Your Daily Dose

I have a new feature on my website and it's called 'The Daily Dose' were I will be placing my daily comments, etc., about shows, vendors, weather, promoters, what not and all kinds of stuff. Come on over and check it out, okay? I might put some of my entries on this blog also.

Sep 2, 2008. First entry for 'your daily dose.' That could sound like a dose of medicine? Something to make you laugh...cry? I was thinking about calling this 'Daily Ramblings' or a generic 'The Diary' but this title sounds best. Probably be entries every day or probably not. Come on people, let's get 'your daily dose.' Just hope that our dose won't be a couple tablets of Prozac or something.

I can't believe that we are already into September and I've been waiting all year for the shows to pick up and I concede. Wait til next year (I'm a Boston Red Sox fan...I know what 'wait til next year means'.... all the way from 1957 until 2004, we all said that, sometimes in jest...mostly seriously, though) . I think a lot of us have to stay away from the events with high fees and need to cut out a lot of traveling.

Never thought that I would resort to local Flea Markets, where people expect you to sell your stuff at bottom dollar. But what it all boils down to is the Net Profit and I feel that if I can come even close to what I would make in an event (minus travel, motel, booth fees, BS fees, time spent on the road, etc.) then they are worth doing. Already this summer, I've seen a lot of empty space at shows and that will continue through next year.

It's kind of funny that there are some pretty bad events early in the year and they get a 'packed house' (vendors) for them. We all get 'Spring Fever' and think that it's a brand new year and everybody is excited to get on with the shows after (or even during) the rains. Some really bad shows in Feb-Mar-April.... Ripon, Manteca, etc. There are some shows that really can capitalize on that. As the year draws on though, reality sets in. SameOlS.

Labor Day Weekend Events

Hi people. There were a number of events this past weekend and I was wondering how everybody/anybody did? Lake Tahoe? Newman? Art and Soul? Casa de Fruta? others? Go ahead and give me your comments on these. We had quite a number of people at Casa de Fruta on Sunday and Monday also. However, I don't think that a lot of vendors did too well. Poor sales....especially on Monday.

This next weekend we (DandL CREATIONS) will be doing the Pittsburg Seafood Festival for the first time. We haven't been able to do this in the past because of conflicts in our schedule. Nice to stay pretty much local..... trying to reduce gas and motel expenses. Just wish some of these promoters could keep their booth fees down. I know that in a lot of shows, vendors are waiting until the last moment possible to sign up and/or make their payments. That includes me also.

It was good ol' Cup of Noodles Monday.

Do you remember these events in San Jose?

I am doing a write-up of a number of events which have bit the dust over the years on one of my websites. The first two shows I have written about are:

The Fairglen Art Festival was held in a neighborhood in San Jose (34+years?)

SOFA Street Fair (South of A St) in San Jose

http://www.starvingvendors.com/do_you_remember.html

Please visit my website for more info on these events. Maybe you can provide me with some input. Coming up: The New Age Renaissance Fair (1990's version)

Art and Soul Festival - Oakland, CA

The Art and Soul Festival will be held this weekend in Oakland. From what I have been told this is a very good festival. We have never been a vendor there, as the fees are a little steep for my blood.

The headline acts for this year's Comcast Art and Soul festival have been announced!

Enjoy music by the Indigo Girls, Stephanie Mills, The Matches, Bobby Hutcherson, Rose Royce, Walter Hawkins and more during the 8th Annual Comcast Art and Soul Festival. Visit our News page to learn more. Complete lineup details have been posted including performance times.
Six concert stages will be packed with an eclectic all-star lineup of 60 national recording artists and hot Bay Area bands to please every musical taste. Tickets are $10.00

Here's a link to the website: http://www.artandsouloakland.com/index.htm

More Scams - check this one out

Here's a copy of the latest email scam I received. Please visit my website STARVING VENDORS Internet Email Scams. to read some of the scams I've come across.

Subject: Re: Selling your products through our group of stores this holiday season
Date: 8/28/2008 11:58:56 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time
From: David@WiseRep.com
Reply To: (my email address)
CC:
BCC:
Sent on:
Do you wholesale your products? The stores we work with are aggressively looking for products to sell in their stores this holiday season. If you want to make a push, now's the time.
We work with buyers from the largest stores in the U.S. plus thousands of specialty stores, mail-order catalog companies and Internet shopping sites. We need a larger variety of products they can choose from, hence my email to you.

If you want to sell your products to more stores visit us at http://www.WiseRep.com
Sincerely, David Thibos Director of Merchandising WiseRep.com
I then clicked on their website, filling out bogus info along the way.

I came to a page that then said:

CLICK ON THE BOX. Yes. Sign me up. I want my products seen by the nations top retailers. I understand there is a one time set-up fee of $185. This allows me to post unlimited products on the site. I understand there is also a $30 monthly fee. Of course, I can cancel at any time.

COSTCO gas stations

Thankfully, the price of gasoline is falling, but not quick enough for me. Prices below $4.00 per gallon are popping up now and hopefully we can get closer to $3.00.

Prices at the COSTO gas stations normally runs lower than most of the other name stations. You do need a membership card and a credit card to purchase. Here's a listing of the COSTCO gas stations in California.

http://www.costcoconnection.com/connection/gas_stations/?pg=2

This website also lists the gas stations in other states.

Emal Scams

I have created a page on my website STARVING VENDORS that tells about numerous phony 'employment opportunities' and other phishing techniques being circulated. Bet you get a lot of those 'rebate processor' emails, don't you. And all those PayPal emails? Find out the real story about these.

Chabot College Flea Market

Have run into a lot of people who were wondering when we shall be selling at the Chabot College Flea Market. The name of our business is DandL CREATIONS and we sell shoulder bags, backpacks, fanny packs, etc. there. Will post our space number for each event a few days prior to the day of the Flea Market

Sat Sept 20 Sat Nov 15 maybe Sat June 20

I expect to be there 4-5 times in 2009, as we have major events scheduled most of the time.

Thank you, Dave. Be sure to check out our website: www.dandlcreations.com to see or buy our products or www.starvingvendors.com to see our reviews and get info, etc., on shows, promoters, etc.

Take over Robberies In Oakland, Hayward,Ca

August 26, 2008. The Bay area is going throuh a rash of take-over style robbers these past months and it's getting worse.

Reward increased to $50,000 for capture of Oakland takeover robbers
Employees at two businesses pistol-whipped by bandits on Sunday
By Sean Maher, Oakland Tribune
Article Last Updated: 08/25/2008 03:58:04 PM PDT

OAKLAND - As takeover robberies in Oakland turn violent, police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland have increased the size of a cash reward for capture of the bandits.
Police are not certain if the recent robberies are connected, but Crime Stoppers and police will pay up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the robbers. Anyone with information can call police .... to read more click here

A takeover robbery at a Castro Valley restaurant Thursday night left employees and patrons shaken as police investigate whether the incident is related to a string of takeover robberies in the East Bay. Castro Valley takeover.

People, please be cautious when visiting restaurants anyplace in Bay Area. It's getting bad out there. Happening all over the place. Looks like there are a number of 'copy cats' out there. When you go to a restaurant, please bring a minimum of ACTUAL CASH and remain aware of your surroundings. Try to insist that "the owners' keep the doors locked!

Sunday at Infineon

We had no events this weekend as it was time for a long-needed rest and a Sunday at Infineon. We left Hayward around 8:30 and headed up Highway 880 to 80, exiting at Tennessee Ave. in Vallejo. We have found that you encounter much less traffic cutting through Mare Island instead of exiting farther north onto Highway 37. By doing this, you can jump ahead of a lot of the traffic heading over to Infineon.

When we were half-ways down Tennessee, I looked over at my boy and asked him the magic question...'do you have the tickets?' He said "no, I thought you had them." Oh gosh, so we had to turn around and head back home 35 miles to pick them up. Finally, after getting back on the road, we arrived at the race track around noontime. Actually, we ended up with a better parking spot than we would have if we would have arrived earlier A bit less walking and less sitting around waiting for the race to begin.

Our seats were located at Turn 7, on the northmost part of the track. Had to walk up about 30 rows to our seat, but it was a good location where you could see about 2/3 of the track and it was just a short walk to the toilets and food.

The race began around 3:00 and ended just before 5:00. Helio Castroneves was the winner. Danica Patrick came in 5th. It was a very clean race and there was just a couple yellow flags popping up, but just for a few seconds as cars spun out and were able to turn back around. You usually see a lot of fender bender, side swiping action from Turn 7.

After the race was over, I was surprised to be forced to go out the 'back way' which zig-zagged through the hills and ended up farther west on Highway 37. I guess that they had closed down a portion of that highway, west of Infineon because the closed both lanes due to an accident. However, when we made it to the junction, traffic was crawling along in the east direction. So, we decided that it might be quicker to go west to Highway 101 and take the San Rafael bridge. However, it turned out to be very slow, as we encountered 10 miles of 'Sunday' traffic. Can't win.

Upcoming events

Over Labor Day weekend (Aug 30-31 Sep ) we will be at Casa de Fruta in Hollister for the Arts and Crafts Fair. This is located on Highway 152, about 15 miles west of Highway 101 in Gilroy. On the following weekend, Sept 6-7, we shall be at the Pittsburg Seafood Festival. This will be our first time at the event.
(the following excerpt is from their website)

Great Family Fun Weekend!
It’s that time! Once again, the Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for the 24th Annual Pittsburg Seafood Festival at the Marina in Old Town Pittsburg.
Saturday, September 6, 2008: 10 AM to 7 PM
Sunday, September 7, 2008: 10 AM to 6 PM
General Admission is $7; kids under 6 are free with a paying adult

Gates close 30 minutes prior to the close of the Festival!
This year’s theme is "It’s a big party with fish"

Attractions are:
Air Show Delta Thunder Power Boat Races Art Shows
Arts & Crafts Exposition Wine Pavilion Sports Pavilion
California Zinfandel Championship & Gourmet Dinner Displays
Great Seafood. Over 40 restaurants Kid’s Play land and Petting Zoo
Delta Idol Singing Competition Continuous Live Entertainment on 3 Stages

Mini-reviews of some 2008 events

Check out our mini-reviews of numerous events we participated in during this year. Included in this group are the Apricot Fiesta in Patterson, Ceres Street Fair, Marina International Fesival of Winds, Clovis Big Hat Days, Casa de Fruta in Hollister, Los Banos Street Fair, Hercules Cultural Festival, Cambria A&C Show, and Millers-Y in South Lake Tahoe.

Starving Vendors Mini-Review of Events

For other longer versions of review, please go to the Starving Vendors website and check events/reviews.