The idea of a qualification in gazebology has been a long standing joke from the very earliest days. of Dfest. But for all that, there is definitely a skill set, a degree of practical acumen, that you need to have if you’re going to throw up a working (semi-safe) stage, kitchen, sound tent, and maybe just some regular gazebos for the standing crowds,all in the middle of a field.
You got to recognise people with this “skill” by how they held a tool, when they knew a thing would hold (correctly), when they could already see you would need a hand.
I remember, I think it was Dalmallyfest 4. I’m sitting on the apex of the house at the gable end, and we’re struggling to get the tarp over the stage roof. It’s early Friday, not that many folk there yet and mostly holding ropes.
A van pulls up to the side of the house and three guys get out. They’ve got tents and guitars and I’ve never seen them before, and by the way they look about, they’ve clearly never been here before .
No-one else has seen them arrive. Do they pitch tents? Do they open a tinny?
They take stock of the process, grab an end of the tarp and hold it down. One of them, -seeing where this is all going, grabs some tools, and starts to baton down the edge.
I knew before we had said “Hi” these were Dalmally people. The band was “IF”, but I doubt anyone remembers that name now, they came back again (and again!) as “Tergazzi” and were always one of the most stalwart supporters of the whole event.
Many people have had a major hand in our building efforts, but Mr Harrison (“wee” Iain) always took a particular pride in his stage design (he is an engineer), and for fun, I recently made a Gazebology certificate as a birthday gift.
He assures me, it sits in his work, hiding in plain sight, among his many certificates and qualifications.
Not long after, it so happened, that in a next door garden, a number of youths were unpacking a standard gazebo. I could see they were a bit puzzled and did consider offering to help, but they were young and enthusiastic, and as I am often appraised by my own sons, old people can’t actually tell them anything. So I left them to their task.
It turned out there was a small =socially distant – event in the garden that night, perhaps an eighteenth birthday (this was prior to current restrictions). Unfortunately it became a very sad example of what happens when you don’t have a qualified gazebologist to do the job…
Next time; Something musical?
*In mud we build, In the rain we drink, Among friends we make music. –
for those wondering about the Latin.
Dalmallyfest the Asylum 