A GOOD PITCH

In the old west, salesmen peddling exotic elixirs, tonics, miracle cures and gadgets traveled from town to town, set up an impromptu stage and tried to draw a crowd with their showmanship. That tradition lives on in the concessions areas of state fairs across the country as fast-talking itinerant sales artists work hard to make a quick sale to any one of the thousands that drift by their booth every day. These people have to be fast, funny, smart, sincere and above all, tireless.

The parade of potential customers at the fair is relentless - 10 or 11 hours a day they walk by and these performers/sales people have to get them first to stop, then be amazed, then close a deal with at least a couple of folks in the group. They use some of the techniques we're familiar with from late-night TV. First quoting what sounds like a reasonable price for a gadget, then offering 2 for the price of one, then announcing that the company has authorized him, only "while they last," to offer up a bonus pair of kitchen shears to toss in the deal. Whether it's the miracle mop, or the hand grater that protects your knuckles ("you know who makes those old style graters don't you?" says one, "The people who make Band- Aids!"), or the incredible Mr. Sticky that picks up lint off anything, they have "remarkable" products to sell and a short time to do it in.

I'd like to explore these peoples' skill, record their schtick, talk to them about their techniques, how they know who in a group is most likely to buy, how they feel when hours go by without a sale, how they maintain their energy, what life is like on the road for them, moving from fair to fair, trade show to trade show. The fair runs through this weekend but I don't think a feature like this needs to be tied to THIS fair so I think the story would hold and could be run about anytime. But if anyone's interested, I'd like to know by mid-week if possible because the best day for me to go back would be Thursday 9-19.

WHY GOOD? Piece reeks with sound possibilities, presenting a scene that's both familiar and exotic. Reporter has done his homework about the scene, the sales and the work life, has a good idea of what he's going to do, and when it should air.