I arrived in Indianapolis on Thursday evening not really knowing what to expect but hoping to run into my favorite NFL player, Peyton. The airport is really nice, it's brand new, clean and super easy to navigate. My bag is already on the return and I'm thinking wow… great place. I go outside to catch a taxi and this guy cuts in front of me. Oh well, I'm not in a hurry, I catch the next cab.
Really?
The cab driver and I start talking. He asks where I'm from and how long will I be in Indy. I say Austin and i'm here until Sunday. He says, You must be here for the Black Expo. I think really, it's that obvious? I wasn't even wearing Amy's Apple Bottom jeans or dancing.
Thursday
I went to Steak and Shake to grab lundin thinking this will be quick. I was not familiar with the Indy service model which is, "really, you need a napkin to eat the greasy burger" After getting very little attention and no napkins, I went to find someone to pay, I found the hostess and just said can I give you this money for my food so I can leave here. I've never seen servers move so slow or literally look right through me.
I went to the expo hall to set up and test the internet connection and there was no AC on. It was a huge hall with several big Becca-like buses. I think well, they don't have the AC on because the expo hasn't started yet. Surely tomorrow it will be cooler…surely!
Friday
I had a conf call in the am that I took from the hotel. The expo started at noon. Immediately when they opened the doors, the announcements started. This woman would come over the PA announcement and advertise booths. There's fried fish in booth 123, Get your delicious popcorn at booth 456. I'm thinking this is just making me hungry. We are in the Visa booth selling our card. We get busy. We ended up selling 62 cards on Friday night. It was a good day, steady crowd, great conversations with potential customers but I realize that there is no way to keep up with the traffic on Saturday with the current set up. We're selling each card individually and I'm having to ask people to repeat their personal info.
Kinko's
I realized we needed forms for Saturday, on my way back into the hotel there was a sign for Kinko's … sweet! I find my way to Kinko's with maybe 15 minutes before they close. I get my copies and decide to check out a little more of Indy. There's this really cool roundabout with a huge war monument and a building with it's windows lit like a flag. I decide to stop at the South Bend Chocolate Company in honor of Mr. Chuck. I got a cup of ice cream and the man behind me started talking to me. He was creepy so I got out pretty quick and was walking back eating my ice cream, with my backpack on just like the dork that I am. On my leisurely walk back I notice that there are cops EVERYWHERE. And I think, that's a lot of cops, maybe I shouldn't be wandering around on my own.
Air Conditioning is a good thing
I needed to buy a shredder to shred the forms I had printed the night before after we used them. I ask the bell man to call me a cab. He tells me to go to the street and find one. I get to the street where he directed me and I end up having to walk half a block to find one. I get in and I realize that this will be yet another unairconditioned experience. The guys has no idea where he's going. I have to direct him.
Saturday Mayhem
I got the the booth Saturday at 10 am. As soon as the expo opened a thumping base started. I thought ok, it will make the day go pretty fast to have some tunes! Then I realized I would be screaming over the bass at potential customers, imagine explaining how you can get on direct deposit and get paid faster with, "I can make your bed rock" and the cupid shuffle pounding in your ears. We ended up selling over 100 cards that day, never sat down, went to the bathroom once in 12 hours and had a quesadilla while walking through the expo hall.
Really?!
So this guy comes by the booth Saturday and he looks a lot like a guy from the previous day, but the guy the day before had glasses and was really friendly. This guy went to my co-worker and was really quiet and acted like he didn't recognize me when I looked at him. I thought, well maybe it's his brother. We had seen a lot of family members. A few hours later he comes back with glasses and a hat and his top shirt button buttoned. I look at him and say, no you've already got two cards, you're not fooling me a third time. And by the way, if you want to fool someone by changing your appearance, don't wear purple pants!!!
Love Ya!
By far, my favorite customer name was Loveyah… I'm not kidding Loveyah!
Raj and Thelma
You guys are probably too young for this but two amazing shows when I was growing up were What's Happening!! (my favorite) and Good Times. Well two of the actors from those shows were at the booth next to us signing autographs. Yes, I bought the biggest package, two books, two posters and a picture with Raj and Thelma! Why not, it was hilarious. The best part is that as we are posing, Thelma makes us move around saying, "I need to be on the left". Raj explained it didn't matter what side he was on, "I look good from both sides".
The News
We finish up around 10 pm and I was exhausted. I walked across the skybridge to our hotel and I thought about going out to eat and decided if anything I would just get room service. When I got to the hotel lobby it was packed with teenagers, lots of scantily clad teenagers. I get to my room and turn on the TV. The news is on and they say, we've just confirmed that 8 people were shot in downtown Indy…. OK now I get why there were so many cops. I call Randy and as we are talking on the news live coverage two girls get into a cat fight in front of the camera and are arrested. I locked my door and hunkered down in the hotel.
Sunday
I worked by myself for 4 hours on Saturday and sold another 50 cards. The bass was still thumping, it was still hot and my enthusiasm was waning. I left for the airport and it was raining. I think…great I may be stuck here. I ask the cab driver if he takes credit cards and reluctantly he says yes but he'd prefer cash. I say, I don't have any so it will have to be credit card. So he says, we'll just need to stop for gas. I was like oookkkaayyy. So he explains, I have plenty of gas I just need some more so I can run the air conditioner. I say fine after sweating all weekend I'd love some AC. Shit, I might just buy the gas for him if I can cool off. Well, we stop, he gets gas and turns the AC to the first notch. I'm still broiling in the back seat.
Home to my Hubby
Randy picked me up and was just DONE. My voice was shot from screaming for three days and I was tired. I mentioned I would love some yogurt but that was sure it was closed. Randy wanting to see a smile instead of frown drove to yogurt shop anyway and sure enough they closed 5 minutes before we got there. The owner saw my disappointment and waved me in even though he had already started cleaning. I was SO thankful to be BACK IN TEXAS!
