Concession Stand

[lieperjp]

The search function has failed me.

I'm thinking about trying to get a C-Stand going for our fall musical, and I was wondering if any of you have tips?

I have lots of experience with concession stands, having worked them for four years and run my high school's for just under three years. The only problem I forsee is no kitchen space, and the lobby used for the theatre (which is in the exact center of a classroom building at my college) is not very large (capacity: 45ish.)

Here's what I'm thinking:
--Bottled Soda (or pop, if you prefer, or even Coke,) Juice, and Water
--Coffee (in a cup WITH LIDS)
--Hard Candies and such that won't melt onto seats, the floors, etc. such as M&M's, Skittles, Licorice, etc.

I was wondering mainly if anyone has any "special" items they sell. It will be hard to convince the powers that be to spend money, but hey, I might as well try to raise a little bit of money. Basically, I'm looking for stuff I can sell for under $1.50... I know I can get the soda, water, and juice from the Pepsi Distributor, which I can re-sell for about $1.25 (that should be about a $0.45 profit on average) and I can get the coffee for free (or close) from the cafeteria and sell for $1.00 and make $0.90 profit. Candy I can get from a nearby Sam's Club and sell for $1.00 and make between $0.30 and $0.70 per item.

Also, I really would like to do popcorn as well but that would require leasing (or purchasing) a popper, even though I could sell a box of it for $1.25 and make $0.90 profit. Popcorn is also messy, but easy to clean up (except if it gets ground into the carpet runners on the lower seating aisles.)

[rosabelle334]

During intermission our school's Make-A-Wish Club runs the consession stand. They sell all the things you mentioned, but they also sell flowers. It'd probably be a good idea to sell flowers (something easy like carnations) as well, for those last-minute congratulations. ^.^

[Footer]

I am personally ok with items being sold in a "crush bar" fashion, you leave the theatre, go into the stand, get something durring intermission, and nothing makes it back in. I think it is extremely distracting to have people munching on food during a show, fine for a movie, but not for the stage. That being said, if you can get them to let you take stuff into your theatre, fine, but I would highly suggest you keep everything in the lobby. If you can have liquor sales, you can make some insane money, but I have a feeling that you can't.

[zapthatmonster]

Wholesale small sizes of snack foods like chips/twinkies/cookies. We don't allow food in the auditorium so you have to eat it before or during intermission. Coffee with sugar and cream in small cups. Soda cans, and bottled water. Buy nonperishables so they can stick around for a few shows.

Dpends on the audience, though. Most theatres just sell coffee, water, and cookies and maybe alcohol.

[lieperjp]

We would never be allowed to sell alcohol, so that's out...

The carnations are a good idea!

[avkid]

No soda in bottles, cans only.
(so it can be consumed before entry)

[derekleffew]

Originally Posted by lieperjp

...I'm thinking about trying to get a C-Stand going for our fall musical...

Please call it something other than C-Stand.

[gafftapegreenia]

One think to do is go to Costco and get roses by the dozen. They are cheap and sell.

[lieperjp]

Originally Posted by derekleffew

Please call it something other than C-Stand.

Oh, come on, vendors specifically sell stuff for "C-Stands and Vending Machines..."

I don't think lights would like bags of chips... maybe their operators...

[tweetersaway]

If you're into trying popcorn, you can make a huge profit. I'd reccomend asking a local theater if you can buy big bags of popcorn. The movie theater I work at sells large bags(20 - 30 gallons or so) of popcorn to private organizations for 5 dollars each. Just a thought. I'd never let popcorn in our theater, but if you're ok with the clean up, it's a great way to raise money.