[MainstreetManagers] [External] Re: Food Trucks

[Kelli Yadon]

Jessica, thanks for such a robust answer.  You have done a lot work in the food truck area so thanks for sharing what you have learned along the way!
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From: MainstreetManagers <mainstreetmanagers-bounces at lists.onenet.net> on behalf of Kendall Whittier Main Street <historickwms at gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2020 5:51 PM
To: Alyssa McCleery <newkirkmainstreet at gmail.com>
Cc: Main Street Managers <mainstreetmanagers at lists.onenet.net>
Subject: [External] Re: [MainstreetManagers] Food Trucks

Alyssa,

I'd be curious what answers you get from others. We've had this debate in Kendall Whittier. Here's my two cents.

- If the event is a food truck event, where people are primarily coming to get food from a food truck, I think you can definitely charge because you know they'll sell because everyone who comes will eat from one of them. In Claremore, the Food Truck Thursday trucks were charged $75, so just enough to have some skin in the game but not so much it took over their profits. The first year, however, as we were building up the series, the trucks were invited for free. We only charged once we could prove an audience.
- In Kendall Whittier, we charged for the Food Truck Festival as well. However, there has been a lot of debate about charging them for the Arts Festival. My view is that they are coming and selling a product, they should pay just like the artists. Some committee members disagreed and felt like they were an attraction rather than a vendor. We went back and forth and settled on a compromised fee of the same as art vendors (less than originally planned, more than nothing).
- Another factor is how far away they have to travel. If you're getting them from your town or nearby towns, that's one thing. But if they'll have to drive a distance, you may want to consider reducing or dropping the fee.
- A lot depends on the audience you expect to bring out and how many trucks they'll compete with. It's important to have a good reputation with them (they talk!), so making sure you don't have too many trucks for the people, or too many of the same kind, is vital. You want them to be successful so they want to come back.

Bottom Line: If you're advertising they are there, they should have to pay! I feel like if they don't pay anything, they can bail on you at any time, and will if a better gig comes along.

As for a portion or a flat fee, in everything I've always felt like a flat fee is easier! No math. No trusting their numbers. No tickets. No hassle. But I know some people disagree, and there's things to be said for either.

Jessica Jackson
Executive Director | Kendall Whittier Main Street
2205 E. Admiral Blvd. | Tulsa, OK 74110
(c) 918-633-1934 | visitKendallWhittier.com<http://www.visitKendallWhittier.noclick_com>
Pronouns: she/her/hers

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On Wed, May 27, 2020 at 4:52 PM Alyssa McCleery <newkirkmainstreet at gmail.com<mailto:newkirkmainstreet at gmail.com>> wrote:
Greetings! Do you bring in food trucks for any of your events? Do you charge the truck to be at your event? If so, how - a flat fee or a percentage of their sales for the day? Thank you for any assistance!

Alyssa Winner McCleery
Newkirk Main Street Inc.
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