Just thought I'd share some pics of the show we were in today and how we set up our booth. It was a constant crowd ... I didn't get to sit down until the fashion show started. Very good responses. I also was the speaker before the fashion show with 10 Tips to Save Money (and the grand total saved was $6505!)

THe Halloween cake I made specifically for this show went over well, but the cake that got the best reaction was one that was over a year old (green with fuschia dots). I was thinking of scraping this one down, but I think if I do, I'll have to just re-create it!!

Hope these come out in the right order!!

Very nice booth Debi!!! Was this the Richmond show?

Yes, my hometown. The show provided lunch, but it was Subway (which I like) but it was set up where you basically had to make your own sandwich (they had the bread with meat on it and lots of containers of "fixin's"!). For vendors who have zero time for lunch anyway, we decided to skip lunch rather than stand in line. But hubby's niece, who manages the MCL cafeteria, came by and went over to MCL and got us a nice hot lunch! Salisbury steak, cheesy mashed potatoes, green beans with bacon! Yeah, baby, it pays to have relatives in high places!!

It can be so hard to grab lunch at a bridal show..... we should make a small company that will bring lunch to vendors at bridal shows....we'd make a killing!! (like you don't have enough companies to run anyway )

Last year, MCL had a booth at the show and they made box lunches, and my niece had her employees take the lunches to the booths, which was a GREAT help, especially for those of us who were working a booth solo!

Is it expensive to rent a booth/table?

There was one this weekend at the Ramada, but I'm still not comfortable standing in front of all those people. How do you rid yourself of the nerves, etc. of standing there in a large room with a bunch of stangers? I've got to become Zen and be "one with the cake show".

K2, I may be the wrong one to help with the nervous part of your question, becasue I'm a big ham and just LUV a stage and a microphone! When I was doing my 20 minute speech to the spectators at the show today, my family was cringing because they had to cover the booth while I was on stage. They said, "This is what YOU do mom, we suck at it!" So I've never really had "nerves" about doing it. I'm usually chomping at the bit to run up on stage and please don't tell me my time is up already!

But I can tell you ..... if you're going to do this as a business, you better get used to talking to people. We are salesmen, first and foremost, because if we're not selling, we're not earning.

Booth space can vary a lot. As low as $100 to as much as $3000 or more. Sometimes it includes ads in the program or the local paper, sometimes it's an extra fee. ALways be sure to get the bridal database list after the show (they usually email it to you).

K2, it funny how different situations affect people differently. My husband, who can command an audience when he's giving a speech, who enjoys and is good at doing stand-up comedy on a stage ... absolutely hates meeting new people on a one-to-one basis. Let him talk to a group of people and he's fine. Ask him to introduce himself to one person and he suddenly turns into Shirley Shy-Boy.

Indydebi--thanks for posting. Even though I do this craft as hobby I am so grateful for all the sharing that is done by the professionals. I have found that what I am taught here finds it's way into my life here and there.

Your displays are beautiful.

I agree, it's just weird how we are hard-wired so differently.
I become a virtual statue in the above situations, yet in art school I was a nude figure model for extra cash since I commuted, and that was "no big deal". Granted the classes were locked, and it was a respected space. Maybe it's a speaking thing...???? Who knows?

That's cool that your husband is a comic. I'm a HUGE fan of Brian Regan. Great humor, even safe for my kid to watch.

Thanks for posting pics.

What a nice booth! Thanks for the photos.
Great idea to make your 'table"--you're sucha genius that way.

I love talking cakes--K2 next time (er first time) I'm in Maine I'll come chat the folks up with yah.

Thanks for taking the time to post the descriptions on all the photos and share your story, Indydebi!

Great job Debi!

When I did a bridal show, I have a half-rack (that I altered myself) and it has a wooden top and I covered that with a cloth and turned it into a table as well. With all the samples on the sheet pans underneath it, I only had to reach in for more and they were tucked out of the way. When the show was over, I loaded everything in/on it and wheeled it out... one of the smartest things I ever thought up.

BTW, the Halloween cake is too cute!

LOL

You know we lub you lotses!

yes, they are precut and in sm (4 oz) styrofoam cups with lids. If I package them in my comm'l kitchen, then I have zero issues with local health departments. Some health depts require a portable handwashing station if you are serving any open food whatsoever. I don't want to screw around with that, so I just "keep it simple!" for me!

Plus there is no way that I would have had room or time to cut a cake and talk to the constant stream of people who were at the booth. This way, I can just reach down, grab a container and a fork (without even looking down) and keep talking to brides.