Luck & Laughter?

This past Saturday (March 15th), I attended the first Luck & Laughter shopping event at the Sonesta Select Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri on behalf of Bluedrake Books. And to put it plainly…it was a bit of a dud. Why and how this happened I shall try to dissect below.

I’ll admit, I was hesitant to sign up for this event for a number of reasons, but I shall start with the venue. While not as out of the way as some I’ve been to, the Sonesta Select Hotel is not exactly in the middle of things either. I confess, despite being a Kansas City native, I had never heard of it before this event. And with good reason. Though located just a block off the highway, its low profile and lack of mention on signage renders it all but invisible to people who are not specifically looking for it. Inside, it is your typical 3-star hotel: clean, but nothing spectacular. And in the room where I was set up (there were two), one strip of lights was out (in front of my table, of course).

Like with last year’s Christmas in July, the advertising was done primarily via flyers and Facebook, which is where the event’s home page was located. As I noted then, this appeals to a very small sliver of older audiences and stay-at-home moms. And the signage was once again minimal: a small one inside the doors of the hotel and absolutely none I could see outside the venue. As a result, the crowds were predictably minimal. There were probably a few more than Christmas in July, but only a few. The fact that it was once again a bit blustery outside and overcast all day may have played a small role in this as well. Either way, it was only by the grace of two very generous customers that I recovered my entry fee.

So perhaps the real question is, knowing some of this beforehand, why did I bother to attend? Well, there are two main reasons why I decided to take this $50 gamble. Firstly, it was local, and so the only expense was the entry fee (and time, of course, but I tried to use that wisely). Keep in mind, the most I ever paid to get into a local event was $80, and that turned out to be fairly profitable. The other reason I hoped beyond all hope this would not live up to my expectations was the fact that the organizers are themselves experienced vendors. Having done quite a few street fairs and craft shows over the years, I figured they would have a good idea of what worked and what didn’t. The fact that things did not pan out goes to illustrate yet another important lesson: being a good vendor does not automatically qualify you as an expert organizer of vendor events. (Although, in defense of M&T Events, they do claim that other events they’ve organized have been much more successful.)

So take this lesson and make of it what you will. Will there be another Luck & Laughter event next year? I don’t know. But if there is, I have been informed by the organizer that it will not take place at the Sonesta Select. And in any event, I do not think I will be present. Which means there will be room for a bookseller if you care to give it a try!