Meet…
Ian Schuster, a web design student at Sinclair Community College, a dad and a motorcycle enthusiast who has a found a unique professional calling: being a personal cook to wizards and warriors alike.
Why he’s interesting…
Schuster is the co-owner of the Om Nom mobile café and catering business, which specializes in providing food for LARPs, or live action role playing games.
Schuster is tasked, along with his partner Xtine Brean, with running the tavern located on site during the LARP events, which can last from a weekend up to 10 days.
Schuster said the games can have anywhere from 70 to 250 players at a time.
Om Nom began as a company that catered special events, but in 2011 broke into the LARP market, which Schuster finds even more rewarding than special event catering.
“The people interact more at LARPs than at weddings, in a positive way”, Schuster said. “They’re a lot more grateful, easier to get along with.”
He said the players of the games are one of the biggest draws for him as a vendor.
“They’ve created an entirely different world for themselves — imagine World of Warcraft played out live,” Schuster said. “It’s fun to watch.”
Schuster said he does not actually play in the games himself, but he has been known to get into character for the events.
“I’ve worn some costumes. They do seem to enjoy it more when we’re in costume. I believe it makes it easier for them to maintain the illusion that they’re in their own world,” Schuster said.
Schuster said Om Nom provides a large menu for the events, ranging from classic camp food, like hamburgers and hot dogs, to some surprisingly upscale entrees, like chicken parmesan and beer glazed brisket.
“The thing to remember is these are college kids, who spent 70 dollars to come to the event, and they are living on limited means, and they want to stay up all night,” Schuster said. “They want food that’s cheap and high in carbs, protein and sugar. So we try to provide something that they can enjoy that fits those requirements.”
So what’s next for Schuster and Om Nom?
“I’m going to take some time away from the LARPs for a while, to focus on school. We’re going into the off-season now, and it’s nice to have my weekends free for other things,” Schuster said.
While he’s still unsure of whether or not he’ll return to the LARPs next year, it’s clear that it’s a job Schuster has a passion for.
“If I could guarantee getting minimum wage, I’d do it for the rest of my life,” Schuster said. “It really is fun. It’s a world you couldn’t understand unless you’ve been there.”