Last year's setup for Gasparilla 2010 was by all accounts a disaster. It was their first year in the park and the fire marshall threw the staff a curve at the last minute by restricting access to the setup area. Some artist even left before setting up and did not return.
The staff took the complaints very seriously and and this year the situation could not have been more different. In past Gasparillas, the sign in time was seven in the evening (or was it six?). Lines of people would be waiting, ready to go, staring at the volunteers sitting behind the packet boxes, who were staring back defiantly until the second hand hit seven. Then the rush was on.
When the show was moved to the park the setup window remained the same. Combined with the above described variables it turned out to be a mess. So I'm told.
This year, instead of opening the setup on Friday evening, it was started two full days ahead of time. Since all the spaces are off the street and out of traffic, there is no reason the tents can't be set up that far ahead of time to spread out the setup traffic. As a result this year's setup was like being on a different planet.
They had given an actual address for gps that got us right to the sign in and staging area where we were supposed to meet. it was roughly an acre field (about a mile and a half drive from the show) on the edge of a neighborhood where they had the sign-in tent set up. There was plenty of parking and everyone lined up ready to pull out and take their spots in the convoy to the show site when called. When it was time to go they lined us up (it was easy and quickly done) and the lead car pulled out. Unlike Atlanta Dogwood, which had a similar system, there was no motorcycle escort. That seemed a recipe for disaster since our convoy would certainly be broken up by traffic lights. It was. As soon as we cleared the light, however, there was a big blinking rental sign that directed us to the next turn. Then there was another sign at the next turn. After that there were live people positioned to direct us.
When we got to the park, it was obvious why this could not be done without close direction. Although the lanes leading into the park were two way, the lanes leading out weren't. The staff had to work with fire lanes laid out by the fire marshall and the loss of a loading lane that was left open for rush hour traffic. We came in on a single lane reserved for artist traffic. It would have taken only one stray van to cause massive traffic jams on Ashley. One more stray van would have blocked all the other artists from setting up. In many shows having all the vans stray works itself out nicely. This ain't one of them.
We stopped our vehicles next to the grass area (NO vehicles on the grass, thanks) and started the land rush. We had two hours on Thursday to dump and remount for the drive out (Friday you get an hour. Its enough.) We even had time to get unloaded and get our tent and panels set up before they called for us to move out. The staff members helped some of the artists with unloading and setup(!). They were at all times courteous, professional, and downright friendly. They kept us posted on how much time we had left. It was the most relaxed, stress free setup we have had in recent memory.
As soon as we were pulling out another line came in right behind us. The precision with which the whole thing was done would have been amazing for a tenth year show. This was the first time they had used this system. Setup itself was relaxed, uncrowded, and there was plenty of room to spread your stuff out around your spot before organizing it into a show ready booth. Spaces were twelve feet wide. Storage space seems generous.
You'd better make sure you have everything trucked in that you can't carry because artist parking is not very close and you only get one shot bringing your vehicle in before the show. The lot we will be parking in is a fifteen minute walk away.
Now let's hope the crowds are ready to buy something besides corn dogs.
