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Post by hack on Mar 17, 2007 23:55:38 GMT -5
Thanks Guys for all the good words about the job I have been doing. I love directing and it warms my heart to hear all of your comments. This season coming up will see significant changes in GLMF. The decisions that have been made were easy ones for me. I always make decisions with one thing in mind, growing GLMF. The past few years have seen a slide into stagnation. My goal for last season was to stop the slide and possibly take a few steps in a good direction. I came to believe that was achieved by the daily comments last season about how "the magic" had returned.
This season is about recapturing the magic of several years ago and taking a few strides above that former level. Once GLMF has reached the capacities of former years we can then step the level up again. The only way to not grow stagnant is to continue upward growth. This year will be an amazing one show wise, but the years to come will blow your mind! The goal is to take GLMF to new heights. With your help and support we will do just that.
You all have created a family on this site of Trevor's Some are the big brother or sister, some are the obnoxious little brother/sister, Some are Mother or father figure. the one thing that is evident, however, is your love of GLMF. You wouldn't be so passionate about it if you didn't love it. So I thank you for loving GLMF and for the help you give us in creating the event.
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Post by BlackKnight on Mar 18, 2007 0:19:16 GMT -5
All we have asked was for open communication and the willingness to listen to us bitch and moan in order to help this faire improve. You have given us that, so we thank you as well!
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Post by hack on Mar 18, 2007 0:27:24 GMT -5
Well it seems the Bitching and moaning has been replaced with positive discourse
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Post by BlackKnight on Mar 18, 2007 0:32:16 GMT -5
Yes...
Oh...you should have seen it on the old GLMF board before Larry took it down...it was a steaming pile of complaints...
My only other complaint is that the confirmed acts should be posted on the website...the website is still partly in 2006 mode...
And...I wish the merchant coordinator do as what you have done and post as they confirm vendors.
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Post by hack on Mar 18, 2007 0:36:03 GMT -5
It is far easier to post the final list at once with an entertainment grid so people can plan their day. As far as the craft coordinator I don't talk to him off season. I'm not even sure he knows about the site. If you want it contact him via the site and ask. he is a great guy and would love to do it I'm sure.
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Post by Sir Trevor on Mar 18, 2007 2:48:39 GMT -5
About Steve (the merchant coordinator). He does know about this board and is a member here, though he doesn't stop by often. He even talked to me last year about possibly setting up a section on the board just for vendors for another pipeline of communication. That was more of a contingency plan as he had been talking to Larry about possibly doing it on the old board on the official site (the one that was still being used by cast last season) I never heard anything more, so I assume that something else was worked out and he didn't need to use my board (which he is still more than welcome to) He isn't much of an online guy when it comes to spending time here. He is busy. Not only is he handling things with the faire, but he also runs his business and makes all his own stuff. I do know he was agressively looking for more vendors. Not just waiting for people to contact him, but also looking for more vendors that would be a good fit for our faire. By the end of last season he had several leads already that he was working. From word he got from friends he knows on the circuit. So I am sure he has been just as busy as John, just that his work is a little more behind the scenes. Not that he doesn't like to share (trust me, stop by his shop and start talking to him, you can't get him to shut up ) Also, I know he is also working on completely redoing the files the office has for the existing vendors. There had been several predecessors to him. Many of whom were not in the area during the off season. So the files were not up to his standard as to what information he needed to have. He was hired at the same time John was. So he had to hit the ground running and work with what he had last year as well. He spent most of the season getting organized. Familiarizing himself with everyone. Opening the lines of communication. And gathering information. I can't wait to see what he comes up with for this season. He had a lot of vendors contacting him last season, but had to wait on a large portion of them to see what the faire already had. You can't just bring in any vendor to fill space. You have to balance the types of vendors. Our faire can only support so many weapon smiths, or leather workers, or whatever. You have to have enough to satisfy demand, but also not so much that no one is making money because the sales are spread too thin amongst the same kind of vendors. Happy vendors are returning vendors. And the ones who want to come back, are the ones that take pride in how their booths look and are presented. Which also adds to the magic of the shire. So, even if the place isn't packed full, I am sure we will have a good variety of wares to choose from. And as attendance climbs, so does the faires ability to draw and support new vendors. I have always been of the mind that there are 3 legs that support a faire. Acts, Cast and Vendors Without all 3 of those, a faire is unstable and prone to failing. John has definitely come through with the acts this season. We have always had a strong cast, if not the largest at times. Hopefully it will grow and flourish this season. And I am sure we will see improvement on the vendor front as well. So this season is looking so good I am already drooling.
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Post by hack on Mar 18, 2007 9:29:44 GMT -5
Black Knight Wrote: "My only other complaint is that the confirmed acts should be posted on the website...the website is still partly in 2006 mode..."
I take this as a constructive suggestion. The place that complaints come from can't be a happy one. In the past You may have thought you had to complain because there was no forward momentum and you felt as if you were hitting your head against the wall. Times have changed and we are making huge strides. Complaining only creates stress and anxiety for those of us who are working hard to take those strides and it puts us in a defensive place and that place is not happy either. Complaining is counter productive.
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Post by Lady Catharine on Mar 18, 2007 14:14:58 GMT -5
John, prior to being involved with GLMF, and part of last yrs cleanup crew, the first time I became associated with the Faire as a Patron, I loved the excitement, the fantasy's and forgetting about the mundane world when walking through the gate. Couple years ago, with ego inflated and I mean ego inflated clique's , it WAS NOT AN ENJOYABLE part of the faire. I can honestly say, I for one am glad of the forthcoming changes, were passionately NEEDED..And bad! Last years cast appeared to be relaxed, without having the Faire Cast Nazi's~ That's all I have to say. Let us add New Faces, and not see a repeat of the past, without going into details.
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Post by BlackKnight on Mar 18, 2007 15:34:16 GMT -5
Black Knight Wrote: "My only other complaint is that the confirmed acts should be posted on the website...the website is still partly in 2006 mode..." I take this as a constructive suggestion. The place that complaints come from can't be a happy one. In the past You may have thought you had to complain because there was no forward momentum and you felt as if you were hitting your head against the wall. Times have changed and we are making huge strides. Complaining only creates stress and anxiety for those of us who are working hard to take those strides and it puts us in a defensive place and that place is not happy either. Complaining is counter productive. You are correct...I should have worded that as a constructive suggestion...my only point is that people may be visiting the website and seeing the 2006 schedule may be frustrated because they are unsure when it will be updated. I was thinking you could do a sidebar of the 2007 acts signed so far and note that the 2007 entertainment section is due to be updated by such-and-such time. Personally, I give a website major kudos when it at least lets the public know that kind of information.
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Post by hack on Mar 18, 2007 17:53:49 GMT -5
It is coming I promise. I want to clarify what I said about the complaint comment. It was not meant as an to insult anyone, but when I read the post I felt my reaction and had to comment on it. One thing most people don't know about me is I am an open book. When I experience an emotional reaction I take time to explore the reaction and find the source. Once I find the source I vocalize it to help define it so I can recognize the situation if ever it comes up again. That way I can react to the situation from a more positive place, thereby defusing any animosity. Just wanted to share this side of me.
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Post by hack on Mar 18, 2007 18:16:26 GMT -5
Lady Catherine, First i am glad that the few didn't stop you from coming. One of my main focuses last season to stop the slide was to create a positive atmosphere for all involved. I know it is impossible to please everyone all the time as experiences come from individual choice. I am happy that you didn't choose to let the egos of a few ruin the entire experience. As long as I am here the focus will always be on creating the most positive experience for all involved. If you see us slipping please let us know.
John
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Post by Lyssindra on Mar 18, 2007 19:28:23 GMT -5
I'm actually excited for faire for the first time since they raised the season pass prices. This year sounds like it will be worth the price raise, although since I now attend Pennsic the last 3 weekends of faire I no longer attend faire enough times to justify a season pass. I already have 2 tickets I bought during the special that was running at Christmas time. If I didn't attend Pennsic and have to prep for it and had more time to visit faire I would start buying a season pass again-just the fact that Broon is back makes it worth it to me. I'm looking forward to seeing Emuzeki, and I'm glad the Rogues will be there the 1st 3 weeks, when I'll be sure to see them. John, I've never actually met you, though I've seen Hack and Slash perform numerous times through the years, but I just want to thank you for all your hard work. It sounds like faire is going to be great this year!
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Post by tomnaboley on Mar 18, 2007 22:37:32 GMT -5
I think both John and Trevor are in need of a huge thank you. Trevor, for giving us this wonderful site to become one huge family..and John for being so open with us and letting us know what is happening. Both listen to what we have to say and they work with it. Thank you! Cheers, Kat
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Post by Sir Trevor on Mar 19, 2007 7:10:28 GMT -5
No need to thank me. I don't really do anything other than sit here and chit-chat will all of you guys. It's a great way for me to meet more cool people to hang out with at faire, and a way for me to stay in touch with all my faire friends.
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Post by Lady Catharine on Mar 19, 2007 18:05:35 GMT -5
John Thank you! Im too damn old anymore, to let anything ruin my days! I'm pretty thick skinned. I sometime wonder how people get out of bed in the mornings, when they CANNOT politely talk and I emphasize of getting their point across.. Ya know the old saying, you attract more flies with honey then vinegar? Well I CANNOT TOLERATE Public Berating...That ticks me off to no end. And, Im not the only one who felt that way-anyway Im starting to preach, which is what I don't want to do. That's not what this board is for. Lets talk more Faire Stuff!
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