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[PRIME] Pre-PAX Dinner: Get Involved
Posts
I have heard that human flesh tastes like pork...
Ok, I'll stop!
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Could you join up with us later that evening?
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I don't see why not,I will just catch up with you wherever you are.
W00t! The more, the merrier!
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I warned you all beforehand!
PAX 2013 STATUS - Badges: PURCHASED Hotel: RESERVED Vacation: Awaiting approval Plane Tickets: Waiting on vacation approval.
Last night I spent some time talking to a successful restauranteur friend of mine, and we agreed that it's going to be pretty tough to match last year's catering costs that allowed us to sell tickets for only $17. Last year Beta had a friend of his cater, but so far, nobody that I've talked to has shown interest in catering this event at a similar price point except with Costco style food - not that that would be the end of the world (and we could end up doing that to keep costs down), but here's a really interesting idea she had that provides mo'betta options for less money.
Seattle has a blossoming food truck scene. Just about any kind of food is available, mobile and within the price range that we want to
spend. What if we arranged three food trucks at the dinner location?
Logistically there would be some stuff to figure out, but here's sort of a preliminary idea:
1.
As attendees arrive, they'd purchase a ticket from the dinner coordinator. Presell tickets.2. The trucks would have specific prix-fixe meals available for PAXers that met the price point of the ticket.
3. Attendees could go out to the curb, choose the meal/truck they wanted and redeem their ticket.
4. At the end of the evening, the trucks and the coordinator would settle up for however many tickets got redeemed at each truck.
We'd need to contact the trucks ahead of time to organize, and we'd need to figure out what to do about reserving parking for the trucks -like whether we'd need to contact the city for an event permit or whether the venue would handle that.
Pros
-More dietary options: We could have non-restricted food, plus vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, dairy free, or any special allergy-sensitive meals that anyone wanted to arrange with the trucks ahead of time.
-Lower price points
-Less cleanup as everything is disposable
-Less catering overhead - no equipment rentals, service dishes, plates, etc...
-Great exposure for the food trucks and a fun experience for out of town folks
Cons
-Lines. We'd need at least three trucks to handle the crowd.
-Weather. It's unlikely to be raining but hey, it's Seattle. People would be getting their food outside.
-Parking and Permits. There might be pushback from the other restaurants on the block. Hard to know at this early stage.
-Space. There would need to be enough physical curb space in front of the venue or an associated parking lot.
Thoughts? Comments? What do you guys think? Good idea? Bad idea?
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I've tried to think of stumbling blocks that we'd need to sort out beforehand:
Numbers:
Wouldn't we need to know the numbers of people planning on coming first so as to tell the food truck people how many to cater for?
Ticket sales:
If people don't have to buy a ticket beforehand, what's to make them turn up if they change their minds and then the caterers have too much food left?
Conversely, what if more people turn up than expected and buy up the tickets before the expected people turn up (if that makes sense).
Menus:
Would we know in advance what would be available?
Would people who needed gluten free/kosher/vegan/lactose free have to book their meals in advance so as to definitely have food available?
I think this could be a great idea, though!
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I'm tempted to suggest Auto Battery/The Mercury or the bar next to Po Dog. The Merc is a bit dark and dank, though, which would be depressing on a sunny day. But, the bar next to Po Dog looks open and accessible. I think they have a parking lot, which would allow the food trucks to park in a private place off street so they don't look open to the public.
I should note, that I otherwise love food trucks, and that I'm a notorious worrywart about things and an over thinker. But, this is just my thoughts.
And there's always the possibility they could pick up some additional sales after the PPD is done from TWDT foot traffic if they're willing to stick around (and provided we aren't too far from one of the TWDT bars).
Pre-PAX Dinner | Tri-Wizard Drinking Tournament | Post-PAX Party
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@LewieP'sMummy - A good question. I think that regardless of whether we have a private caterer, restaurant or food trucks, an event this large always leaves the last folks choosing from whatever is left. It's the nature of the beast. If we get the event privately catered, we're locked in to portion control a lot more strictly than if we get food trucks, and it would be nice to be able to provide some flexibility for any PAXers who "just show up".
Ticket presales like last year are a better idea - I was not paying attention. Post updated.
Menus: We'd have to work with the trucks on the menus but there's no reason why we couldn't post them ahead, or even sell the tickets for specific meals. There are a few common diets that the trucks would most likely provide group options for: Pescetarian, Vegetarian, Vegan, Dairy Free, Gluten Free are the biggies. Most trucks are willing to work with individual diet requests if they're contacted ahead of time, so I'm sure that folks who very specific meal needs could get whatever they needed if they planned ahead.
If the trucks hang around and get business from the TWDT and other folks wandering Cap Hill, it's a win-win for everyone. Their profit margins are tiny so the more sales, the better.
@Sageheart - Tickets v. Cash: If we did tickets, it might help cut down on the line waits. Handing over a ticket just takes a second, while running a credit card or a register can take a minute or two. But if the trucks were planning on sticking around for the TWDT or just regular business, they'll be set up for cash and there's no reason we couldn't do both.
Also, going back to the whole discussion about how we take over the Hill that night, During the dinner service anyway, I don't think anyone else could get to the trucks. We could always put up a sign on the trucks "reserved for private event" or something. I've got a giant flipchart and a massive, massive sharpie that would work great!
Y'know now that I'm thinking about it.... At East this year they did something interesting - the restaurant had us choose from their full menu but order and pay ahead of time. So everyone got to order exactly what they wanted and spent however much they wanted - in exchange for being locked in to choosing your meal a few months earlier. Since they had most of the PAX dinner foods ordered correctly, we had tons of flexibility to add on to our meals once we got there and the restaurant was really accomodating. I wonder if that would work here?
Space, logistics and permission to have the trucks there are probably our biggest issues. We'll have to check out the feasibility of the truck option on the scouting mission!
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Also can we get one of the donut trucks to come...yummmmm!
The newest Seattle magazine has a great article on food trucks, btw.
Agreed.This is my only concern right now but we will know more after checking the locations out.
I think it is a fantastic idea though.I am a season ticket holder for the Sounders and we always eat at a food truck outside the games,Maximus/Minimus being a regular for us.Great food,flexibility,and good price points.Brilliant!
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If we went this route, hopefully a place could be found where an awning or tent could be set up in case of rain would be good. What about tables/seating?
I've emailed a couple caterers requesting quotes, so maybe I'll hear back from them soon.
*runs to google*
EDIT:
Bhahaahahaha.
So these things actually serve legit good food and not like...low tier garbage?
PAX 2013 STATUS - Badges: PURCHASED Hotel: RESERVED Vacation: Awaiting approval Plane Tickets: Waiting on vacation approval.
PAX 2013 STATUS - Badges: PURCHASED Hotel: RESERVED Vacation: Awaiting approval Plane Tickets: Waiting on vacation approval.
This is Maximus/Minimus.Good stuff!
OOOO...pricing starts at $500 for rental of either studio, and Studio 1 has a catering kitchen.
Also, I'd be down with being part of the scouting mission next weekend, if you all still are going to be going. I like discovering new places.
Good snooping! Shoe Repair is a bit cheaper - $525 for the event if we use their caterer, and only $337 if we bring our own caterer. They've got a $1000 bar minimum but with 100+ people, that's a snap to meet. Plus it's wheelchair accessible and all-ages.
I think @TOGSolid and I have both reached out to Barca but I haven't heard back yet. TOG - any news?
Scouting mission is still on: May 12th at 5:PM at the Comet. Scouting Team Names were being debated earlier on the thread; nothing has been picked yet. Also, I will buy a drink for anyone who arrives on a Vespa. TWO if it's raining.
(EDIT: On an unrelated note, for years I thought that "Barca" was pronounced "BAR-kah" as in "The Barca-Lounge". Turns out it's pronounced "BAR-sah". I think mine is punchier.)
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I guess I know what I need to go do after I finish my tea and oatmeal. o_q
PAX 2013 STATUS - Badges: PURCHASED Hotel: RESERVED Vacation: Awaiting approval Plane Tickets: Waiting on vacation approval.
Hehe...Barca has that C-Cedille (Spelling is so wrong, I imagine), which is that little curvy thing underneath the C, turning it into a soft C. French class in high school comes useful once in a blue moon.
Also, confession: I was being Mr. Hyper Snoop because I thought that that FRED Wildlife Refuge was closing, but I was confusing it with the Hunter Gatherer Lounge, which is already closed.
Addendum: Maybe we should start a non-profit group called The PAX Party Committee or something snappier. FRED has special non-profit pricing, and we're definitely non-profit. /now I am overthinking it because I'm procrastinating.
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EDIT: Email away!
PAX 2013 STATUS - Badges: PURCHASED Hotel: RESERVED Vacation: Awaiting approval Plane Tickets: Waiting on vacation approval.
I'd love to give my former cook the business but I'm afraid it's just too pricey although I know he would bang out some great stuff. I guess I shouldn't totally write it off until we know competitors!
If I remember correctly, Beta said the average attendance is 120 people.
PAX 2013 STATUS - Badges: PURCHASED Hotel: RESERVED Vacation: Awaiting approval Plane Tickets: Waiting on vacation approval.
Pros:
Offers Food options to all.
Keeps it PAX people only
If it rains, the tarps will be put to use
Cons:
Non-PAXgoers could buy "Normal Person" tickets and sneak in. Maybe have your PAX badge be required to buy a ticket?
Lines for trucks would be weird with circle shape and benches inside
Hard to find an area for this sort of setup.
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Also: Absolutely, 100% disagree with the suggestion of the Mercury. It's way too dark, the concrete floors are incredibly uncomfortable, there's next to no seating (which means table and chair rental) and on top of that...getting Adam (the owner) to agree to this would be a large task indeed. Barca has better space, more seating and they're easier to deal with.
My two cents on that.