I have a booth reserved at a Bridal Open House (showcasing vendors of all types, wedding oriented) this coming weekend that I cannot attend due to prior unbreakable obligations. I am sending my hubby along to set everything up and he will return that evening to take everything home.

I am putting out 2 display dummies, a framed "this is me, sorry I coudn't make it, check out my crap" letter (not worded like that, but ya know what I mean).

I plan on putting biz cards out, numbered so I can get an idea of how many people came by, and some information sheets about what I offer.

What would you guys do to make sure that they left your booth armed with info and convinced that you were the decorator to go to.....when you're not able to speak to them right then and there? Hubby can't stay either, and as much as planner has said she will be as helpful as possible, she's got her own gig to push that night.

And something is telling me I may have asked this question before....but I don't recall getting any input if I did. So sorry if y'all have read this before.

Thanks for your help guys.....I'm all ears for any suggestions!!

Do you have any girlfriends or daughters, DIL's, MIL's anything like that who would be willing to sit in booth and "personally" hand out the cards and talk your work up? Then I'd put a computer in the booth with pictures of your previous creations running continuously so whoever is sitting there for you, can "show" them a bit of your work
When we did that at a bridal show, ALOT of people stood and watched that video, and I think it did a lot of good. Good luck!

Thanks sweetcakes...ya know, I don't have any of those people that you mentioned, none I can seriously depend on anyhow! Lol.....mom, well, she would go in with good intentions of helping, but would probably let something slip like "fondant is terrible tasting (she forgets sometimes that I don't use packaged fondant). A computer is a good idea.

I also planned on putting framed pics of past cakes on the table too. Different sizes.

Well I'd say that *you* are the best thing that could be at that booth girl... does your hubby know enough about it all to be a reliable fountain of information? Will he be like a deer in headlights with the questions? Is he armed with info and able to field the questions that they will be asking about sizes and decor and flavors and above all price?

I love my husband... but I don't think I'd send him into the trenches at a show... unless I was mad at him...

Other than that, make sure your table is nicely decorated and not too busy. Informative is nice... cluttered is not. Keep it as minimal as you can. Have eye catching display cakes and have samples (if you will be having them) displayed nicely while being easily accessible. I had my laptop with a powerpoint slide show of other work going and it was well recieved. Next time I am going to have a nice 10x14 digital picture frame as I think it will look nicer than the computer. I'll post a picture of my table at the last show. It was fun but a LOT of work. Start having the hubby practice now... he'll need it.

Ooooh... I see he is not staying?? Hmmm.... not sure what I would put at an unmanned booth. I'm not sure how effective you can be without someone there to pimp your stuff. The interaction with the brides-to-be is what sells your stuff. Being completely blunt and direct here, but honestly I think many will just pass on by a booth with no person there to tend to it.

Too bad you're not close or I'd help you out.

Editting to add that I'd not have a computer there or a digi-frame for fear it might get lifted.

Thanks Jeanne....yeah, the one weekend of the year I couldn't change my plans, nice huh?

Your display is what I'm going for. Hubby could stay, and he pays attention to what I do, and is interested, so it's really nice that he would know a lot of it. Maybe I'll talk him into it.

I am just going to take my chances and hope that dummy cakes, pictures, cards and an information sheet will be enough. There aren't going to be any other decorators there at all, so I kind of have the corner on it for that day at least. That's a good thing!

No problem... I really would help if I could. This weekend is the one weekend this month I have no cakes... ahhhhh... sweet rest.

I'd get to talking him up on the show. Having a body there will be a great help to your cause. Having the market cornered will be a help too.

How about doing a give away (like a small, 8 inch, party cake) to get potential customers to drop their names and contact info off for you, htey could drop it into a locked box or fish bowl?

To bad you dont have an assistant or fellow decorator that could do this for you.

If your booth is going to be unattended, I would recommend not leaving anything you don't want stolen. And I'd expect to find your dummies completely manhandled as well.

People are stupid and want to touch or take everything.

If you want to have photos of you cakes, instead of a computer slideshow, I'd recommend buying some of those electronic photo frames. They are much less expensive than a computer, and not as tempting to touch and fiddle with. (And cheaper to replace should something happen).

Good luck!

Geeez Jeanne, I just noticed you offered to help if you weren't so far away...I'd fly you out here for sure if I could!!! You'd be the perfect person behind that booth!!!

Ugh, the more I think about missing the thing, the tighter my stomach gets. Kind of sort of hoping this deal I gotta go to gets cancelled!

I don't have any experience to add, but just thought I'd mention what I thought of when I read your post - Have a photo of yourself also, so that people can see you and know what you look like, and that you're a real person! It's good advice to have nothing on the table that you wouldn't be upset to lose.

Good luck - I hope it goes well.

Photo of myself for sure!

Update...I am not the only cake vendor to be there. But of the other two, one is a chain bakery with a rep for telling brides they can do this or that and giving them "sort of what they asked for"....and the other is great with cutesy stuff, but I have yet to see a real live example of a wedding cake from her....so those are two more things in my favor.

But now I know for sure that my booth cannot be unmanned...no way. No way. So, gonna talk to mom and hubby and see who would be better for it. This should be a interesting balance of "I love you for doing this, but don't you dare screw it up for me!!!"....Got some serious thinking to do....wish me luck!

I feel your pain! When I was the speaker at a bridal show, and my oldest daughter had to cover the booth for a lousy 20 minutes, omg, you'd have thought I asked her to make a lifesize gumpaste pope or something! I got back to the booth and she HAPPILY handed me the reins back saying, "Mom, this is what YOU do! You know I"m not a people person! No one can Bullsh*t these poeple like you can, so try to avoid needing me anymore!" (don't 'cha just luv 'em?)

This could mean some serious potential customers so not being at the booth could seriously diminish that.If I were a Bride and was walking around...I would probably pass by the booth with no one there to discuss wedding cakes with and look for a booth that at least has a body there.I know you are thinking about reconsidering..I would attend!

Geez...what a great typist I am today! Sorry for all the misspellings and run on words!

As long as they can somewhat talk to the people then that is better than nothing..Hope it goes well!

What city is the show?

Oh it's just in my podunk little hometown, it's not a show persay, it's just a gathering of local vendors.

Fromscratch I love your booth! And good luck to the OP, cause if i was the bride, I would walk pass your booth with the thought of "If you didn't care enough to be at your booth, how much could you possibly care about my cake". The odds are not in your favor that they're going to think of maybe you had a commitment you just copuld not break, seeing as how you had time to set up a booth. I can only suggest a real catchy & real spectacular booth to make people stop & consider you.

I am having someone there. It is unfortunate that I cannot be there. I absolutely cannot 100% be there. But I will have someone there...I cam to that decision a few posts back.

Good luck & I hope it works out, cause that would suck for the brides! You do beautiful work!

Thank you!

I would see if another vendor (not cakes, more like makeup) would like to be there and will possibly even chip in a bit. I had to do that once. It worked out great for both of us.

Best of luck to you! I did a festival once and I was sooo nervous, I couldn't even stand up! (Granted I had been up till 2 am that morning) Thankfully, my husband stepped up for me and totally sold my stuff without even batting an eyelash. I'm so proud of him Isn't that what hubby's are for?

I guess I am a minority in this crowd. I am not a people person at all and when I was a bride-to-be at the shows I felt much more comfortable when I could just look at the work and not be hounded by the vendor. So as an onlooker, I'd pick my cake by what looks the best, not by who I talked to the most. I'm sure there are plenty of other people like me who will notice your talent more than your absence. Good luck!

I'm not a people-person either I don't know how anyone could after working retail, lol! I think I would probably avoid the event altogether and ask a married friend where they got their cake....if I liked it of course.

Well....I am calmed down a bit now. All is well. Have my display cakes done, need to buy some frames for pictures, and run off copies of stuff on cardstock at Staples. Mom is manning the booth for me, and is excited....that's a good thing. She will get a little "cheat sheet" of things to say and we will practice what requires a "Jamie will be more than happy to explain that to you herself" response. Whew....I'm determined to have the largest presence there no matter what!