Did Anyone Do a Bridal Show This Year?

[Jim Casey]

I did my first solo show in five years last week...

Would have paid $600, but I got it for trade...

Have about 10 leads, 1-2 solid, may book 1 for about $1200

Personally I think this is awful.

I don;t understand how at some shows you guys are able to book on the spot...

They just don't seem to do that here...

What am I missing?

[Cap]

Jim : Most previous bridal shows for me have averaged three bookings. One who has never heard of me, one who was teetering between me and one or two others and the third was going to book anyway but waited for the show to do it.

My preparation has always been meticulous. A fresh bouquet of flowers, lots of cards and demo mini-CDRs, handouts, a laptop, etc. Basically an incorporation of all the great ideas read throughout the threads.

This year, disaster (kinda). There was supposed to be an 8' table. It was a six. There was supposed to be electricity. There was none available until the house could get it to me. There was supposed to 3' of space on either side of my set. There was 20" on one, 12" on the other. The set location was in a corner between a photographer with a sprawling presentation and a hotel/banquet booth with one sign, a person, and cards (shall we spartan).

I had no room to pee, breath, or hope to utilize all the goodies.

That left me with no crutches. So, had to suck it up, be funny and gregarious, and do the best possible. Anything to divert attention from the disaster which was my presentation. Compliment clothing, hair styles, their mother's good looks, and don't ask anything about dates, times, and location until after a two or three minute chat.

It proved successful. 3 2006 bookings and 3 2007 bookings and 4 more in the decision that I would've never had a shot at previously.

[Glen Millar]

I have not done a bridal show since 1997. Here the lowest entry fee to get into a show (booth with 1 8 foot table) is $1500 for 1 day. Then you have to pay extra for power and any other tables you want.

A entry into a bridal show here, done properly, costs at least $3000.00. However the average price for a DJ here is only $500. You have to book 10 shows just to break even. And lately there have been as many as 10 to 12 DJs at each show.

Not worth the time if there is no decernable ROI.

Most brides attending these shows are looking for "budget" DJ's or have already booked their DJ. And many are looking just to see the fashion show and hopefully win the "Grand Prize".

[dj4sale]

I dropped Bridal shows and bride guides. After spending on 2 shows and a bridal guide with leads, I decided that it's a waste of money. I did the mailing lists too (lots o doe on postage) with little or no results. I did only 9 weddings in 2005. One came from one of the bridal shows.

Years ago I could book 2 or 3 on the spot and at least a dozen or more in the weeks and months after just one show. I have 5 weddings booked already for 2006, with no shows. I used to do 30 + weddings a year, but rather do less and charge a bit more.

Sale

[Wolfie]

Greets, Jim.

We did one Downstate last year. It was a dressed-up indoor flea market. It was also a waste of time and money and we dropped it.

Well, not a total waste -- we got the chance to hobnob with fellow DJs and other vendors at the show, some we knew and some we didn't. That was enjoyable. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img]

The people browsing the vendor displays reminded us of open house at a used car lot. They were just wandering around and price-shopping. Though we got several mailing contacts the show was a bust. Not a single booking. We later heard from a couple of the other DJs who were there. They got no business from it, either.

The only vendors who get bookings from these tire-kicker bridal fairs are the ones who let the client name her price. That ain't us. The customers don't run our business.

There's a more upscale show in Dover every year. We might try that one.

[diskjokk]

Jim,

My experience has been about the same as most of the posters in this thread. While in Chicago, i've done 2 Bridal Shows when I ran my own company and 3 while working for someone else.

What I found is that its usually not worth the time and money. I haven't looked at Bridal Shows in St. Louis (now that I live here) but the average Wedding DJ makes about $500 per booking here. I'm charging $599 but if it costs me $2,000 to participate in a Bridal Show, i'd have to book 4 shows to make a profit.

In my experience, out of all the bridal shows i've ever been to, i've only booked 2 shows that I can remember.

[Jim Casey]

Actually more than 4 shows...

You have to count the tax you pay on said bookings...More than likely, to see any money at all, you would need to book 6-8 in reality.

[KJDJ]

Big thumbs down. Few brides will commit at a bridal show. I get more leads and bookings from an afternoon freebee for a childrens non-profit organization than wedding shows.