I have a dream this afternoon

Yeah, I know, that's on the fringe of plagiarism. So credit to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. OK?
 
I have been seriously thinking about organizing a chili festival, expo or whatever you choose to call it.
The endless ideas have been consuming my mind for some time and I really am starting to consider exploring the possibility of bringing the concept to reality. It is a huge undertaking and I am not in any way blind to how complicated this venture can become. I have started a few posts prior to this and canceled them because I just didn't feel comfortable in the way I was presenting the idea. I still am at a state of reserve as, though we all share a common passion, we all, or at least most of us know each other about as much as we know Adam, or less.
I have looked locally, And as far as I have been able to ascertain, there are no physical hot pepper clubs around to garner support and or a much needed committee, there is only the internet where such communities exist.
The Hot Pepper is the only immediately accessible community I know to acquire a consensus of an idea that is within a mutual interest.
As I said, I have a dream. And as most of you may know, when reality meets dream there is sometime broken things. But without pursuit and perseverance dreams remain a foggy thought in the back of our mind.
 
I want all feedback. If you think the idea is stupid, then say so.
I realize I have not presented in any detail, any specific ideas to base much on an educated response to, but I dont have all day to type and that is reserved for the presentation to a committee should one be formed.
 
Here we go

    I like your spirit Jeff.This is a world wide community on THP.Where to locate the base for the organization would be the first step,I would think.
Cooking with fire expo's would be be cool way to bring what we do to the general public.

I have thought of something similar. I want to do the same, but at the same time I would like to profit from it, as a true festival would have vendors doing the same. I just have to figure out what are the costs involved, necessary approvals, licensing etc needed. I think this like any other venture needs to be well thought out, and steps put into the right place that lead to the end goal. Planning is of utmost importance.

AaronTT said:

I have thought of something similar. I want to do the same, but at the same time I would like to profit from it, as a true festival would have vendors doing the same. I just have to figure out what are the costs involved, necessary approvals, licensing etc needed. I think this like any other venture needs to be well thought out, and steps put into the right place that lead to the end goal. Planning is of utmost importance.

Click to expand...

I would consider it a profit to not cost me anything except time and to expand awareness of the complexity of the hot pepper community. The county fairgrounds comes to immediate attention as far as locations go. That eliminates approvals and licensing issues. Since food items are involved, the county health dept would be of course involved as this evolves and more vendors of consumables enter the picture. YES, planning is KEY. that's why the thus far unpublished date of launch is tentatively this time 2016.

randyp said:

    I like your spirit Jeff.This is a world wide community on THP.Where to locate the base for the organization would be the first step,I would think.
Cooking with fire expo's would be be cool way to bring what we do to the general public.

Click to expand...

I have envisioned county fair size proportions with cooking with fire for instance as a branch off the main theme. The main theme being hot peppers and then everything related from there.

HP22BH said:

I would consider it a profit to not cost me anything except time and to expand awareness of the complexity of the hot pepper community. The county fairgrounds comes to immediate attention as far as locations go. That eliminates approvals and licensing issues. Since food items are involved, the county health dept would be of course involved as this evolves and more vendors of consumables enter the picture. YES, planning is KEY. that's why the thus far unpublished date of launch is tentatively this time 2016.
I have envisioned county fair size proportions with cooking with fire for instance as a branch off the main theme. The main theme being hot peppers and then everything related from there.

Click to expand...

Not that I don't agree with you, I think that is a great thing. I do think its only fair considering the effort your putting into it, and as I mentioned others would profit from it so you should be able to part take in some of that. I am not saying I want to make a profit to the effect I am taking advantage of others. It just that it will take a good deal of time and effort ,and you are really helping to get vendors names out there and thus improve their business.
The county fair is a great idea, although I believe in my state you have to have some licensing, etc. I will look into it in my area to see what entails. Good luck with you endeavor, and you can make it happen. Who knows? Maybe it will really take off and spread like wildfire, and become the 'new' thing. I am sure there are quite a few people like us out there, and to unite them and bring awareness could really spark a fire and interest across the country.

AaronTT said:

Not that I don't agree with you, I think that is a great thing. I do think its only fair considering the effort your putting into it, and as I mentioned others would profit from it so you should be able to part take in some of that. I am not saying I want to make a profit to the effect I am taking advantage of others. It just that it will take a good deal of time and effort ,and you are really helping to get vendors names out there and thus improve their business.
The county fair is a great idea, although I believe in my state you have to have some licensing, etc. I will look into it in my area to see what entails. Good luck with you endeavor, and you can make it happen. Who knows? Maybe it will really take off and spread like wildfire, and become the 'new' thing. I am sure there are quite a few people like us out there, and to unite them and bring awareness could really spark a fire and interest across the country.

Click to expand...

Great input, I thank you.
I have a history with our county fair grounds as I was the committee chairman for the local Boyscout troop and we had a revenue source there during the county fair. It (the fairgrounds) would be large enough to handle an expo, it is easily accessible from one of Illinois largest tollways, it is relatively close to Rockford and not ridiculously far from Chicago or O'hare airport. But that really needs to be discussed at greater length in committee. I do agree it would be nice to profit from the event. But I dont want to have that notion be at the forefront of planning. If somewhere toward the fulfillment of this prospect there is indeed a windfall, I will surely consider compensation at that time.

Do it! Ill be back in WI before too long (hopefully this spring) and would certainly attend. Where in IL are you?

Jamison said:

Do it! Ill be back in WI before too long (hopefully this spring) and would certainly attend. Where in IL are you?

Click to expand...

I am in Boone county, right below Janesville. Looking at 2016 though.
no way would it happen sooner. I am a legion of one.
 
I am going to be looking for some serious help though.

I have a hypothetical scenario I would like to get some feedback on.
 
If you are a high volume producer of hot peppers and seen the attendance of a pepper festival as an opportunity to make a significant capital gain as well as advance in market exposure. What dates within a three week span would be most advantageous for the event to occur and would provide the most opportunity for a grower such as yourself to consider attendance?

If nothing else, at least test the waters should be fairly easy and not cost mush more than time and perhaps a bit of advertising.
 
I would do something like arranging a "Hell Night" with a local restaurant where the dishes are done or at least available with hot peppers added. Make it a range of heat to appeal to varying tolerances, like Habanero up to Ghost or Scorpion level heats. If you get a lot of response to that then you know there is an interest and also you now have your possible committee to bounce your bigger idea off of and who yo need to pursue to garner buy in from. 
 
Good luck