I’ve promised to share the tools and tidbits of a successful life at festivals. Al Craig has had some great advice for crafters when at festivals, but we haven’t delivered a lot of info for Makers that applies outside our world. My own art form is management (although I admit to being better-than-passable at building… Continue reading You need to know about Fresh Rag
Category: Shops
Tim’s Festival Hiring Credo
The following post is the work of my friends Tim Rosa and Donna D’Ignazio, both long time working participants of the Renaissance Festival industry. We were discussing tips and tricks to hiring good help at festivals, and they shared with me their favorite hiring tool. I’ve included their Preamble … which kind of makes this… Continue reading Tim’s Festival Hiring Credo
Things to think about before launch
Everywhere I’ve gone this month, the conversation seems to be about the intersection of Entertainment and Commerce in the Festival or Theme Park world. Permanent parks and themed environments are not entry-level venues, whether speaking of crafts, services, or food & beverage sales. Too often participants leap into an investment in a park or festival… Continue reading Things to think about before launch
Playing by the Numbers, part 2, None of your Business
Ok, let’s see, …..where were we? ….poker…matchsticks…20 pounds of quarters….profit/patron, cost/patron and patron/vendor ratios…big pies…..and little pieces. Remember? If not, you can refresh your memory by reading ‘playing by the numbers, part 1’ It’s a funny thing about numbers. When you ask someone the time of day, a baseball score, or the age of their… Continue reading Playing by the Numbers, part 2, None of your Business
Playing by the Numbers, part 1, Patron/Vendor Ratio
Editor’s note: This is the first installment in Al’s series that uses metrics to determine the financial relationship between vendors and festivals.Following articles will end up with internal links here (Part 2). It’s high-season in the outdoor festival business, but we’ll get them to you eventually. I love to play poker. When I was a… Continue reading Playing by the Numbers, part 1, Patron/Vendor Ratio
How to talk to Artists at Art Festivals
This week we just cannot seem to talk about anything other than This Post over at The Year of Living Fabulously … How to Talk to Artists at Art Festivals- The Do’s and Don’ts (Warning: You’ve probably been guilty of at least one of the don’ts…) Those who commented there are obviously a blend of pros… Continue reading How to talk to Artists at Art Festivals
The Great Hudson River Revival
Looking at the schedule of amazing festivals happening this week, we thought we’d return to this RhonniRocks about the Clearwater Festival Food Court in 2010 … The weather for The Great Hudson River Revival, also known as Clearwater Festival was perfect, if a little hot for folks who live all year in this area. We’d… Continue reading The Great Hudson River Revival
Personal preferences vs menu items that make money
I’m really into food. Most especially, food that is both delicious and healthy. I derive great joy from preparing a meal for friends, knowing it is healthier and (quite possibly) more delicious than anything we’d find at a restaurant. I make my living in food, but it is not the same food that I want… Continue reading Personal preferences vs menu items that make money
The Cinnamon Roll Situation
This past fall, at my biggest show, I made a menu mistake. We were able to salvage it and turn it into a giant win, but not before customer feedback stirred us to action.
Making the market
As an outsider businessperson, I’ve learned that creating a business outside normal parameters requires the constant thought “there might be a good idea here”. Do not expect there to be a trade show tailored to your new genre, just because you are making a living at it. Go to every event that seems to have… Continue reading Making the market