Travels with the Pig, part IV, part 4
James H Sweetland
Monday, and again the weather is fine. Another breakfast and bizarre
bazaar, this time including me doing the eggs (odd to be preparing a small
but larger than a couple servings--shades of the boy scout camp and the
NCO club cooking days). Hang out, chat, etc. until about noon.
I then set up the new set of poles (it is possible to configure the frame
for a 10x20 carport in many different ways) to see what I can do for a
better porch/living room for the trailer. Then I load them into the
van--theres a lot right now.
Tuesday, cold but nice and sunny. I go back to site and confirm the wasp
as well as her nest are gone. (Yeah, besides mice I am now getting nesting
wasps). Spend a lot of time talking with folks about the Kentucky
faire, getting both positive and negatives. In essence, my nonscientific
survey concludes its a great faire to be at, but not a money maker. I am
confirmed in not going this year, but still up in the air about next. Out
with friends and neighbors to a local Thai/Lao/Chinese restaurant, where I
learn a lot about Thai food first hand.
Wednesday mostly involves working the RESCU rally. As in the last few, the
event is now taking place in the daytime, involving games plus an auction,
(and food, of course), but no raffle. I have found that my donation of
books generally does not engender the wholesale (let alone retail) value,
so this year submit a container of high end chocolates I got for Easter.
It does generate much more than its cost. I get to run two games:
tether ball and a discus throw thing. Naturally, I hawk the first as Professor
Hieronimus Schiesskopfs Centrifugal Bumblepuppy, and the latter as throw
plates at a rare VanGogh painting. Fun is had, and I get sunburned and
very tired (only 5 hours: gotta work on getting in shape for Bristol in
about 6 weeks with 10 hour days). Fun is had, food and music abound, and
we manage to raise nearly $3000 for RESCU.
(Note to the media who look for the orgies: most people havent even made
expenses, and we raise 3 grand to help our family in a half day with silly
games and an auction. Thats the type of social event that is easy to find,
and actually happens, so doesn't get any press.)
Thursday I get a short tour of the Vanderbilt campus from one of the
students who had come to the faire last weekend. I fix the broken shade in
the van (Ill be living there for about a week next week). Once again, I
get two suggestions I get onto Facebook and/or Myspace--
will probably do one of them, but not both.
Friday, to site, put up everything I can, including all the new stuff I
managed to get, notably the shipment of costuming books which finally came
in, find a little evidence of mice (apparently need to add new cat litter
every other week?), but no new wasps. And, my floor, the area in front of
my booth, and the road are------***DRY***. It hasnt rained all week!!!!!.
This week has also involved a lot of chatting with a lot of people about a
lot of things, including whether I should try a different set of Florida
faires for next year, the prospects for several existing faires, good
places to camp at all of the above, the state of the union, and the media.
I talk to one performer who was, in fact, at Tampa and was backstage when
the documentary crew actually came back, hoping to find drugs, or booze or
sex or something. They were disappointed that people who have just
finished a performance set are resting, and less than happy when they were
told to leave.
(Again, instead of admitting they found out something interesting, and
maybe get some background on how and why one would perform at a faire,
they were looking for visuals and soundbites to confirm their incorrect
preconceptions. ).
And the weekend, plus Memorial Day: threats of rain are exaggerated, with
none on Saturday but major heat. Just for fun, I calculate my nut: I need
nearly $2000 gross sales to break eventhis is not utterly beyond the realm
of possibility. Sales Saturday, especially to cast and other rennies, are
goodmost of the costuming books are sold, wish I had more. The minor
intermittent drizzle does not seem to affect either the size or behavior
of the crowds (other than the lines which block some booths because people
are waiting for lemonade).
Sunday has drizzle much of the night and into the morning, plus actual
rain about 5:15, which last about 15 minutes. Since this faire closes at
6:00, thats the end of the crowds. In addition to fewer people, the crowd
mix is very differentno interaction, and people who actually duck or look
away to avoid eye contact. But, I make some sales. And, since there was
one flying around, check and find another new wasp nest (also destroyed).
My hopes of the nut dwindle, but are not totally extinguished. Out to
dinner with a large group, and am surprised at a reaction approaching
shock when I engage in what I would define as very mild flirting.
Monday: Muggy, hot and cloudy, not a good sign. Some drizzle off and on,
but the lanes stay mostly dry. At 5:00 I am still about $20.00 short of
the nut, and then a sale, so by 5:15, I am only $2.00 short. I try
everything I can think of (its a matter of principle now, gotta break
even).
Then, after the joust, when I almost never have any sales, people come by
and keep coming until about6:30. Net result, I make a profit of a little
over $50.00. (How to lie with statistics: I supported myself for a month
and made over $50 besides, or I worked hard for a month, and only made
$50 which is true?)
Item of note: I sell a history of vegetables to a farmer who grows
heirloom veggies. He notes, in passing, this is only the second book he
has bought since high school. Yay!
And, the gamer who does Jacobs ladder (right across from me) also has a
victory: On day 1 (kids day) he was heckled for about 45 minutes by a kid
who kept on yelling its rigged. The kid came back, with his whole family .
The gamer walked up the ladder, backwards, with a mug, and then drank from
it on the top rung before walking back down. And then challenged the kid
to try, for free. The kid of course just plain sucked (as in couldnt get
balance on the first rung). The various family members heckle the kid, and
continue doing so as they leave the area.
I pack up the books, seal up the tent, go back to camp and shower. Some
people are already packing up and pulling out tonight, I will finish
tomorrow. As usual, a mix of happiness and sadness--the former in in great
supply as most people made money, and so can get to the next faire, or
wherever.
And so to bed. And thus endeth part IV of the travels on a happy note.
(Update--the farmer who bought the veggie book showed it to a friend,
who then ordered a copy of his own through my website. Aha--more
profit.)
--
James Sweetland, Pigasus Enterprises
Books, maps, prints, playing cards and all manner of printed material of the
middle ages and renaissance.