October 18-19, 2008. ZERO DOLLARS. That's exaclty what we made on
Sunday at this event. ZERO DOLLARS. That's what my neighbor
made. ZERO DOLLARS. That is what some other vendors made.
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This year has been slow for the shows for everybody, but this past
weekend was utterly ridiculous. This was a two-day Arts & Crafts
Fair held at the EOS Winery on Highway 46, 4 miles east of Highway 101.
Really thought this would be a half-way decent show, as did the other 20
or so vendors who were set up on the grass along the edges of the main
parking lot.
The promoter had a similar event here
in May and everything went fine. I had heard 'good reports'
about it and signed up for this one in October.
We drove down on Friday and set up and then spent the night in
Atascadero.
Returned on Saturday morning and finished setting up and were
open for business by 10:00. Business? Hell, what business?
People? What people. Slow in arriving and in
small numbers, they parked their cars in the lot and went inside to
taste the wine. Very few people looking at the merchandise and
even fewer people buying.
There was an area designated for Tour Bus Parking, so you kind of expect
the busses packed full of tourists and wine conniseurs to be rolling in.
No. Uh uh. Not a single bus.
Gosh, just when you didn't think things could get any worse? UH UH
UH. Try sixty dollars in two days.... and I am certain there were
other vendors here that made much less. Maybe like a.......
ZERO. Yes, the great ZERO DOLLAR ARTS AND CRAFTS FAIR. Drink
your way to riches.
You know how bad this thing was? The promoter had placed a sign
out in front of the place. Around 3:00, he was walking around with
a citation he received from the Highway Patrol telling him that he had
to remove his sign. I recalled noticing a Yellow or Orange
Cal-Trans truck out in front around 1:00PM. Looks like he called
it in. What a suckass? He just doesn't think that when
people made purchases they pay have to pay sales tax and we submit these
funds to the state. And of course, these funds are used to pay
these people's salaries. So, hats off to Cal-Trans as they win the
October Village Idiot of the month award for October. I wish you
felt pain when you shot yourself in the foot this time.
When I walked inside the building, I saw
around 30-40 people milling around sipping the various wines hey had to
offer. I have no idea as to whether or not anybody was purchasing
any as they sure as hell were not buying anything from the crafters.
I guess they can afford $20-80 per bottle of wine though.
Hopeless. Forever hopeless, I shall say.
The weather was quite nice and it was enjoyable
sitting around talling to the other vendors. But then again, what
else are you going to do....sleep? Oh yeah. We had our
sleepers also. By the end of the day, I had counted a grand total
of $60 that we had made. We closed up and hoped for a greener day
on Sunday. At least four vendors packed up and got out of there,
some going to other events WHERE PEOPLE HAD MONEY because they surely
were not spending anything here.
We came back on Sunday and of course, it was slow
in the morning. Actually, nobody walking around. NO BODY for
quite a while. A ghost town? A cemetary? That's a good
idea because it seemed like one. People in a very somber mood.
Depressing. The vendors tried to keep their heads up and hopes
alive, but there is only so much you can do. Cemetary?
Epitath should read: THEY HIT ROCK BOTTOM on Sunday, October 19,
2008.
Dearly beloved we are gathered here today to entomb
the 25 vendors who gave it their best.....etc.
SO, TO MAKE A LONG ASS STORY STORT or to make a
short story long, We did not sell a single damm thing on Sunday
and neither did some other vendors. I guess this wasn't a very
good show, huh?
Just let me close with one point....It really wasn't the fault of the
promoter. The economy, etc once again hits us hard and hardly
anybody came. Oh well...just move on, I guess.
