First Day Out Selling Hot Dogs.

      Yesterday was the first time I had ever prepared hot dogs for anyone besides family of friends. Overall I'd say it went pretty well. It was a HUGE father's day car show, that was supposed to have around 10,000 people but due to the weather had only a few thousand. 
  
      I sold 150 Sabrett 1/8 Hot Dogs, about 20 drinks and 3 bags of chips. (also a few more drinks and chips got thrown in with combo meals. If it had been hot out I think Drinks may have been my best seller. I offered the 24oz Sport bottle water bottles for 1.25, Gatorade for 1.25, and several kinds of soda for a dollar. The chips were the biggest bust, but I expected that. I sell the 1 oz Utz brand chips. More of a throw in with a combo meal than anything else. It was crazy when lunch time hit. The line was about 8 people deep for 20-30 minutes. I feel if I was faster I could have sold a lot more. My best selling hot dog was my chili cheese dog. I was selling chili for a extra $.50, cheese for an extra $.50 and bot for an extra $.75. Since i was such a mess preparing for this event, I just bought pre-made Hormel chili. People loved the chili dogs, but at 2.66 a can it was very expensive. I also got shutdown at 11:10 because of a "mixup" and lost about 40 minutes of prime selling time.
    
    I thought I was well prepared for the event, but boy was I wrong. The night before, and the morning of I was running around like a chicken with no head trying to make sure I had everything. Of course I didnt. I forgot a lighter....I found some matches to solve that problem. However an even bigger problem popped up when I filled my water tanks. The hot water tank no longer wants to hold water and just leaks EVERYwhere. Luckily the health inspection went fine even with that problem. 

     I made some money, and learned a TON. It was fun and hard work at the same time. Im sure it will only get easier every time.

Good job - you made it through your first day and made some money. You'll learn from your mistakes and it'll get better and better.

As far as chili and cheese, you need to hook up with a commercial food supplier. A #10 can of cheese or chili sauce is about 6-7 bucks. It'll increase your margins by far!

Are you selling the natural casing Sabrett?

 Thanks, thats what I'm hoping. I found a number # 10 can of Cheese at my local BJ's, but could not find any chili. Your right though, that would help out a ton. I am selling 8/1 skinless. People around here seem to like the skinless better than natural casing.

 I was selling chili for a extra $.50, cheese for an extra $.50 and bot for an extra $.75.
 
I was wondering what a bot was?

brittneal


 I was selling chili for a extra $.50, cheese for an extra $.50 and bot for an extra $.75.
 
I was wondering what a bot was?

I would think 'bot' should be 'both'.

I'm just guessing, but I'd say it was both with the h dropped.

I wat thinking bot-bottle.  Like water or soda.

My first day is planned for July 4th.  I'll be in front of my local Pub where most people know me and have experienced my catering.  It'll business this time, not just "making friends".  I hope to be busier than a one-eyed man at a nude beach.........

curtis

Yes, sorry it was supposed to be both. Not bot

Most 4th here are a dud. Going to a new place and eat fried green 'maters
Will wear flag thong,
show my support

BryceIrving


Yesterday was the first time I had ever prepared hot dogs for anyone besides family of friends. Overall I'd say it went pretty well. It was a HUGE father's day car show, that was supposed to have around 10,000 people but due to the weather had only a few thousand. 
  
      I sold 150 Sabrett 1/8 Hot Dogs, about 20 drinks and 3 bags of chips. (also a few more drinks and chips got thrown in with combo meals. If it had been hot out I think Drinks may have been my best seller. I offered the 24oz Sport bottle water bottles for 1.25, Gatorade for 1.25, and several kinds of soda for a dollar. The chips were the biggest bust, but I expected that. I sell the 1 oz Utz brand chips. More of a throw in with a combo meal than anything else. It was crazy when lunch time hit. The line was about 8 people deep for 20-30 minutes. I feel if I was faster I could have sold a lot more. My best selling hot dog was my chili cheese dog. I was selling chili for a extra $.50, cheese for an extra $.50 and bot for an extra $.75. Since i was such a mess preparing for this event, I just bought pre-made Hormel chili. People loved the chili dogs, but at 2.66 a can it was very expensive. I also got shutdown at 11:10 because of a "mixup" and lost about 40 minutes of prime selling time.
    
    I thought I was well prepared for the event, but boy was I wrong. The night before, and the morning of I was running around like a chicken with no head trying to make sure I had everything. Of course I didnt. I forgot a lighter....I found some matches to solve that problem. However an even bigger problem popped up when I filled my water tanks. The hot water tank no longer wants to hold water and just leaks EVERYwhere. Luckily the health inspection went fine even with that problem. 

     I made some money, and learned a TON. It was fun and hard work at the same time. Im sure it will only get easier every time.

I Joke, I work, but you have created a vast wealth of contacts here.
No Joke. Car and bikers big time

I got biker events lined up.  I'm a biker too........

BryceIrving


Yesterday was the first time I had ever prepared hot dogs for anyone besides family of friends. Overall I'd say it went pretty well. It was a HUGE father's day car show, that was supposed to have around 10,000 people but due to the weather had only a few thousand. 
  
      I sold 150 Sabrett 1/8 Hot Dogs, about 20 drinks and 3 bags of chips. (also a few more drinks and chips got thrown in with combo meals. If it had been hot out I think Drinks may have been my best seller. I offered the 24oz Sport bottle water bottles for 1.25, Gatorade for 1.25, and several kinds of soda for a dollar. The chips were the biggest bust, but I expected that. I sell the 1 oz Utz brand chips. More of a throw in with a combo meal than anything else. It was crazy when lunch time hit. The line was about 8 people deep for 20-30 minutes. I feel if I was faster I could have sold a lot more. My best selling hot dog was my chili cheese dog. I was selling chili for a extra $.50, cheese for an extra $.50 and bot for an extra $.75. Since i was such a mess preparing for this event, I just bought pre-made Hormel chili. People loved the chili dogs, but at 2.66 a can it was very expensive. I also got shutdown at 11:10 because of a "mixup" and lost about 40 minutes of prime selling time.
    
    I thought I was well prepared for the event, but boy was I wrong. The night before, and the morning of I was running around like a chicken with no head trying to make sure I had everything. Of course I didnt. I forgot a lighter....I found some matches to solve that problem. However an even bigger problem popped up when I filled my water tanks. The hot water tank no longer wants to hold water and just leaks EVERYwhere. Luckily the health inspection went fine even with that problem. 

     I made some money, and learned a TON. It was fun and hard work at the same time. Im sure it will only get easier every time.

Congrats on your first gig. Remember to create a checklist. It is key. They shut you down by 11 a.m.? I would say you lost 2 hours of prime selling time. Your business might have doubled. It sounds like you did good though.

We were going to open on the 3rd because that is when our town does their festival, but everything is going to be at the park and I don't want to have to pay them for the privilege to sell hot dogs at the park.  My plan is to open the next week since we have another downtown festival the next weekend.

 I was shut down for only 40 minutes. If I was unable to reopen, the whole thing would have been a major bust. I am still very slow getting set up though so it still hurt.