thinking out loud
Many Pagan festivals have vendors at them. I know - I've been vending at them off and on for about 7 years.
Most places, the vendors are...an afterthought. They're something neato-cool, but not seen as a major part of the event (although it seems that if you read the feedback forms at the festivals here locally, the vendors are *very* important to the attendees).
In most of the events I've been to as a vendor, the person running the vendor room/area had no idea what they were doing. And, having spent quite a bit of time actively working with a group that ran a nationally known craft show series (400 artists and craftspeople, 2 weekends a year) before I became Pagan, it's always obvious to me when the organizers of an event haven't thought the whole thing through from the perspective of the vendors.
So, I'm thinking: what about a festival that's largely centered around vendors? Have a few workshops, sure...I mean, you can't shop *all* weekend, right? But then have a ton of vendors...50 maybe? Maybe more...enough to make it worth the weekend.
There's a gem show here locally that does their shows at an Embassy Suites hotel. Most of the vendors are set up in their hotel rooms - which have a living room area and a bedroom area. A set-up like this would allow vendors to take breaks - shop the other vendors - or even shut it all down and take a nap. It eliminates the issue of what hours the vending room is open - vendors are open whenever it suits them throughout the weekend, for whatever hours they see fit, though of course, there'd be some recommended times for vending to run.
So, how would an event like this pay the bills? Well, using hotel rooms, you'd probably get enough credit to get a ball room or two for free, for whatever workshops you did. It'd also probably get you your "con suite" free. You'd want to charge the vendors for a "vending license" for the event, obviously, but it wouldn't have to be all that much.
Then, I'd think you'd also charge attendees. But I think to make that work, you'd have to make vendors somehow check for a badge for each sale. Or something like that....some slick way of making it all work. Wristbands. Or a bunch of tickets. Or something.
Anyways....just thinking, trying to work my way through how something like this might work.
Most places, the vendors are...an afterthought. They're something neato-cool, but not seen as a major part of the event (although it seems that if you read the feedback forms at the festivals here locally, the vendors are *very* important to the attendees).
In most of the events I've been to as a vendor, the person running the vendor room/area had no idea what they were doing. And, having spent quite a bit of time actively working with a group that ran a nationally known craft show series (400 artists and craftspeople, 2 weekends a year) before I became Pagan, it's always obvious to me when the organizers of an event haven't thought the whole thing through from the perspective of the vendors.
So, I'm thinking: what about a festival that's largely centered around vendors? Have a few workshops, sure...I mean, you can't shop *all* weekend, right? But then have a ton of vendors...50 maybe? Maybe more...enough to make it worth the weekend.
There's a gem show here locally that does their shows at an Embassy Suites hotel. Most of the vendors are set up in their hotel rooms - which have a living room area and a bedroom area. A set-up like this would allow vendors to take breaks - shop the other vendors - or even shut it all down and take a nap. It eliminates the issue of what hours the vending room is open - vendors are open whenever it suits them throughout the weekend, for whatever hours they see fit, though of course, there'd be some recommended times for vending to run.
So, how would an event like this pay the bills? Well, using hotel rooms, you'd probably get enough credit to get a ball room or two for free, for whatever workshops you did. It'd also probably get you your "con suite" free. You'd want to charge the vendors for a "vending license" for the event, obviously, but it wouldn't have to be all that much.
Then, I'd think you'd also charge attendees. But I think to make that work, you'd have to make vendors somehow check for a badge for each sale. Or something like that....some slick way of making it all work. Wristbands. Or a bunch of tickets. Or something.
Anyways....just thinking, trying to work my way through how something like this might work.