Day 2 in Iowa. And believe it or not we didn't see a single corn stalk.
We had three shows today and some strolling. The first two shows were separated by a couple of hours but between the 2:30 and 7Pm show the wait was long. The little ones and I caught the Wild Animal show during the long wait as the older ones stilted and pink gorilla-ed around. There was also some frisbee playing and we visited the petting zoo. We also walked through the buildings and grounds at the fair...several times. The whole time we are here we are going to have a similar break between the 2nd and 3rd shows so we may just leave the grounds to sight-see the next couple of days during those breaks.
The Cattle Congress was, I am told, one of the biggest fairs in the US at one time. But for whatever reason it's a pale example of what it was. However, I can see in the current management a real desire to bring back the glory days and they are starting with the attractions. The had a jousting show tonight and that brought about a lot of interest by the public. The shows I am told are much better than what they have had in the past few years (Told by patrons and staff). There is a wild animal show with real tigers, monkeys of various types and a number of other animals....educational but cleverly presented. There is the Muttville Dog Show which is basically a man and his 12 or so dogs of all breeds that do tricks. Johny is his name and he puts on a very good show, very professional. He was a bit grumpy earlier on in the day having a rough show to show schedule between yesterday and today, and one of the acts running long. There is also a for the younger kids Kids Activity show of sorts that the two younger princesses enjoyed and finally the only downer a really boring hypnotist. She had a gigantic crowd but lost them very quickly, took forever (30 minute plus) to induce or put her subjects under and then had boring routines. In her defense she did have a strong sun light shining in from the sky lights to contend with. However, her mic blasting so loud was her own fault.
Today was school kids day and the timing of our show made it so we didn't get any at our shows. Our noon show was their scheduled lunch and at 2:30 they were loading onto buses. Blessing or curse?
The first crowd was alright but kind of a Television audience (reacts very little but doesn't leave, then compliments your show). The second audience was a total TV audience...I was beginning to think this was going to be my Waterloo this year... so for the third show when I realized, after getting weak responses upto the third routine, to educate the audience on audience behavior. I spoke to them about how we feed off their energy. I spoke of our travels and how every state is different in audiences. I told them how the Midwest were slowly forgetting how to be an audience and how New England had fabulous audiences. Then I asked if they were going to let states like New York or Connecticut beat Iowa. From that point on it was an awesome audience and it was a full house or SRO (standing room only) by mid show until the end. So here in Waterloo, Ia I did not have to face my Waterloo.
We met some interesting people all day today. There were many college aged Japanese girls in several but separate groups making me think they are students out here. There is Marty our sound guy and Kevin the stage hand who are awesome. There is John the Dog Show guy whose stress of the day vanished by day's end and he turned out to be alright. Then there was the magician and his pop. We spent a lot of time between and after the shows chit-chatting about shows, magic, life, the fair, fairs in general, the meaning of life (the cereal and the board game not life the living), and other sundry of topics. (By the way we really didn't talk about life.) They may come back this weekend.
Well, (like the dog show's trailer dog pen area) I am pooped. So I am off to read and then sleep.
I will mention that Princess Amelia always remembers to pull out the hotel bible and have me read something to them every night. She thinks it's cool hotels have bibles.
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