Meriwhether County is astride GA 85, rambling in the route between Atlanta and Columbus, Georgia.  In the early 20th Century, it was thriving with the Cotton Trade.  Wagons and trucks met the trains along the corridor, one of the southern-most points was Gay, established by the ancestors of William "Bill" Gay...now deceased...former Mayor, Postmaster, Councilman and all-around great guy!

Bill and his wife Joanne, established the regionally prosperous, economically beneficial Cotton Pickin' Fair in the early 1970s, held semi-annually in downtown Gay, drawing tens of thousands through its gates for nearly four decades. This event and two other events occur simultaneously and make the town come alive during the first weekends in May and October every year.

During the rest of the year you can usually walk down the center line of the highway for short distances without too much fear of being hit by an errant automobile or logging truck.

The nation's current economic atmosphere has taken its toll on the Festivals Industry in a rather large scale.  This is quite evident in Gay...but not so much as you would say the town is going to fold up any time soon.

The current Mayor has turned to the only reliable source of revenue she knows and is tacking on fees and requirements which I feel are not in the spirit of the events being created.  Don't mean to be sounding too bit glib and opinionated here...but I feel that I'm having the correct reaction to what I have learned.  With more than three decades in the industry, these are very reliable instincts.

The three events each charge a fee for its exhibitors to participate.  About five years ago, the Town of Gay decided to require a permit to be a "temporary vendor" in any of the events or activities taking place during what amounts to five days being present in the county.  A legal caveat allows an exemption for non-profit groups.

So the tax-donkey has become the two other events.  In addition to the requirement for an Occupation/Business Tax Application to be completed...and $5 collected...there now is an Affidavit Verifying Status for City Public Benefit Application.  Presented as a "requirement" under the Immigration and Nationalization Act along with applicable State of Georgia statutes, this declaration of citizenship and/or permanent residency is being held as a necessary requisite in order to apply for the aforementioned permit.

And it has to be Notarized...for a fee.

So the fee for the permit, the fee for the license, the fee for the Notary to verify you are who you say you are...all are being placed in the hands of the show directors by the Town of Gay, Merewether County.  My personal thoughts tell me that the Town of Gay should administer any and all collection of fees for permits and affidavits, etc.

That the completion of a "citizenship" and "residency" verification is not the business of the event as they are neither agents nor employed by the city, county or State of Georgia;  that the collection of fees and the swearing of oaths on behalf of a state or local agency in order for those individuals to be compliant toward being a part of an activity...all of this...is not the duty or the obligation of festival or event management.

Granted, the fees aren't much...but to place $5 from here, $5 from there, $20-$30 from elsewhere just to be there and conduct business is a "taxation" which these mules are not going to carry for any length of time...if at all.

The Economic Engine of Meriwherther County is suffering right along with similar efforts elsewhere.  However, levying fees on those who can least afford to pay or who are not required to do so at other competing events in other locations, counties, cities, etc...will serve to activate a huge "sucking" noise.

This would be the emptiness of the town as the wind whips through the empty streets and down GA 85 as folks walk down the middle of the road on the four days a year the festivals and events would have taken place.

Not being a lawyer, I do not know the in's and out's of the legal system.  But I do feel that the Mayor of Gay, Georgia is creating an untenable situation of a less-than-pleasant result for the economy and future of this once King Of Cotton Community.

Events2000.com has been broadcasting E-blasts, event announcements and reminders, for over five years. Nearly eight hundred events have participated in this eye-catching marketing partnership...resulting in hundreds of thousands of emails each year.

The growing list of Events2000.com members, subscribers and readers look forward to the frequent announcements for fairs, festivals and special events across the Southeast.

Just thought I would share the most recent comment:

On 9/9/09 11:42 PM, "Deborah Karwisch" < This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it > wrote:

"A great big THANK YOU to Events2000 for the e-blasts. That was definitely money well spent by the (Mable House, Mableton, Georgia) Christmas House Committee.

Out of about 72 applications, 29 of them were brand new and many of very high quality. We had so many jewelers, we had to decline about six of them. Applicants were from Missouri, South Carolina, New Jersey, and further out around Atlanta like Macon, Alpharetta, Lawrenceville, Rockmart, etc.

The jurors were able to be much more strict this year..."

What I found... by Bill Ronay

This past rain-threatened Saturday found me at an annual community event. I was there the entire day. What I found was an obvious, growing trend... Inexperience and procrastination, neither are of any benefit to anyone.

Previously held another Saturday in May, this year's show had been moved to the third Saturday. The event directors seemed to assume word would get out. It didn't. The new parade director/event coordinator, a local professional business owner, used his adrenaline of enthusiasm and eagerness to learn quickly.

Local promotion of the event with little emphasis on its changes had been limited to area radio stations and the two weekly newspapers. Their one-week push prior to the event had little effect beyond the immediate market.

"Everyone knows the festival is going on and they turn out anyway, " according to a ten-year vendor from the area. The fact her booth was one of less than a dozen craft displays among the total of forty others didn't seem to register with her.

What I learned...

It had been a waiting game. The show committee had made changes, but waited to do what little marketing they did. Longtime committee members were hoping new members would take up the reigns. These hardworking volunteers had busy schedules.  They had too little time, so waited too late to give changes a fair chance of success.

Even I was not aware of the date change. Vendor applications, the few which had been sent out, were mailed later than usual. There is no web site for the event. Information about the event is incorrect. Media's emphasis had been placed on entertainment which, in real-time, seemed to be why festival visitors came.

"Waiting and hoping" was obvious here. The festival had presented itself much as it had done for generations. Expecting response from past participants and reliance on an aging reputation, the gamble of waiting did not pay off.

The crowd of 1200 could have been larger. It has been dwindling for many years. The number of vendors could have been greater.  It, also, has been dwindling for years.

Not Alone...

The reluctance to market events is more obvious across-the-board.

On a recent visit to a South Carolina festival, I found this same hesitation. Budget cuts, the "current economic condition" (Oh how I dislike that terminology!) and some Good Ol' Boy politics had forced delays in publicity, marketing and community awareness efforts.

The result was an event heavy on good entertainment, low on vendor quality and disappointing bottom lines.

Take the initiative...

Any fair, festival or special event failing to meet minimum expectations is not worth the time and talent it takes to be a participant. Timely promotion, marketing, exhibitor relations, quality focus, innovative event development...are ongoing responsibilities of the presenting organization.

I believe the trend of "Waiting and Hoping" isn't working. And quality exhibitors are reacting by not showing. Buy/sell, community organizations, and local businesses seem to be filling exhibit space at community events more frequently. Community shows have strayed from the premise of art and craft and are now simply selling 10'x 10' spaces.

Exhibitors, offer your community festival committees some advice. Tell them how they can provide you the opportunity to make money and to get your product known. Almost always, committees have regularly scheduled meetings. Offer to speak to them for 15 minutes at one of the meetings. Often, the committee members are not exhibitors themselves. They need your input.