Flea Market Concession Experience?

i really am envious and wish you the best of luck!! the flea market here will not allow any food vendors as they do their own and are afraid that it would eat into their profit margins.(and after tasting their bbq i can understand why)
the only difference i can see though between doing one day farmers markets and 2 or 3 day flea markets is that you would just treat it the same as bbq competition. cook at nite and some during the day and daylite hours would be like a turn in.
jack

Rootsman,
I've noticed that you must consistantly be present at the market. If you miss an attendance, either the people think you aren't coming back or that you are under new management and are hesitant to try again. Since we've been present on a more consistant schedule, our sales have increased. I think the customers need to feel they can count on us to be there.
We try to stick with a pretty basic menu, and offer a special each week, something that we want to test the waters with. Big changes on the menu scare them away. For us, it's been good just to stick with the main menu and stick in something new once in awhile. If something doesn't sell great one or two weeks we pull that item. If we get a few requests for it, we might introduce it again as a special.
Hope I helped any.
Peggy

Excellent advice Jack. We all need each others timely advice and experience. Keep stokin.

Looks like the biggest problem around here is access. Many flea markets around here own and run their own food concessions and do not allow outside food vendors. Similar to Jack's experience. Close by properties might be an option.

With regards to the Farmer's Market, you're right Peggy. You see improvements with consistent attendance. Catering a few large events in the community also helps. I did a Cub Scouts dinner.

Last Sunday, the market got rained out before it even started at 8:30 am when a huge wind gust blew in. Everyone packed up, but I had to wait until my meat was finished cooking. By that time regular customers started showing up, it took me 3 hours to close down and I sold more food than I did my first time at the market. Not bad when you just trying to close up and go home. The closed sign didn't work; I had to close all my shutters so I could pack up without interuption and even then I had a customer come around the rear to ask if I'd sell him something. I did and went home.

Rootsman,
We did a United Way chicken wing event. It was called supertailgate mania. It was a local big name guys(TV, rotary club dudes, city folks) judging thing. We won 2nd place for our wasabi wings. That's been a big draw at the local farmers' market. The charity events can help quite a bit. We've got another coming up in May for the cancer society. No contest, but it will keep our name out there. We split our take 50/50 with the organizer.

We never know how the farmers' market will go. Sometimes we sell out and have to close early. That sucks when you are thinking you are set up for a crowd, sell all, and think you should have brought more stuff. But it's worse when you bring more stuff and don't sell it.

I think your jerk will bring a crowd!
Peggy