Post #785384 by tikiskip on Tue, Mar 27, 2018 5:37 AM

“The room party sponsors are bars and liquor companies.”
The ones I have been to were not sponsored by anyone, maybe at TO they are, but would guess it is rare for a liquor company to do this in most cases.

“if the tiki fests were not profitable they wouldn't continue.”
Some have gone down Don The Beachcomber, Sunset Beach, CA is one that will go away, can’t say if that’s all money driven but going to the Don event and not supporting it by buying something helps no one.

Kahiki here went down because of low cash flow, Surf Ohio is gone for the same reason, the other Hukilau lasted only one year, luau by the Sea I think it was.
Mojave Oasis is gone too so we have lost some events.

Low cash flow killed Tropical bistro as the tiki folks spent very little there coming in drunk or maybe getting high in the parking lot.

Low cash flow is what killed most of the tiki bars from days gone by don’t kid yourself.

When I vended at Hukilau we had to buy tickets, get a room, drive down there from Ohio and all so we could vend and spend almost EVERY hour at the booth.
Think about those people that basically pay to be an attraction at the event.
THEN they told us we had to go to the last sitting at the Mai Kai, it was late so we ate at almost 11:00 and there was none of that tiki BS that goes on.

I did very well selling but could have pack up after the first day and been great, as we sold most of our stuff the first day.
Not as much tiki vended at that event I went to as the tiki folks got hip quick and did not come back to sell.
The tiki ones you did see were the "Tiki stars" that got a free ride to come to the event and vend for say one day.

Sorry to rant but owning a diner for ten years and growing up for a lifetime in the business gives you a different view of the situation.

I had a guy that would come in ask for a large glass of water with lots of lemon and then put tons of sugar in it and make himself a free lemonade!
AND he owned a bail bonds place so he could afford a damn drink.

All I ask is think of the wait staff the bar owner, hotel owner, restaurant owner, and all the other people involved in where you go.

They many times are NOT making as much money as you think they are.
And it’s too late to help when they can’t pay the bills.

On your question save lots o cash and go to Hukilau Or Tiki Oasis as they are the best in my book.

[ Edited by: tikiskip 2018-03-27 05:42 ]