Image © Carters Steam Fair
Yes, I know the circus is more traditional. But ever since I moved to Reading almost twenty years ago, I’ve been in love with Carters Steam Fair. On a whim, I wondered what sort of job a person of my skill range* could do as part of a fair, so I went to their website to have a look.
That’s when I discovered that Joby Carter, son of John and Anna who originally started the fair in 1975, runs courses in signwriting and coach painting. He also has an additional business called White Waltham Restoration, which specialises in the restoration, conservation and use of vintage machinery.
Now that, I could do!
In fact I went to a signwriter and printer for my school work experience at the age of fifteen… although they didn’t let me actually paint or typeset or do anything, and I spent the entire week designing my own letterhead (they printed an entire ream for me, I think I still have some left) and drawing an extremely detailed picture of a hawk moth that was later hung in my parents’ hallway.
But I digress.
It seems as though my degree in typography and my (admittedly limited) experience of painting pub chalkboards would stand me in good stead for not making too much of a pig’s ear of a signwriting course. I’m good at hand-lettering (if I do say so myself!), and learning how to work in the style of the Victorian fairground would be fascinating.
And how absolutely wonderful would it be to work for a company that has its very own Victorian Roller Disco, complete with a live pianist in the middle?!
So, here’s my latest New-And-Improved Life Plan:
Step One: Book a place on Joby Carter’s signwriting course.
Step Two: Get a job with Carters Steam Fair or White Waltham Restoration**.
What could possibly go wrong…?
*Can’t drive, can’t lift heavy things, can’t operate or repair machinery, fairground rides make me sick…
**Yes, of course I know it’s not as easy as all that. Stop spoiling all my fun, will you?!
I fancy that too. I wanted to be a signwriter until I realised it was all done with computers and machines. I always fancied a bit of traditional narrowboat painting-of-old-buckets as well 🙂
Oooh, yes, there was a narrowboat-style painting course at MERL a few years ago, it would be lovely to do something like that. I bet there’s still work out there for a traditional signwriter, but you’d probably have to be able to travel around a lot to do it. And be good up a ladder! 🙂
I could travel around in my imaginary campervan (you know, the one with the built-in photo studio and the cat flap for Mischief). And I am very good at heights. Yay!
Oh yes, this whole idea is making me think about my imaginary campervan too! Or a beautifully painted delivery bike, with an emormous basket on the front. Not so good for carrying ladders about though…