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torquillDear CCCFM,
For the last few months, I have been considering buying a membership for your Walnut Creek market. I am writing you today to say that I have decided against giving money to your organization in the foreseeable future.
I attended the market this morning, to check out the dynamics and the crowd. I walked around, speaking only when spoken to or when I wanted to buy something from a vendor. I had a sign that said "Free advice" on my chest, as many people are unaware that people in my profession exist; I did not solicit anyone in any way. When I encountered an agent for the market, I was told firmly that business promotion of any kind is not allowed -- and since I own a business in the same line of work as my credentials (which I was drawing on to provide advice), I was told that I was inappropriately promoting a business and I would have to stop.
The reason given was that if one person was allowed to do so, then "everyone would be here doing it" -- which is absurd on its face, but let's run with that for a moment. If dozens of professionals came to the farmer's market and behaved exactly as I did, wearing a shirt or badge that indicated that they were open to conversations about their work with no obligation, not handing out cards or flyers or in any way acting different from the other attendees... why is that bad? They would buy goods from the stalls, as I did, tip the musician, and generally increase the attendance at the market. Anyone seen accosting passers-by could be dealt with like any other nuisance.
If it's because this situation would be unfair to those who pay money for a membership, consider everything that comes along with that membership: permanence, stall space, support, and voting rights. Non-members get none of that. If the organization is committed to having every business representative on its premises contribute financially, why not have a $10 "walking permit" which allows only passive advertising (the aforementioned shirt or badge), without stall space, voting rights, and all the rest? It would ensure that people such as I would be registered, without creating a financial burden for those trying out the space prior to committing to a membership, or even just trying to raise profile on a lazy weekend morning. As it currently stands, were I to apply as a seasonal craft vendor, I would have had to pay at least $30 for a single day of stall space I was not going to use.
For what it's worth, since members participate in creating the rules and culture of the market, I would expect most of them to be on board with this policy. I spoke to three vendors about my being asked to stop what I was doing; all three were surprised, and two thought it was silly. One went so far as to call it "absurd". Perhaps it's time to ask your members whether they are fully aware of the policies of the market they support, and ask whether it is time to modify them.
In the meantime, I have decided that I have no desire to give money to an organization which is this narrow-minded about how it can integrate with local businesses, and whose justifications for its policies are so asinine. I will be looking into your competitors in the hope of finding a more reasonable approach.
Good day.
For the last few months, I have been considering buying a membership for your Walnut Creek market. I am writing you today to say that I have decided against giving money to your organization in the foreseeable future.
I attended the market this morning, to check out the dynamics and the crowd. I walked around, speaking only when spoken to or when I wanted to buy something from a vendor. I had a sign that said "Free advice" on my chest, as many people are unaware that people in my profession exist; I did not solicit anyone in any way. When I encountered an agent for the market, I was told firmly that business promotion of any kind is not allowed -- and since I own a business in the same line of work as my credentials (which I was drawing on to provide advice), I was told that I was inappropriately promoting a business and I would have to stop.
The reason given was that if one person was allowed to do so, then "everyone would be here doing it" -- which is absurd on its face, but let's run with that for a moment. If dozens of professionals came to the farmer's market and behaved exactly as I did, wearing a shirt or badge that indicated that they were open to conversations about their work with no obligation, not handing out cards or flyers or in any way acting different from the other attendees... why is that bad? They would buy goods from the stalls, as I did, tip the musician, and generally increase the attendance at the market. Anyone seen accosting passers-by could be dealt with like any other nuisance.
If it's because this situation would be unfair to those who pay money for a membership, consider everything that comes along with that membership: permanence, stall space, support, and voting rights. Non-members get none of that. If the organization is committed to having every business representative on its premises contribute financially, why not have a $10 "walking permit" which allows only passive advertising (the aforementioned shirt or badge), without stall space, voting rights, and all the rest? It would ensure that people such as I would be registered, without creating a financial burden for those trying out the space prior to committing to a membership, or even just trying to raise profile on a lazy weekend morning. As it currently stands, were I to apply as a seasonal craft vendor, I would have had to pay at least $30 for a single day of stall space I was not going to use.
For what it's worth, since members participate in creating the rules and culture of the market, I would expect most of them to be on board with this policy. I spoke to three vendors about my being asked to stop what I was doing; all three were surprised, and two thought it was silly. One went so far as to call it "absurd". Perhaps it's time to ask your members whether they are fully aware of the policies of the market they support, and ask whether it is time to modify them.
In the meantime, I have decided that I have no desire to give money to an organization which is this narrow-minded about how it can integrate with local businesses, and whose justifications for its policies are so asinine. I will be looking into your competitors in the hope of finding a more reasonable approach.
Good day.
