Winterset Bike Night

My last event was the Winterset Bike Night. What can I say about this event, other than it is a great little event. Wonderful people to work with,great vendors, and free playhouses for kids. This event has an infectious energy with live motivational live music that can get everyone dancing...even a little bit. They have another event like this one in July and August. If you are near the Des Moines area you would be foolish to miss it. I had a great time being there so much, I did not realized how much time had passed. I was one hour over my time with no real care being over my scheduled time. It was fun talking to the kids and their parents. Speaking of talking, at this event I ran into an old friend and fellow caricature artist Rod Wier.
Rod was the second man at Adventureland working for Darren Debing. Rod may not have been the most settle teacher, but he gave me key pointers about drawing kids and face shapes my first year at Adventureland. It was great that I ran into him. When I worked there he was showing signs that every caricature artist goes through, which is burnout. So I was surprised when he said he missed it, the long hours six to seven days a week. I would never say I miss it. Getting to the park before it open, fixing problems, opening both booths, sitting for long hours in the heat working on art and trying to figure the best time to take lunch without missing a potential drawing, the guilt trips when asking for time off or to work a half day(which was like 6-7 hours), and at times under the sharp tongue comic insults of an older artist.yet, to be honest it was not always that way. When i started Aventureland it was the best job I every had, however, it became something I wanted to escape from. Though I may wanted an escape drawing there, art was still my vixen. i had to come back to draw because it was in the fiber of my being.
I stayed at Aventureland for 14 years. Though my last years there did not have the sweet taste like it was when started, I would say I missed the security of going to a place to work day after day, but working and setting up myself is better. I have more satisfaction doing my own work on my own terms. It takes more planing, but it is worth it for the freedom.
Freedom like working longer hours at an event where the people are great, the music awesome, and my enjoyment at an all time high. That is what the Winterset Bike Night was for me. I may have made more money, done less planning, and did not have to worry about certain supplies working at the park, yet the satisfaction i get from using media I choose, free from ridicule, and more control is more rewarding for me, and glad I can never go back. the park was a part of my life, I can still remember how it was good and remember how and why it was not longer a solution for me, even if i temporary loose my sense of reason. Events like the on in Winterset are the events that make it worth it.