festival trading :)

[hughescw]

Hi

After visiting a festival this summer I noticed that there is a lot of money to be made at festivals with food/stalls I am emailing and trying to contact people about trading at festivals next year just though id ask if anyone has

traded at a festival??
have any advice?
know how much it would cost to get a pitch??
the amount of trade actually received at festivals??

Any advice or tips in general??

Thanks

 

[Kernowman]

You could retire early from selling umbrellas, plastic ponchos and wellie boots near the site from what I gather

This could be your first port of call for info

http://www.festivalorganisers.org/

 

[Hodgson111]

Are you planning on catering at the festivals or planning on setting up your own stall?

One of the main things to remember is the bigger the festival the higher rates of rent you will have to pay usually.

But with the right service or product you can do well and it can be very profitable.

 

[hughescw]

yes im thinking of catering

nothing 100% yet of what kind of catering but im thinking pizza

have you any idea of the cost in the bigger festivals??

 

[Hodgson111]

Hi sorry for the late reply havent had computer access recently.

I think the costs of the bigger festivals is about 5000pounds. A friend of mine who has a cornish pastey trailer went to leeds fest last year and had a turnover of 25thousands pounds.

But the competiton to get into such events isnt an easy task, most of the work you get in catering is by building up a good group of contacts who have the main catering contracts for events.

 

[MH1]

Many large attendance shows and festivals have to be booked 6-12 months in advance and paid at the time of booking normally. I used to trade on very large shows, but the food outlets are the highest charged of all traders, and are often secured for years in advance, set prices etc.

As for the money that can be taken, large takings are possible, as are huge losses. i remember the BSE year where many shows suffered due to awful weather and the BSE crisis, even the site within the show can have a major impact on your takings.

Make sure you have deep pockets too allow for a bad run, and also decide before spending a penny whether the lifestyle suits you, working on the move around the country has it's drawbacks, 15 to 20 hour days for weeks on end can take it's toll.

 

[WJP]

OP, having worked at festivals in the past my recommendation would be to try to strike the balance between foods that are popular and those that are niche, because you may find some festivals will not take you on (or not necessarily in the pitch you would like) if there are similar stalls nearby (in the same way that some markets operate), particularly if those stalls have reliably traded previously, paid up on time etc.

 

[oldeagleeye]

Will is right. Most of these festivals are tied up with the catering concessions the first to go. In the main however these are usually the burger trailers and ice cream vans.

If you have something differe. nt you might get in.

Before you start dreaming of making huge pots of money however ask yourself how many pizzas can you cook in a hour. You would need a really professional set-up to make money.

What with trailer at about £10K second hand I reckon your talking about £20K to set up.

Rob