I guess the old saying ARE true "Don't rock the boat" and Don't ask Questions?
Any way here goes.
I stumbled back in February this year a web site article from Team Origin, the article explained how the America cup was basically building up, which for me reading created much excitement as to how a local business, employing local people, and contributing 365 days of the year could be part of the monuments event, so I found a link / email address to team Origin, and speculatively enquired if my company could trade at this show, and explained after reading there article which highlighted the use of local business, so felt my company was a good match to this article.
Anyway some month later I received a email out of the blue first from Team origin explaining that my details had been registered, "well I was delighted at the prospects of being part of something this great"
a few weeks after first contact with team origin, I then received a email from a company called A stone Throw event Co, this email only explained that they would send out details in due course!
A couple of weeks pasted and I received a further email from the same lady of A stone throw events Co, but this time it was Victorious Festivals? Same lady working for two companies. This email gave me a link to register my company details etc. on a site called RB Vernon, anyway before I did as requested I just checked at who A stone throw event Co where and what the connection with Victorious Festival, which is quite easy in this day and age, anyway, what I found was Both companies both being registered to an accountants address in fratton road, with the same company director for both companies, possibly not strange although A stone Throw events Co had only been incorporated in November 2014, yet the Press release from Team Origin where express much gratitude for A Stone Throw Event co helping plan the Americas cup and that they came with much experience!! so a Little confused at this stage, yet at least they were local companies supporting the local economy.
Back to RB Vernon, a company based in Bristol, they seem to organise trader at particular events, namely The Isle of Wight festival. I filled the form in and about a fortnight later received and email from a company called Road House Production, Based in Huddersfield? Really confused now, but bear with me.
The email was for a trade offer for the Portsmouth Summer Show with a Vat invoice attached, which we paid and went along to the Portsmouth Summer Show, taking our Paella offer along with us, the day was Interesting. And we learnt a lot about street food trading, so now even more energised with the prospects of trading at The Americas Cup as we had our offer letter
During the course of that Portsmouth Summer Show weekend, I received a offer Letter to trade at the Americas Cup on the Common, with an invoice for £3.6k inclusive of VAT
I wrote back to Road House production,
Friendly EMAIL I Thought???? this is a copy of my follow up email address sent on the 29th June following the summer show,the offer letter which was sent through offered us a reduced pitch area of only 4 meters, with only 4 staff passes which we hadn't asked for, what we would need is our 6 by 6meters with room at the rear for the fridge van with 6 passes for the 4 days duration. if your able to comment on our initial request for information and the fee for what's needed, without wasting any more of your time I can advise accordingly. thank you for your help. Hope the Davis cup weekend goes well. Andrew---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: solutions Hospitality Ltd <hospitality83@gmail.com>
Date: 29 June 2015 at 10:49
Subject: Portsmouth show
To: sue@roadhouseproductions.co.uk
"QUOTE" Text just a quickie, to thank you, Andy and Alex for allowing us to trade our paella at the Portsmouth show, good turn out of people. could you send us an invoice for the electric, we paid out £75.00 for the day on another note?We've been offered to trade at the America cup at end of July.
- firstly is there any discount being offered to local business?
- could you send us a layout of the site, and where the food stalls, layout of markets and main arena will be all sited, so I may get a feel for this please.
- do you have available the schedule for the Americas cup, start times finish times for each day.
- is the main entertainment on Saturday a closed arena, with food trader having access to this captured audience.
- Set up days prior to the event.
- is this a sleep over event due to the 4 days, and if so will there be space available at the rear of the pitch?
- Also based on our electrical set up which was 32amp single phases will the rates per day be the same or is the price offered inclusive.
- how many food traders will be on site at the Great Waterfront Festival
- are ticket holders able to bring there own packed food into all area as per summer show?
THEN OUT THE BLUE!!! (17th JULY)
Dear Andrew,
Unfortunately your application was not successful for Americas Cup World Series Portsmouth.
We wish you every success for the future.
Kind regards
Terri StannardEvent Management Team
Email for Americas Cup World Series (A Stones Throw Events Co. - Official Event Delivery Provider: terri@astonesthroweventco.com
Email for Portsmouth Summer Show and Victorious Festival: terri@victoriousfestival.co.uk
Mobile: 07709 946521
I just wanted to share my experience, and certainly don't want to damper this great thing Portsmouth have supported in bringing together, however do feel excluded and treated as any other trader, who after the four days will disappear into the sunset.
Thank you for reading
THIS BLOG is "without PREJUDICE" and just a story of being part of the Dream!!!