Starting You Show on Time... (Or Close to It!)

[AJPratt]

What do you do or say to get everyone to sit down or into the room to do the demo? I had a large crowd last night and it was a little difficult. So, I was thinking, should I use like a little dinner bell and make a joke of it? What has or hasn't worked for you in the past?

 

[raebates]

Read your other post. Congrats on surviving. I had a large crowd last night, too. Just as I was getting started several more people arrived, so I got started late, which made it seem like I took lots of time for the show. Grrrrrr.

What I'm using this time of year is the significant number ploy. Before each show I figure out how many shopping days are left til Christmas. Yesterday it was 67. So, as I'm ready to begin I say this:

"Ok, we'll be starting in a minute or two. In the meantime, I want you to think about this--the number 67. What is significant about the number 67?"

This draws people to their seats. As everyone gets settled down, I ask who has figured out the significance of the number 67. The ideas tossed out give me a chance to talk about the company:

Number of products? Nope, we have lots more products than that. By the way, did you know that over 70% of our items are under $20?

Year the company started? Good guess, but no. Doris Christopher started the company in 1980. She was a stay-at-home mom who wanted to put aside some money for her little ones' schooling. The company is still very family-oriented.

If nobody comes up with the right answer, I tell them. As they're groaning, I say, "But don't worry. You can get a good start on your Christmas shopping tonight."

Then, a few times throughout the show I ask, "How many shopping days til Christmas?"

It works well for me.

 

[jrstephens]

I usually just speak in a louder tone and say it is time to get started. but then my biggest crowd has been about 12 people.

I like the dinner bell idea!

 

[letscook04]

Read your other post. Congrats on surviving. I had a large crowd last night, too. Just as I was getting started several more people arrived, so I got started late, which made it seem like I took lots of time for the show. Grrrrrr.

What I'm using this time of year is the significant number ploy. Before each show I figure out how many shopping days are left til Christmas. Yesterday it was 67. So, as I'm ready to begin I say this:

"Ok, we'll be starting in a minute or two. In the meantime, I want you to think about this--the number 67. What is significant about the number 67?"

This draws people to their seats. As everyone gets settled down, I ask who has figured out the significance of the number 67. The ideas tossed out give me a chance to talk about the company:

Number of products? Nope, we have lots more products than that. By the way, did you know that over 70% of our items are under $20?

Year the company started? Good guess, but no. Doris Christopher started the company in 1980. She was a stay-at-home mom who wanted to put aside some money for her little ones' schooling. The company is still very family-oriented.

If nobody comes up with the right answer, I tell them. As they're groaning, I say, "But don't worry. You can get a good start on your Christmas shopping tonight."

Then, a few times throughout the show I ask, "How many shopping days til Christmas?"

It works well for me.

What a great idea!! Can I use your idea?

I ask the host how many more people are coming and go from there. Usually the host will tell me to start the show.

 

[gilliandanielle]

That is a great idea! I am going to use this at my upcoming show!

 

[klsnyder]

Great idea with the days till Christmas!!!

 

[raebates]

What a great idea!! Can I use your idea?

I ask the host how many more people are coming and go from there. Usually the host will tell me to start the show.

Please do! It's only fair. I've used so many ideas from this site I'm glad to be able to contribute one.

 

[letscook04]

Thanks Rae!
Colleen

 

[pamperedgirl3]

Yesterday must have been the night for starting late! My recruiter told me that she got started 45 minutes late.

I've had a problem with not starting on time & I decided to start an on time drawing. I got stickers at thebooster.com that say On Time Drawing & I put those next to the time on the invitations. I also put 7:04 PM as the start time, or 4 minutes after when I want the show to start. Every single person came on time/early to my Wednesday show, which was the first one I tried it out. They all came in saying, did I get here before 7:04 for the drawing!

 

[lacychef]

Great idea Rae I'll have to use that one too!

 

[lisacb77]

Anne, I like the dinner bell. I may have to get one!

I also like the days til Christmas. So would that make tomorrow 65??? Might have to try at the brunch show tomorrow.

 

[AJPratt]

Maybe my style would be more like a large gong!

 

[pckimboyers]

I can just see you doing that Anne!!
LOVE the days til Christmas idea!!

 

[Pampered Laura]

Read your other post. Congrats on surviving. I had a large crowd last night, too. Just as I was getting started several more people arrived, so I got started late, which made it seem like I took lots of time for the show. Grrrrrr.

What I'm using this time of year is the significant number ploy. Before each show I figure out how many shopping days are left til Christmas. Yesterday it was 67. So, as I'm ready to begin I say this:

"Ok, we'll be starting in a minute or two. In the meantime, I want you to think about this--the number 67. What is significant about the number 67?"

This draws people to their seats. As everyone gets settled down, I ask who has figured out the significance of the number 67. The ideas tossed out give me a chance to talk about the company:

Number of products? Nope, we have lots more products than that. By the way, did you know that over 70% of our items are under $20?

Year the company started? Good guess, but no. Doris Christopher started the company in 1980. She was a stay-at-home mom who wanted to put aside some money for her little ones' schooling. The company is still very family-oriented.

If nobody comes up with the right answer, I tell them. As they're groaning, I say, "But don't worry. You can get a good start on your Christmas shopping tonight."

Then, a few times throughout the show I ask, "How many shopping days til Christmas?"

It works well for me.

*GASP*
This is BRILLIANT!
Where's my two animated beer drinking dudes with the spindly arms?!

... BRILLIANT!

 

[chefjeanine]

I also put 7:04 PM as the start time, or 4 minutes after when I want the show to start. Every single person came on time/early to my Wednesday show, which was the first one I tried it out. They all came in saying, did I get here before 7:04 for the drawing!

Yes, they notice!

Here's my trick. I always put 6:27 (6:30) 6:57 (7:00) or 10:57 (11:00 a.m.) for my show start times. I'd rather they arrive early, we know they will come late. I do this is because people REMEMBER the start time. This doesn't mean we start at 6:30 on the dot but it does help.

Also, you take a dinner bell with you every time you go to a show. Set your timer to go off when the show is supposed to start. Ignore it until everyone notices that it is going off. "Oh, it must be time to start" Then you can tell them about one of our best products, the clock/timer and start your show.

 

[lisacb77]

That's a great idea for the timer, as well as doing weird start times. One of my fave restaurants is open from 7:57 a - 10:03 p and everyone knows it.

 

[heat123]

I don't think I have EVER had a show start ON TIME! Usually 20-30 mins later or as late as 1 hour for it to start, waiting for people to show! It gets annoying at times but I let the host decide when she is done waiting bascially. I wish everyone were prompt like myself but what do ya do?

 

[pamperedgirl3]

I had my second show with the on time drawing & all but 2 people showed on time. Those two actually called to tell the host they would be late. I will no longer start late! I am not going to make less per hour while standing around doing nothing waiting for the last one or two to show-who usually never spend much, talk the whole time & don't book a show! It's also rude to those who do show up on time & end up just sitting there.

I specifically put my time as 4 minutes after the hour because I still want to be able to arrive only 45-60 minutes early & want to be done 15 min early so I am ready when everyone gets there. I grab my basket at the time of the drawing & do my opening. Then I get a winner & we start with intros. It's been a great way to "start" the show. I used to try to wait until everyone got quiet, etc. Now I'm in control of when we start, not the guests. So far it's been working for me, so I'll keep doing it until it doesn't work anymore!

 

[lisacb77]

How do you do the on time drawing? Do you have them do the DPDS at the beginning then?

 

[chefann]

I used to do an on-time drawing. I just took a handful of tickets and handed one to everyone who was there - and in the demo area - at the start time. Then I'd draw one.

I stopped doing this because I encountered a lot of people misreading the sticker (I used the "On Time Drawing" with a drawing of a watch from The Booster) as "On Time Gift," and then they got mad when I wasn't just handing out gifts. But I think I'm going to start back up with them.

 

[AJPratt]

I think its a good thing to try. I just might do that.

 

[AJPratt]

Set your timer to go off when the show is supposed to start. Ignore it until everyone notices that it is going off. "Oh, it must be time to start" Then you can tell them about one of our best products, the clock/timer and start your show.

I LOVE THIS IDEA!!!! I usually put an odd time on the invite but I am thinking about putting, arrive at 6:45, show starts at 7pm or something like that.

 

[pamperedgirl3]

Yes, I have them use the DPDS. You could do something else if you wanted to wait until the end. I always felt silly having them do the DPDS at the end & then saying I haven't read them yet or seeing a no & then still asking if they wanted to have a show. So now I ask them about shows & recruiting before I look at the slip & then say, now let me look at your drawing slip to see if you wanted information on anything else. I haven't noticed it hurting my sales--but I've only used it for a couple of shows right now.

I use the booster sticker too & I figure that's too bad if people think they're getting a gift! Just kidding--actually I haven't had that problem. Everyone comes running in asking if they made it in time for the drawing.

 

[jrstephens]

This gets so aggravating! It is a wste of our time to sit around and wait. I have decided after once again starting late waiting on people to arrive that never get there yesterday that i wll start on time no matter who is there!

 

[AJPratt]

This gets so aggravating! It is a wste of our time to sit around and wait. I have decided after once again starting late waiting on people to arrive that never get there yesterday that i wll start on time no matter who is there!

That's true... Some people you are "waiting" for just never show up!

 

[pamperedgirl3]

Totally agree! That's why I'm doing the drawing. As long as one person is there, I'm starting! I don't want the people who are already there feel like they are not as important as whoever it is we are waiting for so the show can begin!

 

[AJPratt]

Totally agree! That's why I'm doing the drawing. As long as one person is there, I'm starting! I don't want the people who are already there feel like they are not as important as whoever it is we are waiting for so the show can begin!

That's how I feel. I want to respect the people who respected the show time!

 

[lisacb77]

I like this. I might start doing an on-time drawing. I do the regular DPDS at the end plus Pampered Poker but I can afford a third goodie if it gets me started on time! My shows are starting 20-30 minutes late and this is a big area I'd like to improve in.

 

[chefjeanine]

I think you really have to take control in these situtations. You can be nice about it but be firm!

I usually wait no more than ten minutes after we are supposed to start (and actually I think five minutes is too much). I tell them "I'm going to get started now and anyone who comes in later can join in when they arrive".

Punctuality is a sign of respect. We need to respect those guests that arrived on time.

 

[AJPratt]

For the first time, I mentioned to my host to pass out folders to anyone who arrived after I started an that was a big help. Even though I started 20-30 mins late, I wass done everything and the guests where gone by 9. It was a FAST demo. Love that Mom's Apple Crisp!