Quick questions for the vendors

[seamus]

How did you know when you wanted to move beyond participating and that you wanted to make a business of this? I'm also wondering what laws, permits, hoops, you have to jump through to get involved. I am thinking I really want to dip my feet in and try to run a food vendor possibly at the Twig renfest, or perhaps help set my wife up with her jewelry. Any advice?

[groomporter]

Don't know about Twig, but here's some info about MNRF.

Being a food vendor can be different from a crafter as far as the fees and, of course, local code requirements. At MNRF artisans have standardized fees/contracts, whereas my understanding is that for the few independent food vendors left at MNRF the details of the agreement can vary. I believe Fest sets the food prices, and may get a percentage of sales on top of the booth fee. Indie food vendors also only get a percentage of the money if they get paid food coupon booklets, not the face value.

As a crafter MNRF booth fees next year will be $1100, or $60 per linear foot measured across the front of the booth. You need to have $1,000,000 in liability insurance to protect you and fest in case someone gets hurt while in your booth. If you have paid "employees" you'll need worker's comp insurance, but as long as you just have unpaid "volunteers" as your sales help you can avoid the worker's comp requirement. A few fairs like Bristol also charge artisans a percentage of their sales.

For more info 2010 MNRF craft application can be downloaded at
http://www.renaissancefest.com/MRF/2010crafterapp.pdf

[lady serena]

Start out with smaller fairs to get your feet wet sorta speak.
How far do you live away from the Duluth area? The reason I ask is Olde World Ren Fair will start having what they open meetings once a month usually starting in January. If you keep an eye open on their website it usually has when the first meeting will be about a month ahead of time. Come and speak to some of the people there, I did and we vended our coffee shop for the first time this year. Everyone is very nice and willing to help out new comers.
As far as when you know when you want to move beyond the participation side into vending, I think that everyone is different. I have been attending fest since 2000 and I didn't try vending until 2 years ago with my chainmaille jewelry, then nature happened and I didn't vend again until this year.
As far as food you need to jump through a lot of hoops, you can PM my hubby Tom (he is a moderator on here) for that he knows more of the rules than I do, I just show up and work.

[seamus]

Thanks for all the information, and the fast reponses. I'll keep a watch on the website and attend one of the meetings in January. I'll also try and get in touch with Tom.

[William_MacKean]

Shortly after this year's run, go to the MAF's website and email/call the Personnel Director.  She will have all of the info you need to contract out a food booth.  If you want to start/buy a booth, that is in the crafter app that was mentioned earlier.