It was easy to catch the lightning during a thunderstorm

[fbhjr]

In 2006, Phoenix Swords put on its own 1 day faire.
In many ways it was a disaster:
The club where we had it promised us a field for parking. Club members refused to let us use it and held a softball game there.
It rained. Rained enough for flash floods. Wind strong enough to bring down whole trees and power lines. Thunder and lightning in the peak hours we were to be open.
We hired security guard for the faire. They apparently saw it would rain and decided not to show up despite being paid in advance.
We told the club bartenders that 4 people were drinking on us. When everyone went into the bar in the rain, someone heard one of them say “the faire organizers are buy my drinks” and thought it extended to everyone. So, they told the bartender we were buying their drinks too. I have never been sure why the bartender couldn’t count to 4, but he kept giving away drinks on us. At the end of the day we ended up with a $900 bar bill at the end of the day.
Rides, places to stay, airport, train and bus pickups and drop offs had to be arranged. I have far more memories of carting people around in my car that weekend then of the actual faire.
People who swore to us that having their own faire was what they needed to be motivated to give it their all, didn’t. Some of them were embarrassingly bad after telling us this was what they needed to be good.
We lost thousands of dollars on it when all was said and done.

In many ways it was an amazing success:
We had 110 people pay to get in even in that weather.
We had acts come from Kansas, Iowa, New Jersey, Maine and Alabama.
We had performers who we will never be able to get again. Some groups have broken up, and some people have died.
There was a real sense of accomplishment for a lot of us who participated in it.
We’ve had people come up to us years later and tell us what a good time they had.

We’ve been asked to do it again.
I’ve resisted for various reasons. Money, location, time & effort.
But, one of the reasons I don’t usually mention is my fear that we wouldn’t be able to pull it off the way I’d want it to be pulled off.
But, maybe it is time to try again.
It will take a while to set up. But, maybe it is time to start.

Comments

[brickhousewench.livejournal.com]

I had a really awesome time at your faire, despite the weather. And you would have had one more paying patron if Holly hadn't waved me through the gate. ;-)

[temperlj.livejournal.com]

And we *charged* Christian Tobler :)

[brickhousewench.livejournal.com]

*evil giggles*