Official Luthiers Forum!

Owned and operated by Lance Kragenbrink
It is currently Tue Aug 05, 2025 6:11 pm


All times are UTC - 5 hours


Forum rules


Be nice, no cussin and enjoy!




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 15 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: To The Show?
PostPosted: Tue Oct 15, 2013 4:50 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Sat Dec 30, 2006 3:20 am
Posts: 2593
Location: Powell River BC Canada
First name: Danny
Last Name: Vincent
Thought I might run this up the flag pole. I'm going to get a table at a musical instrument show on Vancouver Island this weekend. It will be the first time I have done anything like this and I'm hoping to get some advice on things that might be useful to have along with me, any tips that you think might be helpful and anything I might expect. I have 2 fresh guitars that will be for sale. I think I have the set ups done pretty well and I'm not afraid to have them scrutinised. I'm bringing a classical that my daughter owns that I am very happy with. Not really for sale. I'm also going to bring my go to guitar which and is in good shape and I'm pretty happy with. Mostly bringing that just to have something different. I think I'll also bring a uke that's kicking around that's kinda cool. Black top, blue and green burst Maple.

I hope no one minds me asking. It's a new venture for me and I know some of you have been in a few different shows. Anything would be helpful that might fool people into thinking I'm not a total doofus. :lol: ( OK maybe that's a stretch) I don't have a brochure made up but I did get some business cards done.

Thanks,
Danny


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: To The Show?
PostPosted: Tue Oct 15, 2013 5:41 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jan 13, 2010 12:46 am
Posts: 1247
First name: Beth
Last Name: Mayer
City: Tucson
State: AZ
Country: United States
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
No advice at all, Danny, but just wanted to say "good luck" and have fun.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: To The Show?
PostPosted: Tue Oct 15, 2013 5:56 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2011 1:32 pm
Posts: 3470
First name: Alex
Last Name: Kleon
City: Whitby
State: Ontario
Zip/Postal Code: L1N8X2
Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Just wishing you the best, Danny, but if some guy comes around checking intonation with his own tuner, call security!

Alex

_________________
"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: To The Show?
PostPosted: Tue Oct 15, 2013 6:06 pm 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:15 pm
Posts: 7548
First name: Ed
Last Name: Bond
City: Nanaimo
Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
Bring a nice cloth cover for the table. And a way to hold it down. Bring along a few sets of wood, perhaps a braced top. Maybe a fingerboard or bridge blank. Maybe a bent set of sides. Some extra picks. As many business cards as you can. Do your best to have an attractive table with a 'talk through hole'. Put guitars in stands (the base support kind, not the kind with neck rests, they look less cluttered) on the ends of the table, the flat stuff in the middle. Don't put up a barrier between you and the people you want to talk to.

Basically, you're trying to engage dialogue. All the guitar bits are curios and conversation starters.
Be polite, never put down another brand for any reason, it may be that persons Favorite. Never make up answers to questions you don't know, or try to make yourself sound better/more experienced than you are, or they are. And when the guy comes and tells you all about his '73 tele or whatever, unfortunately you will have to grin and bear it . :)

I have buttons that I give away. Great excuse for people to come right up to the table.

Good luck! Maybe I'll see you at the Vancouver show!


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: To The Show?
PostPosted: Tue Oct 15, 2013 7:38 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Fri Feb 01, 2008 8:47 am
Posts: 1244
Location: Montreal, Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
meddlingfool wrote:
Bring a nice cloth cover for the table. And a way to hold it down. Bring along a few sets of wood, perhaps a braced top. Maybe a fingerboard or bridge blank. Maybe a bent set of sides. Some extra picks. As many business cards as you can. Do your best to have an attractive table with a 'talk through hole'. Put guitars in stands (the base support kind, not the kind with neck rests, they look less cluttered) on the ends of the table, the flat stuff in the middle. Don't put up a barrier between you and the people you want to talk to.

Basically, you're trying to engage dialogue. All the guitar bits are curios and conversation starters.
Be polite, never put down another brand for any reason, it may be that persons Favorite. Never make up answers to questions you don't know, or try to make yourself sound better/more experienced than you are, or they are. And when the guy comes and tells you all about his '73 tele or whatever, unfortunately you will have to grin and bear it . :)

I have buttons that I give away. Great excuse for people to come right up to the table.

Good luck! Maybe I'll see you at the Vancouver show!


Meddling, you've just summed up Selling 101 in just a few sentences!

Although I'm not sure about the wood samples and guitar parts. For me, they most often attracted curious people that didn't know anything about guitars than actual customer. Actual potential customers just need to see a (nice) guitar to be attracted to it! Once they are at your table, then start the conversation. Try to make them speak more than you.

_________________
Alain Moisan
Former full time builder of Acoustics, Classicals and Flamencos.
(Now building just for fun!)


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: To The Show?
PostPosted: Tue Oct 15, 2013 8:36 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jan 08, 2007 3:47 pm
Posts: 1213
Location: Raleigh, NC
First name: Ringo
Bring many more business cards than you think you'll need.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: To The Show?
PostPosted: Tue Oct 15, 2013 8:38 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Sat Dec 30, 2006 3:20 am
Posts: 2593
Location: Powell River BC Canada
First name: Danny
Last Name: Vincent
Thanks Beth! I get to hang out with some of my oldest friends on the planet who live in the neighbourhood. It will be fun.

That's funny Alex! That and I already have a sign made up ,"Please Remove Any Optical Enhancement Devices"

Thanks Ed and Alain! Glad to hear you guys chime in. I'm all about hearing what people have to say and hopefully the guitars will speak for themselves. I hope I can fit in a trip to the City for the guitar show Ed. I've never been to one and it would be a good experience. It would be good to track you down also.

Do you guys find many people come to these events with the hope of buying a guitar?


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: To The Show?
PostPosted: Tue Oct 15, 2013 8:55 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Sat Dec 30, 2006 3:20 am
Posts: 2593
Location: Powell River BC Canada
First name: Danny
Last Name: Vincent
James Ringelspaugh wrote:
Bring many more business cards than you think you'll need.

Thanks James. This was the boot in the butt to finally get a card made up.

What about photos of past work?


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: To The Show?
PostPosted: Tue Oct 15, 2013 9:50 pm 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:15 pm
Posts: 7548
First name: Ed
Last Name: Bond
City: Nanaimo
Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
No buyers. I only know of one person ever that actually sold one at the shows, amongst my friends. It's all mostly lookie loo's. But you never know. It's more about getting the name recognition and having you talk to people etc.

The 'known' brands are a different story. Used tele? Sold! Strat? Sold! Mostly it's pedals and swap meet type stuff that moves. As of yet, there isn't a lot of participation from the local builders. I try to convince them that if they just come year after year, the show could actually grow into something. But because they don't sell out, they think it's not worth the effort.... idunno


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: To The Show?
PostPosted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 6:16 am 
Offline
Koa
Koa

Joined: Sat Mar 01, 2008 2:44 pm
Posts: 692
meddlingfool wrote:
No buyers. I only know of one person ever that actually sold one at the shows, amongst my friends. It's all mostly lookie loo's. But you never know. It's more about getting the name recognition and having you talk to people etc.

The 'known' brands are a different story. Used tele? Sold! Strat? Sold! Mostly it's pedals and swap meet type stuff that moves. As of yet, there isn't a lot of participation from the local builders. I try to convince them that if they just come year after year, the show could actually grow into something. But because they don't sell out, they think it's not worth the effort.... idunno


I've had similar experience. But have gained many "potential" future customers.
As far as pictures, I bring my laptop and set up a slide show for those that are interested.

Good luck, and have fun!

Chuck

_________________
_________________


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: To The Show?
PostPosted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 3:53 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2011 1:32 pm
Posts: 3470
First name: Alex
Last Name: Kleon
City: Whitby
State: Ontario
Zip/Postal Code: L1N8X2
Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
How'd the show go, Danny?

Alex

_________________
"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: To The Show?
PostPosted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 6:56 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Sat Dec 30, 2006 3:20 am
Posts: 2593
Location: Powell River BC Canada
First name: Danny
Last Name: Vincent
It was lots of fun Alex and thanks for asking. Spent the night at some of my oldest friends on the planet. Did some great pickin' the night before. I managed to get set up on time but didn't take a photo of my table. There were lots of great fellow builders. All good folks and I would have to say I enjoyed talking to every person who stopped by. Only complain is that I was too busy to visit and BS as much as I would have liked with people I knew. I had some great players playing my guitars! They did them well. I got to know Bev at Blue Silk Tonewood. She's a great gal and sent me home with a killer Koa set and beauty Bear Claw Top. Both of which I have an affinity for. Thanks Bev! As most people probably say, "I almost sold a guitar". Ha Ha. Made some good contacts also.

Cheers,
Danny


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: To The Show?
PostPosted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 7:40 pm 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:15 pm
Posts: 7548
First name: Ed
Last Name: Bond
City: Nanaimo
Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
Can you name some of the other builders there?


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: To The Show?
PostPosted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 9:05 am 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Sat Dec 30, 2006 3:20 am
Posts: 2593
Location: Powell River BC Canada
First name: Danny
Last Name: Vincent
meddlingfool wrote:
Can you name some of the other builders there?

Well I'll try to go around the room. Joi Guitars as you walked in. Roch ? from Saltspring. Blue Silk Tonewood. Joe Egan who totally does his own thing. Joe Young. Martin VanHumbeck , Denny Durocher with his Tres Cubano, Steve Heizer, a few Summit guys. I think that was most of the guitar type people. There was a guy who did lutes and oud like creations. A harp builder. A guy with a multi string hammer dulcimer type instrument and Bow River Woods. That's all I can remember. I would have liked to spent more time checking everything else out but once the show started there was little time. If you get the chance you should check it out if it goes again next year. The little hamlet of Errington is Vancouver Island at it's best.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: To The Show?
PostPosted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 10:05 am 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:15 pm
Posts: 7548
First name: Ed
Last Name: Bond
City: Nanaimo
Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
I would have showed had I know of it a little earlier.

Give me a heads up next year? I'll certainly have more time for that sort of thing. Unless I have to get *gack* a job....


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 15 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Bing [Bot], doncaparker and 18 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
phpBB customization services by 2by2host.com