Stacey
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Wierd call from the National TrustI had a message on my machine telling me about a Green Living event at a local NT property. I called back, thinking they were looking for stallholders but it turns out they were looking for demonstrators. Fine, thinks I, if they want to pay me to demonstrate I'm wiling to listen. But no, they want people to go and demonstrate ecological and sustainable crafts etc for free 
If it was for a school or a struggling eco charity I'd think about it but not for the National Trust. Plus they're only organising it now and it's happening on the 28th June 
I feel guilty though 
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tahir
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Do they have a local sourcing policy on gift shop items? Might be worth asking
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tahir
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I assume you're allowed to market yourself there too?
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Stacey
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| tahir wrote: | | Do they have a local sourcing policy on gift shop items? Might be worth asking |
Hmm - maybe. Can't be bothered though 
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marigold
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If you are allowed to flog your stuff I'd have thought it was a good idea - plenty of punters with money to spend and no stallholders fees. And if you get your stuff into their shops as a result...
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Stacey
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| marigold wrote: | | If you are allowed to flog your stuff I'd have thought it was a good idea - plenty of punters with money to spend and no stallholders fees. And if you get your stuff into their shops as a result... |
I don't think there will be many punters though. It's only being planned now and it clashes with Mazey Day in Penzance. Maybe I'm just being arrogant expecting to be paid for demonstrating
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Stacey
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| tahir wrote: | | I assume you're allowed to market yourself there too? |
There's got to be better ways to market yourself surely?
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tahir
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| Stacey wrote: | | tahir wrote: | | I assume you're allowed to market yourself there too? |
There's got to be better ways to market yourself surely? |
Undoubtedly, just thinking of the positives
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Stacey
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| tahir wrote: | | Stacey wrote: | | tahir wrote: | | I assume you're allowed to market yourself there too? |
There's got to be better ways to market yourself surely? |
Undoubtedly, just thinking of the positives |
Sometimes there are none. Stop being so positive.
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orangepippin
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We did an apple day event at an NT property, and managed to negotiate to sell some of the apples to cover our costs. The real benefit was the extra publicity and exposure.
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Behemoth
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Agreed - generally the NT public are relatively well heeled and looking to spend some money on a day out (he says a lesser well heeled member). Which property is it?
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marigold
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| Stacey wrote: | | marigold wrote: | | If you are allowed to flog your stuff I'd have thought it was a good idea - plenty of punters with money to spend and no stallholders fees. And if you get your stuff into their shops as a result... |
I don't think there will be many punters though. It's only being planned now and it clashes with Mazey Day in Penzance. Maybe I'm just being arrogant expecting to be paid for demonstrating |
There's more than one way of being paid for doing something  . Given your current circs, it probably isn't a good idea to take on something else (pacing, pacing), but doing things free can pay off.
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VSS
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it seems to be quite common. tim was asked by the Royal Welsh to do a demonstration at the smallholder's festival, and was expected to do it in return for a ticket.
these organisers don't seem to appreciate the amount of effort that goes in to preparing for something like that.
on the other hand it is very difficult to say no.
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tahir
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| orangepippin wrote: | | We did an apple day event at an NT property, and managed to negotiate to sell some of the apples to cover our costs. The real benefit was the extra publicity and exposure. |
That would be ideal, a demo with some items for sale alongside, they can't expect something for nothing can they?
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Stacey
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| orangepippin wrote: | | We did an apple day event at an NT property, and managed to negotiate to sell some of the apples to cover our costs. The real benefit was the extra publicity and exposure. |
If I'd heard of it I might have been more inclined to consider it (but then again, maybe not, making felt is tiring and I don't want to do it all day for marketing purposes) but thi is happening in just over 2 weeks and they're only planning it now. It also clashes with a major event about 15 miles away.
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Stacey
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| VSS wrote: | it seems to be quite common. tim was asked by the Royal Welsh to do a demonstration at the smallholder's festival, and was expected to do it in return for a ticket.
these organisers don't seem to appreciate the amount of effort that goes in to preparing for something like that.
on the other hand it is very difficult to say no. |
I don't think they do realise what it entails. When I said I was struggling to see how it would be a beneficial thing for me to do she magnanimously offered me the use of a trestle table - for nothing!
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tahir
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| Stacey wrote: | | magnanimously |
Good word
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Stacey
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| tahir wrote: | | Stacey wrote: | | magnanimously |
Good word |
Is it spelled correctly?
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sean
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Yep.
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marigold
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Wierd isn't though (sorry, couldn't help myself )(and you did ask about spelling)
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Stacey
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| marigold wrote: | | Wierd isn't though (sorry, couldn't help myself )(and you did ask about spelling) |
Bugger 
I thought it was I before E
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marigold
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| Stacey wrote: |
I thought it was I before E |
It is, except when it isn't .
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hedgewitch
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Don't feel guilty - you are in business and need to make business decisions. Anything like this, for free, still costs you in preparation and delivery time.
Seriously, unless it is a cause you feel very strongly that you want to help, then look at it only from a business point of view and if the amount of publicity and possible sales opportunities you get out of it doesn't look like a good deal, turn 'em down without guilt.
I am tempted to think "what a nerve!" about the NT (well, tempted to think a lot more, but that will cover the situation). 
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Ginkotree
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It is so difficult to move from being grateful for publicity and the Hope that something more will grow from "LossLeaders" I am often told I am too generous but there seems to be a casm between charity and biusness when you have to pay the bills. It has been said to me that by being gemerous I undermine the people who are trying to make money and must not under value myself.
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lettucewoman
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yes it is difficult - we are doing a freebie forum session in Bedford in a few weeks which will cost us....however we are very hopeful that it will lead to other work.
The trouble is, the lady we are doing it for has asked for all sorts of things to be included...she wants us to cover various things such as privacy and dignity, harassement, bullying etc etc. We don't want to give away all the trade secrets for free, but equally we want to get more work....She doesn't seem to realise that writing the forum, rehearsing and sourcing cossies etc costs us money! We will be doing our standard taster session and hope that that will be sufficient...
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Quail By Mail
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I used to accept invitations to schools, local festivals etc but after a couple rained out, poorly supported, make-shift events I immediately say no to anything unless the entity has real substance (website, marketing, track record).
I've found it's only worth attending huge events in large cities with proper facilities. Swarms of people who have made a point to come to a specific event rather than 'tack on' events or stalls at other events.
One exception is to attend anything in my own town because it's great to gasbag and network with other creative people in town, plus I can just spill out of the cottage and be at most venues in 10mins.
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