This weekend is the Haddonfield Arts and Crafts show. It has always been a great show. I was disappointed, however, after reading the Philadelphia Inquirer, that there was no advertising and not even one of the FREE listings in the paper or the weekend section. Despite being a very well established show, customers need reminders of upcoming show dates and times. Most promoters at least take advantage of the Free listings at least. This is a serious oversight as this paper is a large part of our audience base.
The Roses of Rosesquared productions always post where they have advertised. I like this practice and wish more promoters did so. It assures the participants that everyone is working hard to bring buyers to the shows. I always send out our own promotions to our mailing lists but also rely on the organizers of the show to make the general public aware of the event.
Where there is no entrance fee as most summer shows are, the motivation of the promoters to up the attendance numbers is not as concrete as shows where their is a "gate" fee for them to count on.
And that is my rant for this Friday morning. I have to go prepare for the show now. Glad the weather looks good for the weekend. Weekend road warriors unite!
Comments
I just want to say that the Boroffs have been established good promoters for a long time.. My comments were to express my disappointment for not taking advantage of at least a free listing in the metropolitan major newspaper in that area (philly inquirer) not as a slam, but as constructive criticism. Just an oversight?? Or lack or effort after so many years of success? Hard to call.I still have many customers who do not rely only on social networking to get their information. I am one of them and love the newspaper for what's happening in and around the city. I love to walk to the end of the driveway, get the paper and have coffee....oldsters. I do not feel alone in that habit.
I am sure the people will turn out for the show but those who rely on info from print media, as most (over 30) still do, will miss out on notification. It is, unfortunately, up to us who don't listen to 1060 am radio, as a habit to find out from the artists themselves....
This same promoter did a show in Phila, at the Piazza and not only did they not advertise it, but had extra vendors show up on Sat. morning. At least 2, one drove up from Md and the other I believe from NJ. They were both told there was a mistake and they had no booths for them. There was no advertising, signs or the like any where around the show. Post cards were placed on car windshields 2 blocks away. No one made their expenses as no crowd appeared. Many in the buildings just assumed it was the weekly Farmers Market. Some packed up and left Sat afternoon. My husband went back early Sunday Morning and packed up only to find a few new exhibitors setting up in the vacated spaces. One was the exhibitor from Md that was turned away on Sat morning. She was called Sat night and told they had space for her at more then half the booth fee. We made more money then most & we didn't even cover our booth.
The exhibitors all had beautiful work and would have been very well received if people had known about the show. All my husband heard all day was that people were scared not to do the show, or leave for fear of not getting into Haddonfield. I have done Haddonfield for years, and it has always been very good for us. Much better in the past when they advertised. But we will be finding other shows that weekend, as there are many good shows besides that one.
On the flip side, I want to praise Rose Squared, not only do they advertise well, they are always on site, visible and a phone call away.