Ok, some years ago I worked for our local county fair. I saw a concessionaire bring in what we called "Rootbeer Barrels". He sold soda out of them. We figure he made pretty good money out of them too. Any of you former concession people know where to find one of those? They look like a rootbeer barrel. It has a door and a window to sell out of. I would think it would be pretty cheap to get one of those. To go to the smaller fairs and festivals with one of those might just be profitable.

-- Katie S (cashcrop90@yahoo.com), March 10, 2002

Answers

Can't help you on the "Rootbeer Barrels", but I do know that at most fairs and festivals the drink concessions are already sewed up. Most times the group running the event or local volunteer organizations get trailers from Coke or Pepsi and use them to sell soft drinks. I think the only way would be with a unique drink such as smoothies or possibly lemonade.

-- Emil in TN (eprisco@usit.net), March 10, 2002.

Katie, I know several people who work local fairs in concession stands and I know a few people who travel 10mth a year doing fairs.

A good concession stand is not cheap. Meeting heath standards is not cheap. Figure a new simple square concession trailer is going to run $20K. Figure 1/2 that used. Selling only soda might be a little cheaper to outfit, no stoves, etc, but can you make any money doing only soda.

What most vendors do is link up with a concession booking agent and they find you places to go. You might be able to work local fairs and events without one but if there is going to be rides at the events they usually get exclusive concession contracts.

Not an easy way to make a living but could be fun for a few weekends a year.

-- Gary (gws@columbus.rr.com), March 10, 2002.

Kattie, I did not find a rootbeer barrel, but I did find this neat story about a man who has been selling rootbeer at fairs and festivals for over 50 years. Here is the address http://www.medina-gazette.com/jun/06232001/news1.htm

-- Mark in N.C. Fla. (deadgoatman@webtv.net), March 10, 2002.

Gary-

As I recall the soda was very cheap. We figured back then it cost him probably $.15 - .20 for the product and he sold them for $1.50. I bet he had tops a couple thousand wrapped up in that rig. Even you had liability insurance you'd make money at it. That's the reason this guy does it every year. I bought from the rootbeer barrels every year because it was the best bang for the buck compared to the other concessionaires. The others were $1.75 -2.00 for the same size container but, like was said it's more expensive to get set up as well as maintain the others.

-- Katie S (cashcrop90@yahoo.com), March 10, 2002.