I know I have a couple of other topics started on this site but I wanted to start another. This last weekend was my first time using the Snowie at a festival. Actually it was my first time attending a festival. We set up in a 20'x30' tent and used 1/3 of it for vending. The other 2/3 we had tables and chairs almost like a dinning area. It worked out great. I kept ice in 4 large coolers. I could get 80 pounds in each cooler. Thanks for everyones help with all my questions pertaining to keeping ice cold enough in another topic. I had myself, daughter and one of her friends helping. Friday was ok. Saturday was busy. There were times we had a hard time keeping up. I was making the shaved ice and flavoring them. My daughter would take orders set the proper flavor out and make change. Her friend would help where ever she could. We were also selling other items. By far the shaved ice sold more than anything else. I passed the health dept. inspection without any problems. It was a great learning experience. I got a lot of practice without practicing at home and just throwing the product in the sink. We never had any complaints. I have already ordered more supplies. I do want to have a complete second set of flavors in pour bottles ready to go. Thanks for everyones help. It's only going to get better from here.

Congrats on your successful event!

Thanks Snow Sled. I was going to sell three sizes then decided on two and then one which was an 8oz. Pricing was another issue. I wanted to keep the 8oz at $2 but that was double the price of a bottle of water. So I decided to lower it to $1.50. The day before the event I thought about it again and decided to offer two sizes, (small 8oz and large 12oz). I priced the 12oz at $3 and the 8oz at $2. My reasoning was maybe people would be more apt to pay the $2 if they saw the larger size at $3. Maybe I'm completely wrong the way I came up with the idea but it worked. We did sell some 12oz cups but we sold a lot more 8oz cups. At my next event I will have a duplicate set of flavors. I was just going through the flavor bottles. What do you do when you have just enough syrup left for maybe one or two cups of ice? Do you take these almost empty bottles to your next event to use them up? Or do you dump them and go with two fulls sets?

At some events, we sold 3 sizes plus our signature snow cone.
Small $1.50 Med $2.00 Large $3.00 Firecracker (Med) $3.00

Medium was by far our most popular size. I think it was an easy decision to make the 50 cent leap to get the Medium instead of the small. It was obviously a much better deal. We also have 3D models to show the different sizes. After looking at them, you were getting so much more snow cone for 50 cents, it was a no brainer to spend the additional money. However, I am a firm believer in keeping the small size price the same as a bottle of water or a soda. Every event is different...different crowd, prices, vendor fee, etc. It really is a seat of the pants decision whenever we sell.

As far as flavors, we carry 52 different flavors. We always buy the pre mixed flavors in gallons and use pour bottles. We have a limited amount of space on the truck. So, when we leave for an event, each of our pouring bottles are filled prior to leaving. We carry 13 "back up gallons" of the flavors that are always most popular. I think we've only had 2 events (and we do about 7-10 per week) this year where we've guessed wrong and suddeny an oddball flavor was very popular and we ran out. So far, everyone has been very forgiving because we have so many other choices. Also, the back ups we carry vary depending on the type of event.

Now, when we sell at an event (and we don't do this very often anymore), we prep the same way, but usually bring a 2nd vehicle that we carry additional flavors, cups, etc. if the event is large. But the trend still stays the same and there are certain flavors that go better than others.

We also have a "S'cool Menu" which are shortened flavors for groups of kids. It has 12 flavors and sugar free. When we do this menu, I carry a gallon for every flavor on the menu and I usually carry a back up pour bottle (already filled) for Cherry, Blue Raspberry and Tiger Blood because they go fast.

So, I guess it depends on how many flavors you are carrying. If you have a small flavor list, I'd carry a set of back up flavors (already in the pour bottle) because you will run out of the flavors quicker with fewer selections. But if you are offering alot of flavors, I'd only take back up gallons for the most popular flavors and fill as needed.

Sorry for the long reply...I love talking snow cones!