Bridal Show/Event w/ Ludicrous Fees

[KatManDingo]

Okay...am I being just too close-minded here (for lack of a better word) or is it truly ridiculous to charge a massage therapist $400 to rent a booth for a 6-hour event in exchange for giving away chair massage and handing out my business card??The standard booth fee is $800. I had asked them if I could just set up somewhere in an out of the way area and provide FREE chair massage to the vendors, event staff, and interested attendees in exchange for handing out my business card. They replied that they would still charge me half price ($400) for a booth but I was not to charge anyone for chair massage.I replied to them that I thought that was a preposterous idea and would definitely not be interested. I am wondering if any massage therapist would think that was a reasonable agreement. Any takers out there? Be well,Jen

 

[Macky]

Bridal Show/Event w/ Ludicrous Fees

You need to brush up on your latinBridal comes from the Latin word meaning "to charge everyone outrageous prices for everything"Book a dinner for 50 at a restaurant and tell them it is your birthday. Do the same, and tell them it is your wedding and see the price go through the roof.Bridal shows are a money sink for sole practitioners. Day Spas, Florists, Photographers and other folks who can get $1,500 and up out of a single bride and her party can afford these things. You would have to do massage all day and night to make that kind of money, and the girls want to do it at the same time, so it just does not work.Even with our team of a dozen folks to deploy on a single event, we can't figure out how to justify participation in a bridal show. There are too many of them, charge way too much, and most attendees are planning a dream wedding - probably aren't even engaged yet.We do, however, do lots of bridal work through Modern Bride ads, the Knot and direct mailing. Much more cost efficient, but still big $$.

 

[buckfever321]

Bridal Show/Event w/ Ludicrous Fees

You need to brush up on your latin

Bridal comes from the Latin word meaning "to charge everyone outrageous prices for everything"

LMAO!

Jen, don't do it. If you can't even get the money back by charging your seated massage fees, it's definently not worth paying $400 to advertise at a 6-hour event to whomever shows up. You'd be better off doing radio advertising for that price, and would probably get the same end result. Any time I've done free seated massage, I've never paid a booth rent. I don't do free seated work anymore; from now on it's charge or nothing.

 

[Elissa]

Bridal Show/Event w/ Ludicrous Fees

The short answer..."no".

 

[CatsDogsFrogs]

That is too much money for such a short time.  When there is something like that in my city and I want to be there but not pay the high booth rental---I approach various vendors and set up a deal where if someone makes a purchase at the booth, then they can receive a free ten minute chair massage from me.  That way, I don't pay and can hand out brochures and business cards.  I don't make money either, but I have gotten regular clientele this way.

 

[Taufiqur]

Bridal Show/Event w/ Ludicrous Fees

My first thought is what part of town is it in? The fee is outrageous, my bet is that it's in a pretty swanky part of town. If you can't even get close to making up the fee being there, it isn't isn't worth your time. Shop around, they can't be the only bridal show in town!

 

[Niko171]

not in this lifetime  ;D

 

[YAY my Eggo is Preggo!!]

Approach a bridal shop that's already going to be attending the show, ask them if you could provide brochures and information for them to have at the show... perhaps do one of the fish bowl "free drawings" for a 1/2 hr massage? You could even create a Home Spa basket (if you didn't mind the financial outlay...) for the bride-to-be to win in the drawing if you wanted... the second place prize could be 1/2 hr free massage (and of course encourage them to upgrade for a special price)...3rd place 15 min. free chair massage... etc.  You know that whole "give to get" strategy? Offer a free 15 minute chair massage to the owner of the bridal shop or the person coordinating their "booth" at the show. By offering a drawing their booth will be one of the most popular in the whole bridal show!  You'll get the contact with interested brides you wanted and hopefully many new regular clients!

 

[Ella]

Bridal Show/Event w/ Ludicrous Fees

Thanks, y'all! I knew I wasn't being too difficult in telling them how I felt about their (pathetic) offer to cut me a deal. Lived and learned through that experience.Some of you have given me some alternatives of getting into these types of events successfully w/o shoveling out any fees and for that, I'm genuinely appreciative.  ;DHope everyone had a pleasant/productive weekend!Be well,Jen