March 3, Monday--at last a 2-day weekend.  Great weather, a great bizarre
bazaar,
and the last breakfast (Jhen is getting handfasted tomorrow, and with all the
other stuff going on, she and Melissa have decided this is it).  Long and
complicated conversations, short and simple ones, and general socializing.  Off
to get the van greased, and find that the economy for service stations (as
opposed to gas stations) is also down.  And they are having less fun than we
are.  Find the library is closed again due to plumbing problems, so mostly some
reading.  A long conversation in the evening with a fellow vendor.

Tuesday, sleep in late, then collect my last shipment of books, including the
transshipped one (sent to Ohio by their mistake), and restock.  Consolidate
boxes to make packing easier.  A wonderful evening at an informal jam in the
campground takes up 6:00 to midnight.  And the weather is still good.

Wednesday, off to the library, which is finally open again, catch up on email
and that kind of stuff.  The big event tonight is the RESCU rally/cast party.
With my heel still acting up, I am not much use in moving stuff, but I end up
staffing the information table (and sometimes covering for the guy selling pins
and CDs).  And I get my share of beer and food.

       RESCU, as many of my loyal readers know, is
"Renaissance Entertainers, Services
and Crafters United", a legally recognized charitable institution,
providing
medical and similar assistance to all rennies.  This now includes financial
help, negotiation help (some medical bills have been over a half million since
RESCU began, and they can usually be negotiated down), and similar services.
We are also working on getting a directory of free and inexpensive medical and
dental care available in the neighborhood of each faire, and have already
provided first aid training at many of the larger faires.  Check out the RESCU
website for more info.
       And, I should point out that, at this faire, nearly uniquely, the
 faire owner
Bobby Rodriguez, allows us to combine with the cast party, thus all food
and
beverages are free.  RESCU provides all the staff.
       And, after the raffle, auction, and silent auction of things donated by vendors
and other participants, plus the generous donation of all tips from the
bartenders, we managed to raise over $6700.

Thursday, continue cleaning up my campsite, do laundry and begin packing.  Major
downpours in afternoon and early evening, with major wind included.  The rain
slacks off around 7:00 and off to funky formal.  No theme at this one, and
people come in all sorts of clothing (as usual at such events, more women than
men dress up).  A new feature is a small waterslide.  This is popular with all
kids in attendance, and many of the adults.  Music provided by Scutar as DJ.  I
manage to get in some flirting, and a good time is had by all, including the
little kids.
       Two interesting notes:  First, most of the music is clearly 1980s or later, as
opposed to the mostly 60s and early 70s of the cast party/RESCU rally.  Second,
a large number of the attendees wear outrageous hats of one sort or another.
       Third interesting note:  in general, this is a much wilder party than last
night.  The presence of the waterslide generates much hilarity, and the
presence of water adds to it. At least one good fellow clearly was not thinking
well--He carefully removed his watch and cellphone,
put them
in his pocket for safekeeping, then slid down the slide.  (For those not
regular readers I should note this statement does *not* mean anything close to
an orgy.  Sadly for the mythology, campsite and backstage life are not as wild
as rumor has it. Or, from man doing security at the waterslide:  three
men, no women, eventually went down the slide in their underwear.  On
the other hand, this is, in effect, summer camp with no
counselors and few rules.).

Friday, many errands, many people are packing in hopes of tearing down Sunday
night, others in hopes of getting done by the end of Monday (like me).  Rumors
of bad weather coming generate the usual extra staking and tying down of shops
and camps. And I end up in a long conversation with a fellow crafter/artist who
is getting off the road (only planning on two larger faires a year).  And, for
those who are keeping track of such things, she was trained as a biophysicist,
and ended up manager for a very large hotel.  We spend some time speculating on
the "what brings us into this and why do we do it anyway?  A discussion I
have had more than once, and expect to have again.

Saturday, the last weekend begins.  Strong winds most of Friday night followed
by heavy rain. Fortunately, the rain lets up by about 7:00am, but it 's
cloudy
until about 11:00.  Other than the wind, the weather is perfect--I'd guess
low
70s.  Very small crowds early on, moderate ones later.  Good energy all around,
but very spotty sales. Some vendors do quite well, others don't.  General
agreement seems to be that, at best, people hope to make what they did last
year.

A number of folk stop by, old friends, new ones, and patrons.  I take the
opportunity to buy two new CDs, and plan at least one more tomorrow. A lot of
booths see their owners  back (from Tampa or elsewhere) for final weekend, and
then teardown.  A considerable amount of my sales are to other rennies, and to
repeat customers.  I do notice, as in past weeks, the lack of returning
beebacks.  In past years, FLaRF has generated a high percentage of actual
returns among people who say they will be back. Not this year.

But, in short, a very pleasant day.

Sunday, last day.  And time change happened last night.  Things start off
very slowly, but pick up after 1:00 (i.e. time change, plus church).
More friends come back, I make my last run and say goodbye.  Sales
remain slow.  Since there has been less rain, the water from Saturday
disappears quickly, and I spend the day dusting the books over and over.
The faire stays open until a little after 7:00; some patrons in fact
do stay.

At the end of the day, I add up receipts.  Nope, didn't break even
by a long shot.  And, thanks to a couple of crowds during the day,
discover I have lost 2 books to shoplifters.  (That makes only 3
items I have lost over 7 1/2 years, all of which disappeared at
this faire over time.  Not too bad, by the way. in the overall
scheme of things).

Many people are busy tearing down; the campground is starting to
clear out, and the faire, as such is over.

And so to bed.

And thus endeth part 5 of part II.  One more part to follow.
--
James Sweetland, Pigasus Enterprises
Books, maps, prints, playing cards and all manner of printed material of the
middle ages and renaissance.