I decided to buy a Congo Square poster for myself and, after a call to my dad, an official Jazz Fest poster for the 'rents. Unfortunately I'll have to carry them around for the rest of the day, but after last year (the official posters sold out on the first day) I figured it was worth it. This also made for a really long line (as you can see) so I pulled out my trusty notebook and wrote up the experience. I noticed a lesbian couple a couple of customers ahead of me in line (they stated their preference to their line neighbors) who introduced themselves to their neighbors and discussed real estate around the city and how great it is living in the bywater since they moved to New Orleans 4 years ago.

Behind me an older woman thought I had cut her off while getting into line and muttered for a bit about rude people, but after a while the boredom (and long wait) encouraged her to strike up a conversation with me about how lines past weren't so long and the first year of Jazz Fest had free posters (this year they're $75 a pop). I guess this small talk placated her (and we started to move towards the front rather quickly) since the complaints ceased and her mood got much better. (I swear I didn't cut, I just happened to switch lines at the exact moment she got to the end of the line... OK maybe I did, sorry.)

To the right and left of me others discussed possible purchases. "I always know what I'm getting before getting in line. What should I get?" she asked. All the while the Congo Square stage was setting up for the next performance. Soon a funky african beat began and the line started to sway just a bit and the music got to us. There is no where at Jazz Fest without music.