In a recent post I indicated that you are only as successful as the last book you read.  Well this week I am enjoying the Contrarian Effect by @Michael Port. [You can follow him on twitter.  He is the most down to earth person I have talked to in forever].

The Contrarian Effect is a MUST read for the home party consultant sick and tired of being sick and tired of building an home party business using methods they know in their gut, just don’t work.

Anyway, while reading I remembered an old favorite quote “No one Likes A Dog & Pony Show”

Do you find that when you do your home party demos that your guests eyes have glazed over? Do you feel that you have to be the entertainer trying with all you have to keep your audience interested?

My dear home party consultant, you my friend could be a victim of the old dog and pony show.  But have no fear, Party Plan Pat is here to help!

Defining A Dog & Pony Show

Dog and pony show was a colloquial term used in the United States in the late-19th and early-20th centuries to refer to small traveling circuses that toured through small towns and rural areas. The name derives from the typical use of performing dogs and ponies as the main attractions of the events.

Performances were typically held in open-air arenas, such as race tracks or municipal parks, and in localities that were too small or remote to attract bigtop performances. In the latter part of the 20th century, the original meaning of the term has largely been lost. More recently, smaller areas of the mid-western United States have come to know the term as ‘horse and pony show’. This term is not widely accepted in other areas of the country.

The term has come to mean any type of presentation or display that is somewhat pathetically contrived or overly intricate, or put on for purposes of gaining approval for a program, policy, etc.

In the service industry, it is an action meant to show the customer what he wants to see (antiquated methods) – and not what he needs to know – in order to provide that the customer received value to the service.

You Know you are in the middle of a Dog & Pony Show when:

• Your home parties are nothing but you hell bent on showing the customer the benefits your home party products and or business opportunity can provide, rather than listening to, for & making the effort to understand your customers needs and desires. [The Traveling Saleswoman is very good at pointing out things you oughta know if you want to succeed, in party plan business].
• You tell the at home party attendees and customers about all your products (you know the old bells and whistles approach)  yadi yadi yada, products and/or services that are not relevant or valuable to your prospect.  If I want to lose weight, why need I be subjected to a half hour spiel on the baby line?
• Trying to sell your products and/or biz opp. before you have established trust and credibility.  Asking me if you could show me how to drive a luxury car, live in the home of my dreams, and take expensive vacays sounds great, but it may not be very appealing to me.  You don’t want to come across as the snake skin oil peddler. [sorry I prefer to deal ONLY with experts, show me your expertise and I will give you my money]!
• Verbal Diarrhea.  Talk, talk, talk, instead of listening!
• Trying to make home party sales by closing too early, too often. [Did you happen to catch the CEO of the now out of business circuit city? Alan L. Wurtzel said that "We chose to our detriment to concentrate our efforts on short-term profits over  long-term value!"  A one time buy is all well and good, but repeat business, an army of volunteers who willing spread the word about your product and services; And the Oscar goes to : Slumdog Millionare! [Great movie, a must see].

Here is an example of how to host a home party, your thoughts are welcome:

It’s been a plum pleasing pleasure,

This is Party Plan Pat, urging you to Plan With A Purpose!