We were scheduled to do a show in Tucson, Arizona at the convention center.We were scheduled to do a show in Tucson, Arizona at the convention center.
When we arrived in Tucson, we were told that our show was brought in as entertainment to cross-promote during the weekend of the Native American Arts and Crafts Fair: an event where artisans sell blankets, jewelry, dream-catchers, knives, etc.
When we arrived at the venue for sound check, we were surprised to find that the stage for our show was literally in the center of the crafts fair. The folding chairs for the audience were surrounded on all three sides by vending booths, selling Native American goods.
It was like showing up for a theatre gig and finding out that you are performing at an indoor shopping mall, or county fair.
The organizers of the event thought it would be cool to have shoppers wander around buying Navajo blankets and antler-handled Bowie knives while our show was going on. We, and the bulk of our audience (who bought their tickets online), had no idea they were going to be sitting smack dab in the middle of a Native Indian market.
It was a really odd set-up. I guess the organizers felt that this would get a couple thousand unsuspecting captive visitors to the arts and crafts fair. It felt a bit like one of those vacation time-share scams, except it was pottery and turquoise jewelry, instead of beach condos.
In the end, the organizers had the vendors stay open until the show started, and re-open after the show was over. It was very strange to look out into the audience and see them surrounded by all these craft booths.
The show was very funny, a great success for the organizers, and I got a comfy buffalo thong.
Ah, Tucson...........