Posted by Steve Cebula on November 23, 2011 at 1:38pm
I agree that raising fees during times of declining sales is a model for failure. I really don't know the answer as I have heard some stories of cities charging promoters more for services like police etc as they are looking for more revenue too. Promoters have the option to pass costs along via higher booth and app fees. Artists can't simply raise the selling price of their work and hope to recover these costs. Another area is fees from merchant account providers to process credit card payments. Have you looked hard at your statement lately? Besides the rate, transaction fees, access fees, compliance fees, and the new big one Rewards Card Fees! Add in the higher fuel costs, hotel etc and we are being squeezed to death. I have cancelled a show when it was far from home and I could not get into events on either side of that weekend. It was simply to expensive to travel that far for one show. My wife and I used to eat out one night of a show weekend, now we don' t, we pack a lunch at the shows, we shop harder for materials and supplies, the list goes on. All this to stay even, not make any more. I truly hope the new year brings some changes and more sales for us all.
Actually, Steve, you don't need one contract to run out before you start using the other. I use two CC services now.
The original service Propay (that I now use the "Jak" device with my Iphone) has benefits I am not sure I wish to give up, but has a $$ limit without submitting massive amounts of personal information (I am surprised they haven't asked for a health physical from me), The Square allows me to handle those few occasional purchases over that amount. I am testing the Square out and continue to find excellent benefits such as taking a photo of the person's driver license when I now get the occasional check - I just got stung from one customer and am still determining whether or not to continue to allow checks...now how is that for a turn around in payments we accept? Cash or CC cards, but we are highly considering only that acceptance of payment now.
There are other ways to save too..not necessarily the most desirable...but when it comes to the bottom line...such as, sharing hotel/motel costs or finding a timeshare/condo and share with other vendors. We travel in a really old motorhome with our dogs. When I compared all the costs of kenneling, motels, meals out, etc v the costs of maintenance and expenses of the motorhome - they were almost identical, in fact, the motorhome costs have gone down while the motel/hotels/meals have all gone up. While it is an initial investment, in the long run, for me it is the only way to go. And, if its large enough bed wise, you can always take on other vendors for a nominal fee that would cover any hook-up/camp fees which can also be extremely reasonable if you have for instance a fairgrounds close by - the majority of the time - they have hook-ups for a fraction of what regular campgrounds cost. And the list goes on.
Anyway, living this type of lifestyle as everyone else knows requires sharing information, it may not apply to every list participant here...but by sharing "how we do it" may just be the thing to help someone else to continue to do what they love to do too.
As to booth fees - occasionally - I offer to help with such things as web site design in exchange for advertisement or in exchange for my booth fee, or an upgrade to a larger booth, etc. It never hurts to ask. Its that sweat-equity factor we sometimes forget about.
Well I would rather pay more for a show I am in than more to apply.At least if I am in the show I have a chance to recover some of it.But the application fees are getting to high.When your sending out for shows that are on the same weekends just so you know you will have a show.That to me is a total loss.
Comments
Actually, Steve, you don't need one contract to run out before you start using the other. I use two CC services now.
The original service Propay (that I now use the "Jak" device with my Iphone) has benefits I am not sure I wish to give up, but has a $$ limit without submitting massive amounts of personal information (I am surprised they haven't asked for a health physical from me), The Square allows me to handle those few occasional purchases over that amount. I am testing the Square out and continue to find excellent benefits such as taking a photo of the person's driver license when I now get the occasional check - I just got stung from one customer and am still determining whether or not to continue to allow checks...now how is that for a turn around in payments we accept? Cash or CC cards, but we are highly considering only that acceptance of payment now.
There are other ways to save too..not necessarily the most desirable...but when it comes to the bottom line...such as, sharing hotel/motel costs or finding a timeshare/condo and share with other vendors. We travel in a really old motorhome with our dogs. When I compared all the costs of kenneling, motels, meals out, etc v the costs of maintenance and expenses of the motorhome - they were almost identical, in fact, the motorhome costs have gone down while the motel/hotels/meals have all gone up. While it is an initial investment, in the long run, for me it is the only way to go. And, if its large enough bed wise, you can always take on other vendors for a nominal fee that would cover any hook-up/camp fees which can also be extremely reasonable if you have for instance a fairgrounds close by - the majority of the time - they have hook-ups for a fraction of what regular campgrounds cost. And the list goes on.
Anyway, living this type of lifestyle as everyone else knows requires sharing information, it may not apply to every list participant here...but by sharing "how we do it" may just be the thing to help someone else to continue to do what they love to do too.
As to booth fees - occasionally - I offer to help with such things as web site design in exchange for advertisement or in exchange for my booth fee, or an upgrade to a larger booth, etc. It never hurts to ask. Its that sweat-equity factor we sometimes forget about.
Well I would rather pay more for a show I am in than more to apply.At least if I am in the show I have a chance to recover some of it.But the application fees are getting to high.When your sending out for shows that are on the same weekends just so you know you will have a show.That to me is a total loss.