Showtime!

You are now behind the scenes of a cooking demonstration in the making.

Fifteen minutes until the guests arrive. The consultant (me) has set out her tools, measured ingredients, chopped and diced pre-made recipes to highlight and has her script ready to go. The flipboard about product quality and warranties is on the display table. The guest/host specials are ready to pass through the crowd. Prizes fill apron pockets and I am set! This is going to be one for the books - my life as a cooking demonstrator. They'll let anyone in if they let me!

I feel like I have just entered into the twilight zone with my new bobbed hairdo, my handy jean apron and my plastered on smile ready to go. Direct Sales Marketing here I come. When I decided to go this route, there were many options from make-up to jewelry. When you decide to do direct sales, you have to consider a couple of things: is the quality of the product something you want your name on?, is the commission worth the effort? and what do you want in piles lying around your house to be distributed, to own and to sell? No, high end cookware is want I want right now and high end cookware is what I am going to get-- and I have a long wishlist.

Oh no - the doorbell is ringing already and I just sat down at the computer. See you after the show!

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Wow - how totally fun was that! What an incredible high to a social extrovert like me. (MUST HAVE PEOPLE) I had about 12 ladies come to my house to see what I was cooking up.

When my guests arrived, I had a sizzlin' summer salad layered in the trifle bowl and the watermelon-peach salsa in the simple additions double server with sun chips on the side. Drinks ranged from wine to soda to coffee. Most took the coffee. They had to be awake to see this one.

When everyone had arrived, we began the demonstration. All was going well with the microwave lemon cakes (though warnings about microwaving food were echoing in my head that I had just heard recently). Everyone got a product description and when the tool was used, they read their part and some were called up to use the product themselves.

Then came the sour cream. And, feeling quite clever, I decided to show them how the nifty measure-all cup squirts the food into the bowl. Yes, ladies and more ladies, it missed the bowl. And, that's where the nifty classic scraper gets it all up and back into the bowl. I almost could not stop laughing to finish the demonstration. Must have been nerves.

Then, came the lemon juicer. Awesome little tool. First 1/2 lemon - no problem. Second 1/2 lemon - great. 3rd (for a double glaze recipe) - got help from my daughter and had to finish the job that needed brute strength. Fourth 1/2 lemon, feeling confident, SQUIRT right into the eyes. And again, I started laughing -- with very blurry eyes and had to get control of myself and my audience. Okay, we are having too much fun and I haven't had a glass of wine yet.

My daughter decided to help! (Note the commandered P*mpered Ch*f apron on her-- She's so cute. What a little helper.):

So, all the ingredients made it into the recipe this time and everyone seems pleased with the result. Guests promoted the products themselves with their own stories and Pampered Chef tales. One guest had even sold it before and brought me a cool pink t-shirt with the logo on the side. Another friend sent a table cover with the logo on it earlier that she had found at a garage sale last weekend. Yet another friend brought flowers. Everyone has been so supportive and part of making it just so much fun.

Before I belabor the point, I now have dishes and cookware that ALL go in the dishwasher (except the knives and stoneware) and I look forward to being cleaned up in minutes from my party. Note THE AFTERMATH:

When do I get to come to your house? You actually think I am kidding, don't you? Have cookware, will travel.

Comments

[Sister Honey Bunch]

How long was it from start to finish? You sound like you had a great time!

[Sarah]

6:30-9 - Not too bad and cleanup only took about 20 min. Can't beat that.

[Kim]

Sounds like a fun time. Looking forward to Jo-Lynne's show this week. I love PC!