Why do we like horror movies? What makes us get on that death-defying rollercoaster? Why do we seek out things that terrify us? For the thrill, of course! Maybe that's why so many of us turn to catering as our profession of choice - for the thrlll of never knowing what's around the corner, not knowing what tomorrow will bring or if we'll even survive tonight.
Just in time for Halloween, here are a few scary stories from our friends on the catersource website Forum - we're sure you can relate:
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Always look in the back seat...or at least in the back of the van!
"We were hired to cater a high end wedding at a venue over an hour away from our home base where we had never worked before. We packed up our van as we always do and headed off.
[As we] unpack and start to set - we realize with horror that we FORGOT the silverware! It's 6:30 pm on a Saturday night and we have no idea where to purchase enough silverware for 200 guests at that time of night much less where the local rental company might be.
With a lot of running around town - and a little luck - we managed to find enough silverware. Of course it was mismatched [but] no one noticed nor did they know that they almost had to eat with their hands. It sure was an expensive lesson - it cost us about $1,000! While we may still sometimes forget things, we've never forgotten to pack the silverware again."
-Gina
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Don't lose your head!
"I catered my own wedding (I know, I know). I was prepping for the
reception after a family vacation - three days of marinating, prepping,
cooking went perfectly. Day of party, 1-1/2 hours before people were
coming, we couldn't get the bruschetta to taste right, my best friend
said it "tasted like soap." Tried three times, no good.
Finally
it dawned on me that my husband, who had unpacked the RV after our
recent trip, had poured gold dishwashing liquid into the olive oil
bottle - I had been marinating and cooking with soap! All mains were
fine, but the sides and the $100 of gorgeous gulf coast shrimp were
either dressed or marinated in soap!
Thank
God Whole Foods had just opened its doors a mile away, and they saved
the day. To this day, my husband is not allowed in the kitchen when I'm
working, but it was good to know I could keep my head about me when it hit the fan!"
-Barb
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What a bright idea!
"One Saturday, when I was a real caterer, at about 7:45 AM, our area in
Chicago lost all electricity due to a fire in a city electric station.
Very busy day - we had already put in three hours.
No windows -
not enough wall mounted emergency lights to work by. Solution: went to
the hardware store, bought twelve small flashlights and taped them onto
the hats or heads of key workers with duct tape. Where their heads
went, so did the light.
Problem solved."
-Mike Roman |
A flood of bad luck
You never know when the worst business nightmare will hit you! Arlene Coco Buscombe of Coco's Catering learned that the hard way when a flood hit her business in Duluth, MN. All the computer equipment was lost, but Arlene was able to keep her business running thanks to the Total Party Planner web based program. Even though her on-premise location was ruined, her business information was completely accessible online from anywhere at any time! This allowed her to contact clients and keep the business running.
Fortunately, all of her vital company information was stored on Total Party Planner's secure servers, instead of on the computers ruined by the flood. Says Arlene: "The TPP web based program is a lifesaver. This could have been a catastrophe - our business would have been done without it."
Total Party Planner is a proud sponsor of the 2008 Conference & Tradeshow and you can visit them at booth #1306 on the Tradeshow floor. For more information, please contact Sarah Douglas at 866-868-7526 or sarah@totalpartyplanner.com
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And the horror continues...Sometimes there are just too many stories for you to pick just one!
- Eddie Zuckerman of Eddie's Portable Pigout actually created a page on his website so he could share all his hellish details. Check it out for yourself at eddiesportablepigout.com
- To see even more, please visit our post on the catersource FORUM and see what other horrors caterers have shared about life in this unpredictable profession!
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More sharing
As members of our Forum know, some of the most valuable aspects of the growing process are the resources that
YOU bring to the table! Sharing your skills, questions and opinions
with others through networking events at catersource is the best way to learn, achieve
and excel as a caterer.
During our 2008 Conference, you'll have access to these fun and informative networking opportunities:
· The brand new "All-You-Can-Network" Buffet
· Take 5 - Regional Wedding Networking
· Catersource Forum "Live"
· Cocktails & Connections
· Catersource / Event Solutions Golf Tournament
Download the complete Conference brochure form our website for details about these events and more! |
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ACE deadline extended
We've extended the entry deadline for the 2007 catersource ACE Awards to November 30. We realize that the initial applicaton looks a bit daunting, maybe even scary, but please take the time to nominate your company and get the recognition you deserve.
This is a great opportunity to reflect on the path you've traveled and the success you've worked so hard to achieve. Imagine the marketing opportunities that being a winner - or even a finalist - will bring you!
For an official nomination form and entry criteria on our website, click here.
If you have any questions, please contact us at 877.932.3632 or ace@catersource.com
. . .
More catersource winners The
Society of
Independent Show Organizers (SISO), the Jordan Edmiston Group, Inc.,
and Tradeshow Week joined together to create the first annual
Tradeshow Web Site Project. This innovative research examined tradeshow
management's use of web and digital media to create and extend
relationships with their communities beyond traditional event hours.
The quality and depth of the catersource Forum earned us a nomination for Best Online Community.While
we did not walk away with the first place prize at SISO's awards
ceremony, we do want to recognize and thank our dedicated Forum users
who have created this community and earned us the nomination to begin with. Hundreds of caterers from across the country - and beyond -
find the catersource
Forum the best place to come to with questions and for advice, to
generate new ideas, to share victories and to connect with eachother. "I've said it before, I'll say it again: CATERSOURCE ROCKS, and my catersource buddies are such a blessing in my life!
" - Dawn
Get involved!
Go to www.catersource.com and visit our Forum.
See how you can benfit and contribute to it's members' expertise, creativity and willingness
to share.
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If you have a story, idea, question or comment, please email newsletter@catersource.com.
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