I love the smell of drama in the morning.

[ysobelle]

Sigh.

Christ on toast, was it "Bad Karma on Nikki" Day at PARF on Sunday? Did I somehow offend some God of Angst? First we had one utterly whack-job participant customer go postal on my lovely assistant Emily, and then in a raging fit of passive-agression, tell me she was fine with how I settled her problem only to run to her boss and the Craft Coordinator to tell them how I'd screwed her over. You have a problem with me personally, that's fine. but I work for a good company and a good guy, and don't you DARE try to impugn my sense of business honour or that of my company.

By the time the second wave hit me, I was just barely down from the first titanic rage, so my first impulse was actually to laugh. Apparently, one of the other costume vendors on site seems to feel that the best way they can make a sale is by outrageously insulting all the other clothiers. We're a small shire, for G-d's sake. How the hell can anyone think something like that won't get back to us? I don't know how THAT costumer works, but our customers are just as likely to be our friends-- or so we try to work it, cos most of our customers are just cool like that. So how can you not know they're going to come back and say, "Wow, they were certainly saying some nasty things over there about your stuff."

Oh, for G-d's sake.

The good part about it, though, is that I talked to both the show's costumer and our crafts coordinator about selling my corsets on site, and they both quite emphatically said they have no problem with it, and that I sell a quality product that they appreciate.

I have to say I pulled out of the hotel parking lot this morning with an almost overwhelming feeling of gratefulness and satisfaction. I honestly felt that this third day of the weekend was a not a grind, but a gift. And walking back across the field to my booth from a brief break, I realised there are so few places I feel utterly at home, but faire-- this faire, any faire-- is one of them.

I sold not one but two corsets this weekend. And Jeni paid off hers. Wooty woot-- it's a good life sometimes.

Comments

[athalia-jewel.livejournal.com]

Which booth is this, so I can make sure to avoid it when we come to PARF?

For the corset bit: woot! Rock on with yer bad self!

[well-artesia.livejournal.com]

Sorry I missed your call last night - I was having it out with the boychild about something teenager-ish and it wasn't a good time to chat. Mix that with having to get up at 5-flippin-30 this morning, and I fell over into bed at 10:30 without calling you back. Sowwy. :(

Photos here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wastrel
from someone in the DC Flickr group of the MD Ren Fest.
Thought you might enjoy seeing them.

Gawds, I got the 4-1-1 last night...

[hennabee.livejournal.com]

You know...if you needed me to, I would camp that bitch out after my corset is made and be sure to note that while they are, I'm sure, dedicated to quality, that I am claustrophobic and was yet put in to an also quality piece (evidenced by the girls propped up and resting with great leisure beneath me neck). So that mostly if she wanted to talk shit about somebody most of the shire knew on sight, she'd best keep her mouth shut, as it reflected poorly on her business and made her look like a desperate, catty bitch.

But then, I might just do that anyway, because their stuff is crap at really high prices and I've never seen ~anything~ in their store I would drop money on.

Anyway, wow, yeah, good thing I wasn't there for any of that. That sort of shit, that kind of "vibe", is just NOT tolerated well by me. :( I woulda yelled...

*HUGS*
Just remember...the crazy ones go away and the good ones come back and buy more stuff and hang out and such!!

[silverstah.livejournal.com]

I've run into the second scenario more than once both online - and on-site. I really, really, really don't understand this bitchy mentality within the costuming community. I mean, seriously - there's more than enough work out there for all of us - and we're all going to attract different clients.

My work is pretty distinctive - someone who's attracted to my garb is probally not going to looking for super-fancy court stuff. If someone is looking for that stuff, I'll send them to another costumer that I know does good work.

Now, that said, there are a few companies that I don't respect because, personally, I think their work is shoddy. But I don't badmouth them in public - I just advise my friends not to buy from those companies. In my never-be-humble-opinion, it's poor business to publically badmouth another company - it just makes *you* look bad.

When I work faires, I focus on the clients who come into my booth. I help them find the best product for them - and if we don't offer it, I tell them where they can get it. It's just good businesss practice.

[pngwn.livejournal.com]

You all ready know my opinion on the person in question. DO I need to call back up?

[ysobelle.livejournal.com]

I'm sorely tempted. Speaking of sore, how are you?

[hennabee.livejournal.com]

I wanna put the smack-down tooo!!! Take me along! take me! Take meeeeee!!! *hopping up and down and waving her arms wildly*

[mirroreyes.livejournal.com]

back up? did someone call for back up

mawhahahaha....

oh, wait, .... shouldnt admit to somethings in public...

And yes, ms Betty - speaking of sore, How are you? Are you feeling any better?

[smileitsme.livejournal.com]

Boy, now I wish I'd stop by on Sunday. Picking on Nikki, how dare she?

I'm so sorry I wasn't able to come by.

Whatever happened to second dinner?

[ysobelle.livejournal.com]

"I don't think she knows about second dinners, Pip."


Um...next week? Maybe? I might be out of PT soon!