Other questions

Rock'n S BBQ · BBQ Fan Joined: 27 Oct 2010 Posts: 134 Location: Oklahoma

I have seen that most questions are about health/safety but we have already spoke to the health department here and we can pull off what they require but my main concern is about profit.
Can you make a living by just hitting a couple of large events a month or is this a big grind just to keep the bills paid? How hard is it to be excepted as a vendor at the large events? I see the cost of the space goes up pretty quick but I'm wondering if you have to know someone or have some kind of in with the event operators.
We have a team memeber who isn't working right now and could get started but I need to hear some vendors say they would do it again or if we should just stay clear of it. I know thats pretty general and I'm not saying I will base my decision on this alone but I would sure like to hear how well you guys do at it. I am in a rural town in Oklahoma but not to far from some big events.
What advice would you guys let me have?
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Texman · Posted: May 23 2012 Post subject:

Let me qualify my comments: We attend several events annually promoted by non-profits such as Chambers, Rotary etc and have been doing so for several years. We attend only one day events and not as a living. We never attend Promoter events.

Initially we went with small volumes to test the waters, since we were an unknown commodity and had to really market to move product. Now we have a following at events to the point of regulars dropping us an email on pre orders, with set pickup times.

We could make a comfortable living if there were more events within a reasonable driving distance.

My suggestion is Risk is the price of motion, just gauge how much you want to Risk in testing the market and go from there.

There was someone a year or two ago, that was posting here, that took off for a first outing to travel in the summer going solely to vending events - apparently, per my memory - it lost money.

Rock'n S BBQ · BBQ Fan Joined: 27 Oct 2010 Posts: 134 Location: Oklahoma

Thanks Texman,

I have found that most things that sound real easy turn out to be hard as heck. I keep telling my partners that they don't just give those large jobs out to anyone. With my luck all we'll get is the kind you break even or go in the hole type. But they have a decent point about places like the big bike rally and the mud fest here in Oklahoma. They go on for several days and thousands of people go through them. I'm afraid that since we don't have an inside track we would never get a space. On the website it reads like its easy to get a spot but I have my doubts. It says it's just over 100 a day for a spot but thats before kick backs, which worries me. Like you point out we couldn't travel far for small jobs.
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daddywoofdawg · Posted: May 23 2012 Post subject:

I have taking the show on the road for the last 6 years every summer 15-20 events traveling 4 states.
What i have learned is you inherit the state fair spots unless you have something REALLY diffrent.the best Q isn't it.bbq dinosur maybe!
The better money makers I have learned are the smaller county fairs have a better ROI.
Selling Q at these events can be a pain,because you can't just run out of Q or you will not be asked back.The promoter doesn't care why.
Sundays Suck at every fair I have done.
You have to have your apps in early I.E feburay march at the latest.
If your not by the action you'll lose money.Can you get rich selling Q at the fairs.NOOOOOO!You can make a living but It's getting harder becuase seems everyone and there mother is selling Q.
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Rock'n S BBQ · BBQ Fan Joined: 27 Oct 2010 Posts: 134 Location: Oklahoma

Thanks, Daddywolfdawg.

That sounds like good information. It seems like those fair spaces are always pretty busy. I just kind of figured those vendors were actually going from place to place with the fairs. That gives me more to think of than just the events like rally's.
I think we'll give it a shot. I think most everthing I want to know about has been asked and answered a bunch so I'll go through older post for more detailed stuff.

Thanks again.
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Team "SummersTime BBQ"

A big ole offset beast.