Booth Fees: How much is Too Much?
Sunday October 28, 2007
We have attended shows that cost $10 for a 10 x 10 space. We have also attended shows that cost over $1000 for that same
amount of space. What's the difference? Well, while you certainly do not always get what you pay for, at fine craft and
high-end art shows this adage sometimes proves to be true. Of course, you can't base your search for good shows on booth
fees alone. In fact the more you pay for your space, the higher your expenses. However, at the $10 shows we have attended,
the total take-home cash was quite a bit less that at the events with higher fees. So, the question is: when searching for
new shows, how much stock do you put into a booth fee?
Comments
Any event is going to be better for some than others depending on what you sell. Personally I think it is hardest for those of us that make our own art have a much harder time with the high booth fee events. How can we make and sell enough to pay for it? I know that some manage just fine, but I have found the moderate range shows work best for me. They still advertise and yet I have a much better chance of being profitable there.
I also feel that the moderate price Shows tend to work better. There is so much to be taken into consideration now with the Soaring price of gasoline and possible Hotel fees for longer distance Shows. The $300 - $1000+ Shows are really starting to out price themselves.
I have honestly made more money at a $75.00 Show than I have at a $1000 one.
I realize a Show shouldn’t be judged by it’s price and that the higher priced Shows tend to have more of a budget for advertising but your expenses definitely have to be considered very cardfully.
The two prior ladies have stated our show observations very well…I have been saying for years its the promoters that are making the high dollars. Thanks for this forum and your great commentaries!
Marilyn, you should also take into consideration that promoters do not always make the “high dollars” you think they do. Having promoted a show for 14 years, and being an artist myself, I know both sides of the equation. Promoters’ costs have increased just as artists’ have, and while some unscrupulous promoters pass along those increased costs and more, some of us try hard to keep costs down, while still providing quality service to our artists.
There is no real “rule of thumb,” it’s whatever you can afford to spend and not make back…let’s face it; you take your chances with each show you do, and hope for the best. Research the show, talk to people who’ve done it, (whose work is similar to yours, if possible), and attend the show before you do it–and then, cross your fingers and hope!
Price should depend on volume of visitors and then you decide if the volume is enough for you to sell your product and then look at the cost. I try to stick with moderate priced sales and I often share a space and car pool to save costs. This year, it seems like the lower priced sales are going to be the better sales.
I have to agree with Darla. High volume traffic can usually justify your decision to pay a higher fee. Extremely high fees are paid by people who rarely(if ever) look at sites and comments like these. They usually have a shop, great website, up linked credit processing and plenty of medium to high priced stock. Did I mention Great Looking setup? So medium priced shows(75-150), decent amount of stock, interesting setup, total attention to why you’re there(not reading)… Those are some of my basic considerations to justify a show fee.There are other factors involved with where you sell your stuff but… Medium priced shows have been good to us! Steve S.O.N.A.R Jewelry
Although new at this, I’m finding that the cost of a show is often relative to the numbers of people attending in previous years. It appears that if a show had good numbers last year, that they are justified in charging a higher price. So do you attend the big ones that get 55,000 people? You have to produce a lot of your stuff just to break even. Or do you go to a less expensive one and probably sell less material because the attendance is lower? I will probably attend one big event this year because 300,000 are expected. But other than that one, I will probably not attend anything more that 150 to 200 dollars. I think these bigger events are pricing themselves out.
Dave