Im looking to vend at a few events this summer, and wondering how some of you plan for sales. One event, I'm looking at, is expecting 4,000-5,000 ppl to attend, and are allowing 6 vendors.
5000 attend. 75% eat. Divide by 6 vendors. 625 meals. Add 100 to 200 for extra. Good starting point. Depends on your reputation and the other venders reputation as well.
I'm pretty conservative when it comes to vending (I'd rather run out than make too much). So, someone on this forum mentioned this method and it's worked very well for us: Take the number the organizer gives you, cut it in half, and then divide that number by the number of vendors to get your amounts. So in your case: 6000/2=3000/6=500 servings.
you also have to look at time to serve / being open. What type of event? Will it be advertised as food being available? People eat before they go places to be sure. Check out history on the event from pervious year.
Sure wish I could give you a really good answer, the previous comments are all good starting points, but the guy that can really figure this out will become a very wealthy man. Try as I might I never really know what to expect, and when I do, it changes. I do agree, I would rather run out that to take food home (my neighbors love me when I have a slow event or mis- figure)