1st show question - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

sawdustus · 07-22-2009, 12:13 PM

I am seriously considering entering a street fair that my town and the local Kiwanis Club has run for the past 10 years. It is a rain or shine affair that has been well attended in the past. They are cutting back some this year because of budget constraints but I can still get in. The 10 x 12 booth area is only $65 with a limited number of electrical outlets available for $50 extra. I have the ability to bring one of my saws to the show so that I can do some cutting to show that the work is not pre-purchased laser cut stuff, and/or as demonstrations at selected times. There have been some scrolled works available at the show in the past but not many and never a demonstration of scrolling. My question is this: should I spend the extra $50 and try to get an outlet location?

george

Bill Wilson · 07-22-2009, 12:25 PM

I'll qualify my response by admitting that I don't sell at craft shows, so I'm not much of an authority on the subject, but our club does demonstrations at a couple each year and the wife & I go to several craft festivals a year. From what I've seen, doing demonstrations really draws people in and that is the key. You want to get their attention and if something is going on, many will stop to watch as opposed to just walking on by. If they stop to watch, they are more likely to buy. If nothing else, take some patterns for future projects to work on so that at least the time is productive. If there are lots of kids running around, make sure you have some simple cutouts that you can give away.

Good luck!

wood-n-things · 07-22-2009, 10:53 PM

I've done several with and without electricity and the ability to demo far out sells the inability to demo. You can actually sell name signs on the spot. Bring along all the material you need such as spray adhesive..printer or templates for letters etc. You may be amazed at how many names you sell in a short period of time.

An alternative to having a printer available is to have several plaques ready to go with very popular names already to be cut out, use these as your demo pieces. Michael, Michele, Adam, Mary, Betty etc....

If you have a laptop available have your patterns available for people to browse with you and take orders. I require a 50% non-refundable deposit. Once I begin cutting an order the deposit is Mine. (the non-refundable part) I make this perfectly clear at the time of sale. If they contact me prior to my actually beginning their project they can still cancel the order and I give a 100% refund, in that case.

Plaquerd · 07-23-2009, 12:09 AM

George
I demo at every show that allows it. It does bring more people into my booth. I give everything I demo away to the people watching. Just little compound butter flies, doves swans deer etc. Kids love them and kids bring their parents.

markdavd · 07-23-2009, 01:09 AM

Have someone with you who can make sales/take money, etc. while you're cutting. Otherwise you'll have to stop the demo everytime someone wants to buy something.

KtownScroller · 07-23-2009, 02:34 AM

Lots of great suggestions. Demo for sure. Well worth the extra $$$.

sawdustus · 07-23-2009, 11:27 AM

Thanks for all the advice. You have made my mind up. The Delta, and my daughter, comes with me as it is easier to change blades, bottom thread holes (as long as the piece is not more than 4" x 4") and cuts faster and more aggressively than the Hawk. Better for stand up puzzles and not too delicate work. I am planning on posting a sign that demonstrations will occur every 30 minutes. That way I can both do them (about 15 minutes worth) and talk to people the rest of the time. Now to get my butt moving and hope I get an electric spot.

george

Paladin · 07-23-2009, 11:33 AM

I haven't tried it myself yet, but have heard that a car battery with one of those dc/ac converters will run a scroll saw for quite some time. If you're unable to get a spot with electricity, you may want to give that a try as well.

Richard Grover · 07-23-2009, 11:55 AM

George,
So where and when is this craft show? I too live in New Jersey and I might want to stop by and visit for a while, depending upon time and location.

DG Dewalt 788

wood-n-things · 07-23-2009, 06:04 PM

Paladin,
I heard the same thing about using a marine battery. Perhaps a little investigative work is in order. Maybe a solar powered generator to recharge the battery as you work...LOL

07-22-2009, 12:13 PM	#1
sawdustus Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,255	1st show question I am seriously considering entering a street fair that my town and the local Kiwanis Club has run for the past 10 years. It is a rain or shine affair that has been well attended in the past. They are cutting back some this year because of budget constraints but I can still get in. The 10 x 12 booth area is only $65 with a limited number of electrical outlets available for $50 extra. I have the ability to bring one of my saws to the show so that I can do some cutting to show that the work is not pre-purchased laser cut stuff, and/or as demonstrations at selected times. There have been some scrolled works available at the show in the past but not many and never a demonstration of scrolling. My question is this: should I spend the extra $50 and try to get an outlet location? george __________________ A day without sawdust is a day without sunshine. George delta 650, hawk G426

07-22-2009, 12:25 PM	#2
Bill Wilson Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Butler, PA Posts: 700	I'll qualify my response by admitting that I don't sell at craft shows, so I'm not much of an authority on the subject, but our club does demonstrations at a couple each year and the wife & I go to several craft festivals a year. From what I've seen, doing demonstrations really draws people in and that is the key. You want to get their attention and if something is going on, many will stop to watch as opposed to just walking on by. If they stop to watch, they are more likely to buy. If nothing else, take some patterns for future projects to work on so that at least the time is productive. If there are lots of kids running around, make sure you have some simple cutouts that you can give away. Good luck! __________________ Homer : "Oh, and how is education supposed to make me feel smarter. Besides, every time I learn something new, it pushes some old stuff out of my brain."

07-22-2009, 10:53 PM	#3
wood-n-things Behave Yourself..I can't. Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Right here ---silly Posts: 6,006 Blog Entries: 1	I've done several with and without electricity and the ability to demo far out sells the inability to demo. You can actually sell name signs on the spot. Bring along all the material you need such as spray adhesive..printer or templates for letters etc. You may be amazed at how many names you sell in a short period of time. An alternative to having a printer available is to have several plaques ready to go with very popular names already to be cut out, use these as your demo pieces. Michael, Michele, Adam, Mary, Betty etc.... If you have a laptop available have your patterns available for people to browse with you and take orders. I require a 50% non-refundable deposit. Once I begin cutting an order the deposit is Mine. (the non-refundable part) I make this perfectly clear at the time of sale. If they contact me prior to my actually beginning their project they can still cancel the order and I give a 100% refund, in that case. __________________ The Mike One of them anyway. I don't make mistakes..I thought I made a mistake once, but I was wrong. Mike's Wood-n-Things

07-23-2009, 12:09 AM	#4
Plaquerd Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Northwest New Jersey Posts: 1,333	George I demo at every show that allows it. It does bring more people into my booth. I give everything I demo away to the people watching. Just little compound butter flies, doves swans deer etc. Kids love them and kids bring their parents. __________________ Dave "Tight's tight, too tight's broken" www.lakeviewscrollsawing.com

07-23-2009, 02:34 AM	#6
KtownScroller <<< Member >>> Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 2,774	Lots of great suggestions. Demo for sure. Well worth the extra $$$. __________________ -- Rick --

07-23-2009, 01:09 AM	#5
markdavd Mark Davidson Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Dallas, Ga Posts: 90	Have someone with you who can make sales/take money, etc. while you're cutting. Otherwise you'll have to stop the demo everytime someone wants to buy something.

07-23-2009, 11:27 AM	#7
sawdustus Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,255	Thanks for all the advice. You have made my mind up. The Delta, and my daughter, comes with me as it is easier to change blades, bottom thread holes (as long as the piece is not more than 4" x 4") and cuts faster and more aggressively than the Hawk. Better for stand up puzzles and not too delicate work. I am planning on posting a sign that demonstrations will occur every 30 minutes. That way I can both do them (about 15 minutes worth) and talk to people the rest of the time. Now to get my butt moving and hope I get an electric spot. george __________________ A day without sawdust is a day without sunshine. George delta 650, hawk G426

07-23-2009, 11:33 AM	#8
Paladin Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 72	I haven't tried it myself yet, but have heard that a car battery with one of those dc/ac converters will run a scroll saw for quite some time. If you're unable to get a spot with electricity, you may want to give that a try as well.

07-23-2009, 11:55 AM	#9
Richard Grover Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 152	George, So where and when is this craft show? I too live in New Jersey and I might want to stop by and visit for a while, depending upon time and location. DG Dewalt 788

07-23-2009, 06:04 PM	#10
wood-n-things Behave Yourself..I can't. Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Right here ---silly Posts: 6,006 Blog Entries: 1	Paladin, I heard the same thing about using a marine battery. Perhaps a little investigative work is in order. Maybe a solar powered generator to recharge the battery as you work...LOL __________________ The Mike One of them anyway. I don't make mistakes..I thought I made a mistake once, but I was wrong. Mike's Wood-n-Things

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