I try to follow a general pattern because I've done it all before.
I do this with my food intake since I no longer have anyone around me that I have to please, except myself.
So, I showed up around 7:30am, which is late for me. I usually get there around 7am., but the past few years, I have been working with an amazing partner who has been organizing things to make it much more efficient to get things done.
He showed up around 8am. During the time I was there alone, I received help from some of the stronger people there. They helped me to carry the sound system out to the stage.
The canopy we use behind the stage as well as the table were already there.
When I first started doing East Petersburg Day years ago, things were much different. I did much of the work myself. I got help from a few very helpful people, but much of the grunt work was mine from beginning to end as far as the stage was concerned. There were also many restrictions which have since been removed, so things have gotten easier, if you can call a 12 hour + day easy.
So, with that work out of the way, I assisted with the cables for the speakers, and set up my DJ outfit. Then, we were able to start playing music over the sound system to entertain the workers while we waited for the crowds to show up.
I used to pick and choose each song, but have stopped doing that for the most part. I now run two CDs, one for the left player and one for the right. I just let them play while I help with other things.
We walk the entire park to make sure the sound is everywhere.
We take pictures, as you can see above.
We talk to as many vendors as we can to make sure they have what they need. We also gather information about them so we can tell the people about them. This is part of what they pay for. I try to give as positive and informative information on the microphone about each and every vendor at our event.
To be a bit selfish, I decided a few years ago to patronize everyone who advertised in the ad book as I could. I used many of the services offered. My landscaping work, plumbing, etc. were all from advertisers and vendors. Even my Chiropractor was a vendor at East Petersburg Day a few years ago.
As the day goes on, I did the MC work, introducing the Police Honor guard, the singer of the National Anthem, and the Mayor. I did all the other announcements throughout the day. We had several events going on at the same time, and it sometimes got confusing, but I don't think anyone is going to shoot me for forgetting them.
It started to rain just as the Lititz Academy of Dance came on to do their thing, but they kept dancing in the cold rain and mud, and the crowd stayed to watch them. Many people had umbrellas, surprisingly, even though the weatherman said there was only a light chance of precipitation.
I had a chair that I got to use only a few times. Mainly I was on my feet the whole day. I had trouble climbing up the stairs onto the stage and only did that when I absolutely had to. I probably took about a dozen trips up and down. The Crestor makes me hurt when I'm actually going up and down the stairs, but it doesn't linger. So today, even though I am tired, I am not overly sore. Now, if I had to go up the stairs again...
Since I am the one with the camera, I usually don't get the chance (or want to) to have my picture taken. I did ask Ken to take one picture of me and he did a good job. Of course, I was sitting in the chair at the time!
It's 4:05 pm right now, and I am resisting taking a nap because I know I'll sleep until 9 tonight and then be awake all night. I went food shopping this afternoon, and will take it easy the rest of the day, even though I should cut the lawn.
I spent some time this morning uploading pictures and videos to Facebook as well as making comments to make sure everyone I could think of was mentioned that contributed to the success of the event. I did not get to take pictures of the opening ceremony since I was onstage, and I didn't attend the teen dance, which was after the fireworks. I parked the car across the way at the church, and had to walk all the way around with very sore knees since they had the short cut blocked because of the fireworks.
They had activities for dog lovers too that I didn't get to see. It was raining and they were on the other side of the park under the pavilion.
There was one picture I didn't take which was a group shot at the carousel. Since I was in it, I couldn't take it. It will be on Facebook soon. The fire company also took several photos of the park from the top of their ladder truck. I hope to see those pictures too.
Tomorrow is the time I will start my new plan. Let's see what really happens....
