Okay so lets start off with the obvious. 2009 and 2010 will be challanging years for anyone in this industry. If you have been in this profession long, you will remember the early 90's when the same thing happened. I started a travel agency with my father in 92 and it wasn't the most opportune time to do so. Airfares were up across the board, booking were down and planes were flying across the country less than 50% full.
The challange is finding a niche. Where my father and I opened his agency was a small shrimping town in Bay St. Louis. We advertised in our yellow pages and gave $10 rebates on all tickets issued. This was bold and we took out a half page ad in the yellow pages to do so. Our investment paid off. Yes we lost money on $100 tickets like Southwest, but what we did was gain clients and repeat clients at that. I also began focusing on Disney World Packages. I became and expert in the field and was able to get people/families packages down there cheaper than they could take the family any where else.
What does this have to do with event's you may ask? Its the same thing in a round about way. Find your niche and hunker down. We won't be getting contracts 90 days out, we may get them 10 to 15 days out. Don't live in fear, rather live in love and trust that everything is cyclical. We, as travel directors, have to keep our word an our name intact. Don't be a TD that demands lots of money but doesn't provide. I can promise that the TD's that are going to last this are not the ones that do the least. If you are a "skater" I suggest you find a new profession or join the olympic team because clients will figure it out in these changing times. The dollar paid will be more closely scrutinized.
Some quick pointers
* Attitude is all we really have. "Think you can do a thing, think you can't, either way you are right" Henry Ford. Keep your spirits high and know that great things could happen right now, today or tomorrow
* Don't forecast. This goes back to attitude. Don't allow yourself to dwell in the negative like, "I had 6 programs cancel this month, I am never going to find work" If you believe that and forecast that, that is exactly what you are going to get.
* Look into local DMC work. DMC's always seem to need some sort of help. Pay might not be ideal but, hey it will get out of your house and hopefully keep you from thinking the negative thoughts that you were dwelling on
* Change your surroundings. If you find yourself commiserating with others, constantly looking at the paper to see how bad the stock market is, how bad the housing market it, how many layoffs happened today, then I suggest a change of scenery. Find new people and new friends that are positively motivated. Turn off the news for 30 days...I promise that will change your attitude
We as Travel Directors have been through this before. Some people will not be able to handle the lack of work or the find themselves looking for a new profession. You can get through this if you so choose. Patience, persistence and attitude will get you out of your funk. May you all have a blessed holiday and be thankful for the things you have in your life, not the absence thereof.