I just want to highlight something to folk looking at this thread (over 1000 since yesterday). Scott Country have been very supportive in helping with the soon to be published promotion of the Fair, and I appreciate everything they have on just now, both work related and personal. they are keen to attend but also have to balance things.
My friend and I have to our shock realised just how much work goes into organising something like this. I don't think I have had an evening where I have not still been on the phone at 11pm regarding the fair over the last month, and while to some that is a normal day, but after a 5.45 start it is hard going at times. The up side is that if it is a success we will organise the event annually and may even look at how to expand, bigger venue if needed and so on. It will never, under any circumstances no matter what the attraction is resort to being a free for all when it comes to non related traders and exhibitors and we will always retain the core theme of deerstalking. We should have well over 40 traders/exhibitors now guaranteed as attending at the Fair, all with products or of interest relating to your love of stalking and managing deer and all the varying strands. There will be raffle opportunities to win some really good kit and stalking days as well that will be drawn on each day, not 6 months later. To be honest up until now it has been a labour of love and I am really looking forward to spending a weekend with like minded fellow deerstalkers, over a dram and probably talking p*sh!
We have kept the cost of stands down to a point we have been told it is almost too cheap when compared to other shows, the cost othe gate as promised at £5, and really hope that the social aspect of the weekend will be as important to those attending as the stuff on sale and display. We will even have a bar selling good Whisky and beer and even that will be at an acceptable price as I know the folk doing that and the catering! just don't kick the ar*e out of it! And obviously if my friend and I make a bit of profit out of it to offset the headaches, upset families for always talking about the Fair and all other problems we have encountered surrounding licensing, risk assessment, venue planning and so on, we will look forward to doing it again (after a break of 9 months at least!). Anyone who has been involved in similar ventures will understand where I am coming from.
I know from other contacts there is a lot of interest from folk not on the SD but with access to other blogs etc, so if you are considering coming, and I know that the other thread has jumped about 1,500 views (assuming folk interested in going) in the last couple of days, not for us, but for the traders signed up, just pop a wee acknowledgement on here please. The Fair will be what you make it...