Need an opinion... they want ME to PAY them?

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Papa Deuce

DJ Extraordinaire
Aug 8, 2006
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Valley Forge Area
OK, this just made me come back for your thoughts..... let me say that I am not inclined to do this.....

The township next to mine is holding family community day in September. They expect 12,000 people over the course of the day, with it being about 50% adults and 50% kids. Someone at the township recreation center knew of my bubble parties and called me..... they asked me if I wanted to be a part of the day.... I was thinking that they were planning on asking me to work for free. But boy was I wrong! They want to charge me $65 to "showcase your talent" for up to 12,000 people over 4 hours.

Now the cynic in me wants to go say, "Screw You"!

But then I think of people who pay to go to bridal shows.....

6000 adults with kids is one heck of a lot of "showcasing".........

They had 10,000 people last year and they said it seems to be drawing 2000 more people every year.

I have mixed feelings on this. I also know that they already have a DJ for the day, though I have no idea who the DJ is. Also, they already have 50+ other businesses paying the $65, but most of those people are selling products rather than services.

What do you think? Thank You.
 
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You said they had this last year....so did you go or know anyone who went? If so, are their numbers correct? and more importantly, how much contact will you actually have with the people there? Just because there are 12,000 people there does not mean they will have any interest in your services in any way.
 
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You said they already have a DJ so I guess you would just be doing the bubble party? If that is the case it may not be worth it because people would end up contacting the DJ for this and then copying what you do. Now that is the cynic in me but if I was going to be able to DJ also then it would be worth it.
 
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Papa Deuce said:
OK, this just made me come back for your thoughts..... let me say that I am not inclined to do this.....

The township next to mine is holding family community day in September. They expect 12,000 people over the course of the day, with it being about 50% adults and 50% kids. Someone at the township recreation center knew of my bubble parties and called me..... they asked me if I wanted to be a part of the day.... I was thinking that they were planning on asking me to work for free. But boy was I wrong! They want to charge me $65 to "showcase your talent" for up to 12,000 people over 4 hours.

Now the cynic in me wants to go say, "Screw You"!

But then I think of people who pay to go to bridal shows.....

6000 adults with kids is one heck of a lot of "showcasing".........

They had 10,000 people last year and they said it seems to be drawing 2000 more people every year.

I have mixed feelings on this. I also know that they already have a DJ for the day, though I have no idea who the DJ is. Also, they already have 50+ other businesses paying the $65, but most of those people are selling products rather than services.

What do you think? Thank You.
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Howdy Papa,
Think of it as advertising, it is a deductible expense. Secondly, make Cards and Flyers with both your DJ and Bubble Party Services on the material. Third, have a free drawing for something other than your services (People become sore losers if you put your services as the prize and they don't win. For the free Drawing, make out drawing slips with the following:
Name
Address
E-mail
Phone
and a question "How soon will you be planning your next Bubble Party?". If they answer this, you now have a 'Warm" Prospect on whom to follow up. Do the drawing towards the end of the event. You now have an Advertising List that worth some $$$$$$
Take care and good luck
 
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Dj Jimmy D said:
You said they already have a DJ so I guess you would just be doing the bubble party? If that is the case it may not be worth it because people would end up contacting the DJ for this and then copying what you do. Now that is the cynic in me but if I was going to be able to DJ also then it would be worth it.
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I doubt anybody would do what I do..... People in the area here have tried before, and are no longer in business.... I do 50 - 75 0f these per year, and have been for several years.



sightsandsounds said:
You said they had this last year....so did you go or know anyone who went? If so, are their numbers correct? and more importantly, how much contact will you actually have with the people there? Just because there are 12,000 people there does not mean they will have any interest in your services in any way.
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There are no guarantees in life, except death and taxes. But to answer your question, I have done events like this all over the place, but for crowds of 1000 or less, and people ALWAYS stay around for a while if they have little ones. What little kid doesn't like bubbles, music, and hula hoops?


To answer someone else' question, it IS a family fun day, but it is also a chance for vendors to put themselves in front of up to several thousand potential customers. Having done similar - but smaller - events before, I ALWAYS am put where people will see me and interact with me. Sometimes I am the MAIN attraction. I wouldn't even consider this unless I was put into an advantageous place of the event. Think of it as town fair, with business networking..... The day ends with a concert from a Bruce Springsteen cover band.

Canute, in this case, I like the way you think. ;)
 
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nextgen1 said:
It's just 65 dollars Papa do It once if it does not work out then don't do it again
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Ah, Dave, it isn't about the money per se, but that I feel like I shouldn't have to pay to be the entertainer. Plus, this isn't the same as a bridal show where people rent a convention room... it is basically a huge grass area and parking lot that the township already owns. That said, the more I think about it, 6000 adults, or 5,000 if the same as last year, is a lot of people to show my company to on one day. I would imagine I would have way more people interested in my bubble events than my adult events, but if I do this, I will somehow showcase both types of events. There is just no way I can do 4 solid hours of bubble party stuff.... Even when I book 4 hour events with a bubble party, it is usually 90 minutes bubble party, and the rest is dance / background music.
 
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Papa Deuce said:
Canute, in this case, I like the way you think. ;)
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Been there and done that now for more than 25 years doing Art Shows and Exhibits. Great way to reap new prospects.

Update: It might be a good idea to print "Must be 21 or over to enter!" this will minimize the entries from the children. Also you can get a Retailer to Donate the Prize in exchange for exposure.
 
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I like your idea about the flyers/post cards. The issue I find is how many would you have made up? That could be very costly depending on how many he had made up since there are expected to be 12,000 people. I know you can use them later on. Just exactly what would be that budget for such a thing in your mind?
 
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MIXMASTERMACHOM said:
I like your idea about the flyers/post cards. The issue I find is how many would you have made up? That could be very costly depending on how many he had made up since there are expected to be 12,000 people. I know you can use them later on. Just exactly what would be that budget for such a thing in your mind?
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Cant say for the Postcards/Flyers but the Drawing slips are a DIY on your computer 4 - 6 per page then trimmed out. You want it large enough so people can fill them out in Print Form.
 
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Hey chuck. How have you been?

id say if you want more shows, doesn't sound like a bad idea. I would make sure that they understand that you are there networking and selling...not performing
 
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I say depending on how much money it will cost you to do it besides the $65.00 it would be easily worth it. Consider it this way. That's some really cheap advertising and you're getting to reach that many people all at once.

I say it's worth the risk for so little amount of money to be spent out of your pocket to do it. I would just be prepared with what I need to properly show what our services are about and why someone there should consider using our services in the future if and when they need someone to do an event for them. Making it so attractive that they say we must have you!
 
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Oh well Mix said to do it and he is the know all god of DJing so no doubt you should do it. He has worked in front of 12 people this year so he knows how to do those big events.
 
We do festivals just like this all summer. (we do sound for the live bands)
And everyone who "performs" gets paid!
The charge is usually for vendors who are selling something and MAKING MONEY at the event.
 
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Dj Jimmy D said:
Oh well Mix said to do it and he is the know all god of DJing so no doubt you should do it. He has worked in front of 12 people this year so he knows how to do those big events.
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You're so right and if you show up you can be unlucky 13!:p Seriously Like I said I feel it's worth a shot. What can it hurt? I don't see you spending a ton of money to promote yourself at this event and you never know what the ROI will be with that many people there. It could be in the thousands over a period of time. Do you have much to lose if you do it? I'm not just talking money but the kind of image this event will give your company.
 
Scott Hanna said:
Hey chuck. How have you been? id say if you want more shows, doesn't sound like a bad idea. I would make sure that they understand that you are there networking and selling...not performing
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Thanks, Scott... Doing great! Still losing weight, albeit slowly, and feeling awesome. I think my performing is my best way to sell. I have to give the lady an answer by Monday. But I will have to reserve some time to actually be handling promotion and booking at the event. If I actually do the event, and the more I think about it, the more I think I will do it.
 
Papa Deuce said:
Thanks, Scott... Doing great! Still losing weight, albeit slowly, and feeling awesome. I think my performing is my best way to sell. I have to give the lady an answer by Monday. But I will have to reserve some time to actually be handling promotion and booking at the event. If I actually do the event, and the more I think about it, the more I think I will do it.
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I agree that it's probably most effective to be showing people what you do, but there is a difference between performing and selling. If I'm paying to be there, I am openly trying to get business. While I'm showing the parents and kids what I do, I'd be telling parents about booking the party....and giving them some incentive to book right there......like 25% extra time for free...*.show special*
 
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