Eight Hours ‘Til Chaos: The Snowcone Guy Chronicles
“Boundaries aren’t bossy, they’re how you teach people to respect your time.”
The Calm Before the (Meltdown) Storm
The gates open in eight hours.
You can feel it. That humming, pre-fair tension that hits right behind your ribs.
Vendors are rolling in, cords are crossing the grounds like snakes, and you can’t tell if the smell in the air is dust, diesel, or panic.
And there he is.
The Snowcone Guy.
Same spot. Same setup. Same chaos.
In his tenth year, he still acts like it’s his first.
He’s blocking the road with his trailer, demanding extra plugs because “the freezer is more important than lights.” He didn’t bring enough ice (again), and somehow that’s your fault. His helper quit, so he’s asking if someone from your team can give him a break later.
The director nearby is trying to keep the peace while muttering silent affirmations through gritted teeth. “It’s fine. It’s fine. It’s community spirit. It’s fine.”
But inside? Her inner voice is screaming: WHY. EVERY. YEAR.
Because it’s never just Snowcone Guy, it’s the walking reminder that no matter how many times you communicate, plan, email, map, highlight, and re-send...
Some people just won’t read a thing.
If You Don’t Set Boundaries, They’ll Eat You Alive (One Bag of Ice at a Time)
Let’s be honest, if you don’t set boundaries, the Snowcone Guys of the world will keep you hostage at your own fair.
They’re not confused. They’re comfortable.
They know you’ll fix it. Because you always do.
But here’s the truth:
How you do one thing is how you do everything.
If your fair runs on last-minute miracles and “just this once” exceptions, guess what?
Vendors will expect it.
Volunteers will burn out.
And your calm, capable leadership will slowly turn into a full-time crisis management career.
Boundaries are not about being bossy. They’re about being respected.
Because the fairs that thrive don’t serve vendors, they partner with them.
They set clear expectations, enforce them kindly, and refuse to let one snowcone machine melt everyone’s sanity.
Stop Babysitting. Start Leading.
You can spot the difference a mile away.
The fairs that wobble are the ones still whispering, “Don’t make them mad, we need them.”
The ones that lead? They say, “We value you, and here’s how we work.”
That’s leadership.
That’s culture.
And it starts long before setup day.
Because your systems aren’t just paperwork. They’re emotional safety nets for your volunteers.
They say, “We won’t absorb your chaos. We’ve built a plan.”
And that confidence trickles down; vendors show up differently when they know they’re stepping into a structure, not a scramble.
Page Three, My Friend.
Next time the gates open in eight hours and someone’s waving their arms like the sky is falling, breathe.
You’ve done the work.
You’ve set the boundaries.
You’ve built the system.
Smile, point to the vendor handbook, and say,
“We planned for that. Page three.”
Because the fairs that last don’t just run events.
They build respect.
And when you hold that line?
Even the Snowcone Guy might finally bring his own ice.
Let's Get to Work
Kryssie ❦
3 Ways to Work with Fair Systems That Work ↓
👉 Fair Audits
It’s not just about your board. Audits look at your whole fair, from directors to conveners, volunteers to systems. You’ll get a clear snapshot of what’s working, what’s not, and where the biggest gaps are, so you know exactly what needs to change.
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👉 Fair Audit Survival Guide - Free eBook
Inside the Fair Audit Survival Guide, you’ll find the Audit Worksheet, your step-by-step tool to see what’s working and what’s fragile.
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👉 Legacy Survey
Your voice matters.
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