General Information
VIP has been in the business of running music related fairs for over 25 years - during this time more product has been bought, sold and displayed than any other music selling medium in the world. Whether you run a shop, Mail Order Company or simply looking to sell your music collection,

VIP's shows give you the best route to success. VIP runs an established circuit of shows in the UK - from Glasgow down to London and Norwich over to Wolverhampton with a major presence in London and the Midlands. One of the many reasons for the company's development has been the service provided to its sellers. From our head office in Leicester, VIP is always available to handle any seller's enquiries, constantly updating you on new developments and always endeavouring to make your attendance a hassle free and profitable one.

You can sell anything to do with music at a VIP show - CD's, vinyl, DVDs, memorabilia, books, videos, cassette tapes, posters, T-shirts, programmes, badges, photographs, presentation discs, magazines, artwork, promos, tour jackets, accessories - the world is your oyster with VIP. Any era of popular music is welcome at VIP. Whilst we pride ourselves in offering the best selection of Rock, Pop, Indie, Metal, Grunge, Punk and soul music, our loyal customers are looking for music going all the way back to the early days of popular music - Rock and Roll, R&B, Doo Wop, Jazz etc.

HOW A VIP FAIR WORKS FOR YOU
Once you have chosen the fair you would like to stand at, the next step is to fill in the booking form or telephone our office (telephone 0116 2771133). Try to plan well in advance and you will avoid disappointment. Payment for your table/s must be made before the event and cheques or Postal orders should be made out to 'VIP EVENTS' and forwarded to our head office with a covering letter. A receipt will be sent if requested.
At the fair itself, VIP will provide your table, chairs, carrier bags etc. VIP staff will be on hand to help you locate your table quickly - a table plan is prepared in advance, before anyone enters the venue. The staff will also advise you on parking, catering facilities etc. All you will need to do is unload your own stock onto your table. Try to pack a trolley into your vehicle to make the unloading easier.

Useful Information -
1. Before the fair opens to the public, have a look at other stalls to see how things are laid out, displayed and priced.
2. Get some 'dividers' for your stock. These are made of plastic or card and neatly fit in between each section of stock. The divider should stand proud of the stock and can indicate the type of stock e.g. 'Soul' 'Indie' 'Autographs'
3. Take two sheets to the event. One can be used to cover the table and it's legs, giving a more professional look. The other can be used to cover the stock if you need to leave your table for any reason.
4. Public admission to a fair usually finishes at 4pm (see venues information) We like dealers to wait until this time before packing away.
5. VIP staff will visit each table during the afternoon and give everyone the chance to book for future events. You may book as many tables and events as you wish, as long as payment is made for the next fair that you wish to attend.
6. Try to communicate with VIP's customers. The dealer that reads his newspaper all day sells fewer products than the one that tries to help the customer!
NEW DEALER SPECIAL Whether you are selling your collection or looking to add to your mail order or shop takings, VIP gives offers you the chance of a 50% reduction at your very first event. Please complete our REGISTRATION FORM (Link) and submit to us. Please note that there is a designated number of discounted tables at each fair.

MARKETING AND PROMOTION
The fact that we were the first show organiser to set up on the web underlines our commitment to driving more customers to spend with you at a VIP show. VIP places prime importance on the promotion and marketing of each event - looking to pack out our fairs with literally thousands of buyers.
VIP's marketing work includes-
1. Major ads in the Specialist Trade papers.
2. Music press advertising
3. Regional Press advertising
4. Constant direct mail reminders to our database of customers.
5. Local signage and leafleting.
6. Leaflet inserts with concert tickets.
7. Web Marketing
8. Frequent emails to the full VIP email database - probably the biggest in the world.

WHY A VIP SHOW IS THE BEST WAY TO SELL
1. VIP does the marketing. You do not have to bare the cost of advertising your stock - we bring the buyers to you.
2. No added costs. VIP eliminates the costs that shop owners have to overcome, such as rent, rates, electricity, staffing, alarms etc. The only cost is your table rent.
3. You are under cover. With market stalls there is a risk with the weather - from the wind and rain to product damaging sunshine. VIP's shows are all inside high profile venues.
4. No Internet hassles. The 'Golden Era' of Internet trading has come crashing down to earth with a big bump! Sales are falling on some of the key Internet sales sites. Dealers are complaining of the terrible workload dealing with enquiries, processing orders, problem payments, idiots making unfounded complaints and much more. Standing at a VIP fair solves many of these problems - meet the customer face to face - do the deal - job done! You will also eliminate the trip to the post office everyday and avoid the added expense of buying packaging and stamps.
5. Face to face contact. There is nothing like talking directly with a customer at a VIP show. This is the best way to develop BIGGER sales. 6. AND THE BEAT GOES ON. As well as taking good money, you'll find that a fair is the best way of promoting your business - many sellers do as much trade from follow up business as they do at the fair itself.

BUYING TIPS FOR SELLERS
It's OK selling at a VIP show, but you will need to obtain more product once your stock has been dwindled by the VIP customers. Here's a few ideas-
1. Local Advertising. An ad in your local newspaper or a postcard in newsagents and post offices often attracts people with unwanted collections.
2. Car Boot Sales. These are great places to pick up stock for pennies. We regularly talk with dealers who find 'gems' at these events.
3. Check Out the fairs. A lot of 'in house' trading goes on at the VIP shows A soul dealer may pick up some 'indie' product and sell them in his cheap box. A CD dealer may pick up some old concert programmes and pass them on to a specialist. VIP encourages collectors, DJs etc to sell their unwanted items at a VIP event when it is in town - look out for people carrying boxes of goodies!
4. Wholesalers. Check out copies of the music press, Record Collector often has some good wholesaler contacts.
5. Auctions. At many of the auctions you will find music-related items among the lots. Sotherbys, Christies and Phillips cover the top end of the market. Local and charity auctions often unearth some major 'finds'.
6. VIP MUSIC MERCHANT. Several years ago Rob Lythall, owner of VIP Events, set up VIP Music Merchant. This company buys large collections of CDs, DVDs,vinyl and memorabilia. These are then split into smaller, more manageable packages for traders. Many sellers around the UK use this service. More info is on the MUSIC MERCHANT page- or give Rob a call on 0116 2771133.

DEALERS' TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. No tables can be packed away until the official closing time of any fair.
2. No promotional work is allowed at a VIP event without the advance permission of the organiser.
3. Wall tables are allocated on a 'first come, first served' basis. Please check with VIP staff before fixing anything to the walls of a venue.
4. Your stock is not insured whilst in any VIP venue.
5. The sale of bootlegs and counterfeits is illegal. VIP cannot be held responsible for the actions of the relevant monitoring bodies that DO monitor these events.
6. Large boards and extensions are not allowed - please book extra tables if extra space is required.
7. VIP reserves the right to decline rental of tables at any time, in which case no claim by the exhibitor for damages or breach of contract shall be valid.
8. Tables must not be sub let to other exhibitors. 9. VIP requests that you offer a 'no quibble' refund on any purchases.

Click here to fill out the booking form.