I started my International Burnside Day Celebrations on the Friday afternoon – all great feasts have a vigil.  First of all I emailed the flier to fifty lucky Forummers.  Next I photocopied 100 copies onto bright colourful paper.  Then I headed into the city to meet up with five other Forummers and watch Lone Star - yet again.  Naturally I took my collection of fliers with me. 

Jennywren, Kel2, Ginger, Emony and another friend all got a copy in the café where we were having dinner – and I broke my other plans to them then.  After dinner we walked over to the Opera House and I left them hiding by the door to the Playhouse while I - telling myself firmly that I was unlikely to drop dead of a heart attack, regardless of what my heart felt like it was doing – "took my brave in both hands" and proceeded to hand out the International Burnside Day flier to people who were arriving to watch Lone Star.  As a chronically shy person I was absolutely terrified - but sometimes a 'fearless leader' has to do what a fearless leader has to do. ;o)  I approached each likely looking candidate with a flier held so that they could see the wonderful picture and said, 

"May I give you a copy of this for International Burnside Day?" 

Some people took it without looking or listening but most gave a start of recognition at either the face or the name.  A few people asked questions and I briefly explained the Immortals and the website.  Jennywren very kindly took a couple of pictures of all this.

After the show, when we were hanging around by the stage door, I gave a copy to Huw Higginson as he was leaving.  He thanked me and looked at it briefly before folding it up and walking off.  They were all going out that night and I felt we were holding them up quite sufficiently so I didn’t bother the others with it. 

When I was finally leaving the Opera House car park, in the early hours of the morning, I did a wee little bit of car leafleting – sticking our Francis under various cars' windscreen wipers, all the time expecting some Beemer's car alarm to go off! 

The next day - on the actual day of days - I leafleted cars at two local shopping centres, put copies around the internet terminals I often use at one of them and put copies up on a community notice board.

That night I was back at Lone Star (yes, yes, I am obsessed).  This time it was my sister's turn to hide while I did my "May I give you a copy of this for International Burnside Day?" routine.  Again there was a lot of interest.  One couple came back to ask me what should they do – should they write to the ABC?  I handed out a lot more this time but I didn't approach the group that included Joy Brooks!  One threesome declined to take a flier but then must have seen other people's because they came back to ask for one. The woman then stood there and read it out loud to all interested parties.  (Remember this woman - she's important in the scheme of things.)  

In the theatre I turned out to be sitting next to a very enthusiastic TB fan so I gave him and his friend a flier (and Sierra Oscar's URL) and we talked about IBD and other important matters.  Lone Star is a one-act play so after the interval the cast hold a question time.  As soon as it started the woman who had come back to ask me for a flier put her hand up and asked, 

"I've heard from other people who've been to other performances that you don't like Burnside - so I was wondering what you think of this flier I was given on the way in (she holds it up) and the fact that today is International Burnside Day because it's Chris Ellison's birthday?" 

"International Burnside Day?!" went the three on the stage while I nearly died and my next-door neighbour all but nudged me off my seat.  

After a few mutters and shrugs from Huw, Tom and Russ Huw said, 
"Well, people are strange." 

They then went on to deny categorically disliking Burnside – or, more importantly, Ellison.  They told rather a good story about Chris making them crack up on set by writing an obscene message on his eyelids before a scene! 

I was chosen to ask the next question. Oh well, I thought, in for a penny… 

"Before I ask my question perhaps I should admit that I'm the originator of International Burnside Day (turn to face the rest of the audience a little)  - and I've got about sixty fliers left if anyone would like one!" 

So - how's that?  We got ourselves discussed in the Sydney Opera House, in front of Russ, Huw, Tom, Joy and 400 people!!!!!!  Not bad for a fan group which had only just celebrated its two month anniversary!  Roll on IBD 2001, I say! 

On the way out I put piles of fliers on tables and watched while some people took them. I also distributed a few more in the Opera House car park.  I still had some leftovers so they went Christmas shopping with me – every time I parked my car anywhere I did a row of cars with them, as well as displaying one in my car.

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