How Do You 'crack' Wedding Fayres?

[Tommo55 0]

Afternoon all

 

Just got back from a major local venue's wedding fayre (not as an exhibitor) but as an interested individual to see how the general trend is going.

 

Now this venue is probably one of the most prestigious in the area and normally as many of you may well agree with the fayres I have exhibited at, there is a steady flow of people who wonder by your table with a sly grin and not a lot else, unless you almost shout at them to engage in a conversation! :joe:

 

Or is that bit just me? anyway :joe:

 

Today none of that.......you could not move for visitors, queing up to be shown around the place and lots of exhibitors from a wide range of professions, but my question is this? (eventually!)

 

I have tried to get into this hotel to exhibit in the past but have been told that they are full and don't have more than one exhibitor per profession as it causes unecessary competition, personally I think this reason is bullplop! :!:

 

I counted three entertainment providers, four photograhpers, three cake makers...well you get the idea,

 

So how would you approach the venue with this information knowing that they are going to use their standard excuse as before to turn you down! How would you plead your case?

 

Thankyou and enjoy the rest of your day!

Edited February 20, 2011 by Tommo55

[Dukesy 0]

First of all, are you 100% sure that it was arranged by the venue and they just weren't the hosts for it?. Most of the time they are arranged by dedicated national Wedding Fayre companies, Bridal Magazines or local Newspapers.

 

Secondly, the easiest way to find out would probably have been to get into conversation with another (non competing) exhibitor, whilst you were there, and steer around the conversation to the point where you could actually ask!.

 

Unfortunately, these events are often planned well before they are publicised, and the people responsible for it will already have contacted and secured the stand attendance by the exhibitors before its publicised and this is why by the time you come to hear of it, all quotas have been filled.

 

So in other words, its like the Masonic Lodge, at a lot of these things with all exhibitors there by invitation only. In other words, wait for the phone to ring and be asked if you are interested, and be told how much . How easy is you business to 'find' locally?. Do you advertise in the local directories?, do you appear on the local business listings?, do you often advertise in the local rag(s)?. Put it this way, when the Wedding Fayre organisers are ringing around all of the local Wedding businesses looking for exhibitors, if you don't appear in their searches then you'll never be asked.

 

Sadly, some Wedding Fayres can also consist of 'prefered' or 'key' suppliers to whomever the promoter happens to be. So in other words if its a Wedding / Bridal magazine, then the exhibitors will often be their loyal and regular advertisers, if its arranged by the Venue, then it will be attended by their key suppliers - i.e the businesses who the venue puts clients in touch with, or who do a lot of work there.

 

Also remember that if you add up all of the Wedding Suppliers in the area, there will often be far more than the capacity of the venue to host them all, so there will always be people who are left disappointed.

[Tommo55 0]

Thanks Dukesy

 

Wise words as devils advocate as always :pro:

 

I know its not always the venue who organise these things and yes there is a waiting list to get 'in there' but damn! does it have to be the same people every year, I know because I rebook for the following year at every show I attend as an exhibitor, you get asked by the organiser one the day and if the stands are taken on the day then there is very little chance of any one new getting in!

 

I know it can't be on rule for one and one for everyone else, I just felt that based upon the numbers attending today it must be worth a punt!

I will make some further enquiries and keep you all informed should I find 'the secret key!'

 

Just one more thing.............

 

So in other words, its like the Masonic Lodge

 

How did you know I am a Mason? :scared:

[wizard 0]

I like the analogy with the Masonic Lodge :joe: Even if incorrect

 

Maybe you need the correct handshake or the secret password to get into the wedding fayre :pro: hmm I needed a Masonic smiley for that..... Must go find one !

Edited February 21, 2011 by wizard

[Tommo55 0]

Wizard

 

I will spilt or halve it with you!!!!!! :dukesy:

[deejaymitch 0]

 

 

I have tried to get into this hotel to exhibit in the past but have been told that they are full and don't have more than one exhibitor per profession as it causes unecessary competition, personally I think this reason is bullplop! :!:

 

 

And there was me thinking that competition was a good thing!

[wizard 0]

Wizard

 

I will spilt or halve it with you!!!!!! :dukesy:

 

Hmmmm I thought you were joking ......about being a Mason

[Tommo55 0]

 

Nope telling the truth, but it still isn't getting me into these damned wedding fayres :damn:

 

Although I have made an appointment to go and meet with the wedding manager at the venue in question next week.

[Narbs 0]

Hotels are so difficult to get in these days, backhanders to the right people lol

 

[sparklingdiscos 0]

im looking to get into a few fayres this year - but the differences in prices are staggering - ones in Bolton are £250-350 whilst prestigous ones in Liverpool are £100.

 

Has anyone ever noticed more bookings from paying more from your stand?

[Tommo55 0]

 

I did a wedding fayre last weekend and got talking to another exhibitor

 

He told me of a local hotel that has recently changed hands and are looking for people to exhibit at their forthcoming fayre.

 

Ok I thought sounds promising I know the venue and its functions facilities are OK, but nothing spectacular! Anyway he then went on....

 

the hotel would be charging £90 to exhibit plus a 10% retainer on any business you picked up from the event, not just if the function was being held at their venue but ANYWHERE! :scared:

 

I politely declined ;thumbdown:

 

 

[gadget 0]

im looking to get into a few fayres this year - but the differences in prices are staggering - ones in Bolton are £250-350 whilst prestigous ones in Liverpool are £100.

 

Has anyone ever noticed more bookings from paying more from your stand?

 

Which ones were they? I know there was on at the Albert Halls (I've DJ'd for a wedding there, and its a PITA getting in / out!), and there was one I beleive just gone at Brookfield Masonic Hall, Westhoughton (DJ'd there as well! and almost round the corner from where I live)...

 

Cheers,

 

David

Edited March 2, 2011 by gadget

[Dukesy 0]

Nope telling the truth, but it still isn't getting me into these damned wedding fayres

 

I thought part of the protocol of being in the Lodge was not to disclose the fact to all and sundry. Now here you are promoting the fact on a forum with 670k hits a month :devil:

 

Hotels are so difficult to get in these days, backhanders to the right people lol

 

Sadly, this is actually probably quite accurate in some areas. Although i'd have dressed it up as being business gratuities in return for loyalty to my business rather than backhanders. Thats what makes the world go round, many reps take their business clients to lunch every time they call in on them, or get them a bottle of scotch at Xmas, its what makes the world go around, and these are certainly more professional angles than handing over cash for services rendered. At the end of the day its just business, and you do what you can ethically and legally in order to build and grow it.

[Tommo55 0]

I thought part of the protocol of being in the Lodge was not to disclose the fact to all and sundry. Now here you are promoting the fact on a forum with 670k hits a month

 

It is perfectly acceptable to let people know you are a Mason, in fact it is actively encouraged, what you can't tell non Masons about is what goes on inside the lodge and the different means of identifying yourself as a Mason if required!

 

Telling people about Free-Masonry is one of the ways of dispelling some of the myths and non-truths surrounding the order, such as the last Dan Brown 'book!'

 

I am immensely proud to be a Free Mason and would encourage anybody who has any questions about it to seek out their local lodge (their in the phonebook!) and they will do their best (within the constraints mentioned) to answer them for you.

 

Regards

David

Edited March 2, 2011 by Tommo55

[Dukesy 0]

Has anyone ever noticed more bookings from paying more from your stand?

 

I'd be surprised if there was any link to be honest. I've had mixed results from both bargain fayres and also top brass ones, and vice versa.

 

Far better to ask and research where these events are being promoted. Are they being pushed often on the local radio?, advertised for several weeks in advance in all of the local papers?, advertised in the major Bridal Magazines?, or are the events company just going to string up a banner outside the hotel and a couple of signs up the night before on the main road through the town.

 

Wise money gets invested in the events which are heavily publicised for months in advance, which should at least result in a good and healthy turn out and steady flow of people through the day. Don't be afraid to ask questions like this before paying the fees.

 

Also bear in mind that a growing number of couples are choosing to get married aboard and may not be holding a UK reception, in which case, suppliers like us won't get a look in. I;ve been to some events where the only company doing well out of attending were the travel agents :wall: .

 

Also try and attract people to your stand, don't just stand there grinning like a stuffed Giraffe and expect people to come to you. Have somebody mingling around the event with literature and business cards, and directing interested parties to your stand for more information.

 

Also consider some kind of draw to your stand. Some kind of competition is a good idea, offer a prize draw or something with the prize being a complimentary disco for their Wedding, get people to fill in their information on cards in order to enter the draw, and this way you have their contact details to politely follow up in the future, even if its just to let them know that they didn't win the draw.......and had they booked their DJ yet?.

 

It sounds quite an expensive prize, but honestly, i've taken as many as 10 confirmed bookings in the past for reasonable fee's by doing this, so 1 freebie in return for 9 full priced events is a good return, and people love competitions.

[Tommo55 0]

 

I love the idea of a competition!

 

Just need to get it past the other half that we may be doing one for free! I have an old stalwart as an attraction a great big bowl of sweeties and if it goes quiet you can always eat them yourself :pizza:

 

Although non with Nuts...none with artificial colours.......none with certain E numbers........none you may like the taste of............I probably get asked more questions about the contents of the bowl than I do my service offerings :damn:

 

But I will continue to do it as it keeps to little darlings sweet whilst the grown up's talk, or gives the groom something to do fishing to the bottom of the bowl to reach the last lollypop, whilst the Bride tells you exactly what he (sorry She wants)

 

I don't mean to make light of it but it really does happen

 

I mix a few business cards in there too so it's a little easier for them to take the card if their too shy to ask

[Dukesy 0]

Just need to get it past the other half that we may be doing one for free!

 

Well, if it works, chances are the additional work that you get from it will outweigh the cost of the freebie that you do from the prize draw. Sure it can sometimes backfire, and you have to honour the prize, but even so, you could spend a similar amount as the cost to you of attending a 'free' gig on a nice advert and also get zero results.

 

You also have to maximise the potential of it, so make sure you get their contact details on the entry ticket, so that you can follow it up with a phone call to all enterants shortly after you actually do the draw. You can legitimately do this on the basis of informing them that they didn't win the draw, and whilst they are on the phone politely ask them about their entertainment requirements and try and steer the conversation around to promoting your services.

 

You could also try and soften the blow of not winning the draw, by offering them a % discount off the normal price of their Disco, but thats up to you and your budget, again i've had some success in doing this, it all depends how confident you are on the phone in selling your services, without appearing to be pushy or giving the hard sell.

 

Whilst one couple is filling in the draw ticket at your stand, make sure you engage the other partner in conversation, again steering it around to their entertainment requirements, make sure they take your Brochure and Business cards etc.

 

Also make sure that you have enough people with you to handle discussions with two or three couples, if people have to queue or wait for you to finish talking to other clients, they will eventually get bored or distracted by the other stands and wonder off, possibly to your competition. If you can't have enough people on hand, then at least make sure you have the space, pens etc for them to fill in your draw tickets, so at least you have their contact details to chase later.