Though I haven't gotten through my first chocolate festival I am looking for more. As I have to drive, distance is an issue but I am finding festivals that range from 500 people to 50,000 people.

Just as I had trouble explaining what I was doing -- NOT making bon bons or other candy but CHOCOLATE -- I am having trouble explaining to festival coordinators what exactly I am doing and how my presence can benefit their event.

Case in Point, I wrote for some information on a chocolate festival in a major east coast city. I got a polite reply telling me the dates of the events and that it seemed the person receiving my inquiry was enthused, the person in charge wasn't enthused and didn't feel I was a good fit for their event.


Their feelings were:

"The reason being the folks coming to our festival is looking for chocolate
that has already been prepared. Thursday and Friday are visitors from
surrounding offices and they like taking the staff some tasty treats back to
work and also a treat for the family. Saturday is shopping for families and
there may be a little interest for your chocolate but again these are folks
that work all week then do there shopping on Saturday and take home one of
our tasty chocolate cakes, cookies, candy, and chocolate covered fruits."

They went on to say they had, " background in Chain Food Markets and knows that most folks don't use cocoa as they did years ago, if baking they use choc chips, for
drinking they buy prepared hot chocolates."

It never seems worth the effort to try and convince someone of something they have already made up their mind on. Since the "boss" knows people don't buy chocolate like they used to, I suppose it is the better choice to say thank you and look elsewhere, but knowing that Chiammaya is a unique product that is rarely, if ever, seen in the U.S.A. it would be a benefit to have at ANY festival.

I even sent them to the site and sent the video so they could WATCH what is going on, after all, a picture is worth a thousand words.

The opportunity for press releases for something "educational" and news stories of more than your run of the mill festival opportunity abound. This would be a win/win situation for both of us, but I've not inspired the vision.

If any of my readers have any thought to help me inspire the vision I'd love to hear your ideas.

More to come as Long Grove gets closer.