Jekyll Island Beach 2012

Jekyll Island Beach 2012

Friday, July 2, 2010

Christmas in July? No! Don't Make Me Go!

The Rogue Speaks:
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The Southern Arizona Arts Guild has an annual event called Holidazzle. It is billed as a FABULOUS winter show and sale. Most of the time, it is just that. There have been years when the venue has not been exactly what we expected, and for those years it has been an event where the artists stand around and sell things to each other. I've gotten some really cool art from people whose work I admire, so it has been good for me.
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I was the first exhibition chair of the event 8 years ago, and I have had that job more times than I care to count since. It is a lot of work. You have to line people up to work shifts, and make sure they don't forget to show up, you have to teach people how to use the credit card machine, and how to write up sales receipts so each artist gets credit for sales. No one seems to remember that stuff from one year to the next, because we are programed to create, not perform repetititive work. You have to open, you have to close, you have to reconcile the cash box every night! Whew!! Since I am an artist and not a business administration major, it is a royal pain in the ass!
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The process for Holidazzle usually begins in the early fall, and my BFA and I flew by the seat of our pants to get it put together. We spent the fall months wild-eyed and panting, until everything was in place. We were so tired by the end of the show that we were glassy-eyed and tongue-tied, and swearing that next year we will start earlier, like in the summer.
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We said that, but did we actually mean that? Two years ago, I found a new treasurer for the Guild when my husband, who had been in that slot for four years, decided to retire--actually I think it was just after Holidazzle that he told us. Anyway, our new treasurer, Jane, is a veritable wonder woman! We are so lucky to have someone to keep us artists in place, financially, since we just don't do well with numbers unless we are painting them on something. Jane found us a terrific venue for Holidazzle last year, so we were thrilled to have her do that again. We just did not know that she planned to start looking so early, especially since my BFA and I are co-chairing the event again this year and we had planned to wait until the last f****** minute to throw it together.
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Jane wants to meet with us to discuss the venue, so we decided to get together for either lunch or cocktails, and talk about our options. My first option was to be left out of the planning process, but that didn't go over well. I have just barely gotten the fiascoes of last year's show out of my head, and now I have to start thinking about it again! Waaaaaaa! Not fair!!
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The emails concerning this meeting have been flying back and forth:
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BFA:... when we meet with Jane do you want to do lunch or cocktails??? I'm hoping to cajole her into doing most of the legwork as far as finding a venue for the dreaded "H." We are all in accord that ONE WEEK is max for this event (hopefully shorter.)
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Me: It doesn't matter. Either one is fine.
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BFA: I'll let Jane know we will do Cocktail O'Clock.
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Jane: Ladies, since it doesn't seem to matter what we do Tuesday how about if we do an early happy hour? Do you know what time it starts? I haven't a clue.
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Me: Sounds good to me. It may start at 5.
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BFA: WHEEEE!!! Jane's been a busy little beaver! That would be sooo great if we actually knew our venue before end of November. I cut and pasted the following from Metropolitan's website. Is 3:00 too early to meet? I'll pick Judie up (then dump her on her front lawn when we're done)


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Happy Hour!
Join us in our Lounge
Daily from 3pm - Close
Half Price Appetizers & $1 Off Wines, Well and Beer.
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Me: Please just drag me to the door! Those rocks hurt!
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Jane: What about 4?
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Me: Four is fine for me--five, and I'll be under the table. Oh! Are you talking about the TIME??
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So the meeting is set for Tueday at 4. I will be coming off the golf course a couple of hours before, so I may be brain-dead. I will be clean, though, and I'll have notepaper with me (to practice origami while Jane talks). My BFA will have paper and pen also. She is way better at multitasking than I am, so she will take the notes while creating beautiful artwork around the margins of her paper.
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I don't want to be thinking about Holidazzle in July! I'm hot! and I'm whiny! But I do like the Metropolitan Grill. And I am grateful to have someone like Jane. It makes me and my BFA look really good when the show opens!
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I'll invite you all to the reception. I will be the one behind the check-out table, smiling and staring off into space. Just wave your hand in front of my face. It's only a temporary coma.
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I am already feeling stupid, so if there are any misspelled words in this post, just ignore them.

10 comments:

Cher Duncombe said...

You had me laughing once you started talking about the times of cocktail hour! I can't wait to hear how this all turns out. Push that mojo, Judie. You are an artist and therefore should not have to work the numbers. :) Seriously, the art you have displayed here is so beautiful. The one called "Untitled" has a surrealist beauty to it.

Also love the photos of the twins. Would you believe that I have identical twin granddaughters? Just gets more and more interesting, these connections.

Bruce Coltin said...

Having spent 25+ years in the trade show business, I can easily relate. When the event is over, you want it to stay over for as long as possible. Having someone drag you back into the planning process is a blessing - painful as that blessing may be.

nothingprofound said...

What's wrong with waiting until the night before to plan the event? That's what I usually do-it's a great stress reliever. Of course, the upside of starting early is that you get to squeeze in a few more cocktail hours and maybe even a couple of brunches. Meanwhile, the event, when it actually occurs, sounds like terrific fun, and I wish I could be there for the next one.

Judie said...

Cher, that is bizarre! How old are your twins? Do you get to see them often? Glad you liked the dialog. I couldn't make this stuff up!

Bruce, several years ago I wrote a SOP on exhibitions for the Guild. If I follow my own rules, things generally work out. I AM an artist, though, and generally live on another plain of existence.

NP, as you can tell, we love lunches and cocktails! At least one of us knows what she is talking about, so it comes out o.k.

The Guy's Perspective said...

Wish I could come. I've helped my buddy Cary, the potter you know, at one of his trade shows. I helped him set up, etc. It was a long day.

He tells me cash register, credit card situation is the biggest pain in the ass ever.

I didn't give it much thought until you say it here. I believe you!!

How's the golf game coming? I'm rehabbing my shoulder hoping to back playing tennis in a few weeks. Wish I had time to get better at golf.

Judie said...

The cash/credit card issues are the worst! I have detailed instructions, in red, in bold print, taped next to the cash box. I could not have made it any simpler. Several of them still don't get it. Last year I found one credit card receipt with only the customer's card imprint and signature--no items, no prices, and no totals! The Guild has to eat any shortages, and we make the members keep inventory sheets. As Gilda used to say, "It's always something!"

My golf game is iffy right now. Yesterday I had a pretty good round, but on Tuesday I had the worst round I have had in twenty five years! Golf is flog spelled backwards!

Work that shoulder, honey!!

art4allofu said...

Hmmm, after reading this I'm thinking we better meet for cocktails at 9 a.m. (Bloody Marys anyone?) and continue the meeting through midnight (nightcap Kaluha anyone?)....and continue drinking until Holidazzle is over.

Judie said...

What do you mean by "we?" You,my dear, are the designated driver, unless you want to hire a limo to drive us to and from! Say! That's not a bad idea! We can bill the cost to the Guild! They would pay it, too, because they are soooo happy that THEY are not in charge. Plus, we get to wear our tiaras!

Angelia Sims said...

I think I need to plan a trip to Tuscon! LOL!

Too funny about the drinks, I mean time. :-)

Judie said...

You are welcome here any time, Angelia! My friends and I are great fun to visit because we are so crazy. You should plan to come when we have Girls Game night! If I were you, though, I would wait until it is not so f****** hot!

My BFA is planning an intervention for tomorrow's cocktail hour meeting. She and Jane are going to try to get me to give up vodka (and switch to GIN!! Fat chance!)