“Is there a sequel to the Punch and Judy show?” the prelate wanted to know from Pastor Rainer Maria Schiessler when the rebellious “media pastor” of St. Maximilian took up his duties as Oktoberfest attendant for the first time in 2006. No offense to Schiessler, who will be waiting tables at the Oktoberfest for a total of ten years and on Tuesday afternoon will present his new book “Wiesnglück – Eine LiebesDECLARATION”, which will be published by Bene-Verlag on September 9th. What could be nicer than looking into the astonished, wide-open children’s eyes at the Punch and Judy show, counters Schiessler.
It is no longer children’s eyes that Schiessler looks into at this book presentation, but the almost 200 pairs of eyes are always astonishing. In the full Bavaria hall in the Paulaner am Nockherberg, Schiessler slips into the role of the storyteller, the moderator, the stand-up comedian. Guest contributions on the stage and in the book come from the Wiesn landlords Christian and Michael F. Schottenhamel, in whose tent Schiessler signed on, as well as from former service colleagues. If it were a Punch and Judy show, Schiessler would have already named the characters when he brought “wild Hilde” and “Anstichschorsch” onto the stage.
During his declaration of love for the Oktoberfest, Schiessler repeatedly emphasized the humanity and collegiality he experienced there. The ex-colleagues on the stage also express heartfelt appreciation, the pastor has always promoted cohesion in the workforce, reports Christian Schottenhamel. For Schiessler, having fun at work comes first, not increasing your own cash register second: “I’m doing too well in this church, I need an overriding goal.” So Schiessler donated the wages from his years as a waiter to a good cause.
Is the media-savvy clergyman the best choice as a fundraiser?
The overarching goal for the proceeds of his new book is the “Helferkreis Anton” in Moosinning, a local initiative to support a private family. The representatives of this circle of helpers, including Moosinning’s Mayor Georg Nagler, also asked Schiessler to come onto the stage. Nagler reveals that there was internal discussion as to whether the media-savvy clergyman was the best choice as a fundraiser; Ultimately, the decision was left to the family.
In the book, Schiessler has also included thought-provoking passages, often spanning a romanticizing arc from the Bible to an experienced Wiesn situation, peppered with emphatic exclamation marks. He retired to a resort in Ötztal for a few days to write. He didn’t need more than a room, WiFi and a coffee machine, the stories just flowed. Associative, chronological and with the universal metaphor of a foaming and ultimately breaking wave, he approaches his story with the Oktoberfest, from childhood, through school and university to his last year as a waiter in 2018.
He ponders whether a waiter was lost on him
He is not lacking in self-confidence, but he is most entertaining with the down-to-earth anecdotes that have accumulated over ten years of festival operations. For example, when he drove Oktoberfest visitors home as a taxi driver during his studies. Or when a guest asked him for a used fork to grease his hairstyle, which he had no partying for. Or that his name brackets identified him as “professional single” and “Christian Beer Express”, while his colleagues still called him “Reverend”.
Arriving at the signing table after the presentation, Schiessler wonders whether a waiter was lost on him. And finds: “Before you become unfriendly, you have to stop, because the guest doesn’t deserve that. I’m a student and at some point you have to know what you do full-time.” In addition, handing out was always the greatest thing for him and he does the same as a pastor. Rainer Schiessler will not be returning to the Wiesn this year as a waiter, but he wants to watch his former colleagues hand out the beer.