In our local paper we have a section called "saints and sinners". I choose to leave out the "sinner" part.
I'd like to share a "saint" story and hope to hear from others.
Madison Art on The Square. Went to set up with my sister Friday evening. Got unloaded and I got severe food poisoning. So my sister went to work setting up a new tent that we had only set up once before in the backyard. While I was in the Satellite she was working. Saint Big Time!
Neighbors of ours on both sides gave her a hand! Saints!
Bad art fair for me = no sales.
Packing out of the motel we stopped at the breakfast buffet. One of the workers tending to the buffet was singing, whistling and quite happy. We got to talking with him. He said that his Mama always told him that "when one door closes, another opens" and he gave us some great examples of what had happened to him to prove that. WOW! Lifted us right up! Saint!
We're driving the interstate back to MN when BANG, flat tire. Ripped up my heater and air cond hoses as well.
Not sure where I was. State Patrol stopped and told my AAA rep our location. Saint!
Tow truck driver came and off we went to Eau Claire. The Harley riding tow truck guy! He was a Hoot. Saint!
They fit us in at the station. All Saints!
Got home and only two days to the next art fair.
Local mechanic and tire guy fit me into their schedule! Saints!
All in all, most people we meet on this road we have chosen, are wonderful! They are the Treasure and Jewels of the Art Fair profession!
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My wife did a show in Sturbridge, Mass last weekend. She has rheumatoid arthritis and can have trouble getting around sometimes. On sunday she was having major troubles so at the end of the show, two separate neighbors came over and told her to just sit down. These two saints totally dismantled her 15 foot display, packed it up and loaded her truck!
Saints, big time!
I could go on for pages about the good people I have met in this business. After a while we become a family. I have seen newbies show up at a major event and forgot their cash register. Along comes another exhibitor, hands them one and says "I have an extra, use mine."
Another time we were at a Country Folk Art show in Farmington, CT. A B/S merchant called the promoter and said he broke down in NJ. He was towing a 38 foot trailer with a 5th wheel setup on his truck. Another exhibitor (A crafter who makes 100% of his product, took the phone and asked where he was. He told him to wait and he would go from CT to NJ and pick up his trailer and his wife, bring them back to CT and other exhibitors helped her set up. The other exhibitors being both B/S AND crafters.
Another time an exhibitor was going to a restaurant on Saturday night and thieves broke into his van. He had his bank bag stolen. He had over $10,000 in that bag. On Sunday a collection was taken, and believe it or not, he almost got all the money back! Exhibitors were putting in $100 bills. He got on the PA system the following weekend as the same promoter was having another show and he literally was crying thanking everyone.
There are exhibitors who believe the show revolves around them, and there are others that know we need all of us to make a successful show.
This is one of the things I LOVE about this business. For the most part, we work with truly good, caring people. We support eachother because it is the right thing to do, but we also know how hard each and every one of us works to run our own businesses and create our art and put ourselves out there to be judged by the public.
I recently was towed to a show site. Yeah- I got a lot of grief for that. :-) The tow truck driver dropped my trailer and myself off at the show and took my van on to the repair shop. I had people willing to drive me here and there, take care of my booth when going to pick up said van and all sorts of emotional support. I was so thankful, but one lady mentioned the things that I had done for them. The interesting thing is, I don't really remember doing them. No big deal. But I certainly remember what they did for me. I am so thankful for these good people.
The other thing I need to comment on- if I ever break down and have been in a rural blue collar area- those folks are wonderful! If I break down in a fancy, well to do neighborhood- no help. Now I went ahead and got AAA + RV, which I am quite glad to have, but it is little substitute for the people on the scene that offer assistance and will not accept a dime for their efforts. Those are the modern day angels in my mind.
Hey Greg! Thanks for a positive look at this weird life! ha! I do believe it's how you see things sometimes. Even at the most financially horrible show I always find something really neat happened either in a nugget of wisdom that I learned or my neighbors or customer becomes a real friend.
Like you, I usually do these things by myself as I have three little girls and my husband needs to watch them while I'm gone. I feel he is a Saint for a) supporting me in doing this art thing and b) enjoying and having a great time with the girls while I'm away (I don't feel bad for leaving etc). He really shows he loves me by that!
I have a great sister too. She helps me set-up my booth sometimes. Wow, that is a great help. I usually let her go home when I get to the "hanging the work" because that takes so long and I only know what I want it to look like. BUT can I say that we usually end up giggling and laughing so hard about something during set-up (like our lack of strength!) that people around us think we are heavy drinkers. :) She is a Saint for her hard work. Thanks for sweating it out with me.
Who could discount the people who come by to give me a potty break? Hey, I'm by myself here folks. I need those! I call them Saints because I've been in some shows where they say they have "break" staff but I never saw them...perhaps they meant, these people are constantly on a break... hmmmm. Anyway, back to the Saints...For anyone who ever asked me or came by to inquire or just said, "I'll do it!" YOU are a Saint. Thank you.
Last but not least, to the Security or Police that watch over my work day and night. You all are Saints. I know it must be the most boring job you've ever had and sometimes the most thankless but I love seeing you all. It makes me feel better. I sleep at night because you are watching over my little works. God bless you all!
Replies
My wife did a show in Sturbridge, Mass last weekend. She has rheumatoid arthritis and can have trouble getting around sometimes. On sunday she was having major troubles so at the end of the show, two separate neighbors came over and told her to just sit down. These two saints totally dismantled her 15 foot display, packed it up and loaded her truck!
Saints, big time!
I could go on for pages about the good people I have met in this business. After a while we become a family. I have seen newbies show up at a major event and forgot their cash register. Along comes another exhibitor, hands them one and says "I have an extra, use mine."
Another time we were at a Country Folk Art show in Farmington, CT. A B/S merchant called the promoter and said he broke down in NJ. He was towing a 38 foot trailer with a 5th wheel setup on his truck. Another exhibitor (A crafter who makes 100% of his product, took the phone and asked where he was. He told him to wait and he would go from CT to NJ and pick up his trailer and his wife, bring them back to CT and other exhibitors helped her set up. The other exhibitors being both B/S AND crafters.
Another time an exhibitor was going to a restaurant on Saturday night and thieves broke into his van. He had his bank bag stolen. He had over $10,000 in that bag. On Sunday a collection was taken, and believe it or not, he almost got all the money back! Exhibitors were putting in $100 bills. He got on the PA system the following weekend as the same promoter was having another show and he literally was crying thanking everyone.
There are exhibitors who believe the show revolves around them, and there are others that know we need all of us to make a successful show.
I recently was towed to a show site. Yeah- I got a lot of grief for that. :-) The tow truck driver dropped my trailer and myself off at the show and took my van on to the repair shop. I had people willing to drive me here and there, take care of my booth when going to pick up said van and all sorts of emotional support. I was so thankful, but one lady mentioned the things that I had done for them. The interesting thing is, I don't really remember doing them. No big deal. But I certainly remember what they did for me. I am so thankful for these good people.
The other thing I need to comment on- if I ever break down and have been in a rural blue collar area- those folks are wonderful! If I break down in a fancy, well to do neighborhood- no help. Now I went ahead and got AAA + RV, which I am quite glad to have, but it is little substitute for the people on the scene that offer assistance and will not accept a dime for their efforts. Those are the modern day angels in my mind.
Amy
Like you, I usually do these things by myself as I have three little girls and my husband needs to watch them while I'm gone. I feel he is a Saint for a) supporting me in doing this art thing and b) enjoying and having a great time with the girls while I'm away (I don't feel bad for leaving etc). He really shows he loves me by that!
I have a great sister too. She helps me set-up my booth sometimes. Wow, that is a great help. I usually let her go home when I get to the "hanging the work" because that takes so long and I only know what I want it to look like. BUT can I say that we usually end up giggling and laughing so hard about something during set-up (like our lack of strength!) that people around us think we are heavy drinkers. :) She is a Saint for her hard work. Thanks for sweating it out with me.
Who could discount the people who come by to give me a potty break? Hey, I'm by myself here folks. I need those! I call them Saints because I've been in some shows where they say they have "break" staff but I never saw them...perhaps they meant, these people are constantly on a break... hmmmm. Anyway, back to the Saints...For anyone who ever asked me or came by to inquire or just said, "I'll do it!" YOU are a Saint. Thank you.
Last but not least, to the Security or Police that watch over my work day and night. You all are Saints. I know it must be the most boring job you've ever had and sometimes the most thankless but I love seeing you all. It makes me feel better. I sleep at night because you are watching over my little works. God bless you all!