This Is Going To Cost Me A Fortune Out Of Pocket
Decorating By PartyCake Updated 13 Dec 2009 , 10:28pm by 3GCakes
Call your local newspaper, and tell them what you are doing. Personally invite them to your class. Free advertisement!
Oh wow if its a two day event make sure to invite the newspaper on the second day.. lol.. Cause once it hits the papers no telling how many might show up the next day.. lol Maybe try sandwich bags (they come on a roll and very cheap) for the snowmen so they could take them home with them... Even if you tie the bag with red ribbon I have seen some kids that would just chew through the plastic... lol... Maybe a BIG sign that says please don't leave kids unattended!!!! Even then you might have to point it out to the parents.. I have seen at other events where the parents just walk off and leave their kids, kind of used it as a free babysitter while they looked around..
Wishing you lots of luck..
Edit to add... A couple of weeks ago I attended a BIG Christmas event That weekend there was thousands that attended. They had pictures with Santa and Scrooge and right infront of Santa was a table that was set up for crafts for the kids. It was all done by Walgreens (the crafts and pictures) At the craft table was maybe 4 or 5 teens/women and a child would just walk up infront of one of the workers and that one person would help that one child do their craft. Once they were done with their craft they would step away from the table and another child would take its place. Now I noticed this while I was standing at the table next to them waiting on my daughter Santa picture. (pic was $5 but craft was free) Anyhow while I was standing there waiting for picture I was amazed at how smooth the craft table was going. If kids wanted to do the craft and there the table was full they would walk away and come back in a little while or wait behind the person inftont of them. I never saw any pushing or shoving .. Anyhow. I did want to give you hope.. It can be done. And if you have to go the cupcake route does WM still have DH mixes for 77cents a box? Atleast with marshmellows you wouldn't have to bake anything.. 
In Illinois you can't bake out of your home unless you have a license. Obviously a person wouldn't get sick from a box mix but I just wouldn't want to take the chance. I found chocolate melts for $2.99 lb. at Fischers Nuts Outlet by my house and am going to buy a pound of green melting chocolate and use that for the hats. They have small confetti candy that is shaped like holly which could be attached while chocolate is still warm. I don't know how long it takes for chocolate to dry though on a marshmallow so will try it out first. Maybe I should have the hats pre dipped and just a little chocolate in a dish on the side to dip a straw in to attach sprinkles. This way, no germs and a pound of melting chocolate should go a long way. So far, I've added up my expenses and it is costing me $.50/child but even at $.75/child or $75.00 for the event that is a pretty reasonable way to advertise to 100 children and their parents. I am going to skip using the melting chocolate on the other two marshmallows for cost reasons even though I have seen them on CC and they sure look cute.
I will make sure I tell the teenage helpers that the children only get to make ONE snowman each and to dole out THREE marshmallows for each one instead of having them in a pile. I feel I can control the children if it were only me doing the event but I can see the teenagers letting the kids eat all the candy instead of using it for the projects. When I run out, I run out, since this was included at the last minute and the parents aren't paying extra for it. It is encouraging to hear how well behaved the children were at the event you were at. Hopefully they will all be on their best behaviour since after all, they are there to visit Santa and tell them that they have "Been Nice and Not Naughty". Ha Ha
Dont spend more than you need to. As a mom of three, the event itself is really cool and as long as the kids have fun, then that is what counts.
For moms who are waiting, have a "tasting" Have samples handed out to parents who are waiting for their kids. Also, make a few cakes and have them displayed for people to see what you can do.
Finally, be sure to have a big sign up. www.wholesalebanners.com is affordable. Be sure though if you make a banner, that you have a place to put it and that you will be able to use it for something in the future. Be sure to avoid using the event name. Keep it generic to your name.
Even if the Parks Dept will have your classes listed in their brochure, I'd make sure I had signs up about the classes and maybe even a label pre-pasted onto the treat bag that say "Thanks for making a snowman with (name) today! Sign up for .... classes by (date). (ph number)"
My only other thought is "keep it simple!" As I read your post about melting chocolate and making hats, remember that with kids, especially that many, the craft should be simple enough to do that they could do it mostly by themselves, even if you have helpers. It's ok if the snowman doesn't look at perfect as ones you've seen here--the kids will be excited to make something and show Mom--and then they'll bite the head off before they get it in the bag! 
Good luck!!
You are right about not having to have it perfect. I guess I don't want the craft to look so easy to do that anyone could have thought of it. I never thought that a lot of the kids will just gobble it up right then and there and I could have saved money on the melting chocolate. I am a stickler for detail though and that's what would make me stand out so on the other hand I am willing to go the extra mile. I will have two of my sample cakes there along with brochures advertising birthday parties and classes. I just spent two hours working on an email to another Park District in a very exclusive suburb that has just signed me up for 11 classes in their brochure, 3 of which are guaranteed summer camps with 30 kids each. That alone will be worth the advertisement. I am getting paid for all the classes opposed to the above event so it balances out in the end.
Be sure to have someone there to hand things out. Have a high school student do it, pay them 20 bucks for that time.
You can also use Mexican Gummy hats. There is a candy store in my area called Murray Brothers that sells things like this: Instead of having to make the hats. Probably could stick them on with a dab of icing or maybe even water.
http://www.blaircandy.com/meguha7bu.html
To advertise my children's party business I offered my services for Breakfast with Santa next weekend at a local Park District to have the kids decorate a snowman brownie or cupcake.
In Illinois you can't bake out of your home unless you have a license. Obviously a person wouldn't get sick from a box mix but I just wouldn't want to take the chance.
Okay wait???? I am confused Where, were you orginally going to get the cupcakes/brownies from to start with? Who bakes them for your business? Going by the website you have in your signature I assumed that you made cakes/cupcakes all the time and that was what your business was all about IM CONFUSED!! lol.. 
Also at another Big Art Event. Some of the booths had people walking around in the crowds of people handing out info.. If the teens get tired of sitting still and helping the kids send them on a walk around passing fliers out. Just give them a time to come back, you know how teens can loose track of time.
3GCakes Those little gummy hats are so cute..
You are right about not having to have it perfect. I guess I don't want the craft to look so easy to do that anyone could have thought of it. I never thought that a lot of the kids will just gobble it up right then and there and I could have saved money on the melting chocolate. I am a stickler for detail though and that's what would make me stand out so on the other hand I am willing to go the extra mile. I will have two of my sample cakes there along with brochures advertising birthday parties and classes. I just spent two hours working on an email to another Park District in a very exclusive suburb that has just signed me up for 11 classes in their brochure, 3 of which are guaranteed summer camps with 30 kids each. That alone will be worth the advertisement. I am getting paid for all the classes opposed to the above event so it balances out in the end.
Congrats on the other classes, I think that is awesome!
I completely understand where you are coming from, don't worry though alot of the things we (crafters/bakers, etc) look at as "easy" other people are still really impressed with, so even if it seems like a super simple craft parents could do themselves, that does not discount your business.
I think the idea of having the sticker on the take home bags is excellent and having a flyer with your party services is a must, a few people will take that info and probably use it/ at least visit your site and store that info away.
Have fun, I think this sounds like fun! Oh and I just noticed where you are , I grew up in Libertyville!
I returned from my Breakfast with Santa event and it was a huge success! About 80 well behaved children and their parents attended and it was extremely organized. I spent about 5 hours the day before preparing individual zip lock bags with all the supplies and had my Van packed to the gills with everything else I needed but it was all worth it. The Park District definitely wants to work with me in the future and I am sure I will get some bookings from the exposure. I didn't have as much time to talk with the parents as I wanted since they were focused helping their children but did get to speak with a number of them. All in all, well worth the effort. Going to take a nap now.....I'm more exhausted from the anxiety of it all then the actual physical aspect of it.
What a nice thing to do! But, you might want to tell them you are currently at your max. you can handle, so they won't add more kids.
Unless they want to kick some bucks into this project for you... I would do whatever is the least expensive.
Best wishes -
Jen
I am so happy you wrote to let us all know how it went. I'm even happier to hear it went so well. I knew it would. I think it's great. And wonderful to hear that the kids were well behaved and that the parents were there to help. That does make it more of a family fun time. 
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