Rather unique opportunity available to us in a few months

[livelovebhappy]

We live in a small community that has been working hard on expanding and developing. It turns out that there is a toll bridge being built between our community to cross the lake and connect it to "them over yonder way". In the summer, once the bridge has been completed, there is going to be a 5K race and "family fun run/walk" across this bridge, before it is opened to traffic.

The "beginning" side of this bridge is literally within a couple of miles of our office.

They are going to have vendor booths available at this event- on *our* side of the bridge. It will cost $250 for a 10' x 10' *covered* space. Of course, liability insurance will have to cover everybody and his brother, aunt, uncle, and step-mother, but there is time to get that done and it doesn't cost anything to get AIE's added.

What a unique opportunity for us, dontcha think?

My question, and it's as much a "mulling it over" sort of thing (rhetorical, if you will) as it is asking actual opinions, is this: would it be better to target "the crowd in attendance for this historical event", or the actual runners/walkers? I'm not sure how the latter would be accomplished, because it seems that all the vendor spaces are supposed to be on the "beginning" side of the bridge (which is also "our" side). We'd have to get over to the *other* side to tend to the after-the-run crowd, n'est-ce pas?

Does ANYbody have any clue what I'm talking about, and how such an event could be capitalized upon? We do not, if at all possible, want to let this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity (in the sense that there will never be a "the bridge is open, let's have big to-do" again) slip by us. I also think that the more LOCAL- truly local, in our-own-backyard-community events we do the better. There are a LOT more MTs in the surrounding larger cities. *This* one "should" be ours, right? :grin: I'm thinking that with the two, possibly three, and maybe even four (if our renter would want to split the fee accordingly and go with us) therapists there, we should be able to handle things pretty well. I'll have plenty of opportunities in between to get lots of "chair event" experience, too, I think.

Comments? Advice? We do have nearly 4 months to prepare. It's on August 1st (a Saturday). The web site doesn't say when the vendor registrations have to be turned in/paid.

 

[Tariq E]

If you've got the inclination, since there are 3 of you.... two of you (I'd suggest hubby and yourself) could work the crowd on your side of the bridge and then have your son work the post-event people and one of you strategically travel to the other side of the bridge about 15 mins. post-race. That would have all of you on both sides of the bridge.

You're bridge may not be as big as the one I have linked to below, but I bet it will be a really big thing for your communities!



PS: Goofy historical note: When they were finishing the bridge in Sweden it was a really big deal. My mother's pen-pal had come from there to visit us and was constantly looking on the computer at the updates for the bridge.

Here's a pic of it now: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%96resund_Bridge

 

[Kazie]

I don't know if either hubby or son would "be inclined" to split up like that. I think it'd be best if we all stayed together- I was thinking have the two chairs set up, with two of us working and one there to take money/talk to people/book appointments for later (one can hope!). If the other MT were to join us, then we'd be able to rotate two on, two off, and really get more of a break as well as ability to focus on talking to people.

The bridge is nowhere near as long as the one you linked to (but I have driven across the Causeway, 24 miles across Lake Ponchatrain in south Louisiana) maaaaaaany times in my day. Half an hour on a narrow bridge (2 lanes either direction), with the typical high winds they have down there, is not my idea of "fun", LOL! The scenery surrounding "your" bridge is lovely- much prettier than the Causeway!

Hubby seems to be leaning towards "do it". He's got a mighty touch shell to come out of, but I think it's beginning to crack- especially now that I'm actually part of the business and he is no longer promoting "me" but now "we".

 

[Voobly]

*hehe* Well, "incline" those guys!



I think it will probably be a really big thing for everyone, since your communities are small. You should see if they will have a website for the "building of the bridge" and try to link it up to ya'lls website so that folks can stay up to date with the progress.

If nothing else, ya'll could push that it is a big deal and possibly boost the outcome of citizens at the grand opening!

 

[Billgun]

I hadn't thought of linking to their web site. They have a few typos on there they need to fix! (Pet peeve..... Our site is by no means perfect, but it isn't *complete* yet, either!). I would want to discuss the possibilities with the committee to see what we might be able to work out. Especially if the other MT wants in, that'd give us two sets of two. Maybe I could find some others to join up too- I don't care so much about "competition" as I do about what a great opportunity this would be to reach and educate "the masses" about massage in general! It could cost twice as much, though- two booths instead of just one.

I think the first step will be to contact the committee and see what's up. They may poo-poo the whole idea of both sides, but they may not, too!

 

[flabbrgastdNY24]

What about teaming up with a MT or health care business on the other side? As if for instance one was in Minneapolis vs. St. Paul, MN.

Or an example I am more familiar with is the Quad Cities, with Davenport and Bettendorf, Iowa on one side of the Mississippi River, and Silvus and Moline, Illinois on the other.

This way you may be able to "reach out" to different kinds of folks on each side of the bridge. If ya'll have a sports massage or spa background, you might choose to "team up" with someone who works with a chiropractor, does medical massage, or is in private practice on the other side of the bridge. This would give you and them visibility on BOTH sides of the bridge.

You could "host" someone from their biz on your side, and they could "host" someone from your biz on theirs. And it'd be great if ya'll were somewhat different.

Since you're interested Timedess in offering prenatal in the near future... wouldn't it be awesome if you knew someone who specialized in seniors?

Where I work they are always amazed I'm handing out biz cards or phone numbers of other MTs I know. Since I live in a tourist area I see people from other cities and other states every week. It's such a pleasure introducing them to massage and then being able to help them find a practitioner in their home area!

I think it would be really neat if you could experience that too!

Anyway hope that helps!

 

[yet-knish!]

Interesting ideas, maestra. I'll mull them over. I don't know *when* I'll be able to work on this idea- after tax time, to be sure. I don't want to wait too long, though- this particular area seems to have a "one of each flavor" sort of mentality when it comes to vendors, and if I want to get in, much less build a team of MT's to go in WITH us, we can't wait too awfully long.

Ahhhh, you mentioned finding someone who specializes in seniors. I want to find someone to teach me how to work on them myself! Not that I want to specialize in them, but because I want to give my sweet Gram bodywork. She is *very* tender, *very* delicate. I think that I could "get by" with giving her the lightest Swedish I can do.... she couldn't take it for long, I don't think, but she did respond quite favorably when I mentioned maybe taking her over to the office and giving her a massage "sometime". I would prefer to have some training before I do that, though I don't rightly know how much time we have, if you know what I mean (she's 91). I doubt she'd be agreeable to me taking her to someone else, though- it's me or nobody. She doesn't even like for my hubby to "massage" her, though she LOVES his numerous hugs!

Give me a few days (maybe weeks at the rate we're going! LOL!), and I'll see what I can find out. I'll let ya know what happens!

 

[old cat lady]

The lady who is coordinating the vendor packages for not only this event, but also ALL the local area/city events, just left here. She's a wonderful gal, and so excited that we're here and interested in supporting the community like this.

We discussed some possible options, which she is going to run by the committee (ooh, I know I should be scared - it's a *committee*! LOL!), and then, based on what she comes back to me with, I may have a lot of questions for you pros out here! Either way, we *will* be at this event!