I recently read a blog that was posted here in late August regarding the possibility that the Caledonia County Fair 'might' be considering booking Vermont talent.  I wrote to Dennis relating my recent experience there and he thought it would be a good idea for me to post my note to him on this blog.  So, here 'tiz.

Hi Dennis. 

Interesting that you talk about this.  Let me fill you in on our experience performing at the Caledonia County Fair a year ago.

We were offered to play in conjunction with the national Colgate Country Showdown.  Which of course I felt was a huge promotional opportunity for us.  It was agreed that we would open for the contest, play during the intermisson, and after.  Apparently the fair committee hadn't cleared this with the local radio station sponsoring the event.  So, that never happened. 

We did have a signed performance agreement however (which they required) stating that we would perform up to 2 45 minutes sets, among other normal promotion conditons.  When the fair brochures and posters came out early in the summer there was a 'typo' and we were being promoted as the 'Burke Bandis'.  (Not even close of course to our correct name, The Burke Mountain Bandits). And, to make matters worse, there was no mention of what we did!  We could have been a monkey barrell-rolling act for all anybody could tell. 

I contacted the entertainment chairman and the association president and asked for some promotion and advertising above and beyond the screwed up brochures, but I got absolutely no cooperation.  They wrote it off as a common 'human-error'.  Not even an apology.  Later I was sarcastically told that we were no "national" act and that when we get to that level we might be in a position 'command respect'. 

When it was time for us go on (after the Colgate Showdown competition had concluded) we were introduced by the sponsoring radio personality, who had no idea who we were or what our band name was.  He turned and asked me what we called ourselves! 

We played on the main stage, to about 20 people seated in the grandstand with ALL of the "grandstand" lighting on full bright.  Of course the crowd of several hundred that 'were' in attendance had left after the competition, not knowing we were to follow or what type of performance they were about to see. 

Basically, we were treated very poorly and disrepectfully.  But we did get paid!

My advice to anybody considering trying to get booked to play the Caledonia County Fair is to be very careful working with them.  They did not live up to their end of the bargain whatsoever and they showed very little respect for us 'local' boys. 

It is your reputation at stake, not theirs.

Mike Fortier, The Burke Mountain Bandits