Travels with the Pig--Part IV, part 1

[James H Sweetland]

Tennesee in May (yeah, I'm a little behind)

We now return you to those thrilling days of yestermonth (things have been
busy here, and I am behind on postings, as I have been reminded by some
loyal readers [people actually do read this stuff]).

Its April 27. Up with the Vikings, but I leave early, so provide little
help. Out of Ashville and back to ORF site where I pick up more stuff I
didnt need in Ashville. Off to Nashville, and decide to stop in the town
of Munfordville, where I get a motel room with WiFi. Spend much of the
evening catching up on the class. Next morning up late (ca 8:00) have my
complimentaryDIY waffle, and off directly to the Tennessee faire site.
Since we are now back in Central time, the trip is short by the clock.

Hot and humid, but easy setup. I am where I was last year, but the road
has been improved. Get everything out of the trailer, and off to the
Nashville I24 camp (a really nice and rennie friendly campground, since
the faire has no camping). My former site is taken, and I end up fairly
far from the rennie concentration. But, the site is bigger than last year.
So, by dusk I am all set up, meet my left side neighbor, who helps me set
up my tarp, and so to bed.

Wednesday back to site, set up the shop shelves, put the books out (flat
so they wont curl) and spread wood shavings on my floor. Since lots of
people are here today, I take all day to do a four hour job as a whole lot
of socializing (and comparison of how-are-you-doing-as-business) goes on.
A reminder of how we live on the edge: a very nice couple and their
daughter flipped their trailer (and their car) on the way hereno real
injuries, but they essentially lost their house and car, and the vast
majority of their possessions. Efforts are made to help.

Thursday is relax day, get groceries, help neighbor tarp the RV where it
is leaking as the rains begin (more on this later).

Friday, up at 5:00, since the gates open at 8:00 for educational day (yes,
on the day before the faire opens). Rain most of the day and the tent
cover has some drips. See, I got a new roof, which came in February, and
with all the snow in Milwaukee, and the good weather since I got on the
road, the canvas has not been seasoned at all, so some of the needle holes
leak a little. No damage to any books, since I expected something like
this, and am watching like a hawk. Sales are rotten, since kids on field
trips as a rule arent buying or even lookling at books. I almost break $50
gross sales. Since faire is over by 2:30. I do some shopping.

Saturday, I build bridge to cover the moat at my front door, and scatter
cedar shavings over the existing mulch and pine to improve the sogginess
and the smell. The rain it rains, the customers they come not. My trusty
assistant, Moses, comes and I take a break during a lull in the rain, to
meet Sir Clisto, as well as more rennie friends of the entertainer
persuasion. I get a $1.00 turkey just cuz I can (not a whole lot of food
sales, either).

Sales Sunday are even worse. The rain has continued, the campground is
awash (and several pumps are keeping most campsites dryish), the faire
packing lot is under water, and a tree fell in the woods (onto a set of
bleachers near a stage). Faire is cancelled. Since I turn my phone off
when driving, I miss the call, and get to site. I would have gone anyway,
and I check my tent. Only a couple of drips, in the same places, and the
whole floor, which was firm at setup and wet on Saturday, is now sponge.
No money is made.

For those who keep track of such things, for this faire, including my
transportation to and from, I need to gross ca $900 a weekend. With 1/4 of
the faire over, I have grossed just over $200. This may well be a lean
year. (and for those who also keep track, in keeping with industry
standard, since there was no faire, nobody gets paid except a few grounds
crew types who shored up sagging structures, cut tree limbs, etc.) A few
vendors do, out of the kindness of their heart, pay partially to their
booth help, if they can afford it. Keep this in mind the next time you
think its all fun & games, jocularity, and orgiastic goat herding on the
road).
--
James Sweetland, Pigasus Enterprises
Books, maps, prints, playing cards and all manner of printed material of the
middle ages and renaissance.