I know there has been alot of meaningful and constructive feedback on this past Gathering so I figured there should be a new home for all the ideas that everyone has come up with that could potentially improve the event for 2025. Whether it is new specific vendors that people would like to see or maybe improvements on certain things.
For example, the food trucks. I know it has been mentioned ALOT but it also cannot be ignored. From what I have seen, several food trucks backed out which created the problem of ridiculous lines and wait times.
Good idea welder… i’m gonna change the title though and sticky it if you dont mind. …
Yeah there were many that backed out both last year and this year. however the german food truck was there both years, and thankfully they were… i love their german potato salad.
I personally was disappointed that Kimber who was supposed to be there was not… and that FN did not bother to try to come at all. very sad as I’m a FN Fanatic. lol.
I’d like to see a larger seating area for folks with picnic tables at the food eating area…along with more food trucks that are dependable to come. i bet that German Truck made out like a bandit…
Seating is fixable. The food truck is gonna be problematic due to where it is and food trucks are notoriously unreliable. I think it may be a good approach to to seek out local restaurants for possible quasi-catering.
I agree with all the above. If some local BBQ place did what we I. NC call small or large trays, BBQ pork with red slaw (that is a whole different discussion) and a few basic side that would make a boat load of money.
if some one had water and other drinks for a reasonable charge that would also be wonderful.
I agree with @Rufus that the seating is definitely fixable. It just comes down to designated space.
I was also disappointed with Kimber not showing. I didn’t know about FN. That would have been awesome if they showed up! Especially since PSA utilizes FN barrels in some stuff. I think it could highlight their products in an even better light which in turn would highlight the FN barrels.
Another small thing to me would be a map. Or like a kiosk that you would see at the mall so you know where everything is. We didn’t know where everything was or rather where the bays ended. Again, a small thing but would be big for first timers.
They did good with the water this year. I don’t know if you noticed but there were coolers of water bottles with “The Gathering” spread around the facility.
The NC BBQ is a game changer. Call me a snob but when I see BBQ outside of eastern NC, red flags are already raised and I am leery on what I am about to eat.
But the drinks…that is a golden idea. Yes, there was bottled water in some places but a place to buy some water or soda would be killer.
I dont know if they were supposed to show up or not, but i think it would have been in their interests to show up since its thrown by a company that is right down the road from them, and utilizes their parts as you say. I dont understand all the ins and outs about why gun companies do what they do or do not. like kimber, I really was looking forward to them, as i have a few of their pistols and would have liked to see more, cause maybe i’d want to buy more… but idk now… bummer it is…
I love the idea of a flyer or itennerary even if its basic, and on the back having a rough map out of the vendors around in each bay and what not. that would be very benificial as well.
good point again! Loving thes suggestions!!
is there any other type? afterall sc is the place where the barbeque started and is all that matters is mustard based… everyone knows that.
As much as I want to derail this post and say you’re wrong in what you like, vinegar based is the best of course, I will admit that I like Lexington style from time to time.
I don’t know how companies get invited or who has been in the past but…Magpul. Almost every booth utilized Magpul mags of some sort so its not like they are not there. An official Magpul booth would be dope. Now if Magpul had some sweet mags that they gave out for the first handful of people, that would be the icing on the cake.
good point about Magpul. I’m not sure how the vendors are invited. i do know that there were a good many there this year. If you guys think of any other vendors you would like to see invited lets start a list so that i can get the information to Josiah.
The Best Dang Smokehouse BBQ on the NC Coast: Carolina Smokehouse in Carolina Beach - got its Start in Cashiers, on the Western side of the State. It was Literally Internationally Renowned for some of the best Hickory-Smoked meats… even featured in Alton Brown’s Feasting on Asphalt specials…
(Technically, it’s still there in Cashiers - just run by a different Family)
Yeah, my neighbor has a BBQ food truck. I’m going to see if he would want to participate next year. I figure BBQ sandwiches would be pretty fast and easy since you can show up with 50-100 lbs of cooked BBQ and just put it on a bun.
i think the issue we run into is that Clinton is a hour away from Columbia, and other major cities arent that close either… so they dont wanna make the trek out there just for 2 days or even 1 day, when they can park on a corner somewhere in columbia and make bank that way too… .
fixable. The food truck is gonna be problematic due to where it is and food trucks are notoriously unreliable. I think it may be a good approach to to seek out local restaurants for possible quasi-catering.
