting a bridal show/wedding fair

To many ads? Support ODJT and see no ads!
BryanK

BryanK

DJ Extraordinaire
Mar 28, 2016
75
83
Colonial Beach, Virginia
Have any of you guys ever hosted a small-medium-large bridal show/wedding fair before? I'm hosting one in my area next spring, and was just looking for advice on whether to decorate or not, and if I should be aware of any pitfalls that may be unforeseen.

This will be a small-scale event with no more than 20 or so vendors set up. Insurance is squared away, rental contract is squared away, and I'm now in the marketing process. Any tips or tricks in marketing an event like this? Newspaper ads maybe? As always, AAIGA! (Any Advice Is Greatly Appreciated)!
 
sorry I have never put one on, I have been to a few but I would think about what your end goal is. Is it to bring more business to your DJ company or is it to expand and make the show a main part of your life?
 
  • Like
Reactions: MIXMASTERMACHOM, ittigger, BryanK and 1 other person
Yep, once you start something like this it becomes a yearly commitment, and if it grows larger, the time involved in planning and logistics will consume you and could actually be a detriment to your DJ biz.
I've seen it before, where a vendor starts their own show in hopes of showcasing their own service but ultimately I believe in order for the show to be successful, the time commitment could actually be a distraction from your core business.

I think once you decide to go down that path there is no turning back.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BryanK
Here's my thought process on this. This will be a small event for now, but who knows. My end-game is to mainly network with other vendors in the area where I'm hosting this, and if I can pull a gig or two out of it, then so be it. I live in the boonies, and there's no real networking to be done in my AO, so I decided to go where the money is. I believe it also lends legitimacy to our company as not being some fly-by-night operation, but a serious and well established company who is trustworthy of handling your event. I get brides all the time that ask "Do you have any videos of you working?", which I do not because I don't want clients and their guests pictures/images to be put out over the 'net all willy-nilly (possible legal ramifications).

I've been a vendor at a few very small bridal shows/bridal yard sale events, and I figured I could do the same thing, and offer a cheaper vendor fee then most folks do around there. It's also going to be free to the public which will hopefully draw more couples in. I like the idea of ultimately adding the show to my repertoire as a continuing event, but I'm just dipping my toe in with this one.
 
@DJ TJ, If there's no turning back, that means that it was successful and it can generate some extra money for me in the future. Without me having to personally do it as well, because my wife and a few female friends of mine could run with it if there was sufficient $$$ in it for them. Let's be honest, some of those shows charge 50+ vendors $500 a pop while the only real costs were the rental ($1000-$2000), insurance (they should already have it), and marketing. Marketing for these is surprisingly easy and cheap with Facebook ads, craigslist, local pennysaver ads, etc.
 
If you become promoter, depending on if the event is free to attend or not, you may be liable also for getting the ASCAP/BMI/SESAC licenses to play music .. same as a restaurant owner would. As a vendor, that would fall on someone else's shoulder.
 
Aha. Now, wouldn't selling tickets/providing tickets for an event like that make it a "private" affair? I'm not trying to skate...actually, yes, yes I am. I bought all this sh*t already and paid taxes on it. Screw 'em.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BryanK
Restaurants/Bars skate all the time .. not that it's right .. just pointing it out .. :)

If the attendees aren't charged and you aren't making money off the music (as implied at a bar selling liquor) .. it gets very grey.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BryanK
I think that with the advent of internet advertising, you might find it harder to make a bridal show successful.
Brides used to go to bridal shows as it was the only way for them to find out about multiple vendors in their area all under one roof. Google, wedding sites and online reviews have supplanted the need to make that trek out to the show.
I don't know for sure but I have heard that bridal show attendance has been on the decline for a number of years now and I'm assuming that's part of the reason.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BryanK
My wife used to do them 15-20 years ago (she sold Wedding invitations and such) .. not as many around here these days.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BryanK
The ones I have been to (remember, they were small, less than 100 people on a given day), they were just advertised using the 'net and WoM. Wasn't too terrible of a turnout. The reason I think they still occur at all is due to the nasty winters we have around here, and brides/couples just wanting to get out and do something. They may as well be productive!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back