IzA-Hookah Posted August 5, 2006 Share Posted August 5, 2006 I posted some questions here when I first signed up about hookah bars. I was asking opinions about different subjects and got some great feedback. Now, I have decided to start a hookah "catering" service for parties and other social events. I plan to buy 4 hookahs to start and charge something like $50 and hour (I live in a ski resort where everything is pricey) plus incidentals. I would like some suggestions on all aspects of the service to get some ideas rolling. Also, I am stumped about the issue of coals burning carpets due to drunk people knocking hookahs over. I know this is bound to happen and I want to prevent it with some kind of method of securing the hookahs to something heavy so they do not tip over when bumped. I have noticed a windscreen will catch coals most of the time but I would like a more "solid" solution. Also, I plan to offer down tempo music from my Ipod to compliment the hookahs and would love some input on that as well (i.e. specific artists, products to DJ with an Ipod, and anything else in general). I plan to start offering my services on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights beginning around Thanksgiving when the resort opens for skiing. Thanks in advance, I know you guys will be full of awesome ideas! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scalliwag Posted August 5, 2006 Share Posted August 5, 2006 First off I think it is an excellent idea. If you have an iPod one quick decent sound system would be the Bose Sounddock. They rock. Like the Wave radio it sounds like the sound is coming from everywhere. For almost any of your gigs at a house party it would be more than enough. As far as coals burning carpets you could make some sort of quick release collars for the shields I suppose. That or take a piece of foil and make a dome with holes over the coal. That or have a signed waiver that you are not responsible for other peoples mistakes The Bose will handle a lot bigger area than you would think. Anything bigger if you were only running an iPod and did not require more than two channels (stereo) I would recommend a small Mackie PA and a pair of decent pair of JBL speakers with some stands to keep them off the floor.Here is what the Bose dock looks like:[img]http://i21.ebayimg.com/05/i/07/dc/53/3c_1.JPG[/img] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aronparsons Posted August 5, 2006 Share Posted August 5, 2006 I think the best solution for coals includes a couple of things: get hookahs with wide, sturdy bases and use the bowls that have the windscreens built-in (and can latch). Putting down carpets/rugs beneath the hookahs could reduce the risk of damaging carpets as well.I think something like this could work at a place like a ski resort where people are out to have fun and don't have access to such things. Good luck on the business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
web250 Posted August 5, 2006 Share Posted August 5, 2006 For music, why just just go for a simple PA type system? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hookah Pimp Posted August 5, 2006 Share Posted August 5, 2006 hey thats real cool i do that too but i cater to clubs and stuff like that in the off time you realy do make a lot of money if you know how to make a kick ass shi sha i base in anaheim and us arabs we are very picky people and if can cater to an arab then shit you can call your self an hookah master.... man i was once working at a cafe as a young lad! (im only 20) and i was making a hookah for a very old aged egyptian man i brought it out to him and he laughed! so i walked back in to the kitchen and thought nothing of it so as soon as i get in i look behind me and there he is with the head in his hand and the hookah in his other hand and he says to me " wtf do u take me for am i one of your little shit friends that started smoking yesterday..." so he winds up and throughs the hookah at me and says " i will make my hookah you son of dog i will show you how it is done" and he did well long story short my felow arabs are picky bilal aka hookah pimp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maad Posted August 5, 2006 Share Posted August 5, 2006 Maybe make yourself a hookah table/cart with a hole cut in the top for the hookah to sit in, on a platform right underneath. You could put a cabinet on the bottom to keep all your supplies too. Put wheels on the bottom and roll it from place to place.Thats what I did, but I just like mine to roll around the house Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IzA-Hookah Posted August 5, 2006 Author Share Posted August 5, 2006 [quote name='Maad']Maybe make yourself a hookah table/cart with a hole cut in the top for the hookah to sit in, on a platform right underneath. You could put a cabinet on the bottom to keep all your supplies too. Put wheels on the bottom and roll it from place to place. Thats what I did, but I just like mine to roll around the house [/quote] This is an excellent idea!! I can see myself loading each hookah into a mini cart and rolling them around the house or venue. Any chance of getting a pic of your setup for reference? Thanks for the suggestions everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IzA-Hookah Posted August 5, 2006 Author Share Posted August 5, 2006 Thanks Scalliwag, I had a system like that in mind. I was loooking today online and the both the Bose and an Altec Landsing (FX2060 or something) both get great reviews. I have always wanted some Bose speakers and I would use that in my house as well. I had already planned to create a basic waiver to avoid liability of any kind. The problem I am trying to avoid is getting a bad name for not running my business with the high standards the people around here expect. It's also a small community so I think that a few incidents could ruin my rep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombiedepot Posted August 5, 2006 Share Posted August 5, 2006 That's a cool idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shonimus Posted August 5, 2006 Share Posted August 5, 2006 [quote name='Hookah Pimp']hey thats real cool i do that too but i cater to clubs and stuff like that in the off time you realy do make a lot of money if you know how to make a kick ass shi sha i base in anaheim and us arabs we are very picky people and if can cater to an arab then shit you can call your self an hookah master.... man i was once working at a cafe as a young lad! (im only 20) and i was making a hookah for a very old aged egyptian man i brought it out to him and he laughed! so i walked back in to the kitchen and thought nothing of it so as soon as i get in i look behind me and there he is with the head in his hand and the hookah in his other hand and he says to me " wtf do u take me for am i one of your little shit friends that started smoking yesterday..." so he winds up and throughs the hookah at me and says " i will make my hookah you son of dog i will show you how it is done" and he did well long story short my felow arabs are picky bilal aka hookah pimp[/quote] how does this relate? Cool story though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maad Posted August 5, 2006 Share Posted August 5, 2006 [quote name='IzA-Hookah']This is an excellent idea!! I can see myself loading each hookah into a mini cart and rolling them around the house or venue. Any chance of getting a pic of your setup for reference? Thanks for the suggestions everyone.[/quote] Yeah, I've been wanting to take pics and post them here actually. I just made it a few days ago. I had an old table/cabinet I had used to put my aquarium on for awhile...but I got rid of the fish and thus had this leftover thing. Its basically just a cabinet with a shelf about 2 inches below the top. Then I cut a circle out of the top. Thus the hookah goes in the hole, slides down 2 inches, and sits on the shelf. Lots of room underneath to store all my stuff. Plus the wheels rule. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hookah Pimp Posted August 5, 2006 Share Posted August 5, 2006 coals are always an issueand vases are always an issue the only thing you realy can do is put a wind cover on the hookah or as the orthers say make a cart... but fuck that if some one burns a carped its not your fault you were higherd to cater not baby sit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain Soph Aur Posted August 5, 2006 Share Posted August 5, 2006 I know someone who does this. He only does it for friends though. Im not sure about the revenue but it seems like a good idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cemab4y Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 I am interested in such a plan myself. Here is what I would do:-Have an entire party kit, carried in my van. Hookahs, tobacco, coals, everything, just drive up to the house and set up.-Have a collection of mideastern music on CDs, play it on the client's sound system, or bring a portable boom-box-My wife will wear an Arabian princess costume. She helps set up the hookahs, and teaches the beginners how to smoke.- I will have the customer sign a release form, in case any carpets are burned by some drunk knociking over a hookah.-Charge a flat rate, $200 or so for a three hour hookah party.Is there anyone on this board who actually has a portable hookah catering service? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kvtaco17 Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 To address the coal problem, use some foil and make a crown around the bowl after you foil it normally to keep the coals on the bowl and off the floor... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frost91 Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 (edited) this is the dumbest thing ever.........if you have to pay 200 dollars for 3 hours people can buy 3 hookahs already and set it all up by themselves LOL. unless they are extremely lazy and cant pack or heat coals by themselves it will be EPIC fail Edited October 19, 2008 by frost91 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lysolz Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 You also have to take into consideration the economy. Who has 200 dollars to blow in three hours, on smoke no less? Do you know how much booze that is? Or cigarettes?More trouble than it's worth, IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chinamon Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 due to the fact that charcoal accidents do happen, i think you should make each client sign a waiver of some sort that will protect you from having to pay for damages if one of them knock the hookah over or something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cemab4y Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 BUMP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Veritas* Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 IZA just outta curiosity were do you live??? Just on a random whim that its Utah (guessing Just because you talked of ski resorts) I have a friend that is getting started in to DJ stuff and he has a ton of equipment(about $7500 worth). Maybe you could do a team up of sorts. I know its a long shot of you living in Utah but just thought i would see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modisess Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 QUOTE (Tiburonsrule @ Oct 19 2008, 11:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>IZA just outta curiosity were do you live??? Just on a random whim that its Utah (guessing Just because you talked of ski resorts) I have a friend that is getting started in to DJ stuff and he has a ton of equipment(about $7500 worth). Maybe you could do a team up of sorts. I know its a long shot of you living in Utah but just thought i would see.Old thread, he most likely doesn't go to this forum anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r1v3th3ad Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 QUOTE (modisess @ Oct 20 2008, 07:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>QUOTE (Tiburonsrule @ Oct 19 2008, 11:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>IZA just outta curiosity were do you live??? Just on a random whim that its Utah (guessing Just because you talked of ski resorts) I have a friend that is getting started in to DJ stuff and he has a ton of equipment(about $7500 worth). Maybe you could do a team up of sorts. I know its a long shot of you living in Utah but just thought i would see.Old thread, he most likely doesn't go to this forum anymore.read my mind Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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