We lost our ASS on this event as well. And just found out that all the checks from the promoter bounced.
Guess it's on to Small Claims court for us.
What a joke this event and promoter was..
The Promoter was Kevin Elliott from West Valley Magazine. Needless to say, we won't be doing any more of his events.
The thing is, unless people talk about events both good and bad more and more people end up getting hosed as there's always another vendor who doesn't know better to fill the real estate. As a vendor, we all talk at all the events and compare notes and if I hear negative stuff from someone I either trust or hear the same thing from multiple people I (and most vendors I know) will avoid those events. All we ever asked from a promoter was 4 basic things.
1.Provide what you say you will (and I'm paying for)
2.If you tell me to stock up as there'll be thousands of people there then you'd had better have done what's required on your end to get those people there (like Rick and Dave who've
always had crowds) I know you can't "make" people come but you can at least advertise everywhere possible and use some imagination. It doesn't take a MBA degree to figure out the more quiet an event is the less people that will show. Hence the name "promoter".
3. Don't double/triple me unless you let me know ahead of time. I hated being told "you're the only one" only to find there was the exact same thing 2 stalls down.
4. Understand when I come to you and want my money back because you lied to me that you'd most certainly do the same to us if we pulled something on you. In my world it cuts both ways not just in your favor.
The biggie, don't EVER tell me "well I got your money so why do I care what happens"? I've actually heard that a couple of times and it then becomes my mission in life to repay the favor.
In my mind this applies to everything, Festivals, Art Fairs,Charity Events and BBQ Comps (y'all sell P.C. right)
Do I take things kind of personal? I don't think more than anyone who's got somebody trying to take money from them under false pretence or outright lying.
Sorry for the rant, it just gets my blood boiling to here about things like this. As I said before I hate it when others get burned.
Keep talking about events, that's the only way to stop it from continuing. When they can't find new vendors they'll either change or close down, either thing is good by me.
