Greek festivals not all about selling
Greek festivals is not all about selling. For me it's a way to get over my shyness and speak to people and when doing that I am often rewarded with humanity. Sure I may get the sale but that fades over time and you are left with the experience.
Few years back I was prepping for a festival, but right before I had received an online order to paint a sign for a gentleman of his village located in Chios specifically Lithi beach. The arrow had to point to the left, instead I made the mistake of the arrow pointing to the right. I corrected it and sent it to him. I continued to prep and took the incorrect sign with me to the Greek festival-hoping to sell it.
At the festival it caught someone's eye and that person went berserk, 'Oh my God, I don't believe you have Lithi, look he has Lithi, how much is that sign...' They bought the sign. Soon word got out and more folks wanted Lithi beach sign. Many people came by my booth excited for the very sign. I learned much about Lithi beach. The arrow to the right would mean death, shear cliff, so it HAD to point to the right. The sunsets are particularly beautiful and special here. What I didn't know was the Lithi beach sign online order was posted to facebook. Where all these people at the Baltimore festival knew this man and saw the sign. Much confusion on my part but, it felt great knowing just how one wrong sign ignited the Greeks from Chios at this particular festival.
At another in a different city, an elderly man with a cane came by my booth, he was interested in getting his godchild or grand daughter a Greek name keychain. He asked how much each cost and was taken back with the eight dollar reply from me. He walked away. About ten minutes later, he came back, as he opened his wallet and pulled out a five dollar bill and then a few ones. I stopped him and took only the five dollar bill and handed him the keychain. As he held it in his hand, I say to him, 'Endasi', which in Greek means OK. As he turns around to leave he replies in a louder Greek voice, 'Para endasi' which means 'Very OK'.
It's been a few years since this event. It still stays with me. Much longer then the monetary sale.