Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009

Ready for fun? The fair opens today!

My first phone call was an easy one.

"Good afternoon, South Carolina State Fair."

"How much are tickets to this year's fair?" the nice woman on the other end of the line asked.

"Admission tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for seniors, $2 for children ages 2 to 5, and free for children under 2," I responded.

And, I have to say, I was proud.

It's an exchange I had witnessed countless times, having covered the fair for many years.

But when S.C. State Fair assistant manager, Nancy Smith, challenged me recently to spend a few hours answering the phones on the eve of today's opening, it was an offer I couldn't refuse - nor was it one I'd soon forget.

Early on, I discovered the most frequently asked questions haven't changed much from year to year.

"When are this year's pay-one-price days?" my second caller asked.

"There will be pay-one-price days each weekday of the fair," I confirmed.

Ring.

"Are there still tickets for the Toby Mac concert?"

"Yes ma'am, there are."

"Oh, great."

Ring.

And so it went for the next several hours - at a clip of about a call every two minutes or so.

"Most of the time, it comes easy (responding to questions)," said Ann Hughes, who along with fair workers Ginger Reed and Bernadette Hanlin helped me navigate the calls Tuesday.

"But other things that I talk about every day I have to look up."

I know of what she speaks.

Take the time when a caller asked when the admission gates close each night.

I've written that dozens of times. But when put on the spot, I had to grab a handy guide in the office to produce the answer.

(Which, in case you're wondering, is 10 p.m.; the midway stays open until midnight).

Other common inquiries included the date of Senior Day (Oct. 21), employment opportunities (all jobs have been filled), and Grandstand seating (all reserved).

"We get lots of calls about Vocal Trash (performing nightly on the Netterfield Stage)," Reed said. "They have a big following all across the East Coast."

Then there were the calls about the fine arts winners (listed online), the Racing Pigs (yes, they're back) and the North County Fair (no idea).

To be sure, many callers already knew the answers to their questions by the time they reached the office.

But, fair staff say, there's just something about being reassured.

"Some people are coming in from out of town, so they just want to be sure about things," Hanlin said.

Gary Goodman - who is marking his 25th year as the fair's general manager - said while the Internet has eased the volume of calls in the weeks leading up to the fair, the personal touch remains important.

"The day before (especially), they want to hear a voice to make sure it's right," he said.

"And it never fails," he said. "Someone will ask a question that we've never heard before. But we love them and we're glad they call."

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At the fair: Opening day is today.

Today's special gate promotion: $1 gate admission for everyone

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS

Gates open: 3 p.m.

Buildings open: 3-10 p.m.

Midway hours: 3 p.m.-midnight

Rides: Pay-one-price ride day

Grandstand: No show tonight

Thursday at the fair

ADMISSION

Ages 6-54: $8

Seniors, ages 55 and older: $5

Children, ages 2-5: $2

Children younger than 2: Free

No gate admission tickets sold after 10 p.m. daily

Youth admission policy: To be admitted after 5 p.m., those younger than 16 must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian at least 21 years old.

Highlights

Gates open: 10 a.m.

Buildings open: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Midway hours: 11 a.m. to midnight

Rides: Pay-one-price ride day

Lunch at the fair: (Noon to 2 p.m.) Enter the fair with a $5 deposit and receive a token to be exchanged for $5 when you exit the gates by 2 p.m.

Grandstand: No show tonight

DID YOU KNOW . . .

They're back! After a one-year absence, Vocal Trash returns to the fair offering a hybrid of "Stomp" and vocal stylings of the "Nylons." The ensemble combines tight vocal harmonies with the grit of street musicians. They'll This fun-filled show is geared to the entire family and guaranteed to have audience members singing along. Performances run daily on the Netterfield Stage through Monday.

Compiled by Bertram Rantin

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