100 Thousand People still Missing - Newark Days

NEWARK, CA.. Well people, we're just a week away from Newark Day's (Sep 20-21) and I still haven't found the 100,000 people that came up missing at last year's event. As we recall, they claimed that they get 130,000 for the event and things were pretty slow on Saturday and Sunday.

Here's what I wrote about last years event in STARVING VENDORS:

Did they have 150,000 people at the Newark Days Celebration in Newark, CA on September 22-23? That's what they claim. Actually, since there were probably around 30,000 people there, I am worried about the 120,000 people that are missing. No earthquakes.....couldn't have lost them there. Where's Waldo? Remember him? Maybe we can find him? No hurricanes....no tsunami's.....no sinkholes.. I GUESS JUST PLAIN OL' MISSING right off the face of the earth. They said that they get 150,000 for the event, but I couldn't find them? I looked under tries, in the porta-potties, behind buildings, all over the place.

So, this is now September 2008 and no sign of these people anywhere. Will they pop up there this year or are we going to be missing another 100K. It does look like we'll be getting much better weather this time around, BUT I NOT GOING TO BE THERE. We shall be at the Chabot College Flea Market on Saturday and if I can find some parking on Sunday, I might drop by and check the side streets to see where all the people are hiding. Last year, we were located in the parking lot and thought we had a good spot. Uh uh uh. People just entered from there and crossed over from the parking lot and continued over to the food and carnival area. If you have things that would interest the kid's, then I would highly recommend getting your space located near the rides and food. If you are elsewhere... el suckarooski. I have no plans on ever doing this event. Spaces are pretty good size, but don't you kind of wonder why?

Can you find them here?

What your 'oil money' has bought them.

(The Burj Dubai. Construction began in 2005 and is expected to be complete by 2008. At an estimated height of over 800 meters, it will easily be world’s tallest building when finished. It will be almost 40% taller than the the current tallest building, the Taipei 101.)

Refillable Ink cartridges

About a month ago, I thought I could save some money by getting my ink cartridges (color, black&white) refilled at Walgreens. I had the two cartridges sitting around until the other ones I had in ran out of ink. Replaced them the other day and the black one was dry. I saved money all right. Might as well head on over to Office Depot and pick up a real BLACK INK cartridge. What a rip off. Anybody have a similar experience?

Castro Valley Fall Festival - Sep 13-14

THIS COMING WEEKEND, Come on out and enjoy yourselves at the Castro Valley Fall Festival. Been doing this event for years and it's one of the better, more organized events around. We (DandL CREATIONS) are located in space#345 on Castro Valley Boulevard near Washington Mutual. We sell shoulder bags, fannypacks, backpacks, beautiful handmade shell necklaces, tote bags, wrap-around skirts and a whole lot more.

Looks like the weather shall be cooperating this year, with expected temp in the mid-70's and plenty of sunshine, Many booths and pretty decent food. Every year that we do the Castro Valley Fall Festival, I make sure to stop by the Philly Cheese Steak Shop over in the village for a half-ways decent Cheesesteak Sandwich. Can't compare to ones back east I have had, but one of the better ones around. Try their 15-incher.

So once again people...come on down and check things out. Don't let all those football games on TV, etc., deter you from checking things out. Castro Valley Fall Festival located along Castro Valley Boulevard west of Redwood Rd/A Street.

Pittsburg Seafood Festival Sep 6-7

Saturday, September 6, 2008. My gosh...where do I start with this one. One day gone; one day to go. Temps reached 101 degrees. It was terrably, excrutiatingly HOT. Please read my review Pittsburg Seafood Festival; I have lots to say about the Pittsburg Seafood Festival and certainly even more after today. Lots of people, but they just walked past the booths over to the food and entertainment areas and we were more or less, window dressing. We did catch our expenses, but that was by default.

I guess that you can truly refer to this event as a 'Seafood Festival' because there are a lot of food vendors selling seafood. Even saw somebody selling 'Alligator on a Stick.' No thank you, Vendors on the whole, did not do very good and it was a very hot day, with temps reaching 101 during the afternoon. Lots of people, but they were mostly heading for the food and tertainment areas, most of them bypassing the vendors. We were able to meet expenses today, but by default. We had NO SHADE. You know, one day does not make a show...but lots of problems here.

Vendors had to park in a lot well over a mile away from the Pittsburg Seafood Festival. Long hot walk and it was not enjoyable at all. When I had to walk back and forth from the festival, there were no shuttles to be seen. SUCKS.

WOMAN USING MEN'S TOILETS at the Pittsburg Seafood Festival. There were several bathroom facilities and each of them had a huge sign that said ...WOMEN ONLY. What the hell is going on here? Of course, we had the porta potties and you know what? They were pretty clean all day. Wouldn't that make you wonder exactly who is messing them up if most of the ladies are using the bathroom facilties? That's a crock of U-know what! They were being allowed to use the men's room also. What the hell....so are they sticking their butts inside the urinals... or are they standing in front and well...you know?

Trying to drive around the town was a nightmare. Construction, detours..can't go this way, can't go that way. Oh gosh. Pittsburg is a mess I don't know what they are doing, but it's a #(#*$# MESS!!

Sunday, Sept 7. A bit cooler and sales were somehat better. However, booth fees were $300 and this just aint going to make it. We determined that this is a $150 show at most. Crowd seemed to be a little less than Saturday, despite the cooler (91 degrees) weather. Good event if you are attending it. Air show at 3:00 and boat races. However, stinkarooski if you are a vendor. Just nothing more than window dressing, as thousands of people just pass by with nary a look.

The show ended at 6:00 and I imagine everybody was anxious to get out of there, I went to my van around 5:45 and parked in line at the far end of the event, preparing to come in. I was third in line and it wasn't long before there were several dozen vehicles behind me. They kept B.S. ing us about when we could get in....10 more minutes...5 minutes, 10 minutes, etc. and we finally got in just before 7:00. That's a crock of baloney because it would be getting dark again and didn't want to end up loading in the dark again like we were forced to do at the Hayward Zucchini festival a couple weeks earlier.

We loaded up quickly, as we had just about everything packed up and ready to load. As we were doing so, I noticed a long, long, long line of cars waiting to get in. It looked like they were going to be there for hours to come. We left around 7:30 and zig-zagged our way the decrepit downtown areas of Pittsburg. What a mess...construction and detours all over the place; stores closed for good, boarded up, broken windows. What a beautiful city these people have. Downtown area looks like hell. This is not a show I would recommend doing the Pittsburg Seafood Festival unless they lowered the fees to $50. Solly!!!

Your Daily Dose

This is a new feature on my website, Starving Vendors and each day I add my comments about shows, vendors, things, thangs, etc. Today's entry:

September 5. Seems a bit cooler today, but it's going to be hot in Pittsburg this afternoon for setup.I have added a number of 'defunct' events on the Do you Remember page of this website. Makes interesting reading and sentimental value.I came across an old show publication, Calendar of Events and began looking through it. I also had a number of older publications from the mid 90's... The Show Locator, Hands on Guide and The Crafts Fair Guide. Quite interesting looking through them as I was able to see a lot of shows we did and didn't do back then.

Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich

I'm always looking for the great Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich. During my early years, living in Hamilton, New Jersey from 1963-1970 I must have eaten a zillion of these. Back then I probably didn't appreciate just how good these things are. I remember eating them with birch beer, sometimes draught and that was a great combination.A number of years ago, while at the World Famous Farmer's Market, located at 3rd and Fairfax in Los Angeles, I found a sandwich stand which made a pretty good Philly Cheese Steak. Up until a few year ago, I considered this to be the best I had ever had.

While visiting relatives in Pennsylvania a few years back, I had the pleasure of eating a really great sandwich. It was huge....lots of steak (probably rib-eye) with plenty of cheese packed into a roll and absolutely smothered and overflowing with delicious peppers and onions. It was really great and I can not find anything here on the West Coast that compares with it. I've tried places like the Cheese Steak Shop and they are somewhat okay, but can not compare. I've had many steak sandwiches at fairs and festivals we have done, but nowhere near. The best Philly I have had at a festival are the ones at the Coos County Fair in Myrtle Point, OR. I usually have a couple during our yearly summer stay there. They are good, but just do not compare.

Please check out my website to find out how to make these delicious sandwiches or where you can buy one. http://www.starvingvendors.com/philly_cheese_steak_sandwich.html

Orinda Holiday Bazaar (Nov 1-2)

Just did a Google search on the "Orinda Holiday Bazaar" and I found a couple interesting links to this event, held during the first weekend in November. Check it out. One is my review about the show from last year.

And another link leading to Craig's List "Vendors wanted for 33rd Annual Orinda Holiday Bazaar (Orinda Community Center)'. Actually, I find that rather humorous and if you read my review you'll see why it is so hard to get vendors for this event. I do not want to pick on the promoters of this event... they try so hard and do a wonderful job. However, the problem is the people. The one's that go to the event and the one's that DON'T GO TO THE EVENT.

They really didn't turn out for the Orinda Holiday Bazaar .... and you can read my review to see what I think happened to them... and the ones that do come, DO NOT BUY. I think that this event has seen better days. A great idea but it just isn't going to work out. Vendors have an extremely hard time setting up because no matter where your booth is..inside or outside, you are going to have to carry your things up stairs and for the amount of money that we made last year, there is just no freaking way I will do that. I am sure that this event brings in money for various local organizations and if they don't get the funding they need, they can point their fingers at the local community, who do not come to the Orinda Holiday Bazaar and ran away many vendors by not buying their merchandise.

I have several friends (vendors) who definitely will never go back there and I know that there were vendors who 'zeroed out'...meaning they made $0.00. There were 'spurts' of people coming to the event, but they bought very little and took up space (and air) as they came there just to socialize. However, I will agree that some of the success of an event, does depend upon people meeting one another, etc. and having a good time. But people, if you don't buy from the vendors, you local non-profit agenices, etc., are going to suffer because vendors will not come back.

There are a number of community things happening here and there are a number of crafters who purchase a smaller space indoors and sell what they have made and that is probably fine. However, 'professional' vendors (ones who require a canopy and sell many things at a different show every weekend) can not expect to do well here. Nice library next door and it seems like half the people have a book in their hand or are on their way to drop their kids off for soccer practice. You just have to read my review on this!!!! To the community of Orinda... you people have nice houses, good jobs but you are too damm cheap and stingy and just do not deserve to have such an event as the Orinda Holiday Bazaar.

So, they are looking for vendors and if you sign up for it, it's just like making a contribution to a charity. You won't make any money. Only thing I can blame on the promoters is their selection of music. Frank Sinatra music being piped all over the place is not energetic, buying-type music. Puts people (and vendors) to sleep. If I want to listen to Frank Sinatra, then I'll turn to Channel 11 and watch America's Got Talent, ya know? There's a nice older fellow who can really sing and sounds pretty much like him.

Do You Remember?

I have a special page on my Starving Vendors website which tells about a number of festivals which are no longer in existence.
NEW AGE RENAISSANCE FAIR, San Jose, CA

I thought that this event was pretty neat as it was held at Parkside Hall in downtown San Jose.during the month of November and it always seemed to be raining. I think that we did this event from 1994-1997, which was the final year. Didn't like hauling my things inside, but no choice. Attendance was somewhat okay. Long hours and the crowds dwindled down during the latter part of the afternoon. I really enjoyed much of the entertainment, especially the digieridoo's.

Here's a link to a story about the New Age Renaissance Fair you should find interesting. "People said the New Age Renaissance Fair was a magical place, much more enjoyable than the "marketplace" atmosphere of many other similar Fairs. It was a place for the New Age community to gather and refresh the spirit. It was successful for 15 years"

Edwin Meece ran it back then and now he has the Holistic Arts Fair and is held in many locations. Here's a link, if you are interested. We did a number of the events at San Jose City College and Rickey's Hyatt House (Palo Alto?) back in the late 90's, but people were more interested in psychics, etc.

THE NEXT PRESIDENT will be

JOHN McCAIN.

Obama wants to tax your _ _ _es off.

Please people don't be fooled by him.

VOTE McCain/Sarah Palin

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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.