I didn't end up working outside of Mike's store, but found another popular location outside a music venue (Station Inn). I researched the law, which required that stands be 14 feet from the street + other rules.
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Most days were $100-$500 days. At night or during a concert I could do really well. $1k, $2k, sometimes higher. Square was new, but I used it and would charge 4 cents to use a credit card. I'd also work track meets, hs sports, and things like that. Would sell gatorade + dogs
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Eventually, I could hire some friends. @CarlyFra and Rydell were my best buds. Carly went to college with me and Rydell was my neighbor. I loved him. He had spent 25 years in prison for assault + had gold teeth. We all hung out each night and it was sooo fun.pic.twitter.com/tf7plf8PNS
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Rydell would work the stand when I had class and he'd get most the day's profit. At night, Rydell loved wearing a black leather jacket and leather gloves and people used to ask if we were famous and he was the bodyguard. We'd just chill at the stand, slinging dogs + drinking beer
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Sometimes Nashville would have big street music festivals and I'd sleep on the street for 2-4 nights so I could get the best corner and never leave that corner. I would make thousands. Carly or Rydell would watch the stand so I could go to class or shower.pic.twitter.com/KvmUyCLwF4
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But it was hard ass work. I used to get these horrible sun burns. It taught me how to work super hard.pic.twitter.com/d5Zn5UzCXl
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To get customers, I'd yell ALLLL BEEEFFF pretty much all day. I tried talking to everyone and just sell sell sell. Also, I'd grill onions ALL THE TIME. Even if people didn't buy, the smell attracted people. I grilled the onions in coke to make em sweet.
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Sometimes homeless people would come asking for free stuff. So I'd give them meals + some money in exchange for work, like getting me a bag of ice or holding signs or sweeping or whatever.
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One time this young Jamaican guy just started hanging out. Eventually, I found out that he came here for work and was laid off and lived on the streets as he couldn't afford a ticket home. I knew him for a bit. He was 100% sober and his story was true.
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I didn't have much money then, but he'd work for me and I'd pay him. I don't know what happened to him, but maybe he got home.
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Anyway, it was a cool time. It taught me how to work my ass off, how to sell, how to take care of shit, and how there are no excuses for getting shit done! It also taught me that making money online was much easier! But damn it was fun.
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Long live Southern Sams! I still get calls from Yelp asking to advertise my listing with them. Who knows, maybe I'll start this guy up again.pic.twitter.com/p6JTRYq97O
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