[Nfbwv-talk] Mountain Fest/Navigating Festivals

Wed Jul 28 17:32:10 UTC 2010

Brad,

I very much enjoyed your comments and advice.  Thank you for your guidance.

Charlene

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Brad Hodges" <BHodges at afb.net>
To: "NFB of West Virginia Discussion List" <nfbwv-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, July 23, 2010 3:45 PM
Subject: Re: [Nfbwv-talk] Mountain Fest/Navigating Festivals

> Greetings:
>
> Managing independently in new or business related social activities was an 
> on-going topic of conversation I enjoyed with Dr. Betsy Zaborowski, the 
> first director of the Jernigan Institute. Betsy was also a friend and we 
> often compared notes.
>
> First, you asked if it was OK to ask for help. It is always OK to do so. 
> At the end of the day, I ask myself "Are you in charge of the situation, 
> or is the situation in charge of you?" In the NFB we believe that we are 
> in charge of both our blindness and our lives. This does not mean that we 
> don't ever ask for help, nor does it imply that we think we magically know 
> everything about the visual world around us. Rather it means that we have 
> the techniques to figure it out as we need.
>
> Since you don't know anyone in particular, I would use the ask a question, 
> and then move along method, unless you partner up with a new friend.
>
> To begin, I would approach someone and say something like "Howdy, this is 
> my first time here, are you familiar with the setup around here?" Not 
> necessarily a blindness question. If the person is equally unfamiliar with 
> things, and if the quick vibe is good you may want to inquire if he/she 
> would want to discover the next step together. You mentioned the web site, 
> having some detailed information to share may help make you a useful 
> companion to someone who lacks the info but is interested in checking 
> things out together.
>
> If the first person you ask has no interest, I would conclude by asking 
> something like "Guess we're both in the same boat, do you see anyone who 
> looks like they work for the festival?"
>
> Then move along and try it again. Once you find the first food booth, you 
> might want to ask what the next booth or 2 are. If you know the name or 
> kind of foods you are especially interested in I would ask what booths the 
> people can see in a specific direction, and if they know where the one you 
> are interested is. A tip I have found useful, if the person is willing to 
> provide help, but is a bit freaqued out, if you ask about directions, and 
> you point in a specific direction, they can sometimes relate to that. 
> Example, "is the place with the turkey legs that direction?" when you are 
> pointing left.
>
> You know you will want to use the shuttle to the top of the hill. I would 
> locate that before purchasing bags or boxes of food. I find traveling with 
> hands full of drinks and bags to be uncomfortable when I am unfamiliar 
> with the area. I sometimes even take a small bag which I can carry over my 
> shoulder or on my arm in order to keep my hands free. The reusable 
> shopping bags that I have a bunch of them from conferences work well, if 
> you loose it you're not out any money. I also prefer to purchase drinks in 
> closed bottles rather than cups with or without lids, if I am going to 
> have to walk a distance, or manage in crowded and unfamiliar places.
>
> Above all, have a great time. You don't have to follow any schedule other 
> than the one you select, and you don't have to be in any particular part 
> of the festival grounds unless you decide that is where you want to go.
>
> In Federationism,
>
> Brad
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbwv-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbwv-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
> On Behalf Of Kerri Kosten
> Sent: 2010-07-23 15:09
> To: NFB of West Virginia Discussion List; anjelinac26
> Subject: [Nfbwv-talk] Mountain Fest/Navigating Festivals
>
> Hi All!
>
> I have a few questions about going to/navigating large, loud festivals as 
> a blind person.
>
> I don't know if many of you know or have heard of this, but there is a 
> festival going on in Morgantown called Mountain Fest. It is a festival for 
> motor cyclists/bikers but it is also a regular festival with live music, 
> food, games, contests, socialization, and people. I am not really into 
> biking/motor cycling, but I really want to go for the food, socialization, 
> music, people, and just to get out of the house. However, I as of yet can 
> not find anyone to go with me. So, I was wondering...what is the best way 
> to do this as a blind person?
>
> The festival is at a huge park called Milan Park. From what I've read, 
> Milan Park has a huge huge hill which is very hard to walk up. The food 
> and live music are at the bottom of the hill and it will be very crowded 
> and from what I've been told there isn't much space to really sit 
> anywhere. However, after you get the food you want, you can take a shuttle 
> bus up to the top of the hill to a place called the Coal Bucket Saloon 
> where they have drinks (I'm assuming both alcahol and non-alcahol) and 
> there is more room to sit. So, unfortunately, as you can see this is not 
> just a little thing where you can just walk around everywhere...I guess 
> you have to get your food, then take the bus to the top of the hill.
> However, from what I've been told the food is very good...they have funnel 
> cake, turkey legs, and this pork barbeque where you can get three 
> different types of barbeque sauce on it...and who knows what else...that's 
> just like two items of many.
>
> Also, I don't know if this is at the top or the bottom of the hill, but 
> they have a stage for the live music, several motor cycle shows, tents 
> where sponsors for the festival are set up, a kids corner, a vendor mall 
> (I'm assuming sort of like the exhibit hall) where they will be selling 
> motor cycle stuff, as well as Mountain Fest T-shirts and merchandise. I 
> don't know where all the food vendors are but I know that there are 
> several...all I know is the food is at the bottom of the hill and the Coal 
> Bucket Saloon which has places to sit is at the top and you have to take a 
> shuttle bus to get up to it.
>
> Should I just walk around and ask every person I hear for assistance/to 
> point me in the right direction?
>
> The festival does have a website with contact info and Milan Park has a 
> phone number...should I call ahead? If so, what should I tell them?
> Is it possible/proper for someone to assist me to get food and tell me 
> what all the food vendors are and help me to the Coal Bucket Saloon to a 
> seat? Then, I figure if I want more food or to go back down to the bottom 
> of the hill I can figure it out or ask.
>
> I know there will be many people around...but I know many of them will be 
> drinking.
>
> It will also be very loud.
>
> Are people at festivals usually nice? What about bikers?
>
> If I can not find anybody to go with, should I just not go? I know not 
> going would be easier, but I have missed out on a couple of events that 
> have gone on here in the past couple of months such as Ribfest, the 
> Gold-Blue wVU Spring game, and other things I'm forgetting at the moment 
> because of just not going.
>
> Is anyone on the list familiar with Mountain Fest, or Milan Park?
>
> I'd really like to go to this...even just for a couple of hours.
>
>
> Thanks for all info/help you can give!
> Kerri
>
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