Re: Will a stencil slinger take away from my business?

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Posted by jessica on October 16, 2001 at 18:55:22:

In reply to: Will a stencil slinger take away from my business? posted by Lauren on October 16, 2001 at 16:14:48:

Hi Lauren,
Here's my 2 cents and then some. I NEVER do a fair/festival unless I
have an exclusive henna booth aggreement. (Don't get me wrong,
sometimes someone else sneaks in or there is and admin. glitch but the
weekends are then never what they should be.) I am not in competition
with face painters or if it's a large enough event airbrush temp.
tattoo people, above 25,000 attendance. I have been doing this for some
time now and work very hard to be professional, look profess., have a
beautiful booth, great work, great interaction with clients.
Even with ALL my very diligent work my customer base is roughly
one percent of the total attendance of any event. This percentage has
been consistent. If there is another henna booth, even one doing
stencils this would bite into your and her profits significantly. It is
not financially feasible for both of you to have a successfull weekend
if you're each competing for the same couple hundred customers.
I realize that you do traditional, hand drawn henna art, BUT the
girl who sees this stencil slingin' henna artist first will go to her,
pay her money, get a stencil, be confused about what henna is or should
be then she'll see you later in the day and be upset that she got
"ripped off" and she'll tell you most likely using that term. "Darn, I
wish I'd seen you first!"
On the other hand, if this event is one you want, close to home,
one you think you could work a niche for yourself in I would do my best
to get exclusivity, send a beautiful packet of photos, one of your
booth, a nice letter explaining what henna is, your small client base
(middle class women and girls usually?) Let them know you'd be willing
to work even if the other woman was there this year, (just to get your
foot in the door).
Next year fight for the exclusive booth, reiterate everything
above and that last year was fun and great to part of the event it was
not financially successful and you'd like to be the only artist as
you're a crafter, the Ren. Faire Focus afterall!
Sondarya gave you the complete breakdown on booth and promotion
packet set up. Don't forget to give out printed flyers of instructions
with your contact info. and apply to the event as early as possible.
Often if your info. is submitted first you get the gig unless you're a
returning vendor.
Fhewww.... Probably more than you wanted to hear from me but I think
it's probably relevant....
Jessica

I am approaching the CT Renn fair about doing henna next year. This
: year, another person had the exclusive right to do henna, which is
: fine, but all she was doing were stencils. She was charging from $3
: (which seems about right) up to $20, if you can believe it. Anyway,
: they're thinking about whether it should be exclusive next year or
: not. If it is exclusive, I want it, as that's all I do and henna is
: just a tiny sideline for her. But I was thinking that a stencil
: person and an actual artist should be able to peacefully coexist. I
: don't think a person wanting art would use her, and honestly if
: somebody wants a cheapy "fake tattoo" or whatever, I'm just as happy
: to have them go elsewhere.
: What have your experiences been?

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: Hi Lauren, : Here's my 2 cents and then some. I NEVER do a fair/festival unless I : have an exclusive henna booth aggreement. (Don't get me wrong, : sometimes someone else sneaks in or there is and admin. glitch but the : weekends are then never what they should be.) I am not in competition : with face painters or if it's a large enough event airbrush temp. : tattoo people, above 25,000 attendance. I have been doing this for some : time now and work very hard to be professional, look profess., have a : beautiful booth, great work, great interaction with clients. : Even with ALL my very diligent work my customer base is roughly : one percent of the total attendance of any event. This percentage has : been consistent. If there is another henna booth, even one doing : stencils this would bite into your and her profits significantly. It is : not financially feasible for both of you to have a successfull weekend : if you're each competing for the same couple hundred customers. : I realize that you do traditional, hand drawn henna art, BUT the : girl who sees this stencil slingin' henna artist first will go to her, : pay her money, get a stencil, be confused about what henna is or should : be then she'll see you later in the day and be upset that she got : "ripped off" and she'll tell you most likely using that term. "Darn, I : wish I'd seen you first!" : On the other hand, if this event is one you want, close to home, : one you think you could work a niche for yourself in I would do my best : to get exclusivity, send a beautiful packet of photos, one of your : booth, a nice letter explaining what henna is, your small client base : (middle class women and girls usually?) Let them know you'd be willing : to work even if the other woman was there this year, (just to get your : foot in the door). : Next year fight for the exclusive booth, reiterate everything : above and that last year was fun and great to part of the event it was : not financially successful and you'd like to be the only artist as : you're a crafter, the Ren. Faire Focus afterall! : Sondarya gave you the complete breakdown on booth and promotion : packet set up. Don't forget to give out printed flyers of instructions : with your contact info. and apply to the event as early as possible. : Often if your info. is submitted first you get the gig unless you're a : returning vendor. : Fhewww.... Probably more than you wanted to hear from me but I think : it's probably relevant.... : Jessica : : : : I am approaching the CT Renn fair about doing henna next year. This : : year, another person had the exclusive right to do henna, which is : : fine, but all she was doing were stencils. She was charging from $3 : : (which seems about right) up to $20, if you can believe it. Anyway, : : they're thinking about whether it should be exclusive next year or : : not. If it is exclusive, I want it, as that's all I do and henna is : : just a tiny sideline for her. But I was thinking that a stencil : : person and an actual artist should be able to peacefully coexist. I : : don't think a person wanting art would use her, and honestly if : : somebody wants a cheapy "fake tattoo" or whatever, I'm just as happy : : to have them go elsewhere. : : What have your experiences been?
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