Their Butts Are Glued to the Seats!

[janezapchef]

I just listened to a cd of a Cooking Show Live, and the consultant passed around the Large Square Bowl filled with products at the beginning of her show. She told everyone to pick something from the bowl, but didn't explain anything about why, just that they should take a good look at it and get acquainted with it if they didn't know how to use it. As she does her demo, she asks for the person with whatever product to come up and do that step of the recipe. For instance, I could say "Susie, I see you have the food chopper. Can you please bring that up here and chop up this carrot?" If they need instruction on how to use the product, she gives it, but it gets people up there. I've never been a huge fan of the entirely interactive demo (the butt glue problem at my shows too), but this seems like it would work.

 

[Jules711]

I have a show tomorrow...oohh...later today that booked ONLY b/c of the interactive show she attended. I was a little surprised b/c of the 25 people and utter chaos it felt like. But several people said they really enjoyed the show and I had 4 booking, 3 of which occurred within 2.5 months! I think you do need to check with the host and I tell them YOU need to be excited about it. No one is forced to help and they don't have to get up to see the recipe being made. That's up to them. Usually people do. Even those not intending to sometimes. My sales have increased b/c of this. People intending to buy only a couple things, buy more b/c they used them. THEN they sell them to others. I can tell b/c I'm selling several of items that I don't sell a ton of. Also, I'm booking more shows b/c of it. I don't talk much about booking or anything else b/c it's practically a free for all at some, but those are the BEST shows! Biggest numbers and most bookings.

 

[breannat]

I am loving using the interactive format! I don't begin my shows at the prep area though. I let them sit, thank them for coming, do introductions, and then I do this:
I ask if anyone has been to a PC show recently, it's usually a very mixed group of course.
Then I say, "Well I know for some of you it has been awhile since you have been to a show, and some things have changed. Many of you can remember sitting there and watching your consultant prepare the recipe and demo all of our great products, but now we're going to do it together! We will all work on the recipe, and you will have a chance to try anything you want to get your hands on. So now, I would love you all to come up here and we'll get started."
^^ It's lengthy I know! But they come up, and when they get really excited about a product, they will all try it. I've had shows where I think every guest tried the santoku knife.
Then if the recipe bakes, or as they eat, they sit back down and I go over things we didn't or can't demo like booking, cookware, anything else I want them to know, and sometimes play a game.
It seems to be working... maybe if you want to do it, try weaving it in in little bits.

 

[Wren-nest]

I am a newby, started in November. But I have done all my shows as interactive shows, if rooms allow we start in the sitting area with introductions and product info and then we head to the food prep area (either dinning table or kitchen table), washing their hands as we transfer and all stand around the table.

I have 3 cutting boards out with the food chopper on one, knives on another and mandoline on another, also the peeler over a bowl. I then talk about the products whilst they use them to prepare the ingredients and they take turns of there own accord.

When the dish is ready to go in the oven, I ask guest that own a product already to pick it up, (rinsing it clean if necessary) and take it back with them to the seating area.

Then we talk about the products they have picked up and why they like them.

Most enjoy the evening and say it has been a great social occassion.

 

[Madsen7]

I came up with a idea to help me get people involved and tried it last night and it worked really well! I made the truffle brownie cups. I printed the main tools used for the recipe onto small pieces of paper squares and put them in a bowl. When all of the guests arrived I asked each person to take a paper from the bowl (I didn't explain why). I then started the demo. I never asked a guest "if" they wanted to help me or try a product, I just asked who in the group had the silicone basting brush? That person came up and I told her what to do with it. I then explained the benefits of the product as the guest used the product to prep the mini muffin pan. I thanked the guest when she was done and asked who had the stainless whisk. That person came up and while she whisked the brownie mix I, again, explained the benefits of the products she was using (whisk and batter bowl). I kept going through the recipe and not one person complained about participating, even people I anticipated a complaint from based on first impressions. I also never felt like I lost control of the recipe (it kept it very organized). I was able to give more quality infomation because I wasn't trying to do two things at once and the guest could immediately validate what I was saying because she was fully using the product. If you have a small crowd have them choose two pieces of paper.

 

[Madsen7]

I just realized that this clearly was not an original idea on my part I didn't read all of the previous posts until now. Either way...it really worked!

 

[chefjax]

I have changed the format of my parties and IT IS WORKING!

Before the party I make name tags for each guest that have the name of a product we will be using instead of their real name.

When the guest comes in I have the HOST place a name tag on his/her guest. As I go through introductions, I ask them to state their product name and tell me if they have it and what they like about it. If they don't have it, it gives me a chance to tell them why they should.

As I go through the demo I call each guest up based on what product they are and when it is used in the recipe. They get a big kick out of it and everyone gets a turn.

Have your HOST get involved too. I think if they see their friend interacting, they will also.

 

[DessertDivaFL]

Since I started this thread I guess I should update it.

Well, no glue on the butts anymore! In fact, this Thursday I have a show with 18 confirmed guests. So I have a strategy of having Team Skillet and Team Trifle. No one will know which team they are on until they pick a random playing card. The red cards will be skillet (hot dish) and the black cards are trifle (chocolate recipe). I will have equal number of black and red so the teams are even. I will start them at the same time and they should be finished at the same time. I will see how it goes. I think it will be fun!

Any thoughts?

 

[Sheila]

Wow, we are reviving some old threads lately! LOLI only do the interactive shows. I tell the group that it's an interactive show, then invite them all to come wash their hands so we can get started. The first ones ready to go - get to pick which recipe they work on. That seems to get them up and moving. As long as they are going to be involved, they seem to be in a hurry to be first so that they can choose which recipe they do!