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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 156
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OP
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 156 |
Has anyone had any experience, good or bad, at having a vendor booth at a bridal show?
It seems like that's an obvious place to advertise, and I'm constantly getting e-mails inviting me to be a vendor at one of them ... but the cost is so high that I'm not sure if it's worth it. The average cost for one show seems to be around $850. I'd have to play for about three weddings to recoup the cost, not to mention the five or so hours spent.
What has been your experience? Would you recommend it?
And, since I'm asking ... what has been your most successful way to get wedding jobs?
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,862
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i would go thru the event planner.. She or He would want to be 'in charge' anyway. you'll have a great opportunity there to meet prospective links.. they need you!
I get jobs at churches i already play at.. it's kind of a close mouthed community, protective, etc.
accompanist/organist.. a non-MTNA teacher to a few
love and peace, Õun (apple in Estonian)
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,239
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Just remember, the primary function of a bridal show is to make money for the people promoting it. You may do just as well through personal contacts.
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Joined: Feb 2010
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OP
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i would go thru the event planner.. She or He would want to be 'in charge' anyway. you'll have a great opportunity there to meet prospective links.. they need you!
Hmm ... what do you mean, exactly? When I've contacted the planners, they just tell me they'd love for me to sign up, and tell me how much it costs. Do you think I should go ahead and do it? Thanks!
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 836
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There was a show here, and I asked the organizer if I could go in an take a look so that I could decide whether I wanted to participate next year.
"No way," she said. I would have to pay the admission price just to check it out.
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 850
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Don't do it. Ditto on what everyone else has said here. If you have a CD or a decent recording of yourself playing something wedding-ish, then consider posting a YouTube video with a title that says something like "Perfect Wedding Music in Cleveland" (or wherever you happen to live). My wedding business increased three-fold this past year after I posted this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8kuejhiBfAPeople do use the Internet to search for everything—so this will pay off for you, assuming your recording is good. Here is another slideshow, this one put together by a photographer who asked for permission to use my music. He did all the work, but I get a lot of business from it, because he shows the slideshow to his potential clients, some of whom contact me. Perfect. http://www.pure-wedding.de/Kunden/lindaclaus/Anyway, if you have a decent program on your computer to put one of these YouTube things together, you can pretty much do it for free. If not, you can hire someone to do it for you—find a teenager to work for ten bucks an hour. Much cheaper than the bridal show, and you'll see better results. I also have very pretty business cards that I leave in strategic places. You might send some of them to the banquet directors at fancy places, along with a nice note and a CD if you have one. You also should have a website. Pain in the neck, but it's really critical in this day and age, and you can do something simple for very little money, and the results will be long lasting, as opposed to a one-shot bridal show. Hope this helps! Good luck.
Robin Meloy Goldsby www.goldsby.de Available June 18th, 2021--Piano Girl Playbook: Notes on a Musical Life Also by RMG: Piano Girl, A Memoir; Waltz of the Asparagus People; Rhythm; Manhattan Roadtrip Music by RMG available on all platforms RMG is a Steinway Artist
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 156
Full Member
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OP
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 156 |
Don't do it. Ditto on what everyone else has said here. If you have a CD or a decent recording of yourself playing something wedding-ish, then consider posting a YouTube video with a title that says something like "Perfect Wedding Music in Cleveland" (or wherever you happen to live). My wedding business increased three-fold this past year after I posted this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8kuejhiBfAPeople do use the Internet to search for everything—so this will pay off for you, assuming your recording is good. Here is another slideshow, this one put together by a photographer who asked for permission to use my music. He did all the work, but I get a lot of business from it, because he shows the slideshow to his potential clients, some of whom contact me. Perfect. http://www.pure-wedding.de/Kunden/lindaclaus/Anyway, if you have a decent program on your computer to put one of these YouTube things together, you can pretty much do it for free. If not, you can hire someone to do it for you—find a teenager to work for ten bucks an hour. Much cheaper than the bridal show, and you'll see better results. I also have very pretty business cards that I leave in strategic places. You might send some of them to the banquet directors at fancy places, along with a nice note and a CD if you have one. You also should have a website. Pain in the neck, but it's really critical in this day and age, and you can do something simple for very little money, and the results will be long lasting, as opposed to a one-shot bridal show. Hope this helps! Good luck. Robin, thank you so much!You are always such a huge help and inspiration.
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Joined: Feb 2010
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OP
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Several months later ... i just asked my 12 year old daughter to create this. Thanks again, Robin! www.youtube.com/watch?v=laYsNsB0ULY
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,780
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That is way cool! It's been fun keeping up with your professional journey here on PW - you've really made a great effort to make your business/piano a success. Congratulations.
Cathy
Cathy ![[Linked Image]](https://www.pianoworld.com/forum/gallery/42/thumbs/5540.jpg) ![[Linked Image]](https://www.pianoworld.com/forum/gallery/42/full/7820.png) Perhaps "more music" is always the answer, no matter what the question might be! - Qwerty53
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Joined: Feb 2010
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Thanks so much! 
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 18,356
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That's a wonderful YouTube video! The photos do a great job of setting the mood. I really like that arrangement of the Pachelbel you were playing, too. I hope it generates lots of business for you. p.s. You should probably ask your daughter to correct the spelling of "Canon" at the end. 
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 850
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This is just GREAT!!! Hats off to you and your daughter. I'm sure the financial investment was minimal (most 12 year olds work cheaply!) and I think you will get good results from this. Much much better than one of those stupid bridal shows. Next step: Website and elegant business cards. Or have you already accomplished that?
GO GO GO!!!!
Robin Meloy Goldsby www.goldsby.de Available June 18th, 2021--Piano Girl Playbook: Notes on a Musical Life Also by RMG: Piano Girl, A Memoir; Waltz of the Asparagus People; Rhythm; Manhattan Roadtrip Music by RMG available on all platforms RMG is a Steinway Artist
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 8,923
8000 Post Club Member
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8000 Post Club Member
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Redhead, for your YouTube video, there's a mistake in the link to your web page! Where it should say .com, instead of the dot it's a comma, but you can't tell because if the underline for the link. I was able to get to your webpage (great job BTW!) by manually fixing the link, but you should able to fix the link yourself.
Fix that and you are good to go! Great job! And good luck adding clients!
Started piano June 1999. Proud owner of a Yamaha C2 ![[Linked Image]](https://www.pianoworld.com/ABF_Medals/9medals.jpg) ![[Linked Image]](https://www.pianoworld.com/ABF_Medals/medal_c_3.jpg)
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