It’s hard to believe that just one year ago today I pushed the publish button on The Treats Truck episode of VendrTV. Little did I know that this side project (Then called VendyTV) would grow as it has, affording my crew and I to travel throughout the country, meeting amazing folks along the way. Today, I’d like to take a moment to thank a few people who’ve been instrumental in the creation and sustainability of VendrTV, and also share with you our future plans and endeavors.

Thanks

First and foremost, a big Thank You has to go to my family who’ve provided me with all types of support and encouragement to keep going on this journey. They’re love and dedication is endless and rarely seen.

My good friend Florian Dirringer jumped on the project when we were in a pinch for cash and had dreams of visiting the West Coast. He helped us with some backing, and even jumped on as the sound guy for our shoots. I’ve known the guy since kindergarten, and am so fortunate to have such a true blue best friend. Love you man.

Andy Buckmaster, our current camera man and producer has worked hours and hours on the project, getting me out of jams, and always standing as a reliable sounding board for the weekly nervous breakdown this project comes with. He’s a great, trustworthy friend, and I’m beyond elated to call him a my right hand man.

One of my best friends and roommate, Frank LaRocca has poured tireless unpaid hours into building the VendrTV site and tweaking it numerous times to refine it and make it easier for all you Cartivores to navigate. Thanks Frank.

Our newest team member and editor, Jess Gonzalez, is already doing a bang up job with her first three episodes out of the gate. I’m pumped to work with her for the future of the show, and am sure she’ll bring a huge amount to the show.

There are also a huge number of crew members that aren’t with us anymore but were instrumental to the growth of the show. Noah Schwartz & John de Menil our former camera men who helped shape much of the look and feel of the show, and Ryan Miller who helped out as our PA and sound guy from day one. Plus the help from friends like Maggie Ammons, Gwen Pryor, Karen Yung, Kiersten Bogush, and Angela Coronel from everything from research to party planning has proven invaluable.

Of course, the show wouldn’t exist at all if it wasn’t Chris Garvin, Neil Kleinman, and Adam Carrigan at The University of the Arts‘ College of Media and Communication and their willingness to lend me the equipment we needed to start the show up for gratis. The whole team down there is so supportive and deserve huge thanks.

One of the biggest breaks VendrTV got was the ability to partner with the world’s leading online video network, The Next New Networks as they developed their newest content channel Hungry Nation. Big thanks to Kathleen Grace, Ryan Nugent, Justin Johnson, Michael Glenn, Tim Shea, Lance Podell, Michelle DeForest, Rob Czar, and the rest of the NNN Family to taking us under your wing and providing not only the sustainability VendrTV needed, but a sense of community and companionship, which, as an independent content producer, was lacking until then.

Naturally, support from the food community is a vital part of the show. Notably, Zach Brooks of MidtownLunch.com, Brett Burmeister of FoodCartsPortland.com, Robyn Lee and Adam Kuban of SeriousEats.com, Caleb Bacon of Laist.com, Joe DiStefano of Edible Queens, and Eric Rochow of Gardenfork.tv have all provided amazing support and encouragement from day one.

My friends and mentors Dave Morin and Gary Vaynerchuk, who gave VendrTV heaps of support and the initial push that helped accelerate the growth of the show, and gave me the ability to meet so many amazing folks in the tech scene that have now grown to be some of my dearest friends.

A big thank you to Ze Frank who’s year long project The Show with Ze Frank was undoubtedly one of the driving inspirations for VendrTV. Though it ended nearly three years ago, I still perceive it to be the benchmark for community development, interaction, content creation, and innovation in the web video space.

Finally, of course, is you. For without you reading this post now and watching the show on a weekly basis, I wouldn’t be able to be making my dreams and goals a reality. So thanks for watching, reaching out, and telling your friends. You all rock, and I love you very much.

Onward

One year, 50 episodes, 13 states, 467 hours of footage… however you want to count it, VendrTV is a year out, but is still just getting started. In May, our goal is to head back out on the road filming everything we missed between the two coasts. We’re super pumped for this massive road trip, which we hope to get your help in planning. More details to come soon.

Though it’s rarely been mentioned, and most details can’t be provided, we have both book and television deals in the works. What may happen with them is largely unknown, but stay tuned. Some exciting stuff should be coming your way soon.

Also, we’ll soon be opening up a small online shop with t-shirts, wallets, and a bunch of other goodies. Stay tuned. Should be some pretty sweet stuff.

Well that’s it for now. Again, a big thanks to all of you Cartivores for watching and supporting the show. If we haven’t met, I’d love you to reach out and introduce yourself to me on Twitter or via email. Also, please support the show by becoming a fan on Facebook and sharing it with all your friends.

From everyone here on the VendrTV team, thank you for the birthday wishes, support, and community.

Love and street food,
Dan

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