One Piece of Paper to Get Started

A friend of ours, Max, who we knew from watching Bears football at Sunshine Company Saloon, had mentioned that he wanted to go out on his own & do hot food at farmers markets.

"What kind of food you thinking about doing?" I asked him one week after he ordered a Katers Taters at the OB market.

"I'm gonna do chicken wings," he said confidently.  "I've been frying them up at BBQ House forever & I think I could do em pretty easily.  I just don't know where to get started with all of the permits & applications."

"Well, Zach handled all of that stuff to get us started.  You still have that binder?" Kate asked me.

"Yeah, I wrote down everything you need on one sheet.  It's not that expensive really, it just takes some time.  When did you want to start?"

"The sooner the better," Max said.

I brought over a copy of my cheat sheet to him at BBQ House a couple days later.  Within a few weeks, Max & his girlfriend were set up at the SONY Thursday lunch market.  He was busy frying up wings & had a decent line of patrons.  He came by to thank us when we were breaking down later.

"That sheet was great, man.  I'm headed off to do Linda Vista after this & Dave said I could sub in next week at OB.  Thanks again!"

"No problem.  The hardest part is getting into markets but it sounds like you got that down," I said.

"Yeah, I'm gonna do the OB Street Fair, too.  I figured, 'what the hell?' I might as well jump into the fire!"

We were happy for Max.  Jumping into the pop-up life with both feet.  That's really the only way to do it.  I was just glad my info could make it easier for him.  It's a great feeling when you can help mentor someone starting out.  And, to a newcomer, that kind of first-hand know-how is priceless.

We saw his booth at the OB Street Fair in late June.  He & his girlfriend now had matching tie-dye work shirts.  Kate & I waited in line & ordered some wings.  They were really good & he didn't even charge us.  I left a bunch of greenbacks in his tip jar.  They earned it.