Concert and craft show Berkeley Springs WV

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Comment by Jim Morris on July 26, 2012 at 1:32pm

Another great idea! Yeah Paul had a great guitar and was fortunate that Carlos liked it. I aint no PRS but the idea's still valid. Oh, one PRS story. My first woodworking job was making tables and chairs. A young fellow beside me in the sanding area said'Man this is BS I can get a job in Annapolis making guitars for PRS" I saw him a couple of weeks later and he said "All I'm doing is sanding just like at the old job" Ah the glamour of instrument making!

Comment by Ron "Oily" Sprague on July 26, 2012 at 1:21pm

Jim,

Ah, the sonic environment. Yeah, that's kinda tough if you're being blasted by even good tunes. Another thought would be to see if you can get one of your gits, maybe as a freebie? into the hands of even one band member. Remember why Carlos Santana plays PRS gits exclusively? Paul Reed Smith walked up to the side stage at a concert, and promised his handcrafted git could make him sound better, gave him one right there.

 

Good luck with your sales efforts. It'll be interesting to see how it goes. Keep us posted.

Comment by Jim Morris on July 26, 2012 at 12:27pm

Hey Oily, thanks for all the suggestions. I've been making these things for a couple of years now but this is only my second show so I'm figuring it out as I go. Some of these like the banner were out of frame but most of your other ideas are things I'll have to work on. I think part of the problem here for me was that bands were playing the entire time, which I dug, but I couldn't really demonstrate these mostly acoustic instruments with 1,000 watts coming at me. Your other thoughts like table and chair placement are great ideas for the next one. Thanks!

Comment by Ron "Oily" Sprague on July 26, 2012 at 12:12pm

Hmm. Sounds like your best sales technique might be to just sit out front playing! You got some nice instruments there; here's some things I see, as a devotee of craft fairs, art fairs, Renfests, T-shirt and concession sales, and peoplewatching as related to sales:

Maybe you have too many choices on display? The Rule of 3s as applied to design could serve you well here. It has been shown in grocery stores, for example, that too many choices can confuse buyers. Looking at your display, the instruments appear all tossed together on the table, resulting in visual confusion. Split your booth space into 3 clearly defined sections, with banjos all in one place, no more than 3 or 4 of each, violins in a second space, same idea, and gits in a third space, same again. Prominently feature your best work in the central section, if you're not playing it. Also, try to create an inviting space in front; right now, your table creates separation between you and your buyer. Keep the table toward the back of the booth, use it for a backing display, defensible cash box position, under table additional instrument storage, etc. Place your chairs invitingly out front, and play some. Occupy one chair, have the other available for a knee-to-knee session with prospective clients / customers.

You may have to build some collapsible frames or instrument stands out of PVC, or old screen doors, as Shane did, to create this space; there are some examples here on the site somewhere. Maybe it's cut off by the pic framing, but there doesn't appear to be a sign or banner that can act as a recognizable advertisement for your work. Finally, if you've got a performance persona, use it; if not, try to develop one. "Gentleman Jim's Old Timey Music," or some such (yes, borrowing from the Jim Beam association). Have recorded music at a low but detectable volume standing in for you when you get tired of playing.

Walk around whichever fair you're at, and try to gauge (aside from the food and drink concessions - everyone needs those), and see if you can tell who the most successful sellers are, and why. Maybe you've done all this already?

Just some thoughts based on this one pic, and the Comments. And yep, sometimes, even when you do everything "right," people don't buy.

Comment by Chris Ballard on July 26, 2012 at 10:59am

BTW, love the banjo's in the pic.

Comment by Chris Ballard on July 26, 2012 at 10:58am

"Comment by Jim Morris17 minutes ago

Oh I'll keep at it. Too late to turn back now! It's funny - when I try to sell something not much luck, but if I'm just sittin' somewhere playing people want whatever I have in my hands!"

 

Too bad Talent is not for sale, it is something that is gifted from God or earned through years of practice. I think people buy it when they hear you playing it with the hopes of making it sound as good.  :) It's like golf clubs, people buy clubs that they see pro's hitting them thinking it is the equipment that makes the pro a pro, it is all  the years on the range, lessons and sheer talent that make them a pro, not the 500.00 driver.  I learned that lesson when I bought a Les Paul thinking I would play like Slash, all I did was make a great guitar sound like crap, and ticked off my wife for spending money I did not need to.  Keep on keeping on Jim.

Comment by Jim Morris on July 26, 2012 at 10:34am

Oh I'll keep at it. Too late to turn back now! It's funny - when I try to sell something not much luck, but if I'm just sittin' somewhere playing people want whatever I have in my hands!

Comment by Dave Lynas on July 24, 2012 at 5:45pm

Business sucks these days. Nice work there. Wish i'd of been there to see up close. Love the fiddles and banjos. Good work. Hope you keep it up.

Comment by Ben on July 23, 2012 at 8:01pm

Dan Sleep can commiserate. Same deal with an event I accompanied him on...

Comment by wes carl on July 23, 2012 at 5:19pm

nice setup  sometimes thats how it works  keep at it 

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