Craft Services is used for most TV, film, music video and live event productions.  It mostly consists of a variety of beverages like coffee, soda, Gatorade, juices along with snacks like cookies, potato chips and more.  These items usually are to keep the crew nourished between catered meal services, which happen every 6-hours according to union rules. 

Depending on the budget, craft services can be the basics or elaborate with fancy platters of grilled chicken skewers, hot soup, deli sandwiches or more.   However, when producers have VIP clients on location they provide more of the latter to make sure their special guests feel more comfortable.  VIPs often provide the production company with a rider, which outlines their specific needs.  A “rider” can include almost anything under the sun such as a fully stocked bar with top shelf liquor, hot towels, only organic or gluten-free foods, sushi from their favorite restaurant, $8 protein bars, and more.  The bigger the Diva, the longer the rider.  The goal of the green room is to make sure the VIP feels welcomed and special.

While rates for the green room attendant may be around the same as a union rate crafty, this individual must have the skills and temperament of a first class flight attendant.  The attendant not only sets up a beautiful buffet of refreshments, but ensures that it will stay stocked, clean with lots of variety.  Presentation is everything!  VIP green rooms can be setup for 1 guest or up to 50, but the same level of detail and service is necessary no matter how many guests are being served.  Catering companies like Dine With 9 Catering provide attendants with both first class dining and production assistant experience. Our catering division also prepares gourmet platters and treats, which will ensures that VIPs have a first class green room experience.

Production shoots for TV, film, music videos, commercials and photo shoots can last up to 14 hours or longer. While union rules require hot meals every 6-hours, your crew needs nourishment throughout the day. Craft service for low budget film usually work with just the bare basics to save money. Having a craft service attendant on-duty will allow for the management of your budget for food each day, maintain food safety, and keep the craft services table looking presentable and well stocked. Aside from the basic, it’s always a good idea to add a few platters of grab-and-go snacks like PBJs or turkey sliders for the crew, it budget permits. Below is a list of the basics in order of priority:

• Bottled Water
• Coffee
• Gatorade
• Variety of nuts like almonds, pecans, trail mix and walnuts
• Fresh Fruit like bananas, apples and oranges
• Packaged snacks like chips, cookies, granola bars
• Sweets like chocolate bars, M&Ms, licorice
• Gum and mints
• Perishable items like plates, napkins, cups
• Soda & juice variety
• Ice

BUDGET BACKYARD BBQ

When you’re ready to plan your next backyard BBQ on a budget, delegate to save time and money. The ideal BBQ allows everyone to relax, eat, play games and have a good time. Feel free to invite all your friends and relatives to help you out. Arrange for games that allow guests to play as a team or one on one.

Choose a few games for team building:

• Cornhole or Beanbag toss
• Bocce Ball
• Dominos
• Twister
• Potato Sack Race (use large garbage bags as a substitute)
• Drunk Limbo (Play this late in the day after everyone has had a few drinks. Things get interesting)

It’s also a good idea to include exclusive one-on-one games like chess, checkers and a deck of cards. The idea of the games is to allow people to interact with each other in the spirit of competition.

You can also save money by planning your own playlist instead of hiring a DJ. Choose upbeat music that you’re sure the crowd will enjoy. You don’t have to wire sound throughout your backyard if you use wireless speakers. Simply connect to your Ipod or computer playlist.

Hire a personal chef to prepare the meal. This will give you time to enjoy with your guests. Call Dine With 9 Catering for an estimate. Our chefs will plan a menu within your budget to make sure the pickiest eaters are satisfied.

Decoration is also something you can delegate to the kids or those guests who arrive early. Use your favorite color Gingham linen to cover the tables. Gather things like sea shells, lanterns and ornate objects for your tablescape. Use streamers across the back gate and as a way to encompass the party area. Don’t forget to also use colorful disposable plates, napkins and cutlery to continue the theme of your BBQ.

The last item you can delegate is the bar. Ask guests to bring a bottle of their favorite spirit. You can save money by purchasing all the disposables, non-alcoholic beverages and ice for the bar. It’s also a good idea to create a non-alcoholic house drink that can be spiked with alcohol. Try our recipe for Ginger-Mint-Lemonade. Add this beverage to a large self-serve container. Now you’re ready to party!

When you order from a caterer, it’s not the same as ordering off a menu at a restaurant.  Caterers prepare food in volume and discount the price in comparison to ordering individual dishes a la carte.  Most caterers have minimum orders of 30, 50 or 100 servings.  Once you determine your event date and a budget, contact a caterer and request a quote.  Most caterers will request the basics for a quote:

• Date and time of event
• Number of guests
• Type of event
• Service type (ie: tray passed appetizers, buffet, sit-down, family style, or drop-off)
• Budget per person

This information will allow the caterer to customize a menu to suit your budget or provide you with research to help you decide on a budget.

Every TV, film or live event production needs craft service. In Los Angeles, you can expect to see production catering on most movie sets. At Dine With 9 Catering, not only do we provide production catering, we also provide craft service too. Craft service and production catering are not the same. Catering includes meals such as breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Craft service includes a variety of snacks, beverages, appetizers and other refreshments to keep your crew nourished between meal breaks. Our craft service team will provide tray passed appetizers, smoothies, lattes, vegetarian and vegan snacks, a variety of fresh fruit, nuts, candies and much more.

On larger production sets, you may see more than one craft service buffet. Each VIP talent on TV and film sets, may also have a separate craft service setup. In LA, photo shoots, commercials and live event productions often set up separate craft service buffets for their VIP clients. The food budget for VIPs are usually much higher than cast and crew. You can expect to see specific requests from the talent like specialty food and even alcoholic beverages. Some celebrity VIPs provide a “rider” to the production with specific items they expect in their green room. Crafty would be responsible for securing these items.

Craft service is like the break room at an corporate office, but with a friendly attendant waiting there to cater to you. It’s an area of the set where people can go to relax, refuel or just hang out and share a laugh with their favorite crafty. Everybody loves crafty!