I'm out of practice.

I'm out of practice.

I spent the weekend at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival working at the Astral Sea wagons. I like retail, and damn can I up-sell. I converted several lookie-lou-walk-aways into sales of bath salts or fragrance oils. I enjoy that. I enjoy talking up the product, meeting people, cajoling, commiserating, flirting, teasing, coaxing a sale like worrying at a knotted shoelace...it's just a hell of a lot of fun.

But I'm out of practice: I'm no longer used to being on my feet for eleven hours a day. By having it beaten into me while I was working at places like Montgomery Ward and So-Fro and Payless Cashways that a sales associate never sits in front of a customer, I was obliged by force of that training to stand most of the time I was there. I know better, that Danny wouldn't care one way or the other so long as money changes hands, but by the end of Saturday my left knee was shrieking at me, and both hips were stiff. I sank into my car for the drive home, and could barely walk after my joints froze on the way.

Sunday was the same. Ouchie. I gave in to my protesting joints and sat a bit more, though I still looked like bad claymation walking into my home.

Beyond that, though, the weather was beautiful, the crowds were friendly. I saw many people I love (you know who you are), one or two I don't, and had the opportunity to soak up the whole "festival thing" without any of the negatives that I remember from all those years ago. It's one of the pleasures of being a vendor. I have many happy memories of the venue, but the ridiculous hoops that so many performers are constrained to jump through aren't among them.

I admit I miss it. Though I have no desire to go back out as a performer under contract, I must admit that as I walked by the jewelry and knife shops I heard the voice in my head - literally, folks - saying, "I could use a new earring" and "Wonder if he's got a knife within my budget?"

I did manage to hand out a few Seamlyne business cards. I was there to work for Danny, so I wasn't terribly aggressive about it. I've no idea if anything will come of it but I hope so.

I'm on the schedule to work again on sixth weekend. I'm looking forward to, sore feet and all.

There's another post from this weekend on the way, but I really must go to bed.

I'm out of practice.

I'm out of practice.

I spent the weekend at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival working at the Astral Sea wagons. I like retail, and damn can I up-sell. I converted several lookie-lou-walk-aways into sales of bath salts or fragrance oils. I enjoy that. I enjoy talking up the product, meeting people, cajoling, commiserating, flirting, teasing, coaxing a sale like worrying at a knotted shoelace...it's just a hell of a lot of fun.

But I'm out of practice: I'm no longer used to being on my feet for eleven hours a day. By having it beaten into me while I was working at places like Montgomery Ward and So-Fro and Payless Cashways that a sales associate never sits in front of a customer, I was obliged by force of that training to stand most of the time I was there. I know better, that Danny wouldn't care one way or the other so long as money changes hands, but by the end of Saturday my left knee was shrieking at me, and both hips were stiff. I sank into my car for the drive home, and could barely walk after my joints froze on the way.

Sunday was the same. Ouchie. I gave in to my protesting joints and sat a bit more, though I still looked like bad claymation walking into my home.

Beyond that, though, the weather was beautiful, the crowds were friendly. I saw many people I love (you know who you are), one or two I don't, and had the opportunity to soak up the whole "festival thing" without any of the negatives that I remember from all those years ago. It's one of the pleasures of being a vendor. I have many happy memories of the venue, but the ridiculous hoops that so many performers are constrained to jump through aren't among them.

I admit I miss it. Though I have no desire to go back out as a performer under contract, I must admit that as I walked by the jewelry and knife shops I heard the voice in my head - literally, folks - saying, "I could use a new earring" and "Wonder if he's got a knife within my budget?"

I did manage to hand out a few Seamlyne business cards. I was there to work for Danny, so I wasn't terribly aggressive about it. I've no idea if anything will come of it but I hope so.

I'm on the schedule to work again on sixth weekend. I'm looking forward to, sore feet and all.

There's another post from this weekend on the way, but I really must go to bed.