Comments on: 2009 Meet the Breeds Wrap Up

By: cheri and oakley

cheri and oakley — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:36:38 +0000

hey jenna!
your site and the meet the breed event look great!! sorry i missed it! i was just working on my website and your name popped up…it’s been a while! i hope all is well for you and snickers! you both look wonderful! i have had my nose to the grindstone with soups and have had very little time to work on dog food yet i get at least two phone calls a week asking how someone can get it! LOL!! i need 24 more hours to a day to do it all! biz is tough these days! and i’m exhausted!
would love to hear how you and snickers are doing and what you’re up to these days!
my best to you both!
cheri and oakley

By: jenna

jenna — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:40:22 +0000

Thanks for the offer Rae. I had plenty of people during the event, almost too many really, in the booth. I could have used more dogs. And some help setting up and breaking down before and after the event would have been nice. I’ll let you know next time I’m planning one if I need more help!

By: Rae

Rae — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:03:23 +0000

Jenna, if you let me know about this event a month ahead and let me know how to get there/time etc., I can come and HELP!!! My two shibas wouldn’t be able to handle the crowd, though I’d be able to help in many ways with people and the shibas that are there…

By: jenna

jenna — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 05:02:06 +0000

That is a good idea! I have to figure out a way to do that.

By: jenna

jenna — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 05:01:12 +0000

My guess would be that only about 5 to 10% of dogs could handle this kind of event. It’s really tough on them. Not only is it tiring, but there are plenty of unpredictable people – little kids who jump on them and pull their ears, people in wheelchairs, etc. This was definitely the toughest event (for dogs) that Snick and I have ever attended.

By: jenna

jenna — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 04:56:47 +0000

Snick and I have done a few of those fairs, both small and large, with NYCSR and it seems that the success of the event is dependent on the marketing of the overall event and, of course, the weather. I’m beginning to wonder if they’re really even worth the time and effort. When you think of everything that goes into it and the little bit you get out of it… I’m going to be a lot pickier about which ones we do going forward. The real win at fairs like that is the getting volunteer and foster applications. You’ll seldom make enough in donations to make it worth it.

Your “gameplan” made me laugh… I usually do that too, even including lunch breaks in the schedule. Since this was a shorter event (10a-5p for 2 days) and I had so many people coming, I didn’t feel it was necessary. THAT is why I forgot to schedule set up and breakdown people – because I didn’t have a written schedule! I didn’t realize that was why until I read your comment.