[AT] A commentary on how to win friends and influence people at tractor shows

[David Rotigel]

I realize that a tone of voice can mean A LOT in this sort of situation, but, having said that, I do not see anything wrong with the words that the guy used.
	Dave

On Oct 8, 2014, at 4:11 PM, charlie hill <charliehill at embarqmail.com> wrote:

> I offer this as constructive criticism to folks that volunteer with tractor 
> and engine shows.
> 
> 
> Weekend before last we were in Hagerstown, MD visiting Lynn's parents.   We 
> usually go
> about this time of the year and come back with a few bushels of apples from 
> our favorite
> apple farm.  The farm happens to be out very near to Smithsburg, MD where 
> they hold an
> annual "Steam Show" on that very weekend.  I've been before and enjoyed it 
> very much so we
> decided to ride by there after we left the orchard.  We didn't have time to 
> take the show in
> and do it justice so we were just going to stop long enough for me to take a 
> quick look around.
> I just wanted to see if they had a good crowd and if they had the same sort 
> of displays they had in years gone by.  Plus I had
> my Jack Russell Terrier with me and there is NO WAY to take a Jack Russell 
> to an engine show.
> I don't think that Mike Rohr (sorry I that is probably misspelled) who is 
> part of that show still reads this list
> so I don't know who I'm addressing this too if anyone so I guess it is 
> addressed to whom ever might
> benefit from it.
> 
> Now let me stop right here and explain that I know full well that the folks 
> at the show had no
> way to know what I just told this group and I fully understand that.
> 
> As we started to drive into the show grounds parking lot there were signs 
> EVERYWHERE, probably
> dozens of signs, saying No Dogs allowed but before I saw any of those signs 
> I was in the driveway
> headed to the parking lot and as  I said I had no intent to take the dog in 
> anyway and no intent to
> even go in unless I had seen something particularly interesting worthy of a 
> quick hop out and look.
> There was no way to turn around and go back out.  We were committed with a 
> line of cars behind us.
> I told Lynn well we'll just drive on through the lot and see if we can see 
> anything from the parking lot
> and go on.  Then I see a group of ladies who are taking donations for 
> parking.  As we approached them
> Lynn and I discussed it and decided we'd go ahead and give them a donation. 
> As I handed the lady
> a five dollar bill the Jack Russell was standing in my lap.  She took the 
> money and didn't say a word.
> We pulled forward.  There was an open road to the exit straight ahead of me 
> that would have taken me
> right down the side of the show where I could have looked briefly at the 
> displays but there was a fellow
> standing there motioning me to go left.  I did so without any discussion or 
> argument.
> 
> That's when it happened.  This fellow who waved us left, probably mid 40's, 
> about 6'2 maybe and stocky built but not overweight,
> with short cropped hair and looking every bit like a cop in street clothes 
> let me turn left with the dog, now on the other side, hanging out the
> window  of the truck in plain sight and then he YELLS OUT, again like a cop 
> at a DUI check point,
> STOP RIGHT THERE SIR!!  I NEED TO TALK TO YOU.   Then he proceeded to walk 
> over and start to lecture me with....
> Sir "I" can't allow YOU to take THAT DOG into the show.  As he was about to 
> continue I said in a polite but direct voice,  Sir the dog is
> not going to get out of the truck.  At that he backed off and left me alone. 
> We proceeded out the back of the parking lot
> and left as we had intended to do all along.
> 
> I hope the Smithsburg Boosters club puts the 5 bucks to good use because 
> it's the last time they'll get a dime from me and the
> last time I ever intent to attend their show.  It's not the shows fault, I 
> have no argument with them.  It's not the booster clubs
> fault, I have no argument with them.  I fully understand why they don't want 
> dogs running around in their show and I agree.
> What burned me was this guys power trip attitude which I'm sure no one can 
> properly read into my writing but I understood
> loud and clear.   I didn't mind one bit being asked about the dog but he 
> could have done it in a friendly manner.
> I don't go to tractor and steam shows to be talked to like a street punk and 
> if I subject myself to it again it will be my fault.
> 
> Everyone at that show appeared to be friendly and welcoming this time as 
> they always have been in the past EXCEPT this one
> bully.  Obviously they have had a previous problem with dogs or they would 
> not have spent a small fortune on White signs with
> bold RED print saying NO DOGS but they need to understand that someone from 
> 400 miles away can't do anything about having
> their pet with them when they turn into a parking lot where there is no way 
> to turn around and at least be polite about it.   He seemed
> to have the attitude that "THIS IS MY SHOW AND BY GOD IF THESE JERKS WANT TO 
> COME TO IT THEY BETTER TOE THE LINE AND
> DO LIKE I SAY!"  The only thing that kept him from looking like Barney Fife 
> is the fact that he was big enough so as to avoid being
> construed to be a comical fool.  A fool yes, just not comical.
> 
> All the man had to say, if anything, was a polite "sir, I assume you are 
> going to leave the pup in the truck" or something to that effect
> but no he had to throw his weight and assumed authority around.  If anyone 
> from the Smithsburg Steam Show or anyone who runs
> a show reads this, please take it as I intended, as constructive criticism 
> and realize that folks who go to your shows, sometimes from
> great distances, don't go there to be harassed and treated like criminals.
> 
> Charlie 
> 
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