Florist News

Do anyone in here have experience in doing/creating a demo.

I´ve been assigned to do a demo, in the other part of our country (dk)
I´ve only done one small christmasdemo before for about 40 local florist, but I was with my old boss, and hide most of the time behind a big picture with clued leaves. and only came forward when I should should show something. and mostly let the talking up the boss.
The only advise I got afterwards from a guest was: Don´t hide´yourself on stage. nothing about the things, ideas or tecnichs I broght.

and I talk about plant for outdors once at the elderhome. The don´t know the difference anyway and most of them could´nt hear anything.

But this Spring demo is huge. And I´m rather nerveus.
I can´t hide this time. Don´t know how I let myself talk into it.
Well I do know. I liked the money they offered.

But I´m affraid I don´t have enough good stuff with me. Affraid they won´t like it. But they did hire me. Something I´ve done most be right.
But what if I blow it. and disapoint them.
But anyway I´m going out of my mind with questions.
And whatever selfesteam I thougth I had. Is about gone now.
I feel so green.

Is this normal.?

please someone, help

Hi Bellis, I did my first big demo at Christmas, I know just how you feel, I was so scared. My advice to you is to plan and practice what your going to do, see approx how long each design takes then you know how many you will have to do. I did a couple of traditional and a couple of whacky. Keep talking, I made notes to refer in case I ran out of chat. One of the best things I did was send round the crowd a martini glass full of those jelly ball things - can't remember the name - for the ladies to play with, kept them amused for ages. Go for a big finish, the last design you do is quite often the one they remember. The last one I did was on a tall cylinder vase filled with fairy lights, the top was all feathers and baubles with amarylis, gerbs, anthurium and glitter twigs, when I finished it I put it on the vase and switched on the lights, they loved it. One of the ladies borrowed it to put in her pub!! Use any funny stories you have about life as a florist, funny names of flowers etc. Most of all enjoy the experience, you will be great.

Also tell them how you got into floristry and give them information on the products you are using flower names foliage names lasting qualities what to look for when buying flowers and how to care for and get the most out of your flowers/arrangements etc

It's only natural to be nervous. I should think even Robbie Williams gets butterflies before a performance. You want to be at your best and you don't want to let anyone down. That's because you take pride in yourself and what you do. People who say they don't care what others think, usually mean the opposite. As long as you keep talking and doing they will enjoy it, whatever you do.

Thank you all, it´s good to know that the nerves is okay and normal.
It´s just when I go see demo´s they don´t seem nerveus at all. But I guess they are.
It´s so good to know, that I´m not the only one, that´s scared this time.
Breezy and Rach I´m very pleased with your advise.

And I will pratice what to say in front of my cats. my dog can´t sit still for that long
The note thing, is a really good idea. and I will lay a list with names of all the flowers I use. Because at somepoint during the evening I´m bound to go blank.

for the end of the demo I´m going to make two very large bridal pieces . Since the wedding season is starting. hope the size of those two things, will impress them.

The rest of the designs is concentrated on sales design. mixed with three showpieces, that might be used for windows displays.

Fly2high is right about the pride. I take my work very seriusly. sometimes so much that I laugh at myself.

Anything else come to mind. please say so. also if something went wrong. Any kind of comfort is more than welcome.

The last time I had to stand up infront so many people. Was when I was a litle girl. I did ballroom dancing. And should do a solo for the last evening. uh hu.
But I was dressed as a yellow Parrot. the teacher thought i´t was funny because of my skinny legs.
anyway they could´t se me.

perhabs I should find that costume.
That would be new in our buiness. A yellow parrot giving a demo.

If you forget the name of a flower, just hold it up and ask someone to identify it. They won't know that you don't know.

That´s a good one. I´ll remember that

Try to get audience to ask questions through you demo it also helps calm the nerves if you don't know the answer tell them you will check for them and get back to them my friend always tells about doing an exam many years ago she was so nervous she cut the front out of her skirt only when she was finished did she notice the big hole

Rach...could you please clarify that last statement?