Thread: the real numbers about travelling to teach and vend

Could anyone comment or write to me in private about the true numbers of travelling to teach and vend? (or just vend if that is your deal)

Specifically would appreciate honest feedback if the plane tickets, hotels, and vending fees are truly worth the sales made . In other words are you making money or are you breaking even but consider it good advertising that results in more online sales?

how do you book your schedule, do you get a list of events and choose from them?

How do you manage your inventory, how much do you buy or prepare or do you tailor it to each event.

If you teach, do you wait to get an invite to attend an event and teach or do you make contact with sponsors and actively try to get booked to teach?

Originally Posted by jesennia

If you teach, do you wait to get an invite to attend an event and teach or do you make contact with sponsors and actively try to get booked to teach?

Jess,

As an event organizer, business owner, and single mom of 2...I seriously appreciate it when I get teachers who contact me. I can't always hire everyone, as I'm usually pretty bombarded with requests, but I'm definitely grateful for those who take the time to reach out to me.

However, I also know organizers that perfer to be left alone and only want to work with people they deem worthy.

So I'm not sure I'm being super helpful here...but I think there is nothing wrong with decent self-promotion.

Thank you! It's helpful to know..I'm more interested in vending of course but the option of double veil workshops has come up (me being asked) on a few different occasions now so it's made me start to think along those lines..what if?

Actually Jesennia the word on the street from most vendors is that business is way down and some feel that traveling to venues doesn't really pay off. I stopped traveling because even years ago I would break even at best although yes it does help get your name out there, but you can do that through advertising. I only do local shows these days to keep my expenses down (and time). It's just with the economy the way it is and the fact that there is more competition in the belly dance world vending doesn't pay like it used to. Everyone I know is suffering. Unless it is an event you just really want to go to for other reasons besides vending I personally wouldn't pay to travel to go vend there. Of course your merchandise is light weight and probably fits in your suitcase just fine, mine doesn't and I would have to pay extra to ship it somewhere if I was flying. I just did RaqsLA this weekend and it wasn't anything to write home about, but I am glad I didn't have to pay for travel or hotel or I would have definitely lost money.

yes that's the main thing i was wondering, how much of the travel expenses cut into making enough to make it worthwhile (other than socializing :)

since October 2008 I had a slight dip in retail sales but it was temporary and in fact had more wholesaling going on

I'd have to pick events with a low vending fee and cheap plane tickets from AZ

thanks for the input! (yea silk is easy to transport )

Hi Jes, I'm the owner of Shaabi Chic Belly Dance Boutique. I opened my on-line store just when the economy started to turn down. My online sales have been terrible, but my sales at events have been great. I would not have been able to keep my business up if it weren't for events.

I think this is because I'm selling really nice stuff at really good prices and once people see the quality and the price, in person, they buy.

I live in Houston area, so I have several large events during the summer that are within reasonable driving distance.
I spend about $300 in hotel and about $200-$300 (depending on sponsor) in vending fees. Plus, gas and food. Luckily, I have been able to break even and then some. But I do think the fees are crazy at some events and I don't want to take a chance at the pricier ones.

The last couple events I've vended at, many vendors aren't doing that well. I think I just have products that everyone still needs...and still buys.