This thread was started to review our participation in Toad Suck and evaluate what we learned over the weekend of the festival. Please list everything that you can think of that was an issue either positive or negative so that we can address the issues for next years event. - Toad Suck was geared towards kids much more than I had ever imagined. I think that our focus should not be on membership in events like this one but attracting people to the saltwater hobby in general. The club would only benefit once the people are hooked on the hobby. (that kind of sounded sinister) -After talking with our neighbor vendor we need to be mindful of staying within the confines of our booth space. The flag that was displayed by NSA and our chairs in front of our booth block people from getting to the SandMan booth beside us. It also cut down on the publics ability to visually see their booth. He was not angry but informing us as newbies what we need to be mindful of - he said that vendors are very competitive and will be confrontational about issues like he mentioned. - There needs to be more gimmick to our setup - it was not enough to just have our sign up and expect people to visit the booth. The aquarium that we set up was in the back and needed to be up front for passers by to ogle over. - NSA saved this years event by raffling off a 10 gallon aquarium that got people to stop and spend a few moments registering. NSA was very successful with handing out flyers that had some information about the hobby and their store. We "Must" have handouts that allow us to approach people and put something in their hand. - The monitor with scrolling slide show worked well, the 22" monitor was large enough for people to see its intent. -I plan on building an aquarium stand that we can roll out in front of the tent during the day and back into the tent at night. -We need to be sure and have change for the things that we sell - we bumbed from NSA all weekend. -I was persistent about getting the sand bags filled to hold the tent down, which was a blessing considering our next door neighbors tent took off Friday night. -Toad Suck misrepresents the hours that it is open in its literature. High traffic times were 4-8 on Friday, All day Saturday till 8pm, Sunday 12-5. We need to staff for these hours next year. -Need to try and get a better location next year - we were at an entrance to the festival and under a big Oak Tree which was nice but it was not in the main flow of people. Keep in mind though that any other placement from where we were this year will not allow us to sit out front of the tent like we did. I am sure that I will think of some more stuff later.
We purchased Kevlar sandbags that are made to fit around the legs, I just hadn't filled them and was waiting until the day of the event. So Norman and I squabbled for about 20 minutes on whether to go get sand to put in them or not. I ultimately insisted that I go, which I did and glad of it. I just relish is Norman being wrong for a change, it is usually me.
Sometimes you just have to go along to keep peace in the ranks. It's good that Chris is right once in a while. While the looks of the sandbags fit the nice tent, the buckets full of water would have done the same thing. So I guess we were both right, just Chris made it pretty. It does give the tent a nice look and easy to install. Congrats Chris........you got me.
We will need to bring a larger ice chest and more ice. Bring a broom. Shirt's did not go over well. We need a fish pond or some kind of game for kids to win a prize perhaps. The club also needs to find a way to make some money at this event. Maybe sell nemo balloon's or something. We need to get with participating sponsor's early to see what they want to do about sharing a booth. Also what they have planned for their booth/booth's. If each sponsor want's their own booth, then one or both may not make it into the festival. This could be an issue for them, and needs to be discussed with them at a meeting. We got in easier this time because we were non-profit. Booth spaces are limited.. Do non-profit organization's pay taxes on items sold? Paperwork needs turned in earlier-not last minute like this time. Copies of the paperwork are in the VP's binder. Lighting was used by NSA and was a big help because of extended hour's. I feel more decoration's on the outside of the tent would have drawn more-such as colorful fish, balloon's etc. Coffee AM.....margarita's PM
toad suck and other events I think we should be selling things. I'm just brain storming here... face painting some game raffle an aquarium? is a raffle gambling? flyer about our next frag workshop perhaps have a frag workshop at toad suck.... it would draw a crowd and probably a lot of questions.. fish posters? fish toys? Bathtub fish toys? fish games I know all of this sounds cheesy but, i think we should have something to offer the masses. A fund raising event...
