Fair Game with Robert Smith

Jamie Jones is the fair manager for the Grady County Fair in Oklahoma. The event is by far the smallest fair we’ve had represented on the podcast. Make no mistake when it comes to the size of an event - our fairs play big time roles in their communities.

Pamela Rosaire’s company, Rosaire’s Royal Racers entertains and delights audiences across America. But 2020 put a stop to that. Today we talk about pandemic life and the challenge of navigating 2021.

Jake Sperley is the CEO of Fair & Event. One of their new products is a booth management system for event planners. The roll out hit a major roadblock as Covid disrupted events nationwide. Here’s the impressive thing - Fair & Event actually expanded and added employees during the pandemic. We talk about how that happened on today’s episode.

Daryle Lupretta is the Food & Beverage Manager for the Santa Clara County Fair. The fair is located in San Jose, California where continued government restrictions have been crippling to the events industry. Can the Santa Clara County Fair survive a protracted shutdown and what impact does the pandemic have on food vendors? All that and more.

Dominic Palmieri is the owner of Odyssey Foods & known as “The Midway Gourmet” for Ray Cammack Shows. When 2020 became the challenge of a lifetime, Palmieri made adjustment to start a new sanitizing company. We talk about that as well as food costs and the challenges concessionaires may face moving through the pandemic.

Tim & Robin Balster join us today from just outside Chicago where they are the husband and wife duo of Balster Magic. We talk entertainment, their new trivia game show and life during the pandemic.

Today we welcome Collin, Adrienne and Benny Rolf. Together the sibling trio make up, Renata the Banda. They took time out of their fair performance schedule (YES! They were actually at a fair when we spoke!) to come on the show and share their pandemic experience and talk about how great it felt to be back on stage performing at the Southwest Florida & Lee County Fair.

Interim CEO Walter Marquez has his hands full at the Los Angeles County Fair. As the grounds has been forced to cancel back-to-back fairs now, he’s tasked with navigating the fair in Pomona, CA through tumultuous waters. He’s joined by Don DeLano the Farm Manager (and resident historian) of the LACF.

Steve Trash is a performer who talks the talk and walks the walk when it comes to conservation. He is without question one of the most polished and professional acts in the industry. He joins us from his home in Alabama to talk about conservation, the pandemic and the future of fairs.

Professionally know as, “Bandaloni,” Paul David is an accomplished entertainer who delights audiences with him incredible one-man-band performance. He joins the show from Ontario, Canada where the border to the US is still closed due to Covid. We talk all things fair, pandemic and why he has toboggans and sleds in the corner of his home.

Jamie Larson is the fair manager of the Richland County Fair in Sydney, Montana. She pulls double duty as the president of the Rocky Mountain Association of Fairs. We had a terrific chat about the challenges she’s faced during the pandemic.

Nancy Smith is the General Manager of the South Carolina State Fair. During her time at the fair her team has faced its ups and downs. From flooding to record setting events to the pandemic, patience and quality leadership has brought them through it all.

Matt Cranford is the CEO of the Stanislaus County Fair in California. The government restrictions have proven to be an enormous challenge for the fair as they move into 2021. Matt talks about that plus, did the Stanislaus County Fair create the best fair ad ever? All that and more on today’s episode.

Jeremy Emerson is a partner and creative director for Saffire. Saffire has become the industry standard for quality marketing and efficient mobile ticketing. On today’s show we talk about how Saffire supported their clients during the pandemic.

Bill Buchanan is the owner of Kids Celebration - an exciting & interactive family experience that includes fun games and challenges. Having faced a difficult 2020, Bill and his attraction are ready to rock and roll in 2021.

Don Delahoyde is the immediate past president for NICA, the National Independent Concessionaires Association. While enjoying that warm Arizona sunshine, Don joins us to talk the concession business, NICA and the pandemic.

Ashley Brown is the Director of Commercial Sales for the Georgia National Fair. If you ask him, however, he does a little bit of everything. From sales to entertainment booking, Ashley has it covered. We talk about the challenges he’s faced the last year, what he looks for in entertainment and his hopes for 2021.

William Zakrajshek is the founder of Out at the Fair. The event had its beginnings at the San Diego County Fair and has expanded to 9 locations. We talk about how the event came into existence, the pandemic and what 2021 could hold.

Matias and Jamie Martinez are the owner/operators of the Three Ring Super Circus. The show wows audiences with incredible stunts and circus feats. Based out of Georgia, the show travels across the country to the delight of audiences everywhere. We sat down to talk about the pandemic, Matias’ injury that nearly took his life and the joys of having a new baby.

In April of 2001, Chad Hymas disregarded the hydraulic fluid warning light on his tractor. That decision lead to a 2,000lb hay bale crashing down on him, breaking his neck and leaving him a quadriplegic. His story will inspire you.

Greg Chiecko is the president of OABA. The group represents over 2,500 service members including 200 carnival companies.. We talk about OABA’s advocacy for their membership and how the industry is responding to Covid.

Dale Belair is a Canadian event producer. In 2020 he started an event called FoodTruckWars.ca. The event brings food truck vendors together in communities across Canada. In 2021, Belair is hoping to take that event to the international border of the USA & Canada. Will Covid let that happen? Only time will tell.

Our industry is made up of many people. From fair management to entertainers and concessionaires to carnival operators. One group we haven’t spoken to yet is our fair guests themselves. There are people across our nation who are loyal to our events, attending every year and in some cases, every single day of the fair. Today we speak to one of those people. Judy Wilder was named Ultimate Fair Goer...

David Feimster is the owner/operator of Hot Dog Pig Racing out of New Jersey. His show features those little racing piggies as well as hot dog racing dachshunds. Yes, racing Weiner dogs!

Kathleen O’Leary has been with Wisconsin State Fair Park for over two decades. She became the CEO in 2016 and was excited for the future of the Wisconsins State Fair. She never could’ve imagined what 2020 would have in store for her and the State Fair Park. We talk about pandemic response, the future of our industry and her role as a strong female leader in the Milwaukee area.