Light up Louisville was a bomb for me

It looks like what people were looking for there was carnival food. Hot dogs, pretzels, pizza, funnel cakes. This was my first time. I did Fish sandwiches and sodas. I sold some but I didn't even pay for my expenses. I think it worked out well for the venders with big trailors. They were brigtly lit up like at the fair. Some of the venders that sold snacks did ok. The Lady next to me was selling roasted nuts and she did pretty good. She was also yelling out to everyone, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Happy Kwanzaa, an almond a day keeps the Doctor away. I got pretty tired of hearing that after about an hour. I wasn't about to yell out Fish Sandwiches and sodas, get'em right here. I did manage to give out about 40 flyers with Son of a Sailor and our web site in bold letters on it. They also had directions and a map to our restaurant. That was worth something. You never know until you do these things. I did take the advice of one person who said one of the most important things is to keep your feet warm so I bought a nice pair of insulated boots and my feet were fine.

Steve, sorry to hear about your bad news. I keep meaning to get out to your place and intend to do so soon. I want to bring my mom but she has strict dietary concerns. Low fat, low sodium and low sugar. What can you do to help me get her out your way?

It is very hard to compete with "fair food" vendors at a mass event like this. Despite the questionable quality, everyone is familiar with hot dogs, funnel cakes, and the like (even low-rent BBQ), and they will purchase it out of that very familiarity. The atmosphere also seems to suggest that such food is appropriate. It can be very difficult to convince people to stretch outside that comfort zone, even if it is something that isn't that far from the mainstream like a good fish sandwich. If I had any interest in Light Up Louisville, I would have certainly picked your fish sandwich over anything that resembled fair food.

Trailers do help. They increase visibility and suggest a level of professionalism (despite what is going on therein). I've tried selling food off of folding tables, booths, tents and trailers. Trailers seem to win out every time.

Sorry, it was such a bomb, but at least you were there and you gave it a shot.

"I wasn't about to yell out Fish Sandwiches and sodas, get'em right here."

Why not?
Carni Barking is one the most effective tools to sell anything in a crowded space, people often can't see four people ahead of them, so SOUND is one of the best marketing tools you have at your disposal.
on a cold night like that all you really have to do is yell, "HOT" and people will come running

I've sold everything from beer, to salsa, to grilled cheese sandwiches at big events - and yes if you yell "Cold Beer" on a hot day, people will come to find out where this cold beer can be found

and if you don't want to yell it your self, pay somebody with food to do it for you

Shawn,
Your probably right. It was at least a way to get my name out there. We did end up giving out at least 40 flyers to people who seemed interested in knowing where our restaurant was. I had http://www.sonofasailorsfr.synthasite.com plastered all over them where they could log on and see a picture of our restaurant (inside and out), pictures of our most popular entrees, a map and our menu. That was worth something. I guess I shouldn't say it was a bomb but it wasn't what I thought it was going to be. It was a learning experience for me.