jakorte's blog

My friend, also my ride and festival coordinator, was there to greet me at the bus station. Grinning, we threw our arms around each other in a joyful hug, then threw my minimal well-drug, well-travelled rolling luggage into the trunk of a little car already stuffed with posters, blue grass magazines and supplies. After my attempt to get in on the wrong side of the car, we headed off on errands. Stopped at a supply shop for ledgers, then straight to the festival office were I met the two ladies in charge of tickets and information. They have a viable and nearly perfected routine down. I only say “nearly perfected” because everyone ever involved in production knows festival or show, convention or celebration, the unexpected can be expected. They’ve been doing this for ten years, though, and know well enough changes will occur. Over time, they’ve learned to anticipate changes, and are now seasoned enough to roll with them, rather than be run over by them.

Longford town is a charming square of businesses, common area, restaurants and pubs, all very conveniently surrounded by one way streets and walkways. As a new member of the all volunteer staff, I stepped comfortably into task: guillotine cut flyers, trouble shot the computer printer, assembled artist itinerary packets, and even walked down the road a bit to pay the printer for previously ordered printed programs. Another list of errands I hand, and were off again. All in all, I arrived at the Longford Arms Hotel about two hours after I getting off the bus. I could have walked towing my luggage behind me but the sheer fun of hitting the ground running and catching up catch-as-catch-can with my dear friend were perfect.