Ways to save Money at FABAIC

[fabaic Deidre]

This is a thread going on another forum but thought it was great so I
am re-posting it here.

Katie Hunt:
OK...Let's start a conversation about ways to save money at FABAIC on
the
little stuff you we all have more money for the vendor's room!

I'll get the ball rolling, please add to the message and keep it
going.

- There are fridges in every room. Use them
- Bring your own T-bags, coffee, sugar, sweetner, travel mug,
powdered
milk etc (what you save on coffee alone will buy you at least one
meal out
one evening) There are coffee machines in the rooms. The use of
them is
free. Probably the coffee and tea bags are free too but I'm not
sure.
- Carpool with several people and go to a grocery store. There is
one not
too far from the hotel. Get your bottled water, coffee creamer,
pieces of
fruit, muffins, and any kind of snacky foods you need. Soft Drinks
too. This
will save you a bundle over using the vending machines.
- Look carefully at your food bills at the hotel. Gratuity is
probably
already added in. No need to tip twice.
- Share your hotel room with one or more people. You are probably
not in
the room that much anyway.
- Arrange rides to and from the airport. It's not that far at the
Doubletree, but if you buddy up, you'll save even more.
- Bring extra batteries with you.
- Go to the thrift store and get extra towels or even pillowcases
to
bring with you so you don't mess up and have to pay for hotel
linens. They
are good for packing delicate things on the way home, or since they
are so
cheap, pass them onto someone who is driving who could use them, or
leave
them there.

OK...who else has something to add?

Marcela:
Make sure to bring lost of business cards and maybe invest in a
business card holder. You are going to make a LOT of new friends some
of which will become life time buddies (right Deidre and Katie?? you
are stuck with me for life!!!)

If anything at anytime is bothering you, don't waste your time telling
everyone about it. FIND ME... I will do everything to help you solve
the problem.... if I can solve it on my own I will find the person (s)
to do so... if the problem cannot be solved I will pay for someone to
give you a massage until you get over it. This doesn't mean that you
can make up problems just to get a free massage!!!

We have? room designated for bodypainting and we ask everyone to use
it for the jams. However, after the first day, 90% of the people get
very relaxed seeing the models in g-strings and pasties because they
understand that this is art. After the models are painted one can
barely tell what they are wearing under the paint and most models say
that they feel more dressed that if they were wearing clothing. If you
are a little shy and a little nudity makes you feel uncomfortable, set
yourself up to paint on the opposite side of the bodypaintng jam room
and stick to face painting. Know that you will have a lot of company.

If you decide to body paint, know that we do not allow any models who
are wearing less than the equivalent of? a bikini to go outside the
convention center in to the main hotel areas unless they are wearing a
robe. Bring a light one from home and keep an eye on your model.

Bring your cameras but take advantage of our amazing photographer for
all of your portfolio images. Lisa is the one that takes the pictures
for? my books and she is not only excellent she is one of the nicest
person you will meet at FABAIC.?Having a?professional
?portfolio of images of your art work can and will open lots of door
for you. We must always be prepared for when the opportunity to book
our best gig yet comes in.

Don't be afraid to compete. Go to www.fabaic.com and check the
competition rules. We have four categories: professional (experience
painters) - semi professional? ( getting there), novice (just getting
started) and kids (16 or under). The trophies this year were designed
by an artist in Denver who is making them?in metal... they are a work
of art!! The $3,000 in cash prizes are also a good incentive... You
will also? receive and official competition apron to wear and keep.

Get excited, stay excited and come excited! The FABAIC is really? an
Art Gone Wild experience that will take you for a wild ride!
Marcela

Sharon:
I will be bringing my own ‘throwaway’ coffee cups with me. That way
I can take my coffee downstairs in the am and avoid starbucks. I will
also
be packing my almonds; they are a great energy snack. What I pay for
a big
bag here is the same for a tiny one in that little café thing by the
pool.
* If you are driving in like me, don’t forget that the hotel
charges
for parking each day, but you can reenter as many times as needed.
* Buy your own booze and put it in the room, lots cheaper than
the
bar. And I will buy my bottles of wine and vodka there, the tax on
booze is
much less than my state.
* Bring your lunch down from your room and join everyone at the
little
tables by the pool or in the lobby. Your PBJ will feel more like a
meal if
shared with others.
* Use the internet downstairs.
* I think I remember washers and dryers being available at the
hotel??? I won’t be packing as much this year.
* Plan your trips in advance if you have to get a taxi or use
the bus.

* Stock your fridge with plenty of bottled water. Kroger sells
great
water and I pay 2.99 here for a case! Publix water is great as well.
* When you food shop, use one of the big chain stores. Their
prices
are much lower.

I also seem to remember some great wonderful deep shelves in the
bathroom of
our room. Lots of room for snacks, paints, etc.

Liz:
It is all about roomie communication ~

Here are a couple of tips:

If you know that you will be sharing a room with others, send out a
couple of pre-convention emails and agree to NOT pack (thereby leaving
room in your luggage) some other 'stuff': shampoo, conditioner,
toothpaste, lotions -- when you make that trip to the grocery
store, agree on purchasing some of those items to share wth roomies
(I still have a bottle of lotion we purchased in Boise and shared in
our room, Christina, & Jan!)
Get a non-electric toothbrush. Electric plugs will be at a premium
when you share a room. Remember that everyone will want to recharge
phones, plug in laptops, etc when everyone gets back to the room, plus
you need to use room lamps, TV so anything you can do to coordinate
usage of these items will be less stress, more good times.
Get the person with the hot flashes closest to the air conidtioning
unit and pile on the blankets to the gal with the blue lips
Unless you are checking your luggage, really condense your FP kit, you
will need room for new purchases in your carry on. OH! if you are
checking luggage and you MAY need to pay up to $25 for that depending
on which airline you are traveling on
If you know that you will be hitting that vendor room hard, remember
that you will need to bring all that stuff back home. Ask if you can
order your product and have it shipped home to you instead of brining
it back home with you. So that you don't have to buy one, bring an
ADDITIONAL sports size bag or tote for your purchases on the return
home. Fill the sports bag and carry on, and send all your used
clothes that will go straight to the laundry, back in the checked
luggage...(those baggage handlers will think twice about going thru
dirty laundry)
DON'T buy reading material (unless it is FP related, of course) ...
you won't have time to read!!! If you have time to read, you are not
participating and you get what you put into these conventions!!!
Just a few rambling thoughts!

Liz Alaniz

what else????