The show was not great.

[valis2]

Someone else is doing my idea of discount merchandise (uh, but my idea wasn't really that unique, it's a pretty logical step) and it's a good friend of mine who thought it would be cool to try and she was across from me and had more stuff for less money, which is not that great to have across from you. And also, surprise. I had no idea she was coming.

Fortunately, I had two spaces and lots of repeat customers. She did not do as well as I did.

Unfortunately, I had one repeat customer who made me crazy, and due to my faulty memory and the fact that I can't seem to think on my feet, he ended up sitting behind my booth with me through most of the show, and he kept talking about pot. Loudly. Well, everything was loud, not just the parts about pot. He also mentioned pagans and made another remark that was ugly and I just couldn't figure out how to get him out of my booth. People kept thinking it was HIS booth, and that made me really uncomfortable and upset. Two years ago when he first bought from me he was rather funny and interesting--an aging Deadhead with lots of great stories, and he bought a lot of stuff so I let him stash his backpack behind my booth. Last year he took that inch and shaped it into a mile, and it was really not as fun, though it was still tolerable. This year it was awful. But then five minutes after he announced he was going to leave (which was at 3:45, the show ends at 5) I remembered that all I had to do is tell him that only vendors could sit behind the booth. *giant headdesk to end all headdesks*

What can I say--I was sleep-deprived and I literally could not figure out what to say that would not offend him or be a lie. Next year if he shows up I will definitely let him purchase and then he will not be allowed behind the booth after we're done.

I am so angry and low right now. I'm totally passive-aggressive, but still, I would have said the phrase if I had thought of it--I know he upset people and definitely lost sales for me, and he didn't buy much from me this year, and damnit, I wish I could have gotten rid of him earlier.

*grumbles*

Comments

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

Grrr! I so feel for you with this because that's totally the way I can imagine it happening to me.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I just have stupid bad luck. Not horrible maiming evil bad luck, just stupid bad luck, over and over again. And I just get completely stuck in social situations. wah!

Thanks for the sympathy!!

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

Oh drear,people like that a real pain.I always think of great things to say after the event! I read somewhere it was how women's brains are constructed but we are better in old age at thinking up good retorts!

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I always think of the reply after the fact, too!

I can hope that in the future I'll get better, but I'm not so certain...:(

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

I think I'm getting tougher with age,but if I had a pounf for every smart retort I've thought of the next day or something, I would be a millionaire!

[imafarmgirl.livejournal.com]

Sounds miserable. Hugs.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Aw, thanks. It's mostly that I'm frustrated with my own inability to stand up and push people...

[imafarmgirl.livejournal.com]

I sometimes have that problem. It's rare for me, but most often happens during work related things, which would be true in this situation. It's like trying to find that happy medium between getting someone to back off and not pissing them off forever so that they will run around spouting terrible rummors about you.

[gmonkey42.livejournal.com]

{{hugs!}} That happens to me too, where I don't think of what to say until it's too late. Now you know what to do next time, anyway.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

The scary thing is--I was told what to do last time, and I completely forgot. I told the promoter to remind me next year so I am ready to use The Line. ;)

[schemingreader.livejournal.com]

What is The Line?

If I were in those shoes, I would probably say, "Hey man, great to see you again, but you know I've got to pay attention to my other customers, so you'll have to come back later to chat. See you! Seriously, I have to keep my eye on the ball here."

There is a name for thinking of what to say after the fact but I'm sure I can't spell it right. Something like esprit d'escalier? The spirit of the staircase.

I hope the next show goes better. <3

[valis2.livejournal.com]

The line is, "Only vendors are permitted behind the booth." So simple. So easy. *headdesk*

If I were in those shoes, I would probably say, "Hey man, great to see you again, but you know I've got to pay attention to my other customers, so you'll have to come back later to chat. See you! Seriously, I have to keep my eye on the ball here."

Yeah, the only problem is that HE WOULD COME BACK LATER TO CHAT. OVER AND OVER AGAIN. He was stashing his stuff at my booth. And I had periods of inactivity where I was only watching customers. argh! :)

Next time I'll try to channel my flist, though. Lots of good sense here.

[schemingreader.livejournal.com]

Oh, I like The Line. You print it out and put it on a piece of paper that you hang on the table on your side of the booth. Then you'll remember it, and if someone just comes back there without listening, they'll see the official looking paper.

You can tell someone that even though there's no one there, you need to look open to other customers.

Do you have to give out candy to make them come over?

[valis2.livejournal.com]

haha! That's a good idea about the paper. But I don't want to scare the legitimate customers--some of them do wander behind the table, and I have no problem, because they're usually paying, and then they're out of the way of the browsing people.

Candy? hmm. No, I never hand out candy.

[drusillas-rain.livejournal.com]

*huge hugs*

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Aw, you are so sweet! *hugs in return*

[tjwritter.livejournal.com]

Sounds like the guy I had to share a booth with at a Ren faire this summer...only we couldn't get rid of him that way either...it was partly his booth...and he was making way more sales then we were!

Jerk!

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Oh, that sounds like a nightmare! *shivers* I really hate that sort of thing. I love having repeat customers, I love talking to them and selling them stuff, but I can't stand it when I draw another crazy and then they won't go away. I'm really, really good at drawing the crazy.

[catsintheattic.livejournal.com]

What a jerk! I second schemindreader's advice about printing out your line. It will look official and you won't forget it next time.

*hugs*

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! It is a really good idea. *hugs back*

[kitschicat.livejournal.com]

May I suggest a tasteful sign for your booth that you post at shows? "We're sorry, but due to show regulations, vendors only behind booth."

:)

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, that seems to be the #1 strategy, thank you so very much, my wonderful friend!! *hugs*

[verdenia.livejournal.com]

Bleh. So sorry you got dragged under by inappropriate, loud conversation. :(

*HUGS*

[valis2.livejournal.com]

*giant hugs*

Thank you so much for the sympathy, my friend. :)