Maximizing Your Open House Turnout: Tips for Dealing with No RSVPs

[cookingwithhart]

I have an Open House planned for tomorrow that I've received very few RSVP's for and no yes RSVP's. :cry: What do I do? I already rescheduled the darn thing once due to no RSVP's! I've had major computer issues all week, but a sent a reminder to everyone on Tuesday asking for RSVP's and got no response. I just sent another email to my girlfriends (that's how we communicate a lot) and I got a couple of no's. I really have other things I could do tomorrow night, if no one wants to come!
Thanks for your suggestions

 

[ChefBeckyD]

Have you called people?

If you want people to come - you will have to call.

 

[linojackie]

To be honest, I have had bad luck with my open houses as well. I would recommend making up a flyer and knocking on some of your neighbor's doors to invite them personally. Especially try to talk to people you don't know. I plan on doing the same thing in my new neighborhood at the end of the month. Good luck and let us know how it goes!

 

[cookingwithhart]

Have you called people?

If you want people to come - you will have to call.

I've spent every night on the phone with computer tech people for the past 12 days. Because my computer was messed up, so was my telephone...long-story. I finally got it straightened out at 10:00 last night. The open house is tomorrow. I've never had anyone other than my friends and family come to an Open House and I really don't have a problem telling them that it doesn't seem to be a good day for everyone. I just fear there's someone out there that hasn't RSVP'd that will decide to drop by! I guess I need to prepare for a small gathering and just stay at home and wait.
One of my friends that hadn't RSVP'd said she had planned on coming, but now couldn't...not sure why she didn't respond to my other two request for RSVP's! I guess I was just supposed to assume she was coming...funny!

 

[sburnside]

I never have had luck at open houses. This spring I hosted a cooking show of my own and had a little bit of a response from past hosts as well as family - nothing major. I think some just shy away from "open house."

 

[linojackie]

I have been invited to a friend's open house (she sells cookie lee), and she has a really good turn out every time. Last spring I collected about $200 in orders and booked 3 shows, and in December I collected $500 in orders. I don't know how she does it, but I hope she keeps me on her vendor list because I love it! At my last open house I did things exactly like she did and had an ok turnout, but still not as great as hers. I also passed out over 300 flyers around my neighborhood.

 

[quiverfull7]

I think that RSVP is a lost art... a host said to me not long ago that she thinks people don't rsvp anymore because they fear that something more fun may come up and they don't want to be committed to whatever they should be rsvp'ing for... but rsvp's are for NO's and YES's ... it does get frustrating sometimes. I hope you have way more people show up than you are anticipating and have a great experience!

 

[linojackie]

I think that RSVP is a lost art...

My aunt is very knowledgeable on her ettiquette and she says exactly the same thing. Why can't people be bothered to pick up the phone for 10 mins and say "no"? And furthermore Evite makes it very simple to RSVP. There isn't even any contact required so if the answer is no, you don't get a guilt trip, but that seems too be too much of a put-out too.