Fairs

20 % of profit??? The fairs have no way of knowing your profit. They make you run tapes and charge a percentage off of GROSS SALES. Better check---it is a big difference

20 % of profit??? The fairs have no way of knowing your profit. They make you run tapes and charge a percentage off of GROSS SALES. Better check---it is a big difference. If you sell a sandwich for 5 dollars---they get a dollar. When you buy food at a fair the prices are horrible---this is the reason. Some fairs collect tapes every hour. Some fairs report your gross sales to the state and then the state wants required sales tax.
Some fairs have a sign on every food vendor booth where to report you if you do not give them a receipt. Be carefull Do your homework. Why do they need new food vendors---did the vendors from last year get screwed and not come back?

Run away from this till u have a lot more experience.

Some simple math to think about. $3000 sales per day average means $30,000 gross - fair takes $6000 + 2200, cost of food = $7500, labor 3 people x12 hours x10 days @10 per = 3600. Cost at this point = 19,900. Your time, assorted supplies such as rub and profit is left.
If it rains for 10 days sales = $5000 total and you are left with a big loss.

Questions - do you have refrigeration to handle the food raw and cooked? Do you have cooker capacity to do that quantity of food. Is your trailer big enough? How many events have you done where you sold $3000 per day even if just one day - not counting catering? Will you need to rent a trailer for staff to sleep in? Will you need 2 shifts of people? What are the hours and rules of the event? Some say must be open from gates open to close or there's a penalty and you can't run out of food and close early.

I think that Bubba is probably right but you're new here so tell us a little about your experience first.

Oinky said:

I just got the news that a fair wants me to come. I'm a rookie to big events. Attendance is 250,000 over 10 days. Some major entertainers.
$2200 cost for a space for 10 days, 20% of my profit to the fair. I know there are a lot of variables and expenses. I know this is a big project. I would love to try it. Anyone who can help or has this type of expirence give me an idea of what I'm up against? Anything? Thanks

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Sounds like the mafia is running the fair

grillfella said:

Sounds like the mafia is running the fair

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Bill - Long Beach Grand Prix is $2800 for 4 days and 28% of sales - They're everywhere!

We need to know , if you got crew and equipment to even make it happen. If you are renting, then you are way spending too much! YMWV!:mod:

C Rocke said:

Bill - Long Beach Grand Prix is $2800 for 4 days and 28% of sales - They're everywhere!

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Wow thats a good chunk of change:-D

big brother smoke said:

We need to know , if you got crew and equipment to even make it happen. If you are renting, then you are way spending too much! YMWV!:mod:

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Love that crew picture:clap2: :thumb:

Can you send them up to MI to help me out?:twisted:

Our last festival we were able to get the pitch directly across from the beer tent and were the first food stall as you entered the gate to the concert stages etc. Great thing about a spot like that is people can see you so when the masses started coming in for the concert tents I opened the cooker tossed in a bit of smoke wood and started slicing pork as they walked by and after the concerts finished we were slammed!! We started serving breakfast at 6AM and worked till 3AM everyday. Have plenty of staff available, we did it with five people and were balls to the wall but I couldn't afford to hire anyone. It's a tough haul but it's all worth it when you're counting the cash days later.

We didn't have the numbers you are talking so it's best to consider two shifts wit a back up plan.