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  Kathleen J. Clausen May 3, 2012 at 2:08pm

  I certainly consider those things, too.  I have to say that my physical/emotional state at certain times really influences how much aggravation factor goes into the mix.  For that reason, Linnea, you're onto something trying to make it more objective.  This entire blog has given me a lot to consider.  Thanks, Oscar, for putting this challenging situation up for comments.
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  Linnea Lahlum May 3, 2012 at 11:13am

  I’ve been wondering how to factor in the hours needed for a show, that are not the open hours. Like how much time it takes me to set up and tear down, plus daily “set up the work.”  It typically takes me 3 hours to set up the booth, and 2 ½ to tear down. That is not counting putting up the work.

   

  Thus far I have not put that into any equation, except in my mind (like, “this show will have 14 hour days.”). I also consider the aggravation factor. Long drive, pre-dawn set up, etc. But I’m not sure how to weight that, other than in my head (“Oh, have to get up at 3 am! Ugh). I”ve been thinking I should make it more mathematical. For example, pre-dawn same day set up, 0.2. Therefore sales at that show (say $1000) get multipliedby 0.2 ($200) Subtract $200 from $1000, sales are now $800 when factoring in aggravation. But maybe this is a pointless exercis.
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  Ruth Finkenbiner May 2, 2012 at 4:57pm

  Merritt - Yes, I split my  booth fees, travel expenses evenly across the days / hours.  Looking at the profit per day and per hour was really helpful for us when deciding to drop some shows we felt were "iffy".  For example, we had one 3 day show where sales were okay, booth fee was relatively low and it was in a lovely park setting, however, it was combined with a "Taste of" event and hassle factor was pretty big.  Then we looked at the hourly numbers, it's one of those shows that goes until 9 PM on Fri & Sat and 8 PM on Sunday (Yuck).  After looking at the profit per hour, we decided if we really wanted to make minimum wage we could do it with a lot less effort and hassle.  Needless to say that show hasn't been on our list in recent years.
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  merritt m menefee-johnson May 2, 2012 at 2:35pm

  when I did the Tucson show this year, I used the square to collect credit cards...and one thing I really liked afterward, looking at my sales...was that it noted what time I ran cards....it charts the sales by hour.

  I could see in the 3 days of sales what times/days were the purchasing times.

  It will be interesting to look at the next festival's stats...and compare.  I try and keep records, but I always think I'll catch up when I get back home to the studio...and then something else (life) gets in the way.

  @Ruth...I like your comment/input.  In your weighted average, how do you figure in the booth fee/expenses into the profit calculation....do you split it evenly between the number of days ? 
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  Ruth Finkenbiner May 2, 2012 at 11:13am

  Kathleen - hope it helps.  We just found that looking at just sales was somewhat meaningless.  For example, we have a large local show that has a $600 booth fee, we usually do around 3K and just have to pay for parking, no travel expense.  However, it's 3 long days.  Then we were looking at another local show where it's a $200 booth fee, 2 short days and we can do $2000 on average.  Guess which one we'd rather do?  After looking at the numbers from that perspective we changed our show schedule.
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  Kathleen J. Clausen May 2, 2012 at 10:49am

  Ruth, That's a slick way of evaluating the shows.  We've been keeping track of things, but never broke things down so concisely.  Thanks for the ideas!
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  Carla Bank May 2, 2012 at 3:35am

  Seduced by glamour...I like that. I can relate :) Not this year, I learned the hard way! There's smaller Chicago shows that are great, lower costs, more profitable. 
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  Ruth Finkenbiner May 2, 2012 at 12:59am

  Good question, I'm sure it's one we all ask ourselves at times.   It took a few years, but we finally have a set of metrics that I generate for each show that I use to track the following:

  Sales per day

  Sales per hour

  Profit per day

  Profit per hour

  For shows we've done multiple years, I calculate the weighted average as well as look at the trend.

  Bottom line - we decide based upon the profit per hour number.  Profit less than $50 hour, the show is off the list.  $50-$75 we consider and then we have a "hassle" factor we apply, for example, horrendous load out, high theft issue, early Sat. morning unorganized set up, etc. will make it less likely that you'll see us at that show again.  Above $75 and we're happy to return any time they let us in.
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  Linnea Lahlum May 1, 2012 at 10:46pm

  Whenever I am in Michigan before July, I get excited people asking me if I will be in Ann   Arbor. The answer is no. I only did it 3 times, and that was 5 years back. It’s just too hard and too expensive. Because of the late hours, I had to drag my husband with: and that was just too much suffering when you multiply it by two.

   

  I always hope that when I say “No”, they will BUY AT THE SHOW AT WHICH THEY ARE SEEING ME. But no. They just look disappointed, and walk away. I don’t know what the issue is. Does my work become more desirable if it will later be at Ann Arbor?! They don’t get a paycheck til July?! What?! I need to collar someone before they leave and ask next time.

   

  I always have wondered what they buy when they DO get to Ann   Arbor. I am guessing, not much. But maybe I’m completely wrong, and they want to know if I will be there, because they want to invite me to dinner.
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  Annette Piper April 30, 2012 at 5:15pm

  I think you've hit the nail on the head Kathleen -

  We were seduced by the glamour of doing the "big city" Chicago shows, but when it came down to the numbers, we can often do better closer to home where the travel time is less, the cost of food and lodging are much more reasonable.