FIFTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART III 181 



MAKING THE FAIR PAY. 



BY L. H. PICKAED, HAELAN. 



When I received the notice from Secretary Rigby that I had been as- 

 signed the above subject, I wondered if he really expected me to give up 

 so valuable a secret, even though I possessed such knowledge. Or was it 

 for the same reason the farmer put three dozen eggs under the sitting 

 hen? He said he knew that she could not cover them, but he just wanted 

 to see her spread herself. I fully realize the responsibility, but, like the 

 hen, I am just fool enough to try to cover the subject. Now, as I under- 

 stand the subject, it is not necessary that I should be qualified to do the 

 act, but simply like the guide board that is always telling the way but 

 never traveling it. 



I suppose the first thing to do would be to diagnose the case, the same 

 as a doctor does with a case before he prescribes treatment, so I will 

 begin by pointing out the ailments. 



With my limited experience with many of the county fairs, I find that 

 the secretary does not close his entries the evening of the first day, but 

 allows the exhibitors to enter at least the forenoon of the second day. 

 This becoming a custom, many of the exhibitors do not bring their stock 

 in until the second day. The association puts on a program in the after- 

 noon of the second day, but the public, knowing that the second day is 

 poorly patronized, usually waits until the third day, which is usually a 

 good day, if it does not rain. The next day, being the last day, there is 

 usually a light attendance. Now, why is this, and why don't they get a 

 large attendance the three days? There is surely a cause where there is 

 an effect. 



No fair can be a success unless at the close of the fair you have a 

 balance in the treasury. I care not how good a program you put on, if you 

 do not have the attendance your fair is a failure. It's much the same as 

 the temperance lecturer who was billed for a lecture. When he arrived at 

 the hall no one was there but the janitor. They sat around for half an 

 hour or so and still no one came. The lecturer finally addressed the 

 janitor, saying: "My friend, I have no doubt but you are a good temper- 

 ance man, a good citizen and a good neighbor, but, as an audience, you 

 are a damn failure." So it is with a fair, you must have the attendance 

 or your fair is a failure. 



Now, the majority of the county and district fairs charge thirty-five 

 cents at the gate, fifteen cents less than is charged at the Iowa State Fair. 

 Now, one thing is sure, either the state fair is too cheap, or our little 

 county fairs are overcharging the people, and I think the latter is true, 

 and that, I think, is why we do not get the attendance for the three days. 

 One day is about all they think they can stand. Why is it that the five 

 and ten cent picture shows have driven the theaters out of business? It's 

 the price that gets the crowd at the picture show. It's the price that sells 

 the Ford auto, and who will say taht it was not a wise business policy 

 when Ford cut the price still lower last fall, at a time when he could 

 scarcely fill his orders? It's much easier, when the public is coming your 

 way, to keep them coming than it is to get them after they begin to break 



