I was going to comment something weird about wanting swell cookies that are the "body of Amanda" but I also really don't want to be blocked please she is my favorite RUclipsr
I own a chocolate shop and we do a Chocolate Festival that does samples with tickets as well as letting us sell our products. We get reimbursed for every single sample we give out based on the number of tickets we gather. The fact that those venders weren't getting reimbursed for the tickets is absolutely bananas.
A chocolate festival sounds like heaven, holy shit. Also I’m glad y’all are actually being reimbursed properly for your work as opposed to the poor people at the dessert wars thing :/
Yeah the ticket-sample exchange is a pretty standard way to handle food festivals; as soon as she described the handful of tickets and container I knew what was up. That might be why the organizers didn't feel the need to bother with better explanatory signage/communications? (that's not a _good_ reason to skip it, to be clear) I've been to many food-oriented festivals/events and the ticket system is good _IF_ you're not starved for space (public events, small venues)...depending on the number of tickets/vendors and the exit policy (takeaway vs eat onsite only) having people milling about trying to decide which things to come back and spend a ticket on can really gum up the flow. I remember attending a "Cheese Festival" in Seattle, set up in front of the Pike Place Market (so outside, basically a long row of pop-up tents down a cordoned off street right next to a tourist destination in a major city) that was open to the public for free...and the ONLY way that worked was by establishing a sort of...forced one-way flow that kept the crush moving in one direction. People still tried to pop in and out, or go back to buy from a favorite vendor, which meant every stall that had stuff for sale ended up with eddys and jams in the flow. I remember a) social anxiety up the wazoo because yikes and b) dearly wishing they'd get like...a traffic engineer? Do they have those for pedestrians? in to cordon in lanes and off-ramps and on-ramps to manage the flow better. (As an aside, a milk table would have been redundant but someone could've made a killing with like...a Lactaid stand...or a Pepto-Bismol and Dulcolax booth! 😂) Anyways, if _that_ event had limited the number of samples you could have via tickets it would have been unbearable, but the Dessert Wars venue looked big enough to easily handle cross-flowing traffic. The ticketing system usually comes into place for events where the vendors are getting a portion of the entry fees based on what they gave out (to track reimbursement), attendees can take home samples (to limit those that would just grab handfuls to doggy bag), or to limit the workload and financial risk to vendors to encourage participation-- especially for charity events where the vendors aren't getting reimbursed or can't really sell/market to offset costs, or at things like food truck events where the cost/time to prep per sample/item is high enough that making "a bunch extra just in case" isn't viable (baked goods or chocolates can be done ahead and have a shelf life that means overage could be sold or donated or used for another event...but that's not possible with say, shrimp ceviche, or even a dressed salad). The event coordinators count up their sold passes, multiply by # of tickets, divide by # of vendors, and tell each vendor to bring enough to cover their portion of samples plus a bit of extra. (Or go the other way by setting a # of servings each vendor is required to provide, and then limiting entries and tickets based on that commitment.) Yes, at these events some vendors will run out and if you're later in line you may not get first choice, but it's a lot less risky for the vendors and minimizes food waste. If Dessert Wars were worried about vendors running out early, or not enough vendors showing up, maybe ticketing to limit sampling would make sense...but it sounds like vendors were paying to participate, the samples were all pre-made, and there were enough samples available and a known, limited number of guests so I'm not sure WHY they bothered with the tickets if they weren't reimbursing the vendors. 🤷 Maybe Las Vegas has roving gangs of competitive All-You-Can-Eat Buffet Busters that need to be reined in 😂
How an event is run IS make or break. I have stories from helping set up a model train club layout at shows ranging from easy to a nightmare since no one bothered to check if the hall was unlocked and we lost valuable setup time due to that.
@@pdrg I work for a nonprofit and we do a lot of events. It's very difficult to do a really great event. Feedback like this is really helpful, it tells us the reality that consumers experience. Much better to have negative feedback than none at all.
The issue is almost always logistics and infighting. Lack of communication kills events. I have seen events fail and succeed. When each team (vendors, security, venue, etc) communicate successfully, the majority of the time the event will be fantastic for attendees AND staff. Sounds simple but its easier said then done
I went to one food festival last year and it quickly came apparent that they’re all basically scams that prey on local businesses. The organizers are negligent and only chase the money and don’t even coordinate with the local authorities for logistics. I did end up with a list of local vendors that I was going to visit outside of the event but I’m never going to repeat a food festival ever.
As a disabled person it may seem silly but having enough seating is one of my big things at events. I need to know that I am going to have places I can sit and rest so my leg doesnt give out on me and I don't end up falling.
that's honestly the bare minimum, imagine being so inaccessible you don't even have chairs. also, did they really expect a few hundred/thousand people stuffed with sugar to walk and stand around and ENJOY IT?
Not silly at all - in Jenny Nicholson's Star Wars Land video she talked about how even for able-bodied people, having benches and chairs is critically important because rest and having a place to sit and take everything in is more helpful than it might naturally occur to people, and when you take disability into account sufficient seating becomes a critical necessity
Sometimes there is also a competition to see which vendor gets the most tickets, and it gives the event managers information about what went well or not
I’m pretty horrified that the vendors are making no money off of this. Either the vendors pay a booth fee/ticket and then sell their wares (like most Artist alleys at conventions) or the venue should pay them to provide free things to the customers (attendees). But if the organizer/venue is making money off tickets AND getting free goods from vendors? Who are the only reason to attend? Yikes.
I'm not sure if it was mentioned, or if it's already a thing, but they should give out a checklist with all the vendors on it. It makes it more of a game, people could write their opinions of the dessert on it ( which would make them feel important), the vendors would get more traction, and it'd be a cute memento to take home! These things are so easy, how do they mess them up?
I go to a small local wine festival every year and that's what they do, but this is so corporate and grubby that i think they simply don't care. Our event is organized by one single sixty year old dude and he clearly puts in more effort towards making it a good and memorable experience for both a attendees and vendors
@@grey6703 It would’ve been nice if guests were given a little drawstring bag with the vendor check list, business cards, a themed lanyard and maybe a map of all the booths! I think it would give the event a more professional feel while also merchandising the festival.
I work for a nonprofit and am planning an annual wine festival fundraiser for 1,000 people - seeing this similar event set up is genuinely helpful and calms my mind, because I actually care and it can't be worse than this 🙃
Even just reading comments, a lot of people that have simple ideas that sound like they’d help a lot, may be a good place for you to find some inspiration! Best of luck to you!
I think a complimentary bag with multiple or a large container would be the best way. Then you can fill the containers, still have a free hand, and possibly take everything home with you
5 months later i just wanna say idk why, but I keep coming back to this video and watching it. It's a comfort video for me. Poorly organized dessert cons is apparently what my brain desires when I'm stressed out. This event looks like when I used to make giant single room houses in The Sims and then only put furniture around the edges cuz I was 12 years old and didn't know how to decorate a large space but I knew big houses were good for some reason. All that empty space definitely should have been filled with a bunch of tables to encourage people to get some samples, sit down and eat, go get more samples, repeat.
btw if you put the image in a powerpoint and put it into presentation mode, you won't have to constantly wiggle the mouse to keep the image up on the screen :)
I grew up going to bakery conventions because my dad owns a bakery. they were more industry orientated but it was very similar to this... a bunch of random things to try. they were always fun and it was unlimited free samples. a lot of people would take a lot of stuff home. that being said after the convention was over anything that was still in original packaging would be donated to the local food bank. those were always run really well. lots of seating and goodie bag to carry stuff in
Industry conventions are much different than these events. They are business first, fun last, which ends up making them more fun because they are run so smoothly. The businesses there are bringing in their best sales people and most informed employees, instead of whoever they can get to show up (often overworked owners).
as a vendor at festival/fair events I would *love* to know what the vendors at this event thought about it, we have had some almost nightmarish experiences at events and with event *organizers* I bet the vendors would have the ***TEA***
This event sounds like an accessibility nightmare. Imagine carrying that container while using a cane, walker or wheelchair? Not enough tables or seating?
I went to one of these events a year or two ago in Utah! It was named Sugar High. Our expo hall was a lot smaller, so it definitely felt more packed. VIP people got more tickets than general admission, which further justified the price. I totally agree with the critique that there were not enough seats!! One thing I liked was all vendors also sold full-size treats as well, so they could be making some money instead of just promotion. Sugar High also gave us a bag, and which was helpful. Overall, to me it seems like Dessert Wars has a lot of wrinkles to iron out and hasn’t really thought things through as much as they should.
As someone who lives in Vegas (and has for the worse part of 26 years) something I have noticed is that a lot of these food festivals here are not advertised well or managed well. It seems to be one or the other. Like there was a Hawaiian food festival that I went to once and it was held inside the largest park in the city. The police didn't know it was happening until people started crowding the park from what I could tell. I have also been to a few food festivals that don't have security either. Even ones in public places like the Hawaiin food one.
"Celebrate Nutrition" with their gross protein donuts sounds like an Herbalife front. "Nutrition" in the name and sweets made with protein powder (along with supposedly healthy shakes that are all named after indulgent desserts) are key identifiers.
Thanks so much for this comment. It was really difficult trying to see it. And for anyone who wants it, it's specifically 10:39 or at least that's the exact time I paused it. It's easier if you start at 10:38 and just pause and unpause it repeatedly until you get to the screen.
went to a dessert fest last month for a fundraiser. Maybe because it was for a charity the thing with popin'. It was in a ballroom of a hotel but still, it was packed and well organized. The volunteers made sure you understood the tickets and voting processes. They even had a special section just for kids, so it was definitely geared more toward a family day but I saw people of all ages.
HOW DO YOU FUCK UP A DESSERT EVENT? Also, I feel like they should've given the table who got the most tickets, like, a Miss Congeniality award. lol Shout out to unsweetened almond milk
Kind of unrelated but also related - thank you for the milk tangent. You soothed a weird hang-up I have about it. The last time I asked for a glass of unsweetened almond milk, the dude hilariously joked that "only eating disorder patients ask for unsweetened almond milk" and now I'm self conscious to ask for it in public.
@@hl6994 Thank you, you're so kind ❤ It was at an event and I think he confused me with someone else, because it sounded like some sort of joke that I was supposed to be 'in' on. Except he was a complete stranger to me and I was just left self-conscious and mildly paranoid. Looking back on it now, I don't think he was saying that to every random stranger. Or at least I hope he wasn't. Nevertheless, glad to hear that others are out there ordering unsweetened almond milk every now and then. ❤ I legitimately feel a bit less weird about it having heard this.
Jeez that's stupid, I eat it cause I don't like the taste of milk and almond milk is the only alternative I sorta like but only the non-vanilla unsweetened one. I don't really like milk in any manner and the only reason I get it is for cereal which I barely eat that too.
I feel like this contrasts with my experiences at the big chocolate and coffee festival they have in town every year. Very well organized and regulated. My store had to drop out this year due to logistical issues, but they have lots of things to try like sweets, coffee, and a surprisingly robust local alcohol showcase. Overall highly recommend.
The container issue seems so easy to fix- as the attendee enters the hall, give them tickets, their token, one small container, and a (empty) Dessert Wars branded party gift bag. Then have a couple small tables around the hall with extra containers on them. The attendees fill up the first container, put it in the party gift bag, then grab another container from one of the tables for their next round. Since the tickets limit the number of items an attendee can get, you really don't have to worry about someone needing 10 or 20 of the containers.
My problem with this is that containers are meant to be used to take food home but they weren't allowed that, and your idea would've meant even more plastic waste. I'm just confused why they didn't offer paper plates and bowls if they have to eat it there. But yeah that would have been an easy fix.
@@FS-qk5uq Maybe I missed that part but- were they really not allowed to take it home or were they just encouraged not to, to make sure people ate & voted? I don't see why they'd be forbidden from taking stuff home since it's not like an all-you-can-eat thing. There's a finite amount of food attendees can get with their tickets and as someone going to event, I'd be angry if I couldn't eat everything my tickets got me but I wasn't allow to take it home.
My friend is a chef and took me to the food vendors event in Orlando. This place was packed with everything you could think of from lobster and steak to pies and ice cream. All you can eat And it was free! I was expecting the dessert wars to be kinda like that but damn, that was sad and embarrassing honestly
Oh yeah health inspectors in Vegas area are super busy on weekends. I used to work for Henderson, any time we had vendors or food trucks, the health inspector had to walk through all the set ups and approve them before they are allowed to serve. World Market Center is an odd venue, been there twice and both were in outdoor large tents.
as someone that’s lived in vegas my whole life and has some curiosity about, but not enough to actually go to, these expos/conventions, i appreciate you so much lol
I went to the Miami a couple years ago. It wasn’t a bad event but it definitely felt small for the “largest dessert festival”. All the things were good and you could try things multiple times.
for the containers, they should have had large reusable tupperware-type containers, with dessert wars labelling. like the food version of the con tote bags. would have been good for carrying, marketing, and cutting out all of that one use plastic waste.
Just wanted to say that these videos have inspired me to go to more events! I’m constantly checking local community pages now for random fun little events and festivals! If nothing else, I’ll always have a story to tell if something goes haywire 😂
HI, William! Always fun to read your notes (and union grievances) I actually enjoy the "Ok? OK!" It's as if Amanda is making sure we are paying attention and following along :D Story about creepy guy? Tell us!
Would anyone else be UwU for a supercut compilation of every time Swell makes a "that's alarming" joke when there's some kind of alarm in the background? 🥺
I never knew Fringe and lesser known event commentary was something I needed in my life. Of course anything Amanda says is what I need in my life so...
They should really just give you a tote bag with some Togo's but also a ticket book so it's easier to tear than fumbling with those weird ticket strings
I think this is part of the same Pumpkin Wars, Halloween Wars, Christmas Wars etc franchise. I think I’ve seen it before, but not sure. Baking and other food competitions take forever to shoot I believe which is why they probably scheduled another day.
I enjoy watching your event review videos because I assist in planning a national event, and I find it sooo helpful to hear those small QoL improvements and communications gaps that occur so that I can make sure I don't miss out on seeing if those same gaps occur in my own event.
My husband and I helped out my sister and BIL at this event in Tampa this past weekend. It didn't seem very organized, and it's a shame that the vendors don't get a chance to meet the other vendors or sample their products. Also, we were originally told to enter one area for vendor drop-off/parking, but then were told to go somewhere else to park. They did have someone dressed up as an ice cream cone, and people were playing cornhole. Also, the container they gave people was a flimsy styrofoam container. People were having such a hard time carrying all of their samples.
I've gone to beer fests before, and the way the ticket system works is that people have to BUY them. I think with admission you get a couple tickets to start you off, and if you want to sample more, you can purchase more. Then the vendors collect them, and earn money back. This way makes sense, because the organizers have a pool of money from the sale of tickets, that they then give back to the venders. It's like going to a beer garden at a festival. The "drink tickets" are so that no time is being wasted with payments at the vender booths, and line ups move faster. How Food Wars should have done it, is similar to this. Maybe with VIP you get more tickets, and a tote bag with some merch. The fact that you had so many tickets you didn't know what to do with them was dumb. AND the fact that they had no value to the venders, nothing is stopping them from just giving sample to whomever asked. It seemed like their only purpose was to make sure people aren't being greedy, and that there is enough for everyone.
I've been to this type of event, but it was at a joint university meal hall and ballroom. So you picked up your plastic lunch tray, hit all the booths, stacked up your desserts, and then sat down at the open seating meal hall.
You said "Attendees" and I had this video in the background of my work and i looked down in shame and out loud said "... attendees nuts.." I couldnt stop it, it was like i got swept away into it, my body got possessed.
they should have had small (not fully size) shopping carts for the food! helps for mobility in the space (especially since it was so empty) AND you can hold your bag and your food in it!
I’ve been to a couple of food conventions before and they always had show kitchens set up where they demonstrated how to make some of the things offered by the vendors. I think that’s always interesting and it would fill some space
By your b roll it looked like they booked a venue that what to big for their needs cause there was to much open space that says they planned on a big vendor turnout then actually showed up
I enjoyed William’s list of frequent edits- had to slow it down to half speed to pause in time and read it 😆 I don’t know why, but “announces being bi” had me belly laughing for a good 30 seconds uninterrupted.
As someone from Vegas, having no signage outside of the convention centers is the norm and is extremely annoying. I went to 3 different conventions last year and none of them had clear signage and it was very hard to navigate once you got inside.
It’s also kinda weird that the expo center doesn’t have any kind of included signage. The one near me always has light up road signs by all the entrances and even on the nearby highway. They say directions to the expo center and when you get close the events and their hall locations. I am assuming the events have no part in this. Edit, the expo center near me is the greater Philadelphia expo center where the next dessert wars is being held! Think I’m gonna get tickets now! Edit again, it’s already sold out 💀
I plan to go when they stop by DC, so thanks for the video because i just found that there was only one ticket left LOL. I am a sugar fiend/hobby baker and I love tasting things so I think the admission would be worth it for me. I was planning on dragging my friends with me but you snooze you lose. I think ticket system is just to for tracking the headcount and estimate how many samples you should prepare for, which is the norm when dealing with food festivals or even caterer.
I wonder if the event people assumed people would take one thing and then eat it and then go to the next. I went to a Mac and Cheese festival like this, and that's what people did. That festival was really well organized though.
I would not be interested in a dessert convention normally. You made this very interesting. as always, I appreciate your analysis of the “event” and planning and logistics side of the event itself and your informed critique.
I loveeee the event coverage! Especially the just random fun ones. I'm very much the type of person that would go to a Dessert Fest on a whim. Awesome coverage :D
idk if it's just a latino thing but I'm surprised nobody seized the opportunity to also provide a coffee table at the event- I have a low sweets tolerance so when i get a pastry or cake i usually have it with black coffee to cut down some of the sweetness.
But the margins, especially in the speciality/desert restraunt industry are razor thin. 10k for promotion, especially when you'd normally be selling those cookies for like 3 bucks a pop, is a big big spend.
I very much enjoy these videos who have notes for events. As i always do. And if I don't I'm amazed and send nice emails to the event planners. So thank you for letting me know im no the only one!
Thank you William for slowing down your edit inserts so that those of us invested - can read them without having to slow down and strategically pause the video :D
It kinda sounds like the vendors got scammed, they gave out free samples and didn't get paid for it but the event planners got to keep all the entry fees and didn't advertise the event as if they were trying to keep it quiet? idk seems shady
I’m not surprised there were so few vendors. Word gets around fast between business and if it was this poorly organized from your end it’s probably even worse on the vendor’s end and not worth attending.
I feel like most events now at least have a photo op booth ? They’re literally everywhere because they can be inexpensive to make. I feel like that takes care of promo and entertainment even if it’s minimal …
Im a pastry chef snd I was considering entering Dessert Wars when it arrived in my state. I looked everywhere on thier website and there's no basic information for vendors or how to contact the event to become a vendor. Also, there is no info on the fact you don't get reimbursed for the event! Which is just wild because it is super expensive to produce the samples, take employees away from the location and yea you get attention to your business but for people like me, i do everything by myself because im still a small start up. Its not financially viable for me to go to this event. Thank you for the video! It saved me a lot of time and money Edit: Also! I know some people from Yonutz! My husband is obsessed with thier cronuts and has them for his birthday every year. Im not a donut person but they're good, their ice cream is okay. Im a bit biased because I make ice cream myself tho. They've won Dessert Wars 2019 and 2020, they have the Trophy in the location near me. Its a part of their marketing. They were also on Shark Tank and are partnered with Kevin Harrington I think the item that help they win the first time was thier donut ice cream sandwich (its like an uncrustible but with ice cream)
That sounds terrible. The only food event I’ve been to was a ramen festival and it was great, you could buy tickets and then exchange them for small bowls of ramen at different restaurant’s stalls. Everything was delicious.
girl is in the trenches of terrible events for our viewing pleasure she is suffering for our sins i’m praying for swell this easter
I was going to comment something weird about wanting swell cookies that are the "body of Amanda" but I also really don't want to be blocked please she is my favorite RUclipsr
I for one cant wait for Amanda to fake her own death, be buried and come back from the dead after 3 days 🙏🏼
taylor being the only exception is so real but other than that she’s suffering
Hail swell
Praise
I own a chocolate shop and we do a Chocolate Festival that does samples with tickets as well as letting us sell our products. We get reimbursed for every single sample we give out based on the number of tickets we gather. The fact that those venders weren't getting reimbursed for the tickets is absolutely bananas.
A chocolate festival sounds like heaven, holy shit. Also I’m glad y’all are actually being reimbursed properly for your work as opposed to the poor people at the dessert wars thing :/
This reminded me of going to Burlington Chocolate Fest growing up. It was so fun
Yeah the ticket-sample exchange is a pretty standard way to handle food festivals; as soon as she described the handful of tickets and container I knew what was up. That might be why the organizers didn't feel the need to bother with better explanatory signage/communications? (that's not a _good_ reason to skip it, to be clear)
I've been to many food-oriented festivals/events and the ticket system is good _IF_ you're not starved for space (public events, small venues)...depending on the number of tickets/vendors and the exit policy (takeaway vs eat onsite only) having people milling about trying to decide which things to come back and spend a ticket on can really gum up the flow. I remember attending a "Cheese Festival" in Seattle, set up in front of the Pike Place Market (so outside, basically a long row of pop-up tents down a cordoned off street right next to a tourist destination in a major city) that was open to the public for free...and the ONLY way that worked was by establishing a sort of...forced one-way flow that kept the crush moving in one direction. People still tried to pop in and out, or go back to buy from a favorite vendor, which meant every stall that had stuff for sale ended up with eddys and jams in the flow. I remember a) social anxiety up the wazoo because yikes and b) dearly wishing they'd get like...a traffic engineer? Do they have those for pedestrians? in to cordon in lanes and off-ramps and on-ramps to manage the flow better. (As an aside, a milk table would have been redundant but someone could've made a killing with like...a Lactaid stand...or a Pepto-Bismol and Dulcolax booth! 😂)
Anyways, if _that_ event had limited the number of samples you could have via tickets it would have been unbearable, but the Dessert Wars venue looked big enough to easily handle cross-flowing traffic. The ticketing system usually comes into place for events where the vendors are getting a portion of the entry fees based on what they gave out (to track reimbursement), attendees can take home samples (to limit those that would just grab handfuls to doggy bag), or to limit the workload and financial risk to vendors to encourage participation-- especially for charity events where the vendors aren't getting reimbursed or can't really sell/market to offset costs, or at things like food truck events where the cost/time to prep per sample/item is high enough that making "a bunch extra just in case" isn't viable (baked goods or chocolates can be done ahead and have a shelf life that means overage could be sold or donated or used for another event...but that's not possible with say, shrimp ceviche, or even a dressed salad). The event coordinators count up their sold passes, multiply by # of tickets, divide by # of vendors, and tell each vendor to bring enough to cover their portion of samples plus a bit of extra. (Or go the other way by setting a # of servings each vendor is required to provide, and then limiting entries and tickets based on that commitment.) Yes, at these events some vendors will run out and if you're later in line you may not get first choice, but it's a lot less risky for the vendors and minimizes food waste.
If Dessert Wars were worried about vendors running out early, or not enough vendors showing up, maybe ticketing to limit sampling would make sense...but it sounds like vendors were paying to participate, the samples were all pre-made, and there were enough samples available and a known, limited number of guests so I'm not sure WHY they bothered with the tickets if they weren't reimbursing the vendors. 🤷 Maybe Las Vegas has roving gangs of competitive All-You-Can-Eat Buffet Busters that need to be reined in 😂
I love you Swell!!!
@@bsidethebox This was an AMAZING comment, thanks for all the deets
I’m convinced that no one actually knows what they’re doing when they plan an event. They just cross their fingers and hope nobody dies I guess 💀
Tbh it’s starting to feel like pretty much anyone can rent out an event space 😅
Considering how much work we put into our festivals and events, it's always distressing to hear of these kinds of things.
How an event is run IS make or break. I have stories from helping set up a model train club layout at shows ranging from easy to a nightmare since no one bothered to check if the hall was unlocked and we lost valuable setup time due to that.
@@pdrg I work for a nonprofit and we do a lot of events. It's very difficult to do a really great event. Feedback like this is really helpful, it tells us the reality that consumers experience. Much better to have negative feedback than none at all.
The issue is almost always logistics and infighting. Lack of communication kills events. I have seen events fail and succeed. When each team (vendors, security, venue, etc) communicate successfully, the majority of the time the event will be fantastic for attendees AND staff. Sounds simple but its easier said then done
DROPPING YOU OFF WAS SO CONFUSING!!! We circled the expo hall like 3 times trying to figure out where we were going lmao 😂
Thanks for being a good friend and not immediately dropping her off somewhere so sketchy
I didn’t realize you two are friends! Amanda should collaborate with you and Graham
haha the moment she said Macy I was hoping it was you!
If you’re a friend of Swell’s then your a friend of mine
I think that's happened to my family on a couple of trips....
The tickets get you a free small sample but then the vendors should have also been allowed to sell full size products in order to cover their costs.
I went to one food festival last year and it quickly came apparent that they’re all basically scams that prey on local businesses. The organizers are negligent and only chase the money and don’t even coordinate with the local authorities for logistics. I did end up with a list of local vendors that I was going to visit outside of the event but I’m never going to repeat a food festival ever.
The only one I want to go to and seems like it’s very successful is the Pittsburgh pickle fest 😂
If it's a very local event, run by a local org like the chamber of commerce, I've found them to be very good and well planned out.
@@kingworm7168 that’s because Picklesburgh is not a good festival, it’s a religious experience
@Abby Shoenfelt well, sounds like I have to go to Pittsburgh now.
@@kingworm7168 As someone from Pittsburgh, I can attest Picklesburgh is the ... dill *tips hat and exists*
As a disabled person it may seem silly but having enough seating is one of my big things at events. I need to know that I am going to have places I can sit and rest so my leg doesnt give out on me and I don't end up falling.
No that isn’t silly at all, having seating is necessary. No one can stand for hours on end without rest.
Yes! I have chronic pain in my joints (especially my hips) and this would’ve been a major bummer.
that's honestly the bare minimum, imagine being so inaccessible you don't even have chairs. also, did they really expect a few hundred/thousand people stuffed with sugar to walk and stand around and ENJOY IT?
Not silly at all - in Jenny Nicholson's Star Wars Land video she talked about how even for able-bodied people, having benches and chairs is critically important because rest and having a place to sit and take everything in is more helpful than it might naturally occur to people, and when you take disability into account sufficient seating becomes a critical necessity
I am disabled, too (cerebral palsy), so my body fatigues easily. I always need to know there is adequate seating for any event I go to.
Honestly? This is where a big hole punch or stamp card would work waaaaaay better than single tickets
I went to a beer festival and it worked fine. They had little wood tokens as the tickets with the festival logo on it so I kept one.
Sometimes there is also a competition to see which vendor gets the most tickets, and it gives the event managers information about what went well or not
Digitize it. Make a tracker app, the vendors scan a code on your phone and the info goes to the event planners.
that shot of the empty main room at 7:59 ? real dashcon energy omg
Dang now I’m upset Dashcon happened too early for Amanda to make a video about it
@@Jenninka there’s so many other events that she’s gone to that are dashcon level it’s hard to pick 😂
@@saucytruffle4738 but she’ll never get an extra hour in the ball pit
@@Jenninka true 😔
@@Jenninka please, I don’t want an extra hour in the dashcon ball pit :(
I’m pretty horrified that the vendors are making no money off of this. Either the vendors pay a booth fee/ticket and then sell their wares (like most Artist alleys at conventions) or the venue should pay them to provide free things to the customers (attendees).
But if the organizer/venue is making money off tickets AND getting free goods from vendors? Who are the only reason to attend? Yikes.
This lady is the embodiment of the ' I will be there no matter what' meme😮
I'm not sure if it was mentioned, or if it's already a thing, but they should give out a checklist with all the vendors on it. It makes it more of a game, people could write their opinions of the dessert on it ( which would make them feel important), the vendors would get more traction, and it'd be a cute memento to take home! These things are so easy, how do they mess them up?
Simple, they just don't care. They made bank off the work of everyone else in the venue and gave almost nothing back for it.
For real!
I go to a small local wine festival every year and that's what they do, but this is so corporate and grubby that i think they simply don't care. Our event is organized by one single sixty year old dude and he clearly puts in more effort towards making it a good and memorable experience for both a attendees and vendors
that’s just another thing to hold and juggle though
@@grey6703 It would’ve been nice if guests were given a little drawstring bag with the vendor check list, business cards, a themed lanyard and maybe a map of all the booths!
I think it would give the event a more professional feel while also merchandising the festival.
I work for a nonprofit and am planning an annual wine festival fundraiser for 1,000 people - seeing this similar event set up is genuinely helpful and calms my mind, because I actually care and it can't be worse than this 🙃
Even just reading comments, a lot of people that have simple ideas that sound like they’d help a lot, may be a good place for you to find some inspiration! Best of luck to you!
I feel like Eventbrite should be offering you a sponsorship by now.
I think a complimentary bag with multiple or a large container would be the best way. Then you can fill the containers, still have a free hand, and possibly take everything home with you
The "nutrition" place with the protein donut was probably some sort of Herbalife thing. All of their "shops" are called "nutrition clubs"
I accidentally went to an herbalife boba/drink shop. It was honestly fine? My anti MLM cred is in danger lol
Sometimes they're just disguised as regular smoothie shops. There was one in the town where I used to live
they spelled protein wrong on the sign lol
@@morganw2492 there was one near my workplace, my coworkers went there once and they said two smoothies cost over $20 😭
@@Kyiecutie yikes
5 months later i just wanna say idk why, but I keep coming back to this video and watching it. It's a comfort video for me. Poorly organized dessert cons is apparently what my brain desires when I'm stressed out. This event looks like when I used to make giant single room houses in The Sims and then only put furniture around the edges cuz I was 12 years old and didn't know how to decorate a large space but I knew big houses were good for some reason. All that empty space definitely should have been filled with a bunch of tables to encourage people to get some samples, sit down and eat, go get more samples, repeat.
Amanda, you should do consulting for events. You definitely have the experience and insight to help them improve.
This is a very good idea
Dessert Wars Las Vegas stumbled so that Willy's Chocolate Experience could faceplant.
😭😭🤚
btw if you put the image in a powerpoint and put it into presentation mode, you won't have to constantly wiggle the mouse to keep the image up on the screen :)
I grew up going to bakery conventions because my dad owns a bakery. they were more industry orientated but it was very similar to this... a bunch of random things to try. they were always fun and it was unlimited free samples. a lot of people would take a lot of stuff home. that being said after the convention was over anything that was still in original packaging would be donated to the local food bank. those were always run really well. lots of seating and goodie bag to carry stuff in
I would love to go to events like these!
Industry conventions are much different than these events. They are business first, fun last, which ends up making them more fun because they are run so smoothly. The businesses there are bringing in their best sales people and most informed employees, instead of whoever they can get to show up (often overworked owners).
@@alisaishereThat's really insightful!
in the best way, your editor has been popping OFF lately and im living for it. that quick pause to read the other cuts was so camp
i second this, amazing!
Good gracious it was a nightmare to catch it on a pause tho on my tv. 😂 so totally worth the effort. Especially the blackmail folder. 😅
William and Hermes are critically important characters in the Swell Cinematic Universe
'announces being bi' had me cackling
Yes, I absolutely LOVE the editors comments
The vast emptiness of the actual hall makes me think it's giving ✨Dashcon✨
as a vendor at festival/fair events I would *love* to know what the vendors at this event thought about it, we have had some almost nightmarish experiences at events and with event *organizers* I bet the vendors would have the ***TEA***
This event sounds like an accessibility nightmare. Imagine carrying that container while using a cane, walker or wheelchair? Not enough tables or seating?
I went to one of these events a year or two ago in Utah! It was named Sugar High. Our expo hall was a lot smaller, so it definitely felt more packed. VIP people got more tickets than general admission, which further justified the price. I totally agree with the critique that there were not enough seats!! One thing I liked was all vendors also sold full-size treats as well, so they could be making some money instead of just promotion. Sugar High also gave us a bag, and which was helpful. Overall, to me it seems like Dessert Wars has a lot of wrinkles to iron out and hasn’t really thought things through as much as they should.
As someone who lives in Vegas (and has for the worse part of 26 years) something I have noticed is that a lot of these food festivals here are not advertised well or managed well. It seems to be one or the other. Like there was a Hawaiian food festival that I went to once and it was held inside the largest park in the city. The police didn't know it was happening until people started crowding the park from what I could tell. I have also been to a few food festivals that don't have security either. Even ones in public places like the Hawaiin food one.
"Celebrate Nutrition" with their gross protein donuts sounds like an Herbalife front. "Nutrition" in the name and sweets made with protein powder (along with supposedly healthy shakes that are all named after indulgent desserts) are key identifiers.
I would be pissed that no one was serving coffee/tea at this event! That seems like a no-brainer lol
That split second of "union grievances" at 10:38 is hilarious actually
I love Amanda and her videos, but William's tiny little edits like this are what I live for.
I wish William the best of ventures with his blackmail folder
Thanks so much for this comment. It was really difficult trying to see it. And for anyone who wants it, it's specifically 10:39 or at least that's the exact time I paused it. It's easier if you start at 10:38 and just pause and unpause it repeatedly until you get to the screen.
went to a dessert fest last month for a fundraiser. Maybe because it was for a charity the thing with popin'. It was in a ballroom of a hotel but still, it was packed and well organized. The volunteers made sure you understood the tickets and voting processes. They even had a special section just for kids, so it was definitely geared more toward a family day but I saw people of all ages.
Sounds like a local fund raiser we have here in Pittsburgh...lots of fun and very popular event!
_"The health inspector... we we're having some issues with..."_
Never a good thing to hear when you're about to attend a food festival.
HOW DO YOU FUCK UP A DESSERT EVENT? Also, I feel like they should've given the table who got the most tickets, like, a Miss Congeniality award. lol Shout out to unsweetened almond milk
Kind of unrelated but also related - thank you for the milk tangent. You soothed a weird hang-up I have about it. The last time I asked for a glass of unsweetened almond milk, the dude hilariously joked that "only eating disorder patients ask for unsweetened almond milk" and now I'm self conscious to ask for it in public.
Perhaps I should have clarified: I've struggled with EDs my whole life. But that's also 100% NOT why I prefer almond milk, Jesus.
I'm sorry he said WHAT?? what the actual fuck is wrong with him?? I am so sorry you went through that because its unacceptable.
@@hl6994 Thank you, you're so kind ❤
It was at an event and I think he confused me with someone else, because it sounded like some sort of joke that I was supposed to be 'in' on. Except he was a complete stranger to me and I was just left self-conscious and mildly paranoid. Looking back on it now, I don't think he was saying that to every random stranger. Or at least I hope he wasn't.
Nevertheless, glad to hear that others are out there ordering unsweetened almond milk every now and then. ❤ I legitimately feel a bit less weird about it having heard this.
Jeez that's stupid, I eat it cause I don't like the taste of milk and almond milk is the only alternative I sorta like but only the non-vanilla unsweetened one. I don't really like milk in any manner and the only reason I get it is for cereal which I barely eat that too.
Almond milk is delicious, what the hell was wrong with that guy?
I feel like this contrasts with my experiences at the big chocolate and coffee festival they have in town every year. Very well organized and regulated. My store had to drop out this year due to logistical issues, but they have lots of things to try like sweets, coffee, and a surprisingly robust local alcohol showcase. Overall highly recommend.
Here in Vegas?
The container issue seems so easy to fix- as the attendee enters the hall, give them tickets, their token, one small container, and a (empty) Dessert Wars branded party gift bag. Then have a couple small tables around the hall with extra containers on them. The attendees fill up the first container, put it in the party gift bag, then grab another container from one of the tables for their next round. Since the tickets limit the number of items an attendee can get, you really don't have to worry about someone needing 10 or 20 of the containers.
My problem with this is that containers are meant to be used to take food home but they weren't allowed that, and your idea would've meant even more plastic waste. I'm just confused why they didn't offer paper plates and bowls if they have to eat it there. But yeah that would have been an easy fix.
@@FS-qk5uq Maybe I missed that part but- were they really not allowed to take it home or were they just encouraged not to, to make sure people ate & voted? I don't see why they'd be forbidden from taking stuff home since it's not like an all-you-can-eat thing. There's a finite amount of food attendees can get with their tickets and as someone going to event, I'd be angry if I couldn't eat everything my tickets got me but I wasn't allow to take it home.
I definitely have become a shut-in over the last couple years. This was a much needed reminder that it’s okay to just like… go places sometimes!
My friend is a chef and took me to the food vendors event in Orlando. This place was packed with everything you could think of from lobster and steak to pies and ice cream. All you can eat And it was free! I was expecting the dessert wars to be kinda like that but damn, that was sad and embarrassing honestly
I like when editors are sassy
Oh yeah health inspectors in Vegas area are super busy on weekends. I used to work for Henderson, any time we had vendors or food trucks, the health inspector had to walk through all the set ups and approve them before they are allowed to serve.
World Market Center is an odd venue, been there twice and both were in outdoor large tents.
I’m enjoying the random smaller events you’re covering!! It’s a fun lil surprise, a treat if you will.
82 videos in a year is a shit ton you go girl
babe wake up new swell video about something i have no idea about just dropped
as someone that’s lived in vegas my whole life and has some curiosity about, but not enough to actually go to, these expos/conventions, i appreciate you so much lol
I went to the Miami a couple years ago. It wasn’t a bad event but it definitely felt small for the “largest dessert festival”. All the things were good and you could try things multiple times.
for the containers, they should have had large reusable tupperware-type containers, with dessert wars labelling. like the food version of the con tote bags. would have been good for carrying, marketing, and cutting out all of that one use plastic waste.
I genuinely enjoy this new "I found it on Eventbrite" series! I'd never go to any of these events, but it's fun to hear about!
Just wanted to say that these videos have inspired me to go to more events! I’m constantly checking local community pages now for random fun little events and festivals! If nothing else, I’ll always have a story to tell if something goes haywire 😂
HI, William! Always fun to read your notes (and union grievances)
I actually enjoy the "Ok? OK!" It's as if Amanda is making sure we are paying attention and following along :D
Story about creepy guy? Tell us!
Would anyone else be UwU for a supercut compilation of every time Swell makes a "that's alarming" joke when there's some kind of alarm in the background? 🥺
UwU
glad to see swell simps have a union. do you guys get dental?
We need to bring back shaming
The Onlyfans Essay Stans Union stands in support of any and all supercuts, especially if there are feet. Will there be feet?
OwO
I never knew Fringe and lesser known event commentary was something I needed in my life. Of course anything Amanda says is what I need in my life so...
the lack of signs or event decor in the beginning reminds me of that Shrek scene when he goes "It's quiet....too quiet."
99% sure that protein donut was a stealthy herbalife product which tbh could be a whole video topic on its own !!
dry lemon soft drinks are really good actually, so please give them a try!
They should really just give you a tote bag with some Togo's but also a ticket book so it's easier to tear than fumbling with those weird ticket strings
Shoutout to Xander dude, if there's anything I love to hear it is when someone who knows what they are talking about has OPINIONS!!
I think this is part of the same Pumpkin Wars, Halloween Wars, Christmas Wars etc franchise. I think I’ve seen it before, but not sure. Baking and other food competitions take forever to shoot I believe which is why they probably scheduled another day.
Yeah, it sounds like one of those reality shows or something.
I enjoy watching your event review videos because I assist in planning a national event, and I find it sooo helpful to hear those small QoL improvements and communications gaps that occur so that I can make sure I don't miss out on seeing if those same gaps occur in my own event.
My husband and I helped out my sister and BIL at this event in Tampa this past weekend. It didn't seem very organized, and it's a shame that the vendors don't get a chance to meet the other vendors or sample their products. Also, we were originally told to enter one area for vendor drop-off/parking, but then were told to go somewhere else to park.
They did have someone dressed up as an ice cream cone, and people were playing cornhole.
Also, the container they gave people was a flimsy styrofoam container. People were having such a hard time carrying all of their samples.
I've gone to beer fests before, and the way the ticket system works is that people have to BUY them. I think with admission you get a couple tickets to start you off, and if you want to sample more, you can purchase more. Then the vendors collect them, and earn money back.
This way makes sense, because the organizers have a pool of money from the sale of tickets, that they then give back to the venders.
It's like going to a beer garden at a festival. The "drink tickets" are so that no time is being wasted with payments at the vender booths, and line ups move faster.
How Food Wars should have done it, is similar to this. Maybe with VIP you get more tickets, and a tote bag with some merch. The fact that you had so many tickets you didn't know what to do with them was dumb. AND the fact that they had no value to the venders, nothing is stopping them from just giving sample to whomever asked. It seemed like their only purpose was to make sure people aren't being greedy, and that there is enough for everyone.
They had it in Las Vegas but didn't call it "Dessert in the Desert"? Missed opportunity.
I've been to this type of event, but it was at a joint university meal hall and ballroom. So you picked up your plastic lunch tray, hit all the booths, stacked up your desserts, and then sat down at the open seating meal hall.
You said "Attendees" and I had this video in the background of my work and i looked down in shame and out loud said "... attendees nuts.." I couldnt stop it, it was like i got swept away into it, my body got possessed.
I hear Dessert Wars and I'm thinking of a bake off and then people can do a food fight.
they should have had small (not fully size) shopping carts for the food! helps for mobility in the space (especially since it was so empty) AND you can hold your bag and your food in it!
I’ve been to a couple of food conventions before and they always had show kitchens set up where they demonstrated how to make some of the things offered by the vendors. I think that’s always interesting and it would fill some space
By your b roll it looked like they booked a venue that what to big for their needs cause there was to much open space that says they planned on a big vendor turnout then actually showed up
I should not have laughed that hard at the “my parent is an alcoholic” comment/joke omigosh, I screamed because saaaaammmeeee 😂😂😂💀💀
I enjoyed William’s list of frequent edits- had to slow it down to half speed to pause in time and read it 😆 I don’t know why, but “announces being bi” had me belly laughing for a good 30 seconds uninterrupted.
Me mistaking 10 mins for 10 months ago because I'm not usually so fast to see a new video.
As someone from Vegas, having no signage outside of the convention centers is the norm and is extremely annoying. I went to 3 different conventions last year and none of them had clear signage and it was very hard to navigate once you got inside.
It’s also kinda weird that the expo center doesn’t have any kind of included signage. The one near me always has light up road signs by all the entrances and even on the nearby highway. They say directions to the expo center and when you get close the events and their hall locations. I am assuming the events have no part in this.
Edit, the expo center near me is the greater Philadelphia expo center where the next dessert wars is being held! Think I’m gonna get tickets now!
Edit again, it’s already sold out 💀
I plan to go when they stop by DC, so thanks for the video because i just found that there was only one ticket left LOL. I am a sugar fiend/hobby baker and I love tasting things so I think the admission would be worth it for me. I was planning on dragging my friends with me but you snooze you lose. I think ticket system is just to for tracking the headcount and estimate how many samples you should prepare for, which is the norm when dealing with food festivals or even caterer.
honestly giving people a small shopping cart or basket would have been cool lol
10:38 oh william 😂idk what i'm more intrigued by the stories about creepy guys or just how big the "blackmail folder" could be LOL
strawberry shortcake is a very trendy flavor right now! mcdonald's is getting a new mcflurry with strawberry shortcake
I wonder if the event people assumed people would take one thing and then eat it and then go to the next. I went to a Mac and Cheese festival like this, and that's what people did. That festival was really well organized though.
Again. As an event planner, I am screaming at every detail you show!
I would not be interested in a dessert convention normally. You made this very interesting. as always, I appreciate your analysis of the “event” and planning and logistics side of the event itself and your informed critique.
having issues with the health inspector 45 minutes after the event is supposed to start sure makes me want to eat all the desserts
Swell Entertainment is in the pocket of Big Table and Big Sign!
Waiting to make your website til you get that sweet squarespace sponsorship is just genius level youtuber-ing IMO
Future career for Amanda: Event/festival planning consultant
I loveeee the event coverage! Especially the just random fun ones. I'm very much the type of person that would go to a Dessert Fest on a whim. Awesome coverage :D
idk if it's just a latino thing but I'm surprised nobody seized the opportunity to also provide a coffee table at the event- I have a low sweets tolerance so when i get a pastry or cake i usually have it with black coffee to cut down some of the sweetness.
$10000 isn't a lot in business, the floor mixer I used to use was more then half of that.
But the margins, especially in the speciality/desert restraunt industry are razor thin. 10k for promotion, especially when you'd normally be selling those cookies for like 3 bucks a pop, is a big big spend.
I think the DJ is my favorite part. More of him please.
Despite your description of this event as generally mid, I am extremely tempted to go to the one in my city. I just love fancy desserts
I very much enjoy these videos who have notes for events.
As i always do. And if I don't I'm amazed and send nice emails to the event planners.
So thank you for letting me know im no the only one!
I've been watching this channel for a while and I think it's time to say it:
Thank you, William!)
i love will's little notes
"union grievances" hilarious
Thank you William for slowing down your edit inserts so that those of us invested - can read them without having to slow down and strategically pause the video :D
dear william, i love your edits and comments
It kinda sounds like the vendors got scammed, they gave out free samples and didn't get paid for it but the event planners got to keep all the entry fees and didn't advertise the event as if they were trying to keep it quiet? idk seems shady
I’m not surprised there were so few vendors. Word gets around fast between business and if it was this poorly organized from your end it’s probably even worse on the vendor’s end and not worth attending.
the list of union grievances provided by william is incredibly respectable and agreeable. "announces being bi" LMAOOOOO
I feel like most events now at least have a photo op booth ? They’re literally everywhere because they can be inexpensive to make. I feel like that takes care of promo and entertainment even if it’s minimal …
Looks like they have one at 15:59
Im a pastry chef snd I was considering entering Dessert Wars when it arrived in my state. I looked everywhere on thier website and there's no basic information for vendors or how to contact the event to become a vendor. Also, there is no info on the fact you don't get reimbursed for the event! Which is just wild because it is super expensive to produce the samples, take employees away from the location and yea you get attention to your business but for people like me, i do everything by myself because im still a small start up. Its not financially viable for me to go to this event.
Thank you for the video! It saved me a lot of time and money
Edit: Also! I know some people from Yonutz! My husband is obsessed with thier cronuts and has them for his birthday every year. Im not a donut person but they're good, their ice cream is okay. Im a bit biased because I make ice cream myself tho.
They've won Dessert Wars 2019 and 2020, they have the Trophy in the location near me. Its a part of their marketing. They were also on Shark Tank and are partnered with Kevin Harrington
I think the item that help they win the first time was thier donut ice cream sandwich (its like an uncrustible but with ice cream)
Literally goes out into battle at everyone of these poorly planned events for us just to get us that review. Thankyou for your service.
That sounds terrible. The only food event I’ve been to was a ramen festival and it was great, you could buy tickets and then exchange them for small bowls of ramen at different restaurant’s stalls. Everything was delicious.