Page 1 Wednesdoy, July 19, 1978-The Michigan Daily
Set-up crews get the
show on the road
By MICHAEL ARKUSH
As you gaze meticulously inside each
booth, spending hours and hours to
avoid missing even the most hackneyed
detail, take a brief moment from
fighting the crowds to look at the booths
themselves. A lot of time and effort
went into setting up these structures,
without which there couldn't be an Arts
Festival.
More than 30 people, mostly South
and East University merchants, spent
many hours to organize this beautiful
display. They work around the clock to
make sure that the white canopies
which protect the booths are taut, ren-
dering them invulnerable to the
slightest wind movement.
South University merchant Milt
Moore, who has been a participant in
this event since its inception 19 years
ago, explains the process:
"In the weeks before the festival
begins, we hold working sessions to see
that all the equipment is in good shape.
Then, on the Monday night before the
festival begins, we unload the equip-
ment and leave it on the lawns and
sidewalks until the next morning. On
Tuesday, we begin the real work."
Moore said the bulk of the work takes
Stalactites are formed when water
seeps out of cavern ceilings and leaves
a mineral trail in tubular shape. A con-
tinuous drip, however, causes droplets
to fall to the floor and the result is a
stalagmite which grows upward.
almost all day to complete so that
everything is in the right position.
Unfortunately, rain has been a
characteristic intrusion upon the
workers, forcing them to spend all
hours of the evening and early morning
to prepare for the spectacle.
Moore said last summer was the first
time he could remember that it didn't
rain during the booth preparations. He
recalls many long summer evenings
when the crew waited for the storm to
pass so they could begin the construc-
tion:
To keep things well-organized, the
workers are divided into two squads,
one for South University and one for
East University.
Paul Schlanderer, another one of the
booth-makers, said a rivalry exists
between the two squads but maintains
it is a "friendly one." He even asserts
that the team which finishes first
always assists the other team.
"No one person directs it. You just
try to coordinate with what everyone
else is doing," said Schlanderer:
At least, vandalism hasn't presented
a major problem to the crew of
workers. Moore said he hasn't seen any
thievery except for some minor equip-
ment which has been stolen on the
aturday night following the festival.
Nevertheless, he warns that workers
will still have to "keep a watchful eye
out to see that nothing is taken."
After all, most of the equipment is
saved and re-used in next year's
festival.
The sounds of hammers pounding and workers groaning disrupt Ann Arbor's
summer quiet. Then-presto!-on Wednesday morning art fair booths grace the
streets, replacing the usual parked cars.
Ticket binge foreseen