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The Yankee Peddler Festival is a popular festival that runs 3 weekends every September here, a mix of old timey crafts, demonstrations, food, etc. I've never been, but this is its 46th year, so I gather it's very popular.
Anyway, a friend of mine got invited to have a booth there for the first weekend, so she asked me to fiddle there for atmosphere. Only catch is you are required to dress in historically accurate costumes (1776-1825). I rather liked the idea of getting the chance to dress up in a costume, and play the fiddle, so I took the opportunity.
The weather turned out awful, raining and cold, so they closed the festival an hour early Saturday, and it was so rainy I didn't go today, but they closed even earlier today. But, I only got positive feedback from everyone at the booths around us, and from the customers. I got a little amused at one lady complimenting my playing when all I had just done was tune my fiddle, hahaha. I played a scale, haha.
My favorite moment was some little boy, maybe 5 years old, stood to watch me with huge eyes, and a big smile, like the fiddle was just the most amazing instrument ever, and he clapped for me when I finished my tune. Maybe a future fiddler?
Anyway, here is a short video of a couple clips my friend and I took yesterday while it wasn't raining too bad. Because of the bad weather, the owner of the festival invited her back out next weekend, so I will join her again on Saturday for a little bit.
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World's Okayest Fiddler
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You dressed up and everything - how fun...you nailed it!
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Great opportunity to play on a festival and you’re looking great in this costume! Lovely story about the little boy. You really can bring a smile on peoples faces with your violin ? I hope the weather is better next week.
Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about dancing in the rain!!
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@damfino ... very cool. You really did nail the look and the tone!
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Thanks everyone 
I've had a cold all week, so it probably wasn't the best weather for me, chilly and wet, and I feel like it did make my cold a little worse, but it was fun. The rain was from some hurricane (they always bring rain to Ohio) and it looks like the next hurricane making landfall might bring rain back to Ohio this weekend, too, haha. I'm really hoping it doesn't, or at least holds off until Sunday, I'd like a nice dry day to fiddle and explore the festival.
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You look and sound great,
Mark
Master the Frog and you have mastered the bow.
Albert Sammons
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Thanks, Mark
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Great job Mandy. Was it hard for you to get started or are your nerves really tough?
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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@Fiddlerman It was tough to get started, and when I played, I tried not to make eye contact with people, because that would throw me off. The video my friend did for her instagram walking around the tent when I was playing, I hear myself screw up a few times, because the tent was busy and I knew she was recording, even though I didn't look at her, haha.
Because of the rain, it wasn't super crowded, though, they said instead of the usual 10-15,000 people they see in a weekend, they had maybe 5,000 people come. With the nicer weather, I imagine tomorrow will be more crowded and harder for me to play, haha.
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You'll do great. I feel it. Congrats on the nerves!
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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@Fiddlerman Thanks 
Had a good time at Yankee Peddler today. Very hot there, but survived.
People kept bringing their little kids over to hear me play, one little girl, maybe 2 at most, didn't want to leave, she just toddled in front of me with a huge smile on her face and just wanted to stand there and listen to me play, too cute. Some other people had their kids walk up and stand by me for a picture while I was playing.
It was all a good test for my nerves, haha.
My elbow behaved (it seems to do well playing outside), which surprised me considering how achy it's been all week. It let me fiddle from around 10:30-3 with just a few short breaks, so yay elbow for behaving
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World's Okayest Fiddler
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Yay that your elbow held up. So cool that you have the gumption and repertory to get out in public and do that!
Big congrats.
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@bocaholly Honestly, what helped me get the nerves to ever do anything like this was hosting the Traveling fiddle a couple years ago. Before I hosted the fiddle, I never would have thought of playing in public, but pushed myself to play outside it weird places for the sake of making my videos with it. It really helped give me the big push I needed to move past that point of my nerves
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Thanks, @damfino. I hope to get to that point too. No rush, though. I'm loving this violin learning journey. For me, it's also about learning patience which isn't exactly my forte
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Great compliment for you to play in public, you can be proud! And good news that your elbow held up!
Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about dancing in the rain!!
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@bocaholly I hear ya, I'm not the most patient of people, and I have a short attention span. Not a good combo, haha.
@mookje Thanks! Yes, I was very happy my elbow held up. Ever since then I've been keeping ice packs on it, because it went right back to being miserable, but at least it behaved for the day I needed it to
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Look how far you've come! You sound great! Nice costume! And 
for playing in public. Your progress is truly inspiring
It's easy to play any musical instrument: all you have to do is touch the right key at the right time and the instrument will play itself. Johann S.Bach
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Aw, thanks so much, @AnnyJ
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Congrats on both your tough nerves and your elbow. I'm sure it's not by accident. You are surely being more careful which will pay off in the future. Good job!!!
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Thanks, @Fiddlerman It was a fun event to be part of
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