Big Event--Need Input?

We don't have a lot of huge events on Maui. Our county fair is the BIGGEST event of the year. It is hard to get into the fair, because so many people have been using the booths year after year. We have made friends with the guy who makes our uniform shirts for the Bouncy Biz. He said he is getting 3 booths this year, and wondered if we would want to setup in one of them.

There is already a face painter who comes every year and she paints by herself and has a hard time keeping up with the line. The expected crowd over 4 days is 90,000-100,000. The booth size is 10x10. I'm trying to figure out how many Glitter Girls I would need for this crowd. I was thinking 3-4 (including myself)
What do you guys think? How would you suggest making good use of space for that many artists?

At the very least you need three, and someone to help manage the line. You could set up in three corners of the booth with the fourth for the manager to help with tattoo selection and payment.
Good luck - there aren't 90-100,000 folks in this part of the world - it should be massive!

Lyn

I agree at least 3 and one line manager. But plan it so that if you really get slammed, the line manager can work.

BUT, make sure your prices are high. Don't make the mistake of charging too little and then you guys are so inundated that you are misterable. By charging a few dollars more, you will have a manageable crowd with the same profits. You can always lower prices or give two for ones if you need to, but you can't raise them after the line is there.

After all it is Maui and people expect to PAY for stuff. But I am sure you knew that. LOL

-Metina

Line manager will be my hubby. I did already tell him if we got too busy I would put him to work doing tats too.

I was planning on doing $5.00 for small tats and $10 for larger tats & arm bands. Do you think this is too low?

There is a 7 year wait list to get into the fair--so we are lucky that this guy invited us to use one of his booths. He has been selling food for 18 years there and he says he makes enough money to cover his families bills for the rest of the year--Wish I could make that much!

I have more than enough Glitter & Glue for this event. I'm trying to decide which stencils to stock up on. I'm thinking maybe 20-30 small designs and 10-15 Large designs. I hope to have an "Order by #" banner made for this event so it will be much easier. I don't want it to be too hectic. Trying to think of a way to be very systematic and organized.

The way I handle my display for my tattoo designs is in a book. I carry over 150 different stencils. What I did was copy like 6 or 7 on to a page, number each one and place it in a sheet protector in a binder. That way the kids just say #63 please and I just pull that stencil. I also jot down the numbers I do as I go so I don't have to count them all up for inventory later. I keep a spreadsheet with how many I have left so I know when I need to order more.

Tracalla wrote:The way I handle my display for my tattoo designs is in a book. I carry over 150 different stencils. What I did was copy like 6 or 7 on to a page, number each one and place it in a sheet protector in a binder. That way the kids just say #63 please and I just pull that stencil. I also jot down the numbers I do as I go so I don't have to count them all up for inventory later. I keep a spreadsheet with how many I have left so I know when I need to order more.

That is how I usually do mine for parties. I'm wanting to simplify the process a bit for such a big event and not offer as many designs, only the most popular so we can get them in and out quicker.

Do you have any of the posters that come from the company that show the designs? I guess I should ask first, which company you get your supplies from. I know Glimmer has posters that go along with them, was thinking you could display those.

I actually use Glimmer & Twinkle Tattoos. Our stencils are created by a manufacturer overseas and I really like to purchase from the USA when possible so for this event, we are going to try stencils from Faketoos. I did a small test order of his stencils and they seem well enough. If all goes well we will continue to order from him in future.

My husband and I went through their designs last night and picked 30 small designs and 15 larger designs. I'm going to have vertical standing banner made for this event. I think this will be the very best way.

If we end up running out of certain designs I have tons of stencils from our online shop at home that we can substitute if necessary.

Don't have so many people working that you don't have a line....we found (working the State Fair) that if you don't have a line, people won't get in it.

Lines are actually a good thing. (as long as they aren't 3 miles long)

Kinda like a restaurant that doesn't have a lot of cars outside, who wants to eat there if there aren't any cars in the parking lot?....same theory.

Linda Adams wrote:Don't have so many people working that you don't have a line....we found (working the State Fair) that if you don't have a line, people won't get in it.

Lines are actually a good thing. (as long as they aren't 3 miles long)

Kinda like a restaurant that doesn't have a lot of cars outside, who wants to eat there if there aren't any cars in the parking lot?....same theory.

Great advice. We are going to run with 2 artists 1st day and line manager to feel it out. My husband and I also discussed the line (demand) creating crowds and being a good thing.

Let us know how it goes!

Lyn

I have ordered from faketoo's before and the order comes extremely quickly! I was very impressed with their selection also. They seem to work well and don't stick to the skin so much as some of the other stencils I have tried. You should be happy with them.

$1100 for booth
$70 for insurance
$600 for stencils
...thankfully I already have plenty of glitter & glue.

Anybody know a cheap place to make me a banner?

I guess I should be more specific. Looking for a 2x10 Vinyl Banner with grommets for hanging.

You should try Vistaprint.com

I stumbled across this old thread and I was wondering how it all went? Is there anything you would do differently, and what worked well?

or gotprint!

I'm with Trinkie - how was it?