Okay its a bit on the lighter side, but -- In a message about the MPMA's
Conference (I'm a little behind on my e-mail) the copy reads, "See the disgusting
antics being planned for the FIRST EVER Museum Fear Factor...," and I can't
HELP but postulate about what those antics might be...

First there is always an "eating challenge."  Yet in Museum Fear Factor,
rather than people eating bugs, the bugs will be let loose on the artifacts!
Powder-post beetles, moths, and that old favorite silverfish will dine on a
smorgishboard of artifacts.  First bug to devour all the stuff wins!

Then there might be a...
"Curatorial Challenge" -- where the curator is must watch as hordes of unruly
kids (with dirty fingers and chewing bubble-gum) is released into a gallery.
First Curator to "flinch" is eliminated.

Or possibly a...
"Fundraising Challenge" -- three of our lucky contestants must argue their
needs in front of a panel of unshakable donors.  The contestants are
unmercifully dismissed with a blink of an eye by the donor panel.

And we mustn't forget about the...
"Volunteer Docent Challenge" -- Volunteer Coordinators must deal with the
antics of some of our more "unique" (and perhaps "senior") volunteers as they
show up late, make their own rules, telling stories about how this property was
on the underground railroad, how people were smaller back then, and explaining
nobody had closets because....  First person to get angry and say -- "Arrrghhh
-- Noooo! -- That's not TRUE!!"  looses.

HMMm....   Now that I think about it -- this isn't "Museum Fear Factor," this
is daily life in the world of a small museum!  Perhaps this is another case
of, "art imitating life"?

*grin*

 - David -
David Lewis, Curator
Aurora Regional Fire Museum
www.auroraregionalfiremuseum.org

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).