honestly?
I had more fun (as did my wife along side me) when nobody knew us. We heard statements like "what are you doing here?" Well we paid our own way and thought we could join you,..."nope you required to fly outside of the ropes, where the public is located!" Like I shouldn't eat in the hotel lobby for breakfast, where I paid to stay,... just 'cause you'all be there too?
I've borrowed equipment plus music countless times, folks laughing because it's a ballet event and you win based upon your best interpretation of the musical score, "showing up the day of the event with a show kite(Beautiful Evil Quad by Joel Sholtz) and no planned music,... what's up with that?" ( I won!)
We've paid our own way internationally, helped just like the hired guns sweating in the sun, (set-up, unloading the truck, lugging equipment across the turf, repacking) and then told I can't share a meal in the organizer's tent or their enclosed fields either! Broke new ground with establishing festivals (wife is much better as this aspect of kiting), getting people to attend on their own nickel, (a week long international gig!), then to find that after two years and six attendees, that they can invite a 6-man team who bitched and complained about everything they were offered FREE, ..... undoing all of our goodwill w/the tourism office.
I've had friends help me, by explaining that THEY couldn't fly in the arena offered even though I'm the one dealing with the sponsors (Don't EVER go behind our backs like this!) We could have flown kites on magic wands (sticks) whilst eating snacks and enjoying adult beverages, knuckleheads!
I've had friends complain to other vendors about the conditions offered for us to fly at the event, (like they'd care about the kiters and a sidehill lie) gig surrounded by trees, spectators crossing our field to get to parking or the entrance. Take your crap and go home dude, you're ruining a good time for everyone here.
When I had no responsibilities, except my own pleasure (and the misses too!) Those we the days of old. Now? I'm like a wanted man, picture hanging in the urinal at the USPS. Folks want to see what I can do and I just want to make eye-contract with a spectator ONE of 'em and fly for them, just for fun!
I'm old, I can't go sixteen hours straight anymore, not the way I'd like to. Someday soon, I'll be the one on the sidelines cheering on the next generation. Smile and share,... is that so tough? I didn't forget my roots and I will never become a kite clique supporter who belittles that next guy approaching us.
Smile and share, we're all envious of someone else and we should just be happy with our own lot in life!