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Registration
Laura wanted me to take a picture
of my name tag as soon as I got through registration. After walking across
campus and receiving directions upon request, I found the registration line.
The festival opening was still 2 hours off at 7:00 pm. I was happy to be early.
The registration line was two people wide and maybe ten people long. As we approached
the front, we could see two ballpoint pen signs designating the two lines as
“Will Call” and “Will Call or Cash.” It took about fifteen minutes for them to
get through the first eight people in my “Will Call or Cash” line.
Hannah, the young woman in front of
me, approached and announced that she was a volunteer. “Oh,” said the
registrar, “I don’t do volunteers. You’ll have to get in the other line.” Hannah
dutifully stepped out of line, and I approached. “I’m a presenter,” I said. “Same
thing,” said the registrar, “I don’t do presenters.” I looked up and saw that Hannah
had walked to the end of the now longer “Will Call” line.
“Wait a minute,” I said to the
registrar, “Does she really have to go all the way back there after waiting in
this line for fifteen minutes?” The registrar shrugged her shoulders and looked
at her work partner. They both looked dumbfounded. I repeated my question. Yes,
I was picking a fight at a festival that promoted “community, creativity and
the common good.”
Finally the “Will Call” registrar
asked Person #1 in her line if Hannah could step in front. Person #1 said
“Sure.” Person #2 said “No problem.” So Hannah got to the front of the “Will
Call” line. Someone—I don’t remember who—then spoke up for me: “So where should
he be in line?” Hannah answered, “He was right behind me, so…” I looked at
Persons #1 and 2, and they nodded their heads.
So I got in line behind Hannah. I
re-iterated that I was a presenter; I was so eager to get a name tag with a
special ribbon or something. It took a while for the worker to find my name and
confirm that I was paid up. Once she did, she simply said, “Okay, go get a swag
bag. You’re good.” No ribbon, no name tag. In fact, only the exhibitors and
volunteers (not including presenters) received name tags. So no picture for
Laura.
