Is Starting the Party Early the Key to a Successful Cooking Show?

[chesse]

Anyway, I had a show today that was supposed to start at 2 PM. When I got there at 1:15, the driveway was full! Everyone was there already. The host told them 1 PM. They had socialized and started the sangria. I said Hello, set up and started the show when I was done. I started the BLT skillet demo and it was all on the stove ready to finish at 2:00! The time the show was to start! Amazing!!! I was out of the house around 3:30. I got two bookings from the show and I'm thinking about asking the hostesses to do the same thing! Less time on the job! What do you Cheffers think?

 

[cookingwithdot]

I would personally feel frazzled walking into that ... but that could just be me. I'm glad it was a success for you.

 

[NooraK]

I would be worried about the guests seeing me as unprofessional at not being on time. I do encourage my hosts to pick a strange time, like 6:57 for a 7 PM show so that it sticks out to the invitees. Or if the Host knows her guests tend to be late, invite them for 6:30 when planning a 7:00 PM show, but be there early myself.

 

[lesliec]

Gladut would it worked out in this situation, but wouldn't think it would work all of the time. None of the shows I have done have had alcohol at them. That may have helped the guests to be more carefree....

 

[Teresa Lynn]

I agree, I think they would think I was late and unprofessional.

 

[scottcooks]

Ditto. I might have made it an interactive show.

 

[lockhartkitchen]

I need to be there before the guests. I too, feel frazzled when I come in and some are already there even 30 minutes ahead of time. At least they were there. I had one show when I first started where no one was there, including the host. Ended up she told everyone the following Saturday. I had a 2 PM show an hour away the following day, but squeezed her in at 6 PM the following Saturday. I ended up with two $1000 shows in the same day.

 

[BethCooks4U]

This just goes to show that different things work for different people. If this didn't make you uncomfortable then do it! I'm sure the host told them you weren't arriving until later so they knew you were "early".

The host could invite with something like "Please arrive by 1 so we can meet and greet and have a glass of wine before the consultant arrives".

I have arrived at shows where some guests are already there and haven't had any problem feeling that they thought worse of me. I guess that is because once I arrived an hour after the start time (my fault, a duh moment) and I lived through it - thankfully they all laughed.

 

[chesse]

Oh yes, I'd follow what BethCooks4U said! I think I'm am going to try this format with this particular "group" to test it out. I am not frazzled easily! Too many years treading the boards in school and community theater for that. I just felt my time was better spent this way. Not waiting around for guest to dribble in. And someone is ALWAYS late. Then the whole show grinds to a halt while she greets everyone and settles in with a beverage and a whole buffet plate full!