In The Field

October 29th, 2007

Now that winter is here, we also see the end of our Events Vending Season.

As most of you are probably aware, for the last 7 years, a significant part of Utilikilts exposure has come from attending festivals and selling kilts from our booth. Highland games, Irish festivals, tattoo conventions, music festivals, gay pride events, con and gamer conventions… we have done them all! And the vast majority of these events were staffed entirely by volunteers! Yep, UKers like yourself, dedicating their time to spreading the word about Utilikilts and making new converts to the lifestyle of the unbifurcated.

During the off-season this winter, we are redesigning our Events Program, and expect it will look pretty different next year. So our crew at the Richmond Highland Games in Virginia knew that they were closing the book on an illustrious and vibrant part of Utilikilts history, and they felt a certain gravitas to the situation. They knew it was an honor to be chosen for this seminal gig, and each of them appreciated that honor.

Afterwards, Arthur Jenkins wrote this moving account of Utilikilts last gig. I hope you enjoy it…

CAMARADERIE by Arthur Jenkins

I know that in years past Bill (Hap) would share with everyone a summary of his impressions of the Celtic Festival and Highland games. Family circumstances prevented Bill from working this event, and while I do not I think I am able to fill his shoes, I’ll follow his lead and share my experiences. To begin, I want to express to Bill that he was missed. I lost count of the number of people that had asked me about Bill and I know everyone else on the crew had similar experiences. He must be the favorite and most famous Utilikilts salesman on the East Coast!

So Bill; everyone sends their love and heart felt feelings to you.

Saturday morning – as Mark, Jeff and Arthur were setting up – the first thoughts and conversation were about Bill and how he would be missed that day. Everyone knew that with one less member, the others would be called upon to rise to the occasion. The day was matching their inner thoughts, dark, and wet. Already there was a certain energy to the day: knowing that this could very well be the last Utilikilts event. The opportunity to close this program with positive, upward energy is in their grasp.

To the outside observer the appearance would be of three guys steeling themselves to the task at hand; setting up racks, taking inventory, preparing the tent and hanging Utilikilt banners. Anyone who had observed the men over the years might notice an edginess, a few more verbal barbs cast, the physical roughhousing to release the building tension of the day ahead. At the same time these comrades in Utilikilts were knitting themselves tighter together. Unlike previous years there were no early morning visitors: it was as if the other vendors could sense something different and gave these men uninterrupted time… as if the Utilikilts booth was a sacred space and they would not enter without invitation.

Soon enough the event opens to the public, the weather is still raining, the early visitors were few. On the whole they’re the regulars; the event participants that know the visit the booth early, for once the games started they could not return. This was the warm up for our men in Utilikilts; you would have seen them falling into familiar roles, each man doing that extra part. By late morning the weather was turning, the rain had stopped and the sun was out, the grounds were still wet and the wind would soon help dry the area.

Then the general public arrives. More than just those that enjoy the Highland Games; these are the citizens that come for the day to see the men in skirts throwing the large objects. To them, this was the trip to the zoo. Where else would they ever see such strange sights, beyond what they can comprehend. Many times during the day the crowd would build outside the Utilikilts booth, watching, wondering, questioning why would guys wear skirts? Asking the questions of the Barker: “don’t they have to wear tartans?” and the few that understood the difference between a guy in a skirt and a Man in a Kilt. To the untrained eye they would look the same. To those that know the difference, the standing just a bit taller, the slight spring in the step. This is a man in a kilt (be it Utilikilt or otherwise) stepping up to the demands ahead. Prepared to face whatever comes ahead. Parts of this tribe, making the world better for the experience of being here on the earth.

Our men in Utilikilts are a part of this. This is more than the three men at the booth. This is the previous customer that, while at the booth, observes a need fills it. There were too many to mention them all; a nameless face from past years would grab a kilt off a rack and sling it around the new (and future!) customer. You would hear the words, “drop your pants and experience freedom!” There is one who we must mention, and that is Bob. Bob had worked the booth once in years past and situations had not allowed him to since. And that day when Bob was at the booth to touch base and renew friendships from the past he immediately noticed the missing man and offered his services. The remainder of the afternoon Bob and his daughter Hanna were at the booth. Hanna without complaint would replace the Utilikilts on the racks and hangers. Bob in a previous life was either a gun fighter or a swordsman; he would be whipping kilts around so fast sometimes he could have been a magician, changing the colors of the kilt the customer would be wearing. The unaided eye could not see the act of swapping the Utilikilts.

And the crowds still gathered even larger still. And even with Bob helping, there were the times with so many customers that the nameless Utilikilt man would help out again and again. What other product or article of clothing brings out this loyalty or belonging-to-the-tribe feeling? At the end of the day Bob refused any compensation beyond a firm handshake and a sincere thanks from everyone at the Utilikilts booth. Bob and Hanna, Thank you!

By Sunday the weather had changed, clear and sunny with the cold bite to the air. That day there is the new man to our Utilikilt crew. He said to call him “Brando”. Brando had visited the Utilikilts booth the day before and had offered his services for the next day and the crew leader – Mark – had seen the potential in this young man and quickly accepted. This is why Mark is the best crew leader Utilikilts will ever have. In a moment Mark understood the meshing of personalities and the ease with which Brando would become one of the crew. Brando had a big job ahead of him. Our three Utilikilts men had known each other for years – and prior Celtic festivals – and he was the new man.

As our four Utilikilts men were preparing to face the day ahead, the best crew leader you will ever have the privilege to know was briefing Brando and quickly merging him into the crew. The other crewmembers – being older and more experienced – would take Brando under their wing, accepting him as a younger brother. Early on, Mark gave Brando the best advice you will ever hear, “Beware the leprechaun”. During the day every crewmember would remind Brando to “beware the Leprechaun”. Brando had become the full crewmember, no longer was he just Brando he had the nickname, you would hear the call for the “Leprechaun buddy” or the “little Leprechaun” when his assistance was needed.

Our Little Leprechaun had his work cut out for him. The first part of his day was tough trying to blend with the cohesive group of our three Utilikilts men. The early part of the day was most difficult. By his own admission there were times when a lesser man would have given up and walked away. These three old dudes were hard core, and not what the little Leprechaun was accustomed to. As morning becomes midday our Leprechaun buddy is sticking it out, and observing that each of the Utilikilts men has a style and method of interfacing with the public and customers old and new. As the day goes on Brando is developing his own style, opening up and finding himself as a new Utilikilts man. Making the kilt sales and finding a new confidence. Brando is the Utilikilts crewmember.

Brando had persevered. He has faced his own internal demons and doubts and walked forward. The morning was hard work for Brando and now he is enjoying the rewards. He is a Utilikilts crewmember. He is now doing what the other have been doing all along. Looking out for each other as brothers do. Whenever someone was leaving the booth the question do you need anything? The, I am getting something to eat from a vendor do you want a sandwich? Brando has clued in to the little things that are we are not four guys doing a job. But we are a team pulling together and not waiting to be told what to do but offering what can I do to help. Taking care of each other and ourselves as a family. Our Little Leprechaun is now a Utilikilts tribe member and understands the obligations of being a Utilikilts Man.

These guys are a family, Brando now understands that when someone reminds him that there are bottles of water under the table and he need to drink more it is not because he is a kid it is because everyone of our Utilikilt men are observing those around him and that watching out for the rest of the crew is a part of being a Utilikilts man.

Everyone on the Utilikilts crew is stepping forward and doing what need to be done, not waiting to be told but instead offering assistance at every opportunity. That when a previous customer is assisting a new customer it is a tribe member helping another. The insight that wearing a Utilikilt is an outward symbol of a better way and a possible New World.

Brando is experiencing that it is not about selling kilts. This is a Utilikilts experience. We are giving away positive energy. Sending good vibrations out to the world and if every now and then money changes hands and a kilt gets sold that is okay too. That when a old customer is in the Utilikilts booth looking at what is one the rack it is not about buying a new kilt. This is renewing tribal connections.

Brando is seeing the Utilikilts booth as something different. When previous customers are in the booth talking with the crew and the hugs and warm greetings pass back and forth this is a family reunion. The leprechauns buddy understands that the children that visit the booth are not in the way. They are here to visit the uncles. These are my brother’s children. I am now a Utilikilt uncle.

You could watch Brando open up. He is now greeting customers more openly. Giving away his own energy and watching the universe return more energy back. This is wonderful to Brando. A different view of the world by getting out of pants.

The day is winding down; there is a different feel to the energy. The previous customers are now saying their goodbye. It is time to start packing up the booth. Inventory the unsold kilts. As it is getting darker and colder the Utilikilts booth is the world. No one is looking out instead the thoughts are inside. Will this be the last event I work in a Utilikilts booth, when will I see these brothers again. The joking is there but it is a quiet joke not as loud. Instead these are private stories. Sharing about previous events. These are personal stories not to be given to the world but to be shared among brothers. For a few moments more our men in Utilikilts are still family.

The last handshake, the hugs and goodbye, the exchange of contact information. The tentative plans of how will we do this again. Each of our Utilikilts men is in their own vehicle, in their own thoughts as they drive away.

Thanks.

Bob I want to thank you again for your assistance Saturday afternoon. You daughter Hanna was awesome, I know we could not have done it without you.

Bill I wish to express my sorrow at your loss and my regret at not being able to say goodbye this year and shake your hand. You are as a brother to me.

Brando I want to thank you for being there Sunday and allowing me to see the Utilikilt experience through your eyes.

Jeff you are the hardest working dude I know. I watch you hustle all day in the booth and you still have energy to give. Anything I can do to assist you in your future kilt endeavors let me know.

Mark you are the best crew leader I will ever have. Hanging with you Saturday night I feel as if I got to know you. Sharing thoughts, ideals, experiences. You, your wife, your children. You are family.

Everyone at Utilikilts thank you for the opportunity. My regret is I am not likely to meet many of you in person.

Everyone I have met whether you purchased a kilt or not, I want to thank you for the experiences and the exchanges of positive energy. There are times I look back and would do something different. At that moment I was doing the best I knew at that time. I have made mistakes. The human experience is about learning and I have learned form all of you.

There are some special people that come to the Utilikilts booth every year and you are as family. We embrace, I play with your children. We share gifts. Each and everyone of you is priceless to me. Thank you for accepting me.

We use the term friend too freely in the day and age.

Friends are those that accept you as family. Not because of who you are. But quite often in spite of what you are.

I love you all!

Namatse
Arthur R. Jenkins.