Q: When you have spotted something you like, approach the vendor and start with a price well below what he says it costs. The first price you are told could be 7 or 8 times a reasonable price. Remember that after you offer a price, you can never go lower, only higher.  The mark up that the vendor attempts will depend on the person and the culture at the place you are shopping. It’s impossible to provide a typical mark up, so it’s important to have had a look around and compared some prices first. If you are overly enthusiastic about the item you are interested in buying, the vendor will take note of this and think he can get a higher price from you. Don’t go rushing towards something, instead be more aloof. If you are with a friend you can work as a team. One of you will be interested and the other one can say how expensive it is and that you could find it cheaper somewhere else. The vendor may not understand what you are saying, but he will understand your body language and facial expressions. If you make your intervention and the vendor is dismissive, you should remain firm but always be polite and good humoured. There is a certain amount of theatre in haggling, so try not to get annoyed or frustrated. Equally, don’t feel pressurised or obliged to pay over what you think is reasonable.  The exchange could be quite loud and the vendor might hold your arm or push something into your hand.  Smile and be friendly, but be prepared to walk away. It’s perfectly acceptable, and useful, to point out any flaws or problems with the item you are haggling over. If there are some chips or cracks, point to them and show the vendor. He will probably be telling you how perfect the item is, so pointing out some imperfections can prompt him to lower his asking price. If you feel like you are not getting anywhere, don’t be afraid to walk away. This can still be all part of the haggling process, and if worst comes to the worst you can always return. Make sure the vendor knows the price you are prepared to pay, and if he doesn’t accept it start to slowly walk away. You might find that he has a sudden change of heart and offers you a better price.  This technique will only work if he thinks you might actually walk away, so make yourself clear. If you can’t agree on a price, respect the vendor and don’t waste each other’s time. If you keep haggling for an extended period, but end up not buying anything, the vendor may become annoyed and aggressive. Once you have managed to agree on a price that is acceptable to both you and the seller, always try to pay with small bills and as close to the correct change as you can. Revealing at the last minute that you have a wallet full of cash could cause some problems.  A vendor may be reluctant to find change for a large note.  It’s not unheard of for unscrupulous vendors to return the incorrect change. You might not notice this if you are new to the currency.
A: Start low. Act disinterested. Be firm, but polite and good humoured. Point out flaws in the item. Walk away. Pay with small bills.

Q: Decide if you want an exhibition or fundraising show. Decide on the kind of performances you are looking for and if it will be a competition. Once you have decided, then you can choose the appropriate venue and staff.  If the show is a competition, decide on the rewards for the winners. Make a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place with tiered awards. Consider making a winner for each performance category. Create a judging criteria. If you have judges, create categories and a point system. For example, 20 points for originality, 20 points for costume, etc. Create penalties for exceeding the time limit to keep the competition fair. The budget is the lifeline of your show. You will have to host your show at a venue, advertise for it, and buy supplies. Determine the size of your show and how large the budget needs to be to make it successful.  Find sponsors to help raise money to host the show and provide awards.  Application fees and ticket sales will help pay back your initial expenses. Set a spending limit for each show category such as advertising and rental fees. Assemble a group of community members - such as parents, local business owners, and teachers - and form a committee. This committee will help plan, promote, and organize the talent show.  An organizational committee will not only help take the pressure off of you, but will also give you support in emergencies. Designate a treasurer to keep track of your budget and expenses. Think about the size of your show. You want to be able to accommodate the size of your audience. If the show is small and the performers require minimal technical assistance, then a small meeting hall is the best. Larger halls require more advanced technical setups with PA systems.  Find a local school or theater to host the event. If you work with a place that already has the venue, contact the person in charge of its schedule. Remember your audience. Depending on the venue you choose, you will have the provide adequate seating. If you choose an empty hall, for instance, you have the choice to set up rows of folding chairs or tables for the audience to sit. Set your date as soon as possible. You want to make sure your venue is available and secure it. Plan your date around other major events the show’s participants might have. For instance, if your show is full of students, then you want to plan around tests. You will need people who are not performing or judging to help run the show. You will need stagehands and a stage manager, sound and light operators, and judges (if it is competitive) at the very least. Recruit people in the community who want to help but do not want to perform.  It’s important to think about every aspect of your show. You will need people to set-up, run the show, attend to the audience, and clean up. Host a tech training day. Some people without technical experience may wish to help with the technical aspects of the show. Holding a technical training day will help them gain experience and be able to help run your talent show.
A:
Choose the type of talent show you want. Create a budget. Create an organizational committee. Choose a venue. Set your date. Create a support staff.