One Day Vendor Contemplation.

Hey Everyone!

Carnival time is coming up in the US Virgin Islands. It's actually our 60th Carnival Anniversary! Along with parades and a "village" with food booths, game booths, and amusement rides, we also have events held in a baseball stadium. Event's such as the Carnival Queen and Prince and Princess Selection show. There is one event in particular that I was interested in being a vendor at...the Toddler's Derby/Living Doll Competition/ and Traditional Games Day. This is a day where there will be lots and lots of kids.

However, I got the application and it's telling me that I would have to pay $100 for a vending feel. I would have to buy a table and tent for the event since I'm just starting out and this particular event is only from 5-8pm.

I would only be charging $3, $5, and $8 designs.

Do you guys think that it's worth it?

Well, if you have your promotional items like biz cards and you want to promote your biz then yes! I have done so many parties that have come from festival leads. Also, if you plan on doing regular festivals in the future, then you need a tent anyway, no?

I give TONS of biz cards out at festivals and even book some jobs! If the festival is big enough and you average $5 per face, then 50 faces would give you $250. Perhaps another $50 in tips. Here, I make anywhere from $250-$1000 per festival.

Good luck!

If you were already well established I would say, No. Unless you are an extremely fast painter, I don't see how you can make a lot of money to cover vendor fees and tent cost in three hours. But since you are just starting, I would say yes. Looking from a marketing standpoint, we are in the red quite a while before making the green. When I first started, face painting was popular at festivals but not at parties. I did a few festivals but didn't get many bookings from them. Festivals are few but parties are popular here. So, I offered painting at parties not for free but at pay-me-what-you-think I'm worth. This also gave me an idea of what clients would pay to help me develop a rate for my area. I did that for 3 months during the busiest season of the year (June, July, August). It got popular really fast and then I set my fee. My business took off and has been increasing every since.