TWO DOWN AND ONE TO GO

Cool weather put a damper on the crowds that attended the Jazz and Blues Festival this past weekend. The same festival was rained out almost all three days last year. It is the one fear of all food venders that participate in these outdoor events that rain and cold weather will wash out the day. It means a loss of revenue for the week or worse a loss of actual monies laid out for the event.

The cost for a twenty by twenty square foot space at most of the events costs about $1400 to $2000. Put on top of that the cost of food and labor and you can have $5000 invested before you sell your first food item. It is also a tremendous amount of work lugging all the cooking equipment, propane tanks, food, soda, water and ice, etc., etc. After the event you have to lug it all out again and get ready for the next festival.

At the Cruzin with the Oldies last week one major food vendor grossed about 20% of what we use to net at that event. The first year after the original Riverfest was turned into the Jazz and Blues Festival I grossed less then 50% of what we usually did. It was at that time that I decided to give up the festival business and focus on the catering end of my business.

As I stated last week the last great food festival in this area is the Belmar Seafood festival coming up this weekend. It will be on Saturday and Sunday, June 13 and 14 from 11 AM to 7 PM. The weather is going to be perfect, sunny and in the 70”s. It will be a perfect day to dine at over 40 seafood establishments right on Ocean Ave. The beach and boardwalk are just across the street. There are over 50 crafters to go along with the local bands and wine tent serving New Jersey Wines.

My crew both women and men love to work this event. After all you are basically on the beach, there are thousands of people roaming around in all forms of attire mostly bikinis. Keeping the cooks minds on the food is a constant job. I highly recommend this event. See you this weekend.