San Juan Bautista Chicken Festival

San Juan Bautista Chicken Festival, Sep 19-20, 2009.

This was not a very good show for the vendors and you know something was wrong when they lowered the booth fee. This town has several events during the year and sometimes vendors do somewhat okay. Such was not the case for this event and we could say that perhaps 3,500-4,200 people attended the event over the two days. Not really a spending crowd and I don't think that this event draws very many tourists. With proper advertising and a 'good drawing card' you could pick travelers off the highway. There were around 60-70 vendors and 4-5 food booths along with a little bit of entertainment, which livened things up a little bit. Perhaps the highlight of the event was the Chicken Dance contest and that certainly isn't going to draw people there. Seemingly a local crowd with maybe people from Hollister and Gilroy. Booth fees were reasonable, but there was a reason for that. Never travel far for this one, I didn't.

Please click on link to read more about the event.

http://www.starvingvendors.com/events_chicken_festival_2009.html

Vacaville Harvest Days - 2007

UPDATE: Just remembering when we did this event. Beware. The amusement park has now closed and things might be worse... or they might be better. Moi? Uh uh.

Oct 2007. As we are getting closer toward Halloween, I recall spending a couple weekends at this Vacaville event. Let's share the horrors of two weekends at the Vacaville Harvest Days.

Vacaville Harvest Days. Very bad show!! Never again. This event was held over two weekends at the Nut Tree in Vacaville, adjacent to Highway 80. Long ago, there was a restaurant, etc., there by the name of Nut Tree and it was a great stopover for travelers. People that traveled Highway 80 between San Francisco and Sacramento back in the 70's and 80's would remember the place dearly. Very nice place to take the kids, grab some snacks, etc. However, it hit hard times a number of years ago and closed because people had other places to go. October 20-21 and October 27-28.Anyway, they have capitalized on the Nut Tree name and built a number of stores there. Vacaville Harvest Days was poorly organized. On the first weekend it was held in front and there was virtually no foot traffic. Heavy winds at night blew over our canopy and when we came back the following morning, everything was a mess.

You can read this story on the Do You Remember page of our website. Also, read about the heavy winds we had to endure there and at other shows on our Flying Canopies page.
Also, please refer to entry made on Oct 1 on this blog: http://thisaintparadise.blogspot.com/search/label/vacaville%20harvest%20days

Thank gosh we had taken our merchandise home from the Vacaville Harvest Days event because we were aware of the local riff-raffs!!! On the second weekend, it was held in the back in the Pumpkin Patch, which turned out to be even worse. Everybody had poor sales. Everybody!!! Very poor traffic flow and people just were not interested. Take the kids to the Pumpkin Patch, grab a pumpkin and drive away. We were forced to walk a very long ways to the bathrooms. Promoters claimed they couldn't put porta potties back there for our convenience. City this, city that, fire department this, police department that.... they were ready to blame the failure of Vacaville Harvest Days on everybody else except themselves. So, people the moral of the story is to never do this event. You are not going to make any money, There is no paradise there...keep on truckin!!! And the other moral of the story? If you are ever going to leave your canopy up overnight, either put up all or none of your side panels. Mistakenly, I only put up 3 and the canopy caught the wind over night and toppled over. What a mess in the morning!! Vacaville Harvest Days ... what a mess.

Tillamook County Fair - August 5-8

Tillamook County Fair, OR August 5-8

REVIEW of the fair: A brutally agonizing show for vendors to do. I found out that a good number of the vendors were new, especially in the area where I was located, near one of the gates where people enter and exit without turning their heads as the passed by. Seemingly, attendees were much disinterested in what we are selling. Fair is quite expensive for them and after paying for admission, food, rides and games, there just isn't money left over. A lot of people for this one and it's upsetting to have so few people actually come into your booth or look at your goods.

To read more, please click here.

Dogs at Festivals, Arts and Craft Shows, etc.

This weekend I was a vendor at the Foster City Arts and Wine Festival and there were lots of people and pretty much a decent event.

However, there appears to be a huge dog population in the area and many of the owners like to take their 'significant mutters' to the event. I have seen loads of dogs at many events and I can't understand why any normal person would want to bring their dog to such a place.

What really bothers me is that there are many instances of dogs urinating in people's booths and a lot of the vendors do not realize where those puddles in their booths are coming from. A friend of mine noticed that a dog had urinated on his table covers and had to throw it away. I had a mysterious puddle in my booth and it wasn't until later that it dawned on me that the only way that could have appeared in my space was for a dog to have relieved itself. This is digusting people. Have you no shame? You bring your mutts to these shows and you are so uncaring that you allow 'that thing' of yours to urinate around people's belongings. I have seen your dogs pee in front of my booth on many occasions throughout the years. Leave your damm dogs at home, okay? I'm not even going to mention about your dogs sticking their noses on our clothing, etc. after they have walked around sniffing other dog's booties.

38th Annual Foster City Arts and Wine Festival

Foster City Arts and Wine Festival

May 30-31, 2009. Sat 11-7; Sun 11-5

Come on down and enjoy the festival, located on Shell Blvd., in Foster City. Our booth is located in space #257 (DandL CREATIONS) and we sell shoulder sling bags, wrap around skirts and much more. A number of years ago, we had done the July 4th event at the Community Center and it was quite enjoyable and we are pleased to return to Foster City and hopefully we shall be doing this event for years to come.

This community event will be held beside the lagoon in Leo Ryan Park, at the corner of E. Hillsdale Blvd. and Shell Boulevards includes free admission and free parking at Parkside Towers. Festivities will include arts and crafts for your home, great food for your palate, beer and boutique wines, a variety of entertainment, a carnival, lagoon cruises, and more - something for the whole family. This year the festival introduces a “Green Street” with various booths promoting sustainability information, services and products for our community.
The festival will welcome over 25,000 visitors. Entertainment has been expanded to include three performance areas – the Meadow Stage will be alive with popular music for all ages and the Shell Performance Area for more intimate performers, and the Lagoon Amphitheater for local community groups including, dancers, YAC talent show, martial arts demonstrations, and a K9 demonstration will also be featured throughout the weekend.

Street Fairs, Events, Festivals

Hi People. How about letting me know how you did at your events (vendors). I'd really like to hear from you and you can email me at starvingvendors@aol.com. My website is http://www.starvingvendors.com/ and I have many reviews of events to read.

There are many shows each weekend and I'd like you to share that information with me on how you did, problems, the good things, the nightmares, etc.

I just heard from a lady that did the Central Valley Pizza Festival (Lemoore) and she hit the hammer right on the nail. Some of her comments were: we did it for the first and last time!!! There was only four to six "crafter's" there...... the rest was resale and food. Weather was HOT and as another vendor said people were walking around like they were in a daze...... I will give the award for the rudest kids to this street fair...... As a matter of fact, rude is too nice of a word to use. This is the first place I have ever had to ask anyone to leave my space...... There was a guy walking around with the huge snake wrapped around his neck. I saw one girl who was trying to get away fall over a bike..... also saw a vendor fall and they had no way to get an emergency vehicle in there.... but they did walk in to help him.... Also, porta potties were about half way back in the parking lot... and by noon they were filthy.... two porta potties at the end of the street I was on (the carnival end)... Was told they were too expensive to have any more than the two. BTW, I look at your site daily and love it!!

You know what? I believe her because we were vendors last year at this event and I had many of the similar occurences. Click here to read my review of the Pizza Festival Seems like they have to get a whole new bunch of vendors every year.

I would love to hear from other people. Let's hear about the Chandler Ostrich Festival in Arizona. Anybody else do Manteca? Clovis?

Los Banos Street Faire - April 18, 2009

We arrived at our space and set up. It was 7:00 and it was already getting warm. Crowds were late and very light throughout the day, as compared to other year's here. There were way too many booths for the amount of people attending and the people around here do not have much money. Sales were down this year for us, but we didn't do 'terrible' like some of the other vendors.

I can't understand why you have 4 blocks of vendors, etc. and you are only providing 6 porta-potties. Three on a side street in the middle of the show and another 3 at the far end (our end, luckily) at a car show across the street. Still a long walk. To read my review of this event and many others please click here.

BOOTH FEES: $50 for one space; $80 for two. Anything goes. Excellent. When people are buying, the 'value' of the show is $80-$100. Note: This event is held in mid-April, right on the outer fringes of our rainy season and weather could be a problem. Thus, perhaps the reason for low booth fees.

PROMOTERS: They handle the show pretty good and there is a good police presence throughout the event. Very nice. However, they do not send confirmation of acceptance and need to work on the porta-pottie solutionn.

THE GOOD: Cheap. Spaces are 15 feet wide. Great for us and others who need to display ln side of canopy. Parking not a problem, at least on the far end. They had people sit in for vendors leaving for toilet and food breaks.

THE BAD: Porta potties. Car show in separate area across the street. Food booths spaced amongst vendors. Might be better to put them all in a separate area. There were a number of non-profit hot dogs, etc. I don't know if they would do any good if they were together with other food vendors.

Bok Kai 2009 Parade and Festival

Feb 28, 2009. Marysville, CA. Just returned from doing the festival up in Marysville. It was nice and the weather was great. Temps in the mid 60's and a few clouds here and there.

We spent Friday night in Motel 6...a very noisy place, to say the least. We began setting up for the festival around 6:45 on Saturday morning and by 9:00 we were ready to 'rock n' roll' or whatever you want to call it. People began arriving around then and most of them, were positioning themselves for the parade that would start around 11:00AM.

click here to read the story about the Bok Kai Festival and our review of the event

Ripon Almond Blossom Festival weather report.

RAINS FORECAST FOR 2009 RIPON ALMOND BLOSSOM FESTIVAL. It looks like this is going to be a weekend of rain again for many vendors. Weather.com shows rain on Fri-Sat-Sun. I think that you had better read AccuWeather's forecast, which sounds better. No rain Friday; cooler and periods of rain on Saturday; and it's Bye-Bye Balboni on Sunday. There's Weather Underground to check also, but their forecasts are only five days ahead. DISCLAIMER: Of course, nobody is crazy enough to actually believe that these long range forecasts are accurate. They are for amusement purposes only!!!

Be sure to read my review from last year's event. You'll love it.

Dates for 2009: Feb 27-28 and March 1.

THE ANNUAL BLOSSOM FESTIVAL & CARNIVAL HOURS ARE:

Thursday, February 26, 2009 - 4:00 pm - 10:00 pm (Carnival Only)
Friday, February 27, 2009 - 12:00pm - 9:00pm
Saturday February 28, 2009 - 10:00am - 9:00pm
Sunday, March 1, 2009 - 10:00am - 5:00pm

Clovis Big Hat Days Festival - April 4-5

Big Hat Days in Clovis will be held on April 4-5. For an application, click here

Booth spaces are expensive, running around $435 for commercial and A&C. About two hundred dollars too high for me. Include gas and motel prices...ouch. However, they do get one heck of a lot of vendors for this show and also a huge crowd. Here is my review of last year's event: Too
Weather was great. Big crowds, they came out for this one. Show is over-priced for vendors. A lot of people did Manteca's Street Faire, but I would stay away from that one. They added more booths (again) this year in Clovis. We were located all the way at the end of Section J here in Clovis, but that wasn't too bad.

Click here to read the remainder of this review.

Ceres Street Fair - Ceres, CA May 3-4, 2009

The Ceres Street Fair is coming up on May 2-3, 2009. Ceres Chamber of Commerce Contact them if you are interested in being a vendor.

Read our review of last year's event:

This is a small-town street fair that draws good-sized crowds from surrounding towns. Perhaps in the 30-40,000 range. I really praise the promoters of this event. This is a very smooth-running event which is always enjoyable to do. It was a little warm over the weekend and somewhat breezy at times. However, over the years, we have had temps up around 100 and super-hot; have had rain and even a Sunday completely rained out a couple years ago.

click here to read more

2009 Contemporary Crafts Market.

2009 Contemporary Crafts Market. March 14-15, 2009. Festival Pavilion, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco, CA. View their website for more info and listing of vendors.

10:00 am - 5:00 pm, DailyAdmission $7, Children 12 & Under FREE( San Francisco, Calif.)

The Contemporary Crafts Market will return to San Francisco’s historic Fort Mason Center March 14-15, 2009, and will showcase over 230 of the nation’s finest artists and their distinctive works.As the premiere event for one-of-a-kind functional and decorative crafts, the show will present a broad range of pieces including intricate jewelry, unique glassware and ceramics, hand-painted textiles, custom furniture, mixed-media creations and much more.

All items on display and for sale have been jury-selected for their exceptional quality.All the work in these shows is made by the participating artists. All the artists are residents in the United States. The participants have undergone a rigorous screening process to qualify as participants in this show and we are proud to showcase them.

Los Banos - Mother's Day Arts and Crafts Fair

Mother's Day Arts and Crafts Fair. Here's a nice event for that weekend held in Los Banos.

LOS BANOS TIGER SHARKS ANNUAL "It's a Beautiful Day in the Park"
Saturday and Sunday, May 9-10, 2009 9:00AM-5:00PM
Booth fee $75 for 15x15 space (approximate) flyer application

VENDORS: Boycott Auburn Events

From what I understand there were a number of vendors who sent in their payments for the Oakhurst Home and Garden (formerly Mountain Peddler's Fair in May. On the applications, it stated that this event was to be held over Memorial Day Weekend and people made their payments. However, the dates were changed to the week before and some people might be very surprised, especially when they show up on Memorial Weekend and there is no show. This was a very bad move on their part. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. But this show was broken many years ago when they moved it out of the parking lot at the shopping center.

I know a vendor who had sent in payment for a Home and Garden show in Auburn that same weekend, but later he was surprised to find out that he now had two shows scheduled for the same weekend. He called the promoters at the Fairgrounds there and explained to them what had happened. They were bastards about it and refused to refund the money AND they refused to credit him that $300 for a show later in the year there. I myself have had bad experiences with these people and I am calling for a boycott of events at the Fairgrounds in Auburn until they do what is right. This could happen to you. Please do not participate in events there.

Oakhurst Mountain Peddler's Fair - May 16-17

CHANGE OF DATES:
I was considering doing the Oakhurst event over Memorial Day, but just found out that the dates for the Oakhurst Mountain Peddler's Fair have been changed to the weekend before, May 16-17. Also, they have changed the name of the event to the Oakhurst Home and Garden Show. The new dates, I am sure, will come as a surprise to a lot of vendors who have done this event for years.

If you really want to change it for the good, move it back to the shopping area where it was located several years ago WHERE PEOPLE CAN SEE IT. The current location is not good and nobody can see it from the Highway, which is a MAJOR route into Yosemite. It would be nice if some of these passers-by could see canopies, etc., and mozy on ovah!!!

Arizona Events - Yuma and Tyson Wells

INFO ON ARIZONA EVENTS - Yuma and Tyson Wells.

Nice weather here in Hayward with temps around 70. In Quartzsite, sunny with temps 70/40 for the next 10 days (hopefully). A bit breezy today. In Yuma, nice and sunny with temps approaching 75 degrees throughout the week. Reports from the Old Town Jubilee there show that some vendors are down by as much as 75 percent. Very rough, especially for those that travel and have to stay in motels. I might add that all the new construction in that area has been detrimental to vendors at shows there. Improved shopping areas for visitors and the area provides more things for people to do. Sure an improved downtown area would attract more visitors, but I think that the events are of little concern to them.

Would like to let people know that we (DandL CREATIONS) will not be in Kernville (Whiskey Flats Days) this time nor will we be in Lake Havasu for the Winterfest since we have an 'extended stay' in Tyson Wells this time. Whiskey Flats is a nice show for the month of February as the weather is decent. despite at least a day of rain or snow for the past 4-5 years at this event. Nice parade, shootouts and is enjoyable. It's a hell of a ride getting there, driving along the Kern River Valley since it has many winding, harrowing turns, making it difficult for motor homes or vehicles towing cargo trailers, etc. Not recommended to drive at night. It's quite scenic, nonetheless.

We will be at the Tyson Wells Sell-a-Rama beginning on Tuesday, located in Space X-19 until Jan 26. We will them be over in space PQ-3 on Jan 29 for the A&C show. The event runs until the 8th of February, but we will be there until Feb 15. Hope to see you there. If you mention this blog, I'll take 10 percent off your purchase.

For more info on shows, festivals, etc. check Events and Festivals. I have a website called Starving Vendors that has many reviews of shows we have done in past years and you will most likely find them very informative. Lots of information, etc.

Canopies for events (EZups, Caravan, etc)

ADDED ON 01/06/09 I just received my canopy and opened it up and it was broken. I am through with these cheap COSTCO canopies...like I said last week, mentioning that they are cheaply made. The PLASTIC PIECE ON ONE OF THE CORNERS was broken and the canopy is useless. I called COSTCO and had to wait half an hour and they told me to call the individual stores and that I did. Hayward Business Center....no canopy. San Leandro, no canopy. Fremont... no canopy and I was told that the COSTCO's no longer carry them in their stores, you have to order them. I explained that I needed it by Tuesday and it was tough turkey for me. He said that I could bring my canopy to any store and get a refund. Wow. What a burn. Did I ever get screwed on this piece of junk. DO NOT BUY COSTCO CANOPIES.

I doubt that UPS damaaged it in shipping because there were no frayed edges on the box. No sign of damage on it. Additionally there's a round thing that goes on top of the canopy and it was attached to the middle pole that extends upward. Broken. So it looks like I have to use an old CARAVAN canopy of mine that has a big tear on the side of the top piece and I have to tie a couple pieces together to hold them in place. My 'better' canopy has patched up holes on top and a couple connectors snapped. Both covers sag terribly and I hope that we don't have rain. I am sure that either of those two canopie would win the 'Ugliest Canopy Contest'.

I will never ever buy another COSTCO CANOPY again. Usually I get to use them 2 or 3 times at least before they start breaking, cover tearing or pieces snapping off. Pay the money... GET YOURSELF a decent EZ-UP or something similar, but do not buy COSTCO CANOPIES. Piece of trash.

This is what I said last week, before I received the canopy.

I just came across a website that has a wide selection of canopies for A&C Shows, festivals, street fairs or whatever you wish to one for. I just bought my 4th Caravan Canopy from COSTCO and they are half-way decent. Kind of light though and not made of steel like some of the better quality one's out there. Covers are fair and the sides of these are cheaply made.

If you want somewhat better quality canopies, such as the E-Z Up's here is a website that you can take a look at. They have a nice selection and the website is nicely designed. Large pictures of various canopies along with the features of each. They have The ENTERPRISE II, HUT, & ECLIPSE II. Also DOME II. They have accessories for the canopies; sidewalls, etc

http://www.craftcanopy.com/ezup.htm

Festivals in the Philippines

We have just completed a page on our website called Philippine Festivals which list by month, events and festivals in the Philippines. I think you will just love it. Check here before traveling back 'home'. Will be including all months of the year shortly.

Glendale Chocolate Affair - Looking for Criminals?

The promoters are subjecting their vendors to a background check to see if they are criminals and actually forcing them to pay them $60 for the favor. I recently posted this to one of my other blogs, Events and Festivals and I decided that we need more exposure on this. This fee is on top of the $475 they are charging for spaces at the Glendale Chocolate Affair.

Glendale Chocolate Affair. Vendor Applications I was just looking through a number of event listings on a website and I noticed that vendors are forced to pay $60 for a 'background check fee.' They are charging $450.00 for an Arts and Crafts booth...at least they supply the booth, but that, my friends is pretty darn high, especially in this life and times.

Let's dwell on that $60 fee for a background check for a few seconds. I am certain that vendors will have to provide their SSN, Drivers License Number and probably some other material for them to run a trace on. Now, here ya go. We have somebody paying $475 for a 10x10 spot to sell their artwork, Do you think that somebody selling their lovely artwork at this show should be subjected to having a police check on them looking for warrants, etc. Do you really think these people are criminals. Only reason these people are not objecting is that they need to make money and moreso, enjoy displaying their artwork for people to see.

These individuals are being treated like criminals. A year ago, I (and several other vendors) had to shell out $25 for a 'police permit' which is the same thing and I felt that my rights were violated. Seriously, do they consider vendors to be criminals? That would piss me off if I was extorted like that for $60 in order to run a background check on me.

I know for darn sure this does not cost $60 and I find this to be a slap in the face of vendors. What are they doing.....feeding the person a nice steak dinner while that person sits at his computer and enters the person's name into some software. They do not have the right to force vendors to fork over the $60. Seems to me that the promoters of this event are the real criminals. I have nothing to do with this event, but I read about it and I am perturbed and I really frown over things like this. Vendors should voice their disapproval over this and demand their $60 money back. Sorry. Not right by any standards. Heck, these people could get away with charging vendors a $50 bathroom /porta pottie fee and get away with it.

Kwanzaa Gift Show

Kwanzaa Gift Show, Join us for 23rd Annual Holiday Kwanzaa and Christmas Gift Show, December 13th & 14th 2008, from 11am to 8pm at the Oakland Marriott Convention Center, located at 10th & Broadway in Oakland. Admission for the Gift Show is only $5 and children under 12 are free. Holiday Shopping is a fun time for individuals and families! It's a fabulous and profitable time for creative artist to market and sell their one of a kind specialty items to many jovial holiday shoppers.

It's also a season when community groups, organizations and corporations come out and support the annual Holiday Kwanzaa Gift Show. As Oakland's and the Bay Area's original African American Holiday Crafts Show, this grand event is in its 23rd year and is undoubtedly committed to sustaining and growing African American crafts exhibitors, small businesses, wholesome families and communities.

Kwanzaa is a unique, non-religious, African American celebration, celebrated from December 26 to January 1 with a focus on the traditional African values of family, community responsibility, commerce, and self-improvement. The celebration of Kwanzaa builds self-respect, unity and respect for those ancestors who worked and made a better life for all of us. Harambee (let's pull together) and let's make this event and all community affairs successful for the betterment of the people and our businesses. If you are interested in being apart of our event, please contact me at 510-534-1594 or email me at spam james@kwanzaagiftshow.com (remove the word spam before emailing for info)

NOTE: For Vendors, This event is listed in Craftmaster News. Booth fees are $575+ for 10x10, attendance 10,000. www.kwanzaagiftshow.com