Thread: What would you wear at a Party Planning Expo?

There's a coffee house in my area who's really involved in the community, and one of the things they do is have small expos or fairs where local businesses can set up a table and hawk their services for the very fair price of $75. They've done a Beauty one and a Wedding one (I couldn't do the wedding one because they already had an entertainment services vendor, and they only allow one vendor per category due to size limitations). But, I just found out in a few months they are having a Party Planning one, and I have first dibs on the entertainment spot.

My question is this - do you think I should be in costume? I do plan on having plenty of flyers with pictures of me in costume, and I'm hoping to play a DVD of performances on my little portable TV/DVD player if there's a place to plug it in. Do you think that's sufficient, and maybe just show up with fairly glam makeup and some funky Sharifwear? Or, do you think it would be better to go whole hog so they can really see what they'd be getting if they booked me?

Hmmmmm.... interesting question. In my area, most businesses would be represented by women in slacks or suits, so I'd probably go for a sleek little dress --- somewhere between business and cocktail. A black wrap dress, or a fitted sheath. High heels, glam but not OTT makeup. I'd want to appear professional, trustworthy, but also glamorous and performer-like.

But coming in costume is a really interesting idea! It would certainly attract attention!

Will you get to perform at all? If not, I'd ask for electricity access so I could bring a TV and play DVDs.

My vote is to go for the full costume, complete with false eyelashes. It'll attract attention to you, and at events like this you need to find ways to stand out from the crowd.

That sounds like a great business idea. How long do these Expos last? A full business day or several hours?
I would wear a nice dress too, but have a costume in the car just in case you see it is needed. I wouldn't think you would need to be in full costume to stand next to your table. That might be a little over kill IMO.

Could you wear an elaborately decorated caftan over a bedlah? That way you could look performer-y and ethnic but covered, and if you were getting enough interest, you could easily do a "costume change" into a stage outfit. You could explain yourself as "...and this is how I would arrive at the gig...".

There is a good arguement for all the above suggestions. I think I would go upscale business attire. You want to look like you are representing a business that is all about the customer, not yourself. (At least that's my opinion!)

Originally Posted by Michelle75

That sounds like a great business idea. How long do these Expos last? A full business day or several hours?

They usually run from 11am to 4pm. Another strike against the full costume is being in that uncomfortable thing for 5 hours straight (not counting setup and breakdown) - although if I wore a lycra set it would be much more comfortable than a bra/belt.

I am intrigued by the idea of wearing a costume, but covered up; I have a really pretty blue sparkly chiffon one.

I don't think there'll be an opportunity to perfom, but I am really hoping I can tap into some electricity for my DVD player. I think if I can show video of me dancing, I'd be less likely to feel like I need to show up in costume. I just don't want anyone to think my pictures are photoshopped to the hilt!

Still torn on this one. I can see the value of being in costume, but I'd be so afraid of looking like a fringe wierdo next to everyone else.

As a bellydance and yoga teacher, I always figure people will ASSUME I'm some kind of flaky-new-age-slutty-weirdo and I put most of my 'image' efforts into setting them straight at first sight! I want them to know I'm a professional who will actually show up, be on time, and not embarrass them in any way.

I could be oversensitive on that issue, but that's my reasoning.

since it's during the day, i'm agreeing on the upscale/business or fashionable attire, with good glam make-up (wispy false lashes as opposed to full blown stage :p), you'll stand out, attract attention, and your promo materials will speak loud n clear, and DVD is excellent too.......if the coffee house is amenable (as well as the other vendors), a demo can't hurt, so a cossie on deck can't hurt

If you can, I think you should definitely try to have a video of you dancing (maybe use a laptop computer or battery powered DVD player?) And maybe a video collage of you dancing with different costumes, different styles etc, if you have something like that or could easily edit them together? That way in a short amount of time people could see a "tease" of what you are offering, but not the whole shebang. Plus it would give them a chance to see you with different costumes, props. etc. People are pretty distracted at these kind of events (I wandered about for a bridal expo once and it was exhausting). The most you can show them in 5 minutes or less is a good thing. Also, maybe have magnets or something made up that people could take with them beside business cards. Drape the table in sparkly material to dress it up a bit. Maybe even have zills or a sword or something out for folks to touch if you use these items in your dances.

I think as long as you make yourself look a little bit more glamorous than the rest--wear rhinestones, nice dress, or maybe something that looks glamorous and ethnic without looking like a "hippy chick" (I have nothing against these types of clothes btw, they just might not translate well at an expo) then you will be okay. My teacher always says to look slightly more glam as a dancer when you are out for the evening attending a hafla or out before or after a performance. You can still have an air of mystique without a costume on.

Not that I've done this at all before, so take my thoughts with a grain of salt!..l;,

ruta I think we are on the same page!

Originally Posted by amiraofannapolis

If you can, I think you should definitely try to have a video of you dancing (maybe use a laptop computer or battery powered DVD player?) And maybe a video collage of you dancing with different costumes, different styles etc, if you have something like that or could easily edit them together? That way in a short amount of time people could see a "tease" of what you are offering, but not the whole shebang. Plus it would give them a chance to see you with different costumes, props. etc. People are pretty distracted at these kind of events (I wandered about for a bridal expo once and it was exhausting). The most you can show them in 5 minutes or less is a good thing. Also, maybe have magnets or something made up that people could take with them beside business cards. Drape the table in sparkly material to dress it up a bit. Maybe even have zills or a sword or something out for folks to touch if you use these items in your dances.

I think as long as you make yourself look a little bit more glamorous than the rest--wear rhinestones, nice dress, or maybe something that looks glamorous and ethnic without looking like a "hippy chick" (I have nothing against these types of clothes btw, they just might not translate well at an expo) then you will be okay. My teacher always says to look slightly more glam as a dancer when you are out for the evening attending a hafla or out before or after a performance. You can still have an air of mystique without a costume on.

Not that I've done this at all before, so take my thoughts with a grain of salt!..l;,

I've done expos before, and I think your ideas are spot on. If you look too business-like, they may take you for an agent and that might turn them away before they have a chance to see your DVDs or pick up a card. I vote for the slightly more glam, really nice makeup and hair, and dress up your table, too, to attract attention. Galatea, your attitude will convey your professionalism, and your personality (which is great, BTW!) will keep them interested. Good luck!

I would probably wear a cute dress with a hip scarf. Glam make up but not over the top. I like the idea of dressing up your table, that is a great way to attract attention and convay what you're "selling".

Originally Posted by mahira-michelle

I would probably wear a cute dress with a hip scarf.

Oh, I like this idea! Maybe even a non-coin one that's really sparkly. I think I am gravitating more towards a business cocktail look (I have a bunch of dresses from my corporate days that haven't gone outside my closet in a couple of years), but really glam makeup, hair and jewelry. And yes, an eye-catchingly decorated table with the props that I could potentially use in a performance (cane, sword, zills, a silk veil, etc.)

I actually have a DVD montage of recent performances to play. I will need electricity, though, because my laptop only has a 2-hour battery, and this would be a 5 hour event. Plus, my laptop screen is a hard to see if you're not looking at it dead on, and if there's more than a couple of people watching they'll really have to strain to see if they're standing off to the side even a little.

Thanks so much to everyone for your suggestions! It's really helped me a lot. This probably won't be until May, so if you think of anything else, keep the advice coming.

I just did a booth this past weekend. It was a very different audience, but some of the ideas I got from my former marketing director were great, so I'll pass those on.

1) Veils and hip scarves to decorate the booth. I had lots of draping, behind me and on the table. Hip scarves were on hand for people to touch -- they're so tactile and appealing!

2) A drawing as a way of collecting names of leads. Doesn't matter what prize you give away. I had sort of a treasure chest for people to drop their entries into.

3) In addition to business cards and postcards, I gave away $5 off coupons so I can track the effectiveness of my booth.

4) Make a point of visiting the other vendors' booths and handing them your literature. What other vendors did that I wish I'd thought of -- carry a plate of cookies or chocolates around to the other vendors early in the show, chat them up, offer them your literature, invite them to come by and enter the drawing. The other vendors are rich referral sources for you! Even without the cookies, I managed to make my booth the 'gathering place' for bored vendors during slow times in the show. Afterwards, I found them on MySpace and friended them.

5) Look for things to add height at your booth. Tall silk floral arrangements from home are great. So are any statues of dancers or other dance art.

6) Signage -- I printed signage at home, used 8.5X11 frames and frame easels from the dollar store, it looked great! 'TAKE ONE' signs, 'ENTER TO WIN' signs, etc.

7) A suggestion I passed on that might be perfect for your event -- if you have a nice coatrack at home, bring it and bring a costume or two on hangers. Set it up behind your table, where people can see but not touch! This will add height to your display, along with color and dazzle and really showcase your professionalism. Our costumes, as we know, are mesmerizing up close!!

8) Something I saw other people do that I'll try next time -- putting something under the tablecloth to create 'tiers.' Anything at all - tupperware boxes, cardboard boxes, cookie tins -- with something inside for weight and then veils over them and signs, art, literature etc. on top. The other booths made mine look like Kansas! I won't be the flat booth next time.

Wow! Lauren, those are some great ideas! I used to do a lot of trade shows back in my advertising days, so I was trying to go down memory lane for some ideas - but most of them I hadn't even thought of.

I *love* the coat rack with costumes idea - I don't have one, but I can ask around and see if anyone has one I can borrow.

Originally Posted by laura 2

Wow! Lauren, those are some great ideas! I used to do a lot of trade shows back in my advertising days, so I was trying to go down memory lane for some ideas - but most of them I hadn't even thought of.

I *love* the coat rack with costumes idea - I don't have one, but I can ask around and see if anyone has one I can borrow.

Same here, in my magazine days, but those were family fairs and all I had to do was hand out balloons and every single family would visit my booth!! ..l;,

My former marketing director is still my best friend, and she's a frickin' genius.