AllfortheSea

All For the Sea Concerts at Southampton College

"ALL FOR THE SEA" CONCERT, JIMMY BUFFETT at SOUTHAMPTON COLLEGE Hailed as "The most successful fundraiser in the Hamptons" and the most profitable for Long Island University, the “All for The Sea” Concerts at Southampton College are in their 11th year. Art of Eating Catering and Events has been involved since their inception.
		John Kowalenko, co-owner and event co-ordinater at Art of Eating Catering and Event Management, is a member of Southampton College’s concert committee. He and his team of specialists solicit and coordinate over 65 restaurants, caterers, food specialty companies, vineyards, breweries and liquor companies ensuring and facilitating donations of their services and products in the V.I.P and Reserved Seating tents.
Initially the appropriate mix of food and beverage vendors is determined and from then, all the necessary details involved with their participation are fulfilled.
		The concert represents three months of intensive planning. Attendance's exceed 9000 people including 2000 guests in the V.I.P and Reserved Seating tents. Tickets for V.I.P are $350.00 and Reserved Seating is a minimum of $10,000.00 for a table of 10.
Tenting consists of a 60’ x 230’ VIP tent attached to an 80’ x 100’ Reserved Seating tent. There is a 20’ x 20’ prep tent off the Reserved Seating tent, a 30’ x 40’ main prep tent off VIP with 16’ x 30’ storage tent and a 10’ x 40’ grill tent. There is over 1,000 sq.ft. of tabletop prep space, 10 - 60,000 Btu 3-ring stovetops, 4 grills, 6 hotboxes, a 3 bin sink w/ hot running potable water and disposal tank.
		In collaboration with the Event Management Team at Art of Eating, all vendor’s menus are all pre inspected by phone with the Suffolk County Dept. of Health Services. Information gleaned from the temporary food service permits submitted by the donors and processed by Art of Eating’s staff enables the AOE Team to ensure correct onsite compliance and ensure excellence for the concert-goers. The necessary filings with the Health Department are made, usually one month to two weeks prior to the concert.
Upon arrival at the caterer’s entrance, all vendors’ foods are physically inspected for safe holding temperatures and proper storage and transportation procedures at the check in station. This is carpeted, tented and attached to a refrigerator truck, where all food is stored until ready to be prepped and served. Next, at the Caterer’s entrance and check-in table, vendor information kits and table assignments are given out and vendors shown to their tables.
		Art of Eating also provided a table in the Reserved Seating Tent, preparing and donating a New Orleans Gumbo in reply to those famous lyrics from Jimmy Buffet... ".... I'm not talkin' quesadillas or a dozen Krispy Kremes, Or a pound of caviar that's a rich man's dream. No banana split or fillet of pompano. No, I will play for gumbo, Yeah, I will play for gumbo."....... and play he did ! Floor staff drawn from Art of Eating's wait-staff personnel assure that all of the 65 tables are correctly equipped and presented, forks, spoons, plates, napkins, cups, and ice are in place and replenished.

Art of Eating staffers maintain the V.I.P tents housing 40 airport tables, 20- 54”rounds and 60 2' x 8’ vendor tables, which cater to 2000 guests. In the exclusive Reserved Seating tent, up to 60 rounds of 10, seat the 500 plus guests. Here too, Art of Eating provides individual service to the guest tables, and to the beverage vendor tables. The set up, load in service, coordination, break down and load out are overseen by John Kowalenko, Co-Owner of Art of Eating and his Special Events Staff. These teams from Art of Eating coordinate Electrical, Sanitation, Water, and Refuse-disposal needs. In addition, any issues involving the Dept. of Health and Southampton Town Fire Marshall are also addressed.

		The Numbers at a glance. In 2003, the Jimmy Buffett " All For The Sea"concert netted Southampton College over $1,300,000.00. The combined revenues since inception have ensured in excess of $8,000,000.00 for the college and its Marine Science Program. To make arrangements to enlist Art of Eating, Catering and Event Management for your Fund Raising project... Call us now at 631-267-2411 We'll offer you more than gumbo!!

cstmedia@optonline.net