talkmagic.co.uk

Hi all!

I am doing my first wedding fair this Sunday and would warmly welcome any pointers...?

I have a standing banner, business cards, leaflets, my videos on a TV screen looping and a 2013 diary.

I am just wondering how aggressively I should 'sell'? Do you try and take bookings on the day? If so, do you give a discount? What about taking deposits?

Appreciate any comments/advice...

Thanks

When I was doing wedding fairs I always used to offer a 20% discount for bookings on the day, you wont get many that book on the day but the discount acts as a nice little persuader. The trick to wedding fairs is to really sell yourself, smile and chat to anyone who approachs your table, try to perform as much as possible and if you can draw a little audience that all the better.

Wedding fairs can be hard work but if you put the effort in I've always found them to be more than worth doing. Don't be too down if you don't get many or even any bookings on the day as it might take some time for the bookings to come through, people are usually just looking for ideas at those fairs rather than to buy and the wedding date could be quite a way off. Oh and some nice little give aways for children always go down really well, I used to give out posters, kids love posters and the added bonus for you is that they're taking away something that's got your contact details plastered all over.

I only do the ones for the 2 people I know who work at hotels & it's more of a favour to be honest. I don't like them very much although I do always come away with at least one confirmed booking. I also offer a discount for booking on the day. Be prepared to smile at strangers for 4 hours, don't have the audio on your promo 'cos people will be annoyed by the 5th loop never mind the 100th.

Great tips guys - many thanks!

Hi Bill,

make sure you stand in front of your stand with some flyers and talk to the punters, dont just sit down behind your table and expect people to come to you to see some magic.

I have an offer of 10% discount if booked on the day with a £50 deposit.

I normally perform about 3-4 effects to give them a taster of what they are likely to see on their wedding day, I spend more time talking to them and let them see exactly why they should book me to entertain them and their guests.

First questions I ask are, have they got a date and venue yet, then check my diary. If im available I spend plenty of time with them. If im already booked I politely say Im sorry but im already booked on that day, what I dont want are people walking past my stand who could be potential bookers, whilst talking to a couple who cant book me.

Always take names and telephone numbers and date of weddings from anyone you speak to, I give them a call about 10days afterwards to ask if they have come to a decision yet, if they havent I leave it at that and say, well you have my details I f you decide to go ahead with the booking please get in touch.

Please do not get disheartened If you dont get a booking on the day, Ive done fayres without getting a booking at all, and Ive done fayres when Ive got 5 bookings.

Good luck with it.

All the best

Steve

Good advice but I would not recommend "standing in front of your stand" if you mean coming out in the aisle or gangway. Standing behind your table is fine providing you do not come into the aisle or gangway. If you do this then the neighbouring stand may complain if they have any wits about them. I know I would kick up hell if some damn magician came out into the aisle if they were next to me. In any event it is against the exhibition rules.

I mean, you should plan something out of the box. Something that is unique. Something that has capability to engage and involve every attendee.

When I first started doing them I was always put either right in a corner or at the end of a corridor so I took to flying a dancing cane around my head to entice people towards me. Good tip, have something visual.

It's sounds petty but makes a big difference. Get a decent quality table cloth in a single bright attractive colour. Make sure it is big enough to go down to the floor at the front of the table so that you can hide unnecessary clutter under the table. It makes your booth look so much better, provides storage and shows you care about your presentation.

Also, put a sign up in BIG letters stating exactly what you do (not too much text) and how you want to steer them (i.e. "Ask to see a trick" or "Ask for quick quote"). People are usually overwhelmed at bigger shows and they'll want to know what you do instantly or they will switch off and move on. Once you have their attention, you need to put an idea of how to proceed in their head or again you can lose them to apathy, hence the steering part of the sign that will hopefully get them talking to you and locked in rapport.

If it looks like you are not going to get much out of them, offer them an escape in the form them sticking their email on a mailing list clipboard. Just because they are not interest at that moment, doesn't mean they wont be later.

I've never been to an exhibition/show as a magician but I used to design exhibition stands and work at exhibitions and had to engage people to make sales or gain details from them.