One would think that children’s books that are cute, fun, and have great photos (meaning my Jazzy Books) would sell at a children’s festival. But……… cue in the spinning cups, loud music, water fun, fried food, slushy drinks and cotton candy, and books become uninteresting no matter how cute they are.
To add to the all the distractions was a free keychain activity with colorful beads on one side of my tent and a “Teddy Bear Mobile” with stuffing that is blowing around in a large clear bin looking like cotton candy and dispensed like a slushy into the bear the child chooses, on the other.
Besides the atmosphere of fun and games was a feeling of entitlement. A lot of bigger businesses, like Xfinity, were giving away bright orange bags with their logo, book bags, hand clappers, etc. After passing this booth, then making their free key chain, children and parents were picking up items from my table and walking away with them. I felt awful asking them to pay for my Jazzy cubes and coloring books, but my goodness.
My little Jazzy’s Books business cannot compete with that type of atmosphere.
But, besides all that above, I did sell a few books, made a few children smile with a “free” Jazzy Cube with a book purchase, and basically broke even. (If you don’t count time and gas, ha ha ha ha)
On another note, I met some very interesting people. As I was entertaining myself taking photos in the Danville Old West End National Historic District, I met two gentlemen sitting on the porch of a beautifully restored home. I was invited to see inside and we played a little on the piano.
When I arrived at my Air B&B, there were two more guests than planned: A traveling nurse and an exchange student from Honduras. After my solitary dinner at a terrific Mexican restaurant, I took some sunset photos (not very remarkable but pretty) and I spent an hour or so just chatting with my new acquaintances.
Enjoy the photos.
