How to set up an improv meeting at Park Ave:

This weekend was Park Ave festival and we were merry.

Luckily we had access to prime real estate on Park Ave and decided to grab a table, some paper and set up a sample station. People are really cautious about getting sold something so we had to make sure they understood that we were giving away free samples! Not just free, but totally 100% free.

Seeing as we didn't register, pay a fee or tell anyone we were going to be here, it didn't take long for someone working the festival to come over and grill us with questions. Not realizing this curious lady was with the festival I started yammering on about the company, our drink and waxing poetic in general. All of a sudden she pulls out this shoe box (new balance) and opens it to reveal a series of lists with all the vendors, their location, and what they are selling. She then squints at me asking why we are not on the list... I was crushed. Here I thought she was interested in my company and I, but instead was part of the Spanish Inquisition and was now calling the higher powers on her cell phone (also in the shoe box... with a bag of Cheetos and who knows what other goodies).

After the run in, we figure we have about 20 minutes before we are shut down, so we press on. We hand out a few more samples until one unassuming guy in shorts and a t-shirt takes a sample, enjoys the flavor on his palette, thanks us and then announces that he is in charge of the festival and is shutting us down (at least he tried a sample first!). Seeing as we are such stand up guys and completely understanding how strapped for cash a start up can be, Joe gave me his card and said to give him a call anytime we want to be in a festival and he would help us out on the fee. Turns out he runs 20+ local festivals including 10 Ugly Men.

So it turns out that if you want to meet the big man of a festival, just set up shop, act like you know what your doing, deny accusations, pose some counter accusations and then wait until they come to shut you down. If you are polite, you just got yourself a 5-10 minute meeting! No calls necessary ahead of time. :D

After that whole thing Mike managed to land our first sale... on consignment with a deli right down the street. Now we just need to see how they did during the festival with selling to strangers.

End of next week we will have many beverages. Looking for local storage right now. Pictures to follow.

-jake