Booking Fair, festivals, carnivals.....2012 How far in advance & thoughts

How far in advance does everyone thing about "next year 2012"

I have booked 13 possibly 14 solid weekends for some festivals, county fair, and a few corporate events...I just started this biz and hoping in the next two years to make a full time gig of this.

I met one of the funnel cake guys at the festival in the fall...he owns a carnival...asked if I wanted to run the circut with his carnival...he will give me all the dates and times in a few weeks...He said it is very hard to find a good face painter.....I said Really??? No Kidding?? I guess he never loooked here!!!! Soo any thoughts on running with a carnival...he said he should have at least 24 carnies booked with a minimum of 3-5 days each....downside some are 1 1/2-2 hrs drive away.....he will take a 20% of intake. He said he can guarantee me all the days. I still want a zoo....lol.

That could be a good earn..We have the gypsys travelling around here,,thought about contacting them,,but saw that they already have a face painter....!1/2 hours is'nt too bad as long as you can pitch the tent for free as well..Sounds like your doing the right things, good luck with everything and all your decisions.

I have bookings throughout 2012 already - summer and Christmas. I have about 80% repeat clients who always book the next year's dates at or before the current event.

I tell people it is never TOO early to book.

Depends on the area and festival some are already planning for summer and fall but some do not take vendors apps till a few months before the event. Just depends who's planning the event weather it's a event company or an organization like a Chamber or Lions Club. With Volunteer organizations sometimes it's hard to get the people you need to plan a year in advance. They like to belong as long as they don't have to put any effort in it. I'm in a local Business Association and we're lucky to get 5 maybe 6 people at meetings once a month and there is over 40 members.

most of my gigs are also repeat ones, i would say 80 percent of my gigs are repeat business..i seam to get a few new ones each year...

Thanks everyone....as always very encouraging!!!

Jobena...did you end up taking the carnival gig last year? Just found this thread and I was wondering if you had an update. : ) Are you full time yet?