Comments on: Should the SF Underground Market be bigger? http://foragesf.com/thoughts/should-the-sf-underground-market-be-bigger/ Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:15:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: iso http://foragesf.com/thoughts/should-the-sf-underground-market-be-bigger/comment-page-2/#comment-356 iso Tue, 13 Jul 2010 19:39:30 +0000 http://foragesf.com/?p=1025#comment-356 Claire Thanks for the suggestions. We do try to rotate vendors through and out of the market, but the truth is we let in just about everyone who applies (as long as they make good stuff), and generally are able to accept all the returning vendors that are interested. Claire

Thanks for the suggestions. We do try to rotate vendors through and out of the market, but the truth is we let in just about everyone who applies (as long as they make good stuff), and generally are able to accept all the returning vendors that are interested.

]]> By: Lex Leifheit » Blog Archive » Know Better, Learn Faster http://foragesf.com/thoughts/should-the-sf-underground-market-be-bigger/comment-page-2/#comment-353 Lex Leifheit » Blog Archive » Know Better, Learn Faster Thu, 08 Jul 2010 14:47:22 +0000 http://foragesf.com/?p=1025#comment-353 [...] ForageSF: Should the Market Be Bigger? [...] [...] ForageSF: Should the Market Be Bigger? [...]

]]> By: claire http://foragesf.com/thoughts/should-the-sf-underground-market-be-bigger/comment-page-2/#comment-350 claire Thu, 01 Jul 2010 16:55:52 +0000 http://foragesf.com/?p=1025#comment-350 Scaling up is not always the way to go. There may be other solutions. It would be good if the market was organized a bit better. (it is getting better slowly) The time I went traffic was going in 2 directions and there was no way to get around. I didn't wait in line because I went early. Encourage early birds by not charging a door fee until prime time. (or charging less) Keep the vendor roster changing constantly. Even if someone is good in a category they shouldn't be doing the market over and over. Have people who are giving free samples only, outside if possible. It might keep the folks in line happy and get them connected to the market while they wait. (don't charge vendors giving free samples) It's not snotty to keep the market a manageable size. Organizational problems will go with you to any space. Scaling up is not always the way to go. There may be other solutions. It would be good if the market was organized a bit better. (it is getting better slowly) The time I went traffic was going in 2 directions and there was no way to get around.

I didn’t wait in line because I went early. Encourage early birds by not charging a door fee until prime time. (or charging less)

Keep the vendor roster changing constantly. Even if someone is good in a category they shouldn’t be doing the market over and over.

Have people who are giving free samples only, outside if possible. It might keep the folks in line happy and get them connected to the market while they wait. (don’t charge vendors giving free samples)

It’s not snotty to keep the market a manageable size. Organizational problems will go with you to any space.

]]> By: iso http://foragesf.com/thoughts/should-the-sf-underground-market-be-bigger/comment-page-2/#comment-346 iso Mon, 28 Jun 2010 21:13:41 +0000 http://foragesf.com/?p=1025#comment-346 Trista have you signed up and come by sample day? We're always looking for new people. Thanks Iso Trista

have you signed up and come by sample day? We’re always looking for new people.
Thanks
Iso

]]> By: GLH http://foragesf.com/thoughts/should-the-sf-underground-market-be-bigger/comment-page-2/#comment-342 GLH Fri, 25 Jun 2010 17:35:47 +0000 http://foragesf.com/?p=1025#comment-342 I'm with MP. Why not go bigger? I went a few markets ago, before the crowds and got right in. But it got so crowded once I was on the main floor that it was like being up front at a concert, people pushing forward and being smashed up against someone. Not pleasant, which is why I haven't gone back. I just wanted to get out of there as soon as I could and it's a shame because I was interested in seeing all of the vendors but there was no way I could see what was on both sides of the isles because there was a point of no return. I would have been happy to wait in a longer line in order to enjoy my time in there and not feel like I was packed in with the other sardines. You aren't selling out if you go bigger. I would be happy to pay $5 to have a less rushed and crowded experience and to see even more vendors. It seems a little snooty to keep it small just because. Keep up the great work though and we appreciate all the hard work that goes into this event! I’m with MP. Why not go bigger? I went a few markets ago, before the crowds and got right in. But it got so crowded once I was on the main floor that it was like being up front at a concert, people pushing forward and being smashed up against someone. Not pleasant, which is why I haven’t gone back. I just wanted to get out of there as soon as I could and it’s a shame because I was interested in seeing all of the vendors but there was no way I could see what was on both sides of the isles because there was a point of no return. I would have been happy to wait in a longer line in order to enjoy my time in there and not feel like I was packed in with the other sardines.

You aren’t selling out if you go bigger. I would be happy to pay $5 to have a less rushed and crowded experience and to see even more vendors. It seems a little snooty to keep it small just because. Keep up the great work though and we appreciate all the hard work that goes into this event!

]]> By: alice http://foragesf.com/thoughts/should-the-sf-underground-market-be-bigger/comment-page-2/#comment-340 alice Thu, 24 Jun 2010 00:27:49 +0000 http://foragesf.com/?p=1025#comment-340 I agree with the too long a wait and the inability to get around. I think a saturday all day is the way to go. The friday day doesn't get the business. The SomArt venue is great.keeping it intimate and underground with vendors who are passionate and learning the business of selling their ware was the appeal to my friends. You start letting restaurants and ths spirit is lost. Thanks for what you're doing. I agree with the too long a wait and the inability to get around. I think a saturday all day is the way to go. The friday day doesn’t get the business. The SomArt venue is great.keeping it intimate and underground with vendors who are passionate and learning the business of selling their ware was the appeal to my friends. You start letting restaurants and ths spirit is lost.
Thanks for what you’re doing.

]]> By: collette http://foragesf.com/thoughts/should-the-sf-underground-market-be-bigger/comment-page-2/#comment-339 collette Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:46:48 +0000 http://foragesf.com/?p=1025#comment-339 I love the "taster portions" idea suggested by Daniel. I hadn't thought of that but he's right. The "small plates" idea could be easily inocorporated, (at least I think so-- I'm not a vendor but...) and give everyone the opportunity to sample more yummy treats! I love the “taster portions” idea suggested by Daniel. I hadn’t thought of that but he’s right. The “small plates” idea could be easily inocorporated, (at least I think so– I’m not a vendor but…) and give everyone the opportunity to sample more yummy treats!

]]> By: north bay http://foragesf.com/thoughts/should-the-sf-underground-market-be-bigger/comment-page-2/#comment-338 north bay Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:39:37 +0000 http://foragesf.com/?p=1025#comment-338 keep the market small--it's part of the charm. support the vendors by keeping their costs down so they have the ability and desire to share their creations--this is, again, part of the charm. if an expense were to be nixed, start with booze. if an expense were to be added/built on, start with music. lastly, if i had it my way there would be more event dates and vegan options. the market and its community are gems, so understand the trade that would be made for any changes. thank you and take care. keep the market small–it’s part of the charm. support the vendors by keeping their costs down so they have the ability and desire to share their creations–this is, again, part of the charm. if an expense were to be nixed, start with booze. if an expense were to be added/built on, start with music. lastly, if i had it my way there would be more event dates and vegan options. the market and its community are gems, so understand the trade that would be made for any changes. thank you and take care.

]]> By: Andi http://foragesf.com/thoughts/should-the-sf-underground-market-be-bigger/comment-page-1/#comment-337 Andi Tue, 22 Jun 2010 23:04:34 +0000 http://foragesf.com/?p=1025#comment-337 How about timed entry tickets sold online? That way, customers, vendors and organizers can plan ahead and of course, that would ease the crush and the potential overcrowding. Sometimes in life events sell out....Love the market!! How about timed entry tickets sold online? That way, customers, vendors and organizers can plan ahead and of course, that would ease the crush and the potential overcrowding. Sometimes in life events sell out….Love the market!!

]]> By: Leelu http://foragesf.com/thoughts/should-the-sf-underground-market-be-bigger/comment-page-1/#comment-336 Leelu Tue, 22 Jun 2010 19:07:37 +0000 http://foragesf.com/?p=1025#comment-336 I haven't made it to one of your markets yet because I live in Half Moon Bay and wasn't much into waiting on line for hours at night, so I was REALLY happy when you announced the daytime market as well. I'm less interested in the live music/eating food there aspect and more into the idea of purchasing items I can take home and cook with, so the daytime aspect is WAY more appealing to me on many levels. It sounds to me like you're doing the right things to make it appealing to the largest amount of people. And we all know that when things get too big they are usually ruined by the commercial aspect ... so keep up the good work. I haven’t made it to one of your markets yet because I live in Half Moon Bay and wasn’t much into waiting on line for hours at night, so I was REALLY happy when you announced the daytime market as well. I’m less interested in the live music/eating food there aspect and more into the idea of purchasing items I can take home and cook with, so the daytime aspect is WAY more appealing to me on many levels.

It sounds to me like you’re doing the right things to make it appealing to the largest amount of people. And we all know that when things get too big they are usually ruined by the commercial aspect … so keep up the good work.

]]>