Event Coverage Attn car show vendors: I need your opinion?!?!?

Also consider this. I do several shows out here in CA where I give a raffle donation in the amount of my vendor space. This could be a gift certificate, always in my case, or products with a retail value equal to that of the space. That way, the vendor's name gets double exposure and you get an awesome raffle table. Heck last year at one event they had so much expensive products they did a silent auction and raffle. We saw Ididit steering columns, disk brake set ups, gift certs for wheels, etc.

 

think my corner spaces at Pate this year and last are $45....and regular spot is $35....some 35 yrs ago they were $15 and $10....that's without a cover

 

If its your first event maybe you should consider not "starting at the top",IE and bite the bullet the first year to get a crowd,and a good rep with the participants......
Then maybe you will have a better feel for what is the norm in the show circles.....

 

First year of Torque Fest we had 10 x 10 spots for $50
2nd year was $75
3rd year was $100
4th year is $100
Swap meet spots are a LOT cheaper.
Every year we have been sold out of spots. By limiting the amount of vendor and swap space, you have more people that are willing to send in their money early.....
As the show grows and the vendors do well - charge more.
I am a vendor 30 weeks a year (and have been since 1992) and I never complain about increasing rates at a show that I do well at.
Some have complained to me about charging too much at Torque Fest....
I understand that some can not make enough $$$ at our show. I tell those vendors to just come out and have a good time instead.
There are certain shows that I do where I only break even.....but I want to go and hang out and have a good time. That is part of this whole gig.
Hope there is a strong turnout - if you provide the spectators then the vendors will do well and you will have more vendors the following year trying to set up at your show.
Then the tough part is telling them you already have a waiting list..........

 

100.00 for a one day gig............... yeah in a pigs eye ! scrubba

 

$75 for a vendor fee at one day show is very fair. What I've done in the past is this...a lot of the shows where I had been a regular for several years wouldn't charge me anything because they thought I was an attraction even though I was getting paid to stripe. If I did well, and the money they made was going for a good cause, I would flip some bucks their way, which was usually more than they charged for the spaces.

Just do it and see what happens. Overthinking gets you nowhere but a nobel prize.