Back from Mississippi. Was an overall good weekend, although at first was a bit odd.
I have had a reoccurring dream over the past couple of years. I am in some place, usually a resort area. It has been Spain, Australia, Italy (probably due to whatever I had to eat that night) I walk around and there are a lot of people hanging out in the streets, in bars, resturants, etc. I usually know several people in the groups. I will walk up to their groups, they will say "hey", then proceed to ignore me the rest of the time. Then they all walk away, and go somewhere else, inviting everyone to go but me. I then go over to other groups and the same thing happens. It is very weird.
The first of the Miss. festival was just like that. Saw a lot of people I knew, different groups, different people, who I knew. Then after saying "Hi", they went back to their conversations as if I wasn't there. Did that quite a bit. A little later in the weekend it changed but the first couple of days was like that everywhere I went. Seemed a lot like I was not exactly welcome there.
You see, this has been a little different than the other festivals I have participated in. Most festivals have invited me, followed up, made sure I was involved with them, made sure I had lodging and acted like I was a valuable part of the festival. This one didn't. I had to contact them dozens of times before they responded to me. And then, after they had asked me to participate in the teaching aspect, they never even acknowledged me in that capacity. A lot of it is political.
Some smaller events like these are not really thrilled with the "Nashville element" coming into their midst. They are sort of in their own element and don't care for the "outsiders." But they want the name credibility. So it is a fine line they have to walk. I do understand it. Just wish they would tell you that.
But it worked out fine. After a rough couple of days, I actually picked up another prime show, and did three in all. There was a lot of reaching out to me after that and I hope we can put it together in a little more solid form. Would really like to teach some writers and am sure I could be helpful to them. Will see.
But overall I had a good time. Of course, they were all worried about the gas thing. We had a pipeline leak up in Alabama and it has created some problems getting gas into some of the stations here in Tennessee. I had no problems and gas was actually very reasonable down there.
So that is it for now. Hope everyone is well. Now, it will be getting ready for Frank Brown.
MAB
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