Vending for a Bike show-questions

Figure on feeding no more than 25% of the crowd. Then divide that 25% between vendors. Example - 10,000 people at festival then 2500 will eat and if there are 10 food vendors plan to feed 250 people. Others may chime in with better answers but this has worked for me but I don't vend too much anymore at festivals.

First I'd be wondering why there is only one food vendor. I've sat in this chair and found that sometimes people visit the event for a couple hours then plan on doing other things for the rest of the day. I wouldn't expect to sell anything until 11 at the soonest. I've found you get very little support from the exhibitors or other vendors unless you give them a deal. I've even had my help walk around the event slowly eating what we are selling hoping to generate some interest. I'd offer a couple different sandwiches and then separate sides. My sides would be cold like potato salad and slaw. I'd expect to sell to no more than 1/4 of the paid attendees and about the same exhibitors if they got a discount. Use what you learn this time to plan for two years from now. Thinking people will attend the event just for your Q is dreaming. I'm basing this info on getting talked into vending events like this over the last 20 years.

If 1000 people show up you can expect to serve between 100-250 people. It is possible to serve more but if you make plans for serving 500 and don't then all your profit will be tied up in the extra food you prepped. It's better to run out than to have way too much food left unless you have a back up plan where you can sell it elsewhere.

Also keep in mind that you have to keep the line moving, people don't want to wait in a long line for food. If weather permits move your cash registers out front under a pop-up so you have multiple lines to order/check-out.

A group of us go to several large bike rally events every year and we usually leave and go to a restaurant simply because we don't want to stand and wait in the sun for the slow moving lines. We would prefer to try some of the vendor's fare, but it isn't worth the long wait. Air Conditioned, large tables, and not over crowded where we can relax and chat.

Good luck....

Beer Belly BBQ said:

I will ask past vendors how much they sold.

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If they sold a lot, wouldn't they be back there again?