Thread: Does anyone do Bridal Shows/Expos??

There isn't much of a market here in Mississippi for regular dance gigs (restaurants or private parties), so I'm trying to find alternate ways of reaching people to work on expanding business for bridal showers, bachelorette parties, the mini-lesson/performance type of thing. I need something to help keep my studio afloat!

I've been thinking of trying to get a vending spot at Bridal Shows/Expos where there are lots of brides-to-be and families looking for everything they need for their upcoming wedding. Even though I'll offer to dance at receptions, I know I won't get any of those gigs here in Mississippi. I am hoping they'll opt for something for their showers and parties though.

There's ONE coming up in my area at the end of this month and they need to know if I want in by the end of this week. Sounds great so far, but it'll cost me $600 for the few hours of being there. I believe they do "register" their attendees and I'll get all names and contact info to send out promo material I assume, but aside from that, I'd need to get a few to make my money back.

Has anyone EVER done one of these shows and did you make your money back? Less? More? Is this a decent price? I asked how many attendees they are expecting. She said 120 brides and 150 non-brides (moms? sisters?fiances?)

I have :) Email me at chocolate@yelibelly.com with your questions and we could chat!!

I've thought about this, as well. Listening carefully to this thread...

*pulls up a chair*

It seems like a great idea to me. It's a professional venue with a lot of time and planning that happens to pull it all together. I would be the only one there offering what we offer, but if I don't get at least 3 ladies to decide to have a party with me, I'd lose money. So, this is a tricky decision to make. Especially coming out of the winter months not making much of anything. I find my performing/gigs goes to help support the studio, so I need more of them :)

We have, and it was a complete financial loss. I think it a combination of the social mores of the region (bellydance = stripping) and the fact that Ruric was dressed up in a sparkly pink costume and looking, hm, 'hotter' than most of the brides-to-be, thus inadvertently humiliating them on this, the warmup to their special day. The kids loved us (we had DOZENS of kids hanging around), and so did the band :) And the event organizer, who turned out to be a sleaze, so we wasted more time sorting out his intentions post-event. The brides-to-be walked by with their heads averted.

If we were EVER to spend the money to do this again, we'd definately dress down and, I don't know, give away free champagne? Or charge money for babysitting the kids? But what with google and everyone getting so good at doing online searches for what they want, I don't think we will.

You have a good point there. I didn't think of it like that.

Hmm, maybe I could check local laws and go to the convention center that day and just put a small flyer on their windshields! haha!

I'll be interested to see what the response is, I've never actually paid the fee to have a "booth", which seems really pricey, but I have paid the fee and attended.............

I simply walked around, connected with the event planners, caterers and DJ's, passed out alot of cards, and managed to book a few weddings without spending a fortune.......

I've looked into a few of these, but the fee has always been too high for the number of gigs I would likely get. The annual big one in Milwaukee is about three grand for the smallest table available. If I had a high ticket service like a photographer, caterer or florist where I'd make over a thousand dollars on a single wedding, I'd be more inclined. But I'd have to do a lot of full sets and performance/mini lesson gigs to make a profit on the investment.

Originally Posted by alyssaraks

You have a good point there. I didn't think of it like that.

Hmm, maybe I could check local laws and go to the convention center that day and just put a small flyer on their windshields! haha!

Brilliant Idea, IMHO! :)

Salena, you wascally wabbit you. Alyssaraks, if you want to put a toe in the water you could team up with a ballroom dance studio who teaches brides and grooms to dance on their wedding day. That would give prospective customers two reasons to come over to the booth. But at all costs avoid the Shiny Pink Costume of Bridal Expo Death.

Originally Posted by Salena

I'll be interested to see what the response is, I've never actually paid the fee to have a "booth", which seems really pricey, but I have paid the fee and attended.............

I simply walked around, connected with the event planners, caterers and DJ's, passed out alot of cards, and managed to book a few weddings without spending a fortune.......

Sounds like a plan. I often do this at the Black Expo and African Festivals in my community in the summer. I soemtimes even get someone to come to class or hire me but it's never been $600 or $3000 worth of business. I think I'll check out some expos as an attendee though.

When the Miami Seaquarium opened up their wedding and events division (beautiful upscale facility right on the water). They threw an Arabian Nights theme open house and contacted well-known vendors but charged a ridiculous amount of $$ per table (which ofcourse everyone paid for since there was so much hype around the event). They contacted me and asked me if I wanted to buy a table. I wasn't up to paying the high price so I offered one performance (one song) to open the show in exchange for a table and to be listed as a preffered vendor and they agreed. The event was sucessful and not only did I receive many gigs from guests, but I was also able to network with other wedding vendors who now reffer my services.

My recommendation is to call them personally and see if you can work out a deal that works for both of you. I'm sure they will love the idea of free entertainment even if you're only offering one song.

Originally Posted by maurazebra

Salena, you wascally wabbit you. Alyssaraks, if you want to put a toe in the water you could team up with a ballroom dance studio who teaches brides and grooms to dance on their wedding day. That would give prospective customers two reasons to come over to the booth. But at all costs avoid the Shiny Pink Costume of Bridal Expo Death.

Funny you should mention this...

Well, I actually talked to the lady in charge early this morning. She sounded so excited I called because they were actually looking to add dancing in between the fashion show stuff. I thought-"perfect!" Then as she was asking my company name and heard the words Belly Dance, she said "ooohhhhh...hmm, well, uh, I don't think they wanted that kind of dancing. Which irritated me, but I wasn't surprised.

I even offered to do a couple sets in exchange for lowering (not free) the $600 fee and she said no. She said if they would exchange services then everyone would want to do that and they just couldn't.

SO, even though I have my own studio, I still teach several towns away at the local Ballroom studio. Great place. I thought I'd at least pass on the info because they needed a couple's first dance type of thing at this expo. I thought maybe it would be good for him to have a table too. He said, "funny you should mention that, I got a call from them today." He and his girlfriend/partner are going to have a table there at a lower $300 rate in exchange for them dancing three sets. Well, first I felt upset that the lady lied to me and said no exchanges, but again, I'm not surprised.

So, I had this GREAT idea. The ballroom studio owner is thinking it over. I proposed that I'll split the cost of his $300 booth if he lets me be there too. I technically do teach at his studio and if the gig/party would be there, I'd have to give him a split. Not saying it HAS to be there though. I said, plus, I could watch his stand for him and give people info if they come by when they are performing. He said he wasn't sure if it would work because they might catch on that we're two businesses, but really, I do teach there and even though I'm not technically his employee, his studio offers belly dance because of me.

I think this angle might work. I don't know yet. He's still thinking on this, but I think he's warming up to it. I think it'll also help me a little since I'd be paired up with ballroom dancers.

A couple of you mentioned just going and networking with planners and caterers and I didn't even think of that part. That's great advice. I'm also not giving up on my windshild flyering idea either ..g.:

At the expo we went to, we shared a booth and we performed on stage several times. Reading the posts on this thread, I think we misunderstood where our customers were. We thought they were going to be the brides-and-friends walking by, so if we weren't performing we were in the booth. Maybe the real customers are sitting in the other booths, yes? and we should have been circulating like Selena?

Yep, that's it..............as I looked around, the real customer is the Bride's Mom....or Dad........AKA the person with the wallet.

The brides primarily scampered around, socialized, cried over the dresses at the fashion show, and ate free food.

I made sure not to interfere with any vendors who were currently working with prospective clients, and listened to hear what the trends in entertainment are................things don't seem to change much over the years!..l;,

But it really was a great opportunity to connect with alot of party-industry people, compare notes, and exchange info.

One time I did it, nothing-Nada. Another time, booked 4 events. So you never know.

And I found a new local jewelry resource, too!..g.:

Really good information here!

I get most bridal parties requests through google (google adds and the right tag words/search terms). Hen night/parties are usually not organised by the bride herself but by her friends for her (often as a surprise), so not something that'll get booked at these expo kind of affairs where it's the brides and their mothers doing the shopping.

So i think it's a waste of money probably.

Did you get a lot of "so when are you getting married/what's the date"? Did you just tell vendors you were there to network? Were vendors generally receptive?

Bridal expos in small towns have good potential (I think), because people from surrounding smaller towns will come in for it - sometimes it's a status thing, showing how much $$ the bride or parents have/are willing to spend by looking at vendors outside their area and not going local (ie, not having what everyone else in their town has). Not always the case, but can be many times.

Originally Posted by Salena

I'll be interested to see what the response is, I've never actually paid the fee to have a "booth", which seems really pricey, but I have paid the fee and attended.............

I simply walked around, connected with the event planners, caterers and DJ's, passed out alot of cards, and managed to book a few weddings without spending a fortune.......

This will normally get you kicked out of the bridal shows I have attended. Vendors are supposed to buy booth space and you are not supposed to be there unless you are a bride buying the services we are paying for booth space to advertise.

I own a chocolate company and I have done two bridal shows now in Dallas, my third will be later this year. My emphasis at the bridal shows have been for my chocolate business, as favors for the wedding but I have also marketed bellydance for wedding performances and bachelorette parties.

I have gotten a great response at this past event and have already been booking events out to November!

The show's directors have not permitted me to perform, even though I offered for free or for booth exchange. They know me now, even as a high-end chocolatier but do not want to go there yet. The only dance they have permitted in the shows I have visited or vended at has been the ballroom.

If you are interested in going, don't buy a booth just for belly dance. Do it if you have another item to vend. Most shows will not allow two businesses to share a booth, it specifies it in 5 different contracts I have seen for 5 different shows in our area.

Also, just like the bhuzzer said above....dressing up fancier than the bride will turn them off. I have handed out info and shown video of me dancing but I have not dressed up there. You can tell, they want to (and deserve to) be the center of attention and you need to augment what they are offering their guests, not show it up.

I have seen vendors there from the Girl's Room (a place that offers sexy panties and such AND excotic dance lessons in the area) but they were not dressed in what they offer (thank god!) but they were in nice suits and handed out info and treats to get brides to remember them.

If you can find something else to offer the bride, I would suggest going that route. Even if it is something simple, gifts, favors, etc.

oh, forgot to mention--- booths in the dallas area BEGIN at $900 for the well known shows. So you need to consider how many events you would need to do JUST to cover the booth expense...before you are even making money!

Yeli, I have a question for you since you've done a few of these. In regard to two businesses sharing a booth- since I technically teach classes at the ballroom studio that is having a discounted booth there, do you still think that poses a problem? I'm another instructor at his studio (even though I do have my own) and if the parties I book where to be held at his studio, I'd have to cut him a percentage. I'm not an employee, but none of the instructors that would offer ballroom clases are either.

I decided that $600 for a booth of my own is too much. Since someone mentioned it's not the bride, but her friends, that would throw a shower or party, I don't know how much, if any money I'd make back from it.

If I would do it though, very good advice about not dressing up too fancy.

Just curious- does anyone have ideas for favors or give aways that would be cheap and related to our dance? The chocolates sound nice if that's your work, but I don't know what else I could offer at this show if I'd go.

That's how we 'shared' a booth at the one expo we paid to go to: one of daughter's teaching gigs (at the time) was at a ballroom dance studio. So the studio had the booth, the different types of teachers demonstrated their dance styles. Like demonstrating different products :)

Thought I'd pipe in with a price-check. $600 for 120 brides sounds crazy. In my area (Halifax, NS, Canada) The rate at the upcoming Bridal expo is $525 for a full booth, $300 for a small "half-booth" and they are expecting at least 300 brides, they had 600 last year but have changed venues.

Some really good tips here. If my dance partner and I go, we'll definitely dress down, maybe tank tops with our logo, yoga pants and a hip scarf? And give away something cute. Maybe bellydancer cookies? Or cheap anklets? :)

Thanks for all the food for thought ladies!

Originally Posted by laurasbelly

And give away something cute. Maybe bellydancer cookies? Or cheap anklets? :)

Thanks for all the food for thought ladies!

Just a note- don't know what your state regulations are, but we aren't allowed to give any unpackaged foods away at conventions unless we have a state food license- and if you have a source for packaged belly dancer cookies, I want to know about it! Anklets sound cool tho. If anyone else has ideas of giveaways for conventions, fairs & the like, I'm all ears! I don't do bridal shows, but there are plenty of times I could think of that it might be nice to have something classy attached to a business card which could be given away.

Ohhh did not know that about the cookies! Very good to know. I'll have to check the provincial regulations. Thanks for the heads up.

I've done several bridal expos and can tell you quite a bit about the pros and cons and special considerations, but I'd rather not go into too many details on the boards. Please shoot me an e-mail at Carrara Nour (at) gmail (dot) com if you have specific questions

I got some really inexpensive stretch rhinestone bracelets from a wholesaler t give to students for holiday gifts last year. Those would make great bridal giveaways!

Originally Posted by Lara L

Just a note- don't know what your state regulations are, but we aren't allowed to give any unpackaged foods away at conventions unless we have a state food license- and if you have a source for packaged belly dancer cookies, I want to know about it! Anklets sound cool tho. If anyone else has ideas of giveaways for conventions, fairs & the like, I'm all ears! I don't do bridal shows, but there are plenty of times I could think of that it might be nice to have something classy attached to a business card which could be given away.