Re: [Harp-L] Vendor Fees at SPAH

[Tom Baehr <tombaehr@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

[I'm still struggling with e-mail protocol here, Joe. I think you're  
responding to the one that went unintentionally off-list to you. I'm  
hoping my expanded version will make it onto the list sometime soon.  
Be that as it may, I'll respond to you here, on list, and let it  
serve as my on-list response. Thanks for Ccing the list with my  
original post.]
On Jul 4, 2007, at 5:14 PM, Joe and Cass Leone wrote:

> On Jul 4, 2007, at 4:17 PM, Tom Baehr wrote:
>
> > Unless there is a selection process, comped/free vending space  
> > would be a nightmare.
>
> Do you mean logistically Thomas? Why a nightmare? Aren't there  
> people who comprise work schedules which involve a multitude of  
> people working different shifts and yet, they are shuffled so that  
> everything works? Aren't there people who make out train bus and  
> plane schedules which are tantamount to a nightmare of planning?  
> Aren't there people who put together high school basketball  
> schedules. It takes a planner.

You're talking sequential scheduling. I'm figuring all vendors in the  
same space all the time. The problem comes with too many vendors,  
including the harebrained ones, in too small a space.
> As for a selection process, Yes. First come, first served, and it  
> has to be harmonica related. As to how deeply related, that's up to  
> the panel to decide. The criteria would be something like (but not  
> limited TO): How does this benefit the harmonica player? Not spah,  
> not the manufacturers, the membership and all other harmonica  
> players. Not guitar players, not dulcimer players. The membership.
> > Vendors expect to be charged a table fee; it's part of the price  
> > of doing business. At our event (Cranberry Dulcimer & Autoharp  
> > Gathering, cranberrydulcimer.com), the only free space is for  
> > workshop leaders, and they only get about 18 inches of front  
> > space. This is a smaller event than SPAH, but everyone else who  
> > vends buys table space, $70 per table with a two table limit.
>
> Ok, see already you have given a more apt fee. The fee YOU speak of  
> could be considered a 'token' fee and only necessary to weed out  
> those who aren't as serious about vending.

I assume we don't need to generate nearly as much money as SPAH does.  
We're paying $65 each for 50 workshops, plus $2400 for featured  
artists.  Our site fee is nominal, our participants pay $50 for the  
whole three days. Our participants alone account for between $4000  
and $5000 of income. No staff member takes a salary. Our two concerts  
are open to the public, at around $15. If we were to charge a vendor  
with two tables (16' total) for five days, the fee would be over $200.

So, yes, it could be looked at as a token fee. But I don't think $200  
is out of line.
> > If we, or SPAH, were to give away space, everyone with some sort  
> > of harebrained item would be vying for space with vendors who rely  
> > on their tables of a living, or a substantial part of their gross  
> > income. I don't think that's fair.

One thing I didn't mention to you, but did in the on-list response  
(if it ever shows up), is that we do comp the vendors with one  
registration fee per table. It doesn't cost us anything, and they get  
to attend all events for the price of the table -- when they're not  
vending.
> I don't think it's fair to give space to people with hair brained  
> ideas either, but then hair brained ideas have to go through the  
> panel. Your reasoning assumes that no one will monitor this.

Only because it hasn't been mentioned until now.
> smo-joe
> > Tom
> > On Jul 4, 2007, at 2:54 PM, Joe and Cass Leone wrote:
> >
> > > I feel that there is a difference between sponsors & vendors.  
> > > Vendors should not be charged. Vendors are doing a service for  
> > > the membership just by being there. Spah is supposed to be about  
> > > the membership. You can't advance and promote harmonica without  
> > > members. Ergo: they should be comped for the space/table   
> > > whatever. The vendors should be grouped like a flea market.  
> > > Possibly in the ante-room of the conference halls.
> > >
> > > Since spah comps/perks other people, why not the vendors.
> > >
> > > Just my opinion, no acid tossing please...... smokey-joe
> >
> > !DSPAM:5614,468c007394018288620651!
Tom