Art Fair Survival Guide
Brian J. Sullivan
Semis, silhouetted against the pre-dawn sky, are lined-up one after another along the side of the on-ramp. In the distant horizon, the sun's first light has begun to illuminate the wispy clouds in a brilliant orange halo.
I was traveling eastward down some ubiquitous highway, each side exhibiting uniform rows of corn. It was late September; their stalks had begun to change to a light brown color. I was enjoying the early morning solitude and the hypnotic sound of my tires upon the pavement except for the occasional "click" as my tires went over a seam in the pavement. My headlights cut through the low hanging mist. I was on my way to the next art fair. My thoughts wandered as I mentally tried to go over all the items I packed to see if I had forgotten anything. As more grey hairs appear with each passing year, I find the space between my thoughts widens and soon I forget what I was doing. So to help ease the mental agony of forgetfulness, I have created yet another check-list of items I need to go through before I leave for each fair. It is very similar to the check-list every airplane pilot is required to go through before take-off (pre-flight check-list). What follows is my list.
Home
- -Cancel paper
- Hold mail
- Pre-pay all bills
- Water plants
- Cut lawn
- Turn down heat (turn up A/C)
- Leave some lights on
- Check and lock all doors and windows
- Tell neighbors itinerary and give them emergency contact numbers
Suitcase
(I re-pack and re-stock it with laundered clothes and sundries as soon as I arrive back home from the last fair. It is always packed and ready to go on a moments notice.)
- -PDA/extra batteries
- Shaving kit
- Dress clothes/casual
- Swimsuit/aqua socks
- Workout clothes/gym stuff
- Granola/snack food/fruit
- Sweatshirt/sweater
Backpack
- -Extra truck keys
- Small first aid kit
- All medicine/RX/aspirin
- Extra cash $$$/check book
- Camera/film/extra batteries/charger/tri-pod
- Extra pair of prescription glasses
- Sunglasses
- Hat
- Sunscreen
- Cell phone/charger
- Insect repellant
- Sketch book
- Light coat/warm-up pants
- Art slides/portfolio
- Fanny pack
- Reading material
- Toilet paper
- Waterless hand sanitizer
- Swiss army knife
- Small water bottle
Vehicle
- -Check tire pressure
- Check oil and miscellaneous fluids
- Gas truck up
- Wash windshields inside and out
- Check headlights, taillights and blinkers
- Radar detector and electronic compass
- Small cooler/ice pack
- Foul weather bag/rain suit
- Sleeping bag
- Tool box
- Cordless drill/batteries/charger
- Roller blades
- GPS (Global Positioning Satellite)
Art Fair Folder
- -All fair info
- Maps and driving directions
- Hotel confirmations
- Emergency contact numbers
Art Display Items
- -Credit card machine
- Receipt book
- Guest book
- Inventory sheet/price labels
- Post cards/business cards
- Baby wipes/anti-static rag
- Feather duster
- Calculator
- Tent/canopy
- All tent poles
- Tent weights
- Display panels
- Flip bin
- Directors chair
- Umbrella/stand
- Lights/electrical cords
- Electric fan
- Fire extinguisher
- Gallon water jug
- Blue tarps (several)
- Grey tool box (nyties/duct tape/curtain hooks)
- Dolly/hand truck
- Roll of carpet/rubber mats
- All art work
- Plastic/paper bags
Now, if I could only find my pen, I could check mark my list. Let me know what I have forgotten so I can add it to my list.