[Harp-L] Re: [Hart-L] vendor fees at SPAH

[Tom Baehr <baehr@xxxxxxxxx>]

Unless there is a selection process, comped/free vending space would  
be a nightmare.

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.  
They take turns manning the table, with the guidance of staff.

This is a smaller event than SPAH, but everyone else who vends buys  
table space, $70 per table with a two table limit. A second table  
also allows for one helper.

Vendors are usually one-person operations. They're comped their  
registration fee, which is $50 per table. That allows them to attend  
all workshops and concerts. But that sort of comping doesn't cost our  
event anything.

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.

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