Bridal Show - Jan. 27/28th - can anyone help me? Please

[photobykim]

so I get a call yesterday that a spot has opened up for the Dallas Bridal show at Dallas Market Hall and i'm next on the wait list would I be interested in a booth. YES!! this is what i've been waiting for.

So I hang up and the panic sets in....that is ONE week from now. ONE WEEK!!!! So what do I do, i message my most wonderful friend Heather and scream HELP at her and she helped me so much yesterday go through a couple of weddings to narrow down some images to get printed for my show albums.

Here are a couple of things on my list that I will need to get before then. I am on an extremely tight budget.

FRAMES
I am planning to get some larger prints made (not sure on size yet), but I am thinking I might need to get them framed....good quality/low price....any suggestions??

would having them in just simple nice mattes work well for display?

STANDS (cause I can't seem to spell the other word...lol)
I will need stands in which to display these above mentioned prints....again good quality/low price...??

BOOTH "Stuff" or decorations I guess -- 10x10 booth
Heather had mentioned to pull stuff from around my home....I really have nothing to use, so suggestions on how to make my booth look nice. I dont expect fancy top of the line, with lack of money and time, it's just NOT going to happen, just dont want an empty booth with just a table either. I have 1 long fold out table. She said to set up some silk flowers, I can get those cheap from walmart....so any other suggestions on how to display my books or set up a bridal show booth

POSTCARDS
I found a place that I can do 5000 postcards and with 1 day delivery have them here in time next week. so that is covered!

I am open to any and all suggestions, so dont hesitate to let me know!

Thank you in advance. I am off to Don's workshop today, but I will check back in this evening when I get home.

[ndsimm]

Originally Posted by photobykim

Here are a couple of things on my list that I will need to get before then. I am on an extremely tight budget.

FRAMES

STANDS

BOOTH "Stuff" or decorations I guess -- 10x10 booth

POSTCARDS

first of all congrats! I assume by the quesitons that this must be your first show. I've done about five and learn something new each year so I hope this helps

I used 16x20 images in my booth with frames I got from Michael's during their half off sale, but one thing I am considering for my next show is 20x30 mounted prints unframed because the larger prints seemed to have more of an impact in the other booths I saw

I'm assuming you mean easels and depending on your booth size, you may not have room for too many of these, but you can get some simples ones from either Michael's again or even Office Depot. the best way to hang the images would probably be on the back wall of the booth either with fishing line or some other method (LoungeLizard made a nice background that he hung his on, but you may not have a lot of time to put something like that together)

As for decorations, you can get some nice silk to cover the table with and the flowers are a good idea, try to get some "bridal" flowers to get their attention

Nice postcards are a great idea and should show your work and maybe offer something to get their attention.....

good luck and we're here is you need us!!!

[shutterflypro]

Originally Posted by photobykim

Here are a couple of things on my list that I will need to get before then. I am on an extremely tight budget.

The cost of your booth space is actually the cheapest part of the entire thing. You will spend a lot more money on this thing to do it right than you are planning.

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

Not sure if they have a requirement of having a uniform backdrop behind you, if they don't and you have a larger backdrop use that over the back wall of your booth to seperate you from the others.

As stated above I would look at maybe 3 or 4 (at the most 5) larger pictures nicely mounted on easels or small stands on the table 16x20 and maybe the best shot even larger on an easel. Big pictures really stick in peoples minds/heads a lot more than you think and if the picture is really good it gives a better impact on what you can offer the client, some want that WOW factor print shot at the bridal to be up at the wedding and this would show that you can offer that service.

Be sure to take a chair for yourself to set on!

[HeatherLou]

Kim, Wal-Mart has wooden easels for 10 bucks in the craft department. I have one and they are pretty study.

[atnlegacy]

If you're still looking for frames, Aaron Brothers has their sale going on until tomorrow (Jan 22nd) -- buy any frame at full price and get another of equal/lesser value for a penny.
Excludes custom framing and those digital frames. And I like their frames, have purchased from them often.

Congrats and good luck!!!!!

[Daniel Bates]

My advice would be to have lots and lots of business cards, postcards, pricing info sheets, album info sheets, and any other kind of "info" you can make.

Oh and--print LARGE. 24x30 is a good size.

[ShutteredEye]

Originally Posted by atnlegacy

If you're still looking for frames, Aaron Brothers has their sale going on until tomorrow (Jan 22nd) -- buy any frame at full price and get another of equal/lesser value for a penny.
Excludes custom framing and those digital frames. And I like their frames, have purchased from them often.

Congrats and good luck!!!!!

For sure. I spent $113 and came out with 10 16x20 frames just the other day...

[HotHolly]

Congrats! We have stuff on display today and my thoughts are bigger is grander. A 16x20 is small. Especially with all the vendors there. You can see a 20x30 from across the room. The 1 week mark is tough.

I would suggest a canvas warp - a BIG one as your main eye catcher - if your pesos will stretch that far. It takes about a week to get one...MPix is fast, you might be able to get one from them.

Also, something I noticed recently - I saw a pricelist that was INSIDE a card. So it was a 5x5 square with a bride on the cover, you open it up and there is the prices. Basically, you want to make everything about your work, and you need to reflect the prices, so there you go. Your work over shadows the prices.

Also, someone probally said it already, but make a time response REQUIRED. If they book at the fair they get extra...DVD slideshow, extra 10 pages in their album, or something. Then you can have a 10 day package promo that expires 10-days after the fair.

Watch the hokey factor. Less is more, and hokiness is the kiss of death.

And I PMed you my best idea.

[photobykim]

Originally Posted by ndsimm

first of all congrats! I assume by the quesitons that this must be your first show. I've done about five and learn something new each year so I hope this helps

Actually it's my second show. the first one was not done by a very reputatble company and I ended up wasting a LOT of money.

Originally Posted by shutterflypro

You will spend a lot more money on this thing to do it right than you are planning.

due to money and time constrants I really am not going to be able to do this the way that I'd like to. just the way things end up sometimes, so have to go with doing what I can the best way I can.

Paul -- I am not sure, I am supposed to receive my prep-packet sometime next week.

Heather -- that's on my list of place to stop by and check out

Anh -- I dont think I'll be able to do that due to the fact that i'll be ordering the prints within the next day or so.

Daniel -- I will have about 5000 postcards printed, been told by several people that price list is a no-no to have.

Holly -- from past experience at the first show that I did, brides can't remember their name about 10 minutes into a bridal show they are just drown in info and it's hard to get them to commit to much of anything. But i do plan to have a place for peoples names to go for a drawing for an engagement or bridal session.

Thank you all for taking the time to respond and give me all these great ideas. hopefully i can pull this off by next weekend.

[HotHolly]

It must be nice to have brides show up at a bridal show...we dont really have the "getting swamped" issue around here. GOOD LUCK!

[Mandy]

Congrats!!!!!!!!! What a busy week you will be having! I don't have much time so I haven't read all the replies so I apologize if I repeat someone else.

FRAMES - Aaron Brothers is having their Buy one get one for 1 cent sale until tomorrow. I LOVE their frames for inexpensive yet nice looking frames. I would hit the one in Frisco and stock up on what you need.

STANDS - On another photo board I post on people have suggested getting 2 or 3 doors from Home Depot/Lowes and using hinges to put them together then painting them to hang images on ( this was for booths where you weren't allowed to hang things on their walls). Also at Harry Hines and 35 there is a Sam Moon Home store which has easels of all shapes and sizes. I use the small easels for my 5x10 desk collages and they are 1.99 each (compared to 2.99 each at Hobby Lobby).

BOOTH "Stuff" or decorations I guess -- 10x10 booth - Sam Moon Home Store might have stuff for this also.

POSTCARDS - Sounds like you got this covered.

If you are looking for somewhere to print something a little 'extra special' there is a place on the McKinney Square that looks like they have good prices and since it's a brick and mortar store you might be able to beg them to put a rush on a gallery wrap or fine art print. It's called Imaging on the Square and the price list I have from about 6 months ago shows a 24x36 Stretched Canvas for $66.50. The people seemed very nice too and I plan to get some prints done there soon, but ordering online thru WHCC at midnight in my jammies is too convienient so I haven't yet.

Again, CONGRATS and I know you'll rock the show!

[bethanne]

I'm so excited for you!!! If anyone can pull this together, you can! Love ya girlie!!!!!! :)

[ndsimm]

oh yeah, make sure you have some help in that booth! even if they are just there to give you the occassional potty break

[The Loft Studios]

I was in the "EXACT" same situation as you, but here at the Houston Show. I spent $300 on 3000 nicely designed cardstock flyers that had all of my info on it. I've found that you "MUST" have 5 IMPORTANT features at your booth.

1.) At least 16x20 Prints
2.) Some type of Slideshow presented on a Large Computer Screen or Plasma Screen
3.) Nicely designed Coffee Table Wedding Albums (that's what almost every Bride wants these days)
4.) A very nice "Home" feeling booth. Like one person said, "Bring along some nice contemporary furnishings." (I.E.....Coffee Table, Lamps, Hall Tables, 10x10 Carpet, etc.....)
5.) Some type of "Give-A-Way" for people to sign their names and info (to build an "IMMEDIATE" database on brides, evidently if they stopped by your booth, then they must be interested in your services. Simply waiting for the Bride's List 2-3 weeks later is a waiste of money.....what are you going to do? Send out more flyers to every bride that was there?)

Also, be upfront and honest with the client, that is what they'll remember. Don't try to "SELL" them. Instead, sell your honesty and personality. Within, two weeks, I started receiving phone calls and inquiring about dates.....I've already booked 4 weddings with DEPOSITS and have booked a half dozen more who are coming in some time within the next week to view my studio and look through my work once again before putting down a deposit. And we still have not received the Official Bride's List yet. These bookings all came from my personal Database that I aquired from my booth. And once I receive the Bride's List, I'm going to be "SELECTIVE" in whom I send out my info to according to Zip Codes (Rich Folks, Above Middle CLass, Middle Class and maybe a few slightly below Middle Class)

Hope this helps.....GOOD LUCK!