The Jacksonville Food Truck Competition and an Update

We attended the Jacksonville Food Truck Competition at the Landing on Saturday, October 3.  The turnout was absolutely incredible!  There were so many people there that just walking up and down the rows of trucks was a daunting task.  We mused that it will be SO much better next year when we can experience this event from INSIDE a truck.  We had a fabulous time walking, scoping out the trucks and what they had to offer, their price points, and keeping a close eye on the quantity of people the trucks we able to turnover in set periods of time.  It seemed in the amount of time we were there, that each truck had no less than 50 people in their lines at all times, and that they were pushing out that amount of orders in about a half hour.  Ah.  Maze.  Ing!

Certain trucks were definitely more popular than others, and we chose our food from trucks where we would not be in line with 100 other people.  No joke.  Some of the trucks had lines that long.  It was a feat just to determine which line belonged to which truck, in some cases.  "How pissed would you be if you got in a line, waited for 45 minutes, only to realize you were in the wrong line?"  I can see how that could have happened at that event.  In some cases, we just chose trucks that we would like to follow and eat at in the future when they will be elsewhere and the wait won't be so long.

To give you an update on our current progress, we have been approved for a loan.  We are weighing our options on this loan, as it isn't nearly our original asking amount.  We have a couple of people close to us that have jumped readily on board with helping us out financially, and we could get our doors open for what we have put together so far.  What we have determined, though, is that we would feel much more comfortable with a cushion before we open our doors.  We don't want to get the doors open, just to have to shut them almost immediately if something unplanned were to occur.  Let's be realistic.  That is always a possibility.

We are in the process of starting up a Kickstarter campaign.  To briefly describe what Kickstarter is for those unfamiliar, it is an online community that gives those with a vision a way to fund that vision.  In our case, we will set up a page and describe what we are trying to achieve.  We will set a monetary goal, and a time limit in which to raise that money.  Friends, family, sponsors, or just anyone who thinks our idea is amazing and wants to help has the option to donate at their comfort level.  In order for us to receive funds, though, we must meet our goal in the specified time frame.  If we for some crazy reason didn't meet our goal, we would get nothing, and none of our sponsors would be charged for their pledge.

Our pledge levels will start at $5 and go all the way up to $1000.  Each level has a reward linked to it.  For instance, if you donate $30, you will get a meal voucher, a mug with our logo that grants you free coffee for a year from our truck, a thank you card, and a shout out on all of our social media outlets.  If you decide you would rather donate $50, you will get an invitation for two to join us for a VIP tasting event before we open our doors to the public.   Have some real cash to spare?  Donate $1000 and we will cater an event for up to 40 people for you, you will get to attend our VIP event, you get all of our "swag" (tshirt, hat, mug, sticker) and your name emblazoned on our custom painted menu board.  We have the page set up, and we just have to put the final touches and make those last couple of decisions before we go live.

We cannot wait to join the Jacksonville food truck community!  Please start considering if you would be willing to help us make our dream a reality, and get A Flying Sausage off the ground!!!  Keep your eyes peeled for our Kickstarter Campaign coming VERY SOON!!