How Can You Make Your Show Stand Out and Keep People Entertained?

[mommyhugz1978]

I deffiently need some help in this area too!!!! I dont' relaly do anything either...

 

[Gingercooks4u]

I am a new consultant to Chef Success, I am not fimilar with the Star CS member. What does it mean? Also what do the different color stars indicate?
Thanks for any replies.

 

[PCGINA]

GREAT RESPONSES EVERYBODY Give yourselves a hand...

I love to use humor whenever possible. I have a new nick-name with a "group" of ladies that have shows for me - my new name: "HOOT" - because they say I am a hoot to have at their shows - what a GREAT compliment.... Why? They are having fun.

I like to tell stories - like this one:

I choose not to have cable television - so when my hubby and I go somewhere overnight (requiring hotel accommodations) I ask if they have the food network (that always gets a laugh) - so tonight you can pretend I am Rachel Rae - minus the cleavage....
OR
How many of you here know how to make hockey pucks? - OH sorry - you might refer to them as bisquits... (good intro to stoneware)
OR
OK - I need all of your help - who here is the loudest - most obnoxious person? (everyone always pints to somone) WOW! So am I - here's a little gift for ya (Quikut knife) [that gets at LEAST that one person interested in what I am doing - the rest usually follow....]

You get the idea....imagine yourself at the last party/show you were at...did you have fun? Were you entertained? Were you bored out of your mind and just wanted out of there? Why? You have to find your style and blend it with the crowd...

I too love throwing chocolates.....who doesn't like getting some!!!

I also ask at the end of my demo/when food is ready to eat (right after I have given them 60 seconds to ask as many questions as possible about my business - and I am throwing as much chocolate as possible) who has the most chocolate pieces??? OK ...OK...NOW who has the most wrappers? (Give them a prize too) WOW!! "We better eat!! (laughter)

KEY WORDS here --- laughter, entertainment, fun and food.... GREAT RECIPE!!

My last host told me my demo was more like a Magic Show than a cooking show.... (Warm Hazelnut Cake in micro)...

Sorry to be so long winded.... somebody put a fork in me!!

 

[DizziePixie]

Any time someone says anything negative. I've had "cops" hit the siren (or horn before I found the car) for the following statements:

I have the Longaberger bowls, and I hate them. They're too heavy. [As I talked about our stainless steel bowls]

Because they break easy? [When I asked if anyone knew why we give away almost as many choppers as we sell.]

I have that, and I never use it. [Can't remember the product, but I remember the woman arguing that it wasn't negative--she didn't put it down, she just never remembered to use it. I think it was one of the little gadgets.]

I sometimes ask them to mention products they have but don't use or don't like. It's usually because no one has told them how to use it or they're using it wrong. They are glad they mentioned it and others see how reliable our products are since hardly anyone responds. I think they appreciate my honesty to help people use their products and get their money's worth.

 

[raebates]

I sometimes ask them to mention products they have but don't use or don't like. It's usually because no one has told them how to use it or they're using it wrong. They are glad they mentioned it and others see how reliable our products are since hardly anyone responds. I think they appreciate my honesty to help people use their products and get their money's worth.

I agree. Most of the people who tell me they don't care for an item discover that they are using it wrong or had unrealistic expectations to begin with. (I remember someone complaining that the old boil control didn't stop her stuff from boiling over. It wasn't supposed to. It was just to alert you when the boiling began.)

The negativity cop is great for lightening the mood. However, I always encourage people to tell me more when they mention that they don't like or don't use an item. When I explain that it's a "no negativity zone," I go on to say that if they have an item they are having a difficulty with, I want to know. I may be able to help.

 

[baychef]

Gina (aka HOOT!) I love your humor! I am going to steal some of you material!! And hopefully gain some of your energy in your party!!
I have learned that on my way to a party, that I need to gear up. No matter what is going on, once I knock on that host's door...the show is on! That means bubbly (not fake or irritatingly bubbly) from the word hello!
That sets the pace. As I am setting up, if I see the host is stressing for some reason, I either help out by verbally coaching her or offer to help her when I am done setting up. Her frame of mine helps set the tone of the party too. She will work harder at getting those last outside orders! I am genuine in my mannerism because I make a huge effort to put all of my "things that bother me" aside. It is like going on stage.
Anyway...I hope I can be more like HOOT!!
Ann

 

[button92]

I tried a new thing at my last party that went over really well and was alot of fun. I bought an "easy" button (staples $4.99) and put it in the middle of the room beside a basket filled with plastic easter eggs. the eggs had chocolates,toys and prizes. some of the prizes i used were % off todays order, free shipping today and book and close by X date (according to my goals for incentive and such) and i'll bring the ingredients. they get an egg every time they hit the easy button and tell me an easy tip about a product,whether it's easy to use,clean or whatever. they seemed to have alot of fun. i am thinking of offering a gift next time for the person with the most eggs at the end of the show. but it kept everyone paying attention and interacting. it was something away from the norm.

 

[pamperedharriet]

Love the Easy Button idea--got to get one!

 

[pamperedharriet]

I am a new consultant to Chef Success, I am not fimilar with the Star CS member. What does it mean? Also what do the different color stars indicate?
Thanks for any replies.

Welcome Ginger to Chef Success! I guess your reply got lost in this wonderful thread--happens very easily.

A Star CS Member is one who has posted over 750 threads, a filled in one like mine is over 1500 threads and I forget what the number is the pink ones are.

 

[Chef Diane]

Love this idea, did you have problems with guests trying to run eachother over getting to the button?

I have a show the end of the month I'd love to try this at, but worried they'll run each other over. They're friends of mine and they can get quite into the game.

 

[PamperedK]

I've stopped doing games. I do'nt know if it's because I'm not fun, but my guests NEVER get into it. I had some guests actually complain and say they just wanted to shop - so I cut the game short.I don't even ask anyone to try the products. If someone seems interested, I'll ask them specifically to come up and try, but I don't throw it out there to everyone anymore - whenever I do that, I get a bunch of blank stares and the room goes silent...

 

[KimmyDarling]

This is a great thread!I'm just myself at my shows-- dorky, but still knowledgeable and trustworthy. I think that if I let people know that they can have fun with me, but that I am also a businesswoman that knows my stuff, it creates more long-term customers.I am LOVING the Easy Button. I must get one!

 

[cathylou]

I am no longer new to PC (1 year's experience) but I have found that almost everyone at my shows knows everything! I'm not sure if I'm not studying enough or what, but they seem to know more than me. Should i just go with the love it/have it game and let them tell me about the products?

Unfortunately I have not done very many shows and I can't call myself much of a salesperson and I'm fairly shy lol. Don't know how I got into this... Oh yea... the rockin' products! But any other tips for me being shy and "freezing" at my shows would be extremely helpful! Thanks everyone! Love the thread too!

 

[pamperedharriet]

I agree. Most of the people who tell me they don't care for an item discover that they are using it wrong or had unrealistic expectations to begin with. (I remember someone complaining that the old boil control didn't stop her stuff from boiling over. It wasn't supposed to. It was just to alert you when the boiling began.)

The negativity cop is great for lightening the mood. However, I always encourage people to tell me more when they mention that they don't like or don't use an item. When I explain that it's a "no negativity zone," I go on to say that if they have an item they are having a difficulty with, I want to know. I may be able to help.

I can't believe how many years went by before I used my can opener!! I bought it at a show and by the time I got it I forgot how to use it and just put it in my drawer. You would not believe how excited I got when I went to another party and saw it being used--I begged to be the one to try it out so I could start using mine at home. Now I use it all of the time and don't use my electric can opener!

 

[raebates]

Yeah, I've been know to go to a customer's home to teach her how to use it. I often say that it's many people's most hated, then most loved product.

 

[pamperedharriet]

Needless to say I am a firm believer on finding out why someone doesn't use or like a product that they bought. Could very well be that they need help with it. Makes a satisfied customer most of the time when you can solve the problem!

 

[Chef Diane]

yup, I had a guest at a show (was very new then) that complained how hard the measure all was to use. If I knew then that all she had to was use it to loosen it up I might have sold some.

 

[Cindycooks]

I have everyone introduce themself and say their favorite product....and, like Kristi, I don't allow repeats. I tell them that if someone else names their favorite then "Oh, so sorry, it's no longer your favorite and you have to pick a new favorite" (usually gets a laugh).

I also play Have it-Love it/Love it Want it/Got a Question throughout the entire show and give tickets for playing. I tell them that if they have it or want it they have to be the first to say so and tell everyone why. Their question can be about the prodict, the recipe, hosting a show, or about me and my PC biz......basically anytime they speak they will get a ticket! The more they speak-up the more tickets they will get abd the better their chances are for winning! At the end of the show I draw a ticket for a door prize.

Sometimes I tell funny stories about my products too.

I do pretty much the same thing but I do something really fun I got from conference last year during the Have it-Love it-Want it....I start with asking them "who has ever wanted to throw a knife at someone? I toss a quik-cut paring knife (still wrapped up of course!!!!)...to the first person to ask a question or comment and they in turn have to toss it to the next person to ask a question. It just keeps going and can get hilarious just watching a bunch of women fighting over a $1 knife! At the end of my demo - whoever has it keeps the knife. What I usually do is set a timer for 30-45 minutes depending on the demo. Lately I have revised it and do this at the END of the demo - I give them 3 minutes to ask me any question they can think of on the PC Business and the Business ONLY. The knife gets tossed.

 

[Cindycooks]

Instead of asking them "what is their favorite PC Product"...my Director always asks "What is your name and what would you do with an extra $400 a month"...instead of going around the room at the beginning, she "sprinkles" introductions through out the demo which is a great way to kill those seconds when you can't think of anything to say! Great for planting that recruiting seed!

 

[Chef Diane]

ooooo I like this idea, come on ladies you know Im not the only one who hs wanted to throw a knife at someone.

So do you throw the knife to thr 1st person who says yes to that question to start the game off?

 

[Cindycooks]

I just ask "who wants to start" and throw it to the first person to ask a question or say "have it" or whatever and tell them to throw it to the next person. They catch on pretty quickly! This works great for me because it is fun, it keeps them interested and awake and attentive (they are not looking thru the catalog - they are looking for the knife!).

 

[KimmyDarling]

Love the knife-throwing! I'm definitely gonna try that.

 

[Chef Diane]

Im doing thiswith my church friends. We had a knife thrower come during vacation bible school a couple years ago ( he threw knives at his wife) and all the hubbies wanted to be taught how to do that. I don't think they appose to this lol

 

[mommyhugz1978]

I Love that idea... I have a show on Thursday of this week I might have to try it out at.....How do you guys play I have it, I love it, question game?? is it played through out the demo?

Instead of asking them "what is their favorite PC Product"...my Director always asks "What is your name and what would you do with an extra $400 a month"...instead of going around the room at the beginning, she "sprinkles" introductions through out the demo which is a great way to kill those seconds when you can't think of anything to say! Great for planting that recruiting seed!

 

[raebates]

The "Have it! Love it!" game (to which I add "Have a question) is played simply by tossing a candy to the first person to yell, "Have it! Love it!" when you mention a product. They must be willing to tell everyone why they love it. I also toss them to people who ask a question about a product or about the business. It's played during the demo. I hand out a prize at the end to the person with the most candies (or empty wrappers).

 

[button92]

Love this idea, did you have problems with guests trying to run eachother over getting to the button?

(easy button)
sorry to take so long to reply to this. yes they did run each other over a bit. am thinking i maybe need 2-1 for each end of the room in a large group. but it was all very fun. it really kept things moving along. i didn't feel like there were any lulls in my show this time.

 

[Brandie]

I start my shows asking what everyone's favorite cooking show is, then I do a little comic bit about "Cooking From the Planet Mars" (cooking shows that are so far beyond the normal person's ability/desire), then I tell them that they are attending my cooking show: "Cheap and Easy with Brandie."

I also love to make jokes about our products' names/uses when I can. I love to tell everyone that I was so excited to find out I could get a large rack from the Pampered Chef--and I thought I had to go to a plastic surgeon for that! The silicone line from earlier works beautifully along that line...

I'm sort of a lunatic by nature, however, so making up wacky stuff to say or jokes to crack is very second-nature for me. Thank goodness I have TPC as my lunacy outlet!

 

[raebates]

YOU, wacky? I'm shocked!

 

[chefann]

Heaven knows there's nobody wacky on CS!

 

[raebates]

Brandie and I are cluster-mates. We even attended our first National Conference together. I have first-hand knowledge of her wackiness. She's great.