Oshkosh B'Gosh

Attending the 2015 Oshkosh Irish Fest was a learning experience, a challenge and a smashing success for book sales.  The fair grounds are small and estimated attendance for the four day event was about 2500 but was hampered by rain for two of the four days.

Friday night attendance was surprisingly light.  I was to speak at 7:00 p.m. and just as the first words were leaving my lips the premier band for the night started playing – a full 30 minutes early.  It takes a lot to unnerve me, but the blast of sound almost knocked me off my chair.  My tiny audience hung in with me and I got through my 30 minute spiel, they applauded – for endurance, not content.  We sold two books that evening to an older woman who didn’t understand how debit cards worked; she thought she had a credit card.  I gave her my address and just asked her to send a check.

Saturday afternoon it poured rain which drove the attendees into the cultural tent where we sold books.  I had a table to myself and put up two huge posters of both books.  As folks strolled by I watched their eyes and if they rested on either book poster I would ask:  “How would you like to read a great Irish story?”  We sold out of books that afternoon and took orders for ten more books that I promptly mailed out Monday afternoon.  I’ve never sold out before.  NEVER.  What a thrill.  My presentation was at 5:00 p.m. and I only had four in the audience.  Later that night Lynette pointed out that half the audience purchased books after my presentation (she’s a pro at seeing the silver lining).

Sunday we didn’t have any books to sell, we could only take orders.  My presentation was at noon.  For the second day in a row the lady from Green Bay spoke to long and robbed 10 minutes from me.  The MC actually went on stage, took the mic from her and introduced me.  She still didn’t leave the stage.  I walked up to her, placed my hand gently on her back and told her she had to leave.  Finally, she left.  In the back row and large family was having their own discussion as I was talking.  Their rudeness made me very angry.  I told them they were being rude and asked them to take it outside the tent.  Lynette wasn’t happy with me.  I was people tired and my tolerance for their inconsideration burst.  It happens.

I hope to receive an invitation to the 2016 Oshkosh Irish Fest; I learned a great deal about connecting with people in that setting and sold a record number of books.  From my viewpoint, the presentations are problematic but probably necessary.