3 Steps To Planning Your Own Event

If you have a hard time locating events in your area which are reasonably priced, it may be time for you to start planning your own event.

Planning your own event isn't as hard as you may think. While it is time consuming and requires a lot of organization skills, it could bring you a whole lot of local business.

Step 1 - Finding Vendors

The first thing you need to do is make sure you know enough vendors to host your event. If you know other local home business owners, get in contact with them and see if they can give you names. We've been contacted several times because our name was passed on by someone else who we met at a craft show.

Step 2 - Plan Your Costs

You'll need to rent a local community center or other space for your event. Many are low cost, while others may cost you several hundred. Go by your list above to figure out how much space you may need. Remember not all those you have contact information for may contact you, so it's best to over book than under book.

Be sure you also keep the cost of advertising in mind. Call your local radio stations and newspapers to find out how much it will be to run ads. You may want to kindly ask your vendors to let their customers know they'll be attending your show. Don't make it a requirement, but do ask. Many will do so automatically just because it's easier for their customers to meet them at an event.

Step 3 - Set Your Date

Check for events around the area in the larger cities as well as smaller towns to make sure you aren't holding your event on the same day as another. We've had to turn down many offers because we were attending another show. Not only will you be missing many vendors, but attendance will be lower as well. NEVER book your event on the same day as another craft show or similar event. Booking around other events in town which compliment your event is fine though.

Once the date is set, you can now start collecting money from your vendors and booking spaces. Keep your cost as low as possible, but do as much advertising as you can as well. Low cost options such as signs in town work wonders and help you stretch your advertising budget. Depending on the size of the town, you won't want to charge more than $10-20 per space. The more you do your event though, the more you will be able to charge since locals will begin to expect the show every year.

While organizing shows can be a lot of work, it can be a wonderful way for you to build a bigger customer base within your own town.

Have fun!