From our AFI Facebook page:
This past weekend, I observed something that could happen to any of us out there doing art / craft shows alone.
On Saturday [2nd day of the show ] an artist had went by to say good morning to another artist[an old friend] and she was not in her booth, did not think much of it , it was early and Susan might be running a little late. At lunch time while getting something to eat , Susan was still not in her booth, again did not think much about it, but checking again about 2 o’clock, Susan was still not in her booth, lights were not on . When asked the back door neighbors said that they had not seen her all day, and had thought about telling the promoter about it, but had not seen her. The artist looking for Susan remembered that Susan had mentioned she was staying at Motel 6 , and proceeded to call the motel and ask for Susan, when connected, Susan said she was sick , and had went to the Emergency Room Friday night , and was diagnosed with severe urinary tract infection, and was very nauseous and could not get out of bed , even to fill the prescriptions she had been given the night before.
The first artist contacted the show promoter, who had no solutions. The first artist [who had help in her booth] then left the show drove across the city to get the prescriptions and proceeded to fill them at a pharmacy and returned to Susan’s motel, so she could start taking the medicine.
The next day Susan was not much better, but she wanted to go to the show, so the first artist went by her motel so she could drive Susan and her van to the show. Susan never felt like staying in her booth Sunday, but stayed in the Artist lounge on a couch. She did come out at closing to pack up her art work. When the first artist was done packing and loading, she and her partner helped Susan to pack and load her van. Then drove Susan and her van back to her motel. And stayed an extra night in their motel to make sure Susan could drive to her home the next day. The next day the antibiotics were working and Susan decided she could drive herself the 2 hours home.
All this story to say, we need to watch out for other artists. It could easily have been any of us doing shows alone out there. I do not think any of us are prepared to get sick while at a show, and all of us could use help if that happened. We are a part of a community, independent, gypsy, artists. Care about your fellow artists, notice if they are sick or need help. It could be you one day.
--from Sam Davisson
Replies
This is so very true. Before I remarried, I traveled alone. I made friends with vendors and their families and after a while they looked after me. They made sure I had a booth space near theirs so they could help provide relief if I needed to leave the booth. We all connected at the different sites so that if someone was missing or delayed, people went looking for them in case they broke down on the road or something. It is the only way to survive these events. Helping one another is a wonderful connection to a very kind community.