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Post by Sir Trevor on Jul 11, 2005 18:19:32 GMT -5
We also used to have a paper maker, a coin maker. Didn't we also used to have someone selling period games?
There have been a lot of interesting booths in the shire before. But, I also remember most of them did not get a lot of traffic. So I don't know if they were making enough to survive. Which might be why they are no longer around.
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Illyanna Adamczyk
Squire
Avatar coming soon...need to finish the darn costume!
Posts: 26
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Post by Illyanna Adamczyk on Jul 11, 2005 18:49:52 GMT -5
I really miss To Bee or Not to Bee. They had some really good products. It was really cool that they visited and handed out some of the honey sticks! Unfortunately, they won't be a O-ren either...something about not having enough help to run the booth.
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Post by Hokie Bird on Jul 12, 2005 6:44:18 GMT -5
I had a great time on Saturday even though I had to make it a shorter day. Had some nice interactions with cast members including some Welsh-wannabe gypsies The Rogues were awesome! They really do liven up the Faire with their talent. Our lovely Ox Lady Olive looked stunning in her new dress and had some tasty little loaves of bread Personally I've been very pleased with the cast this year. I've had many more interactions with them than last year and see them in the streets more. I really like their costumes and the uniformity, it makes it much easier to sort out cast from patron, especially for newbies. I saw the chess match again on saturday and again I thought it was so much better done than last year. The only show I've seen so far that I don't really care for is the Mud Show, but I didn't really like it last year either, so I don't think its the actors. and I just want to say thanks to the cast for making the faire fun and its great seeing you guys out in the streets interacting with the patrons. Keep up the good work and I'm looking forward to Saturday have a great day everyone
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Arthur Pendragon
cast
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Posts: 53
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Post by Arthur Pendragon on Jul 12, 2005 9:32:14 GMT -5
Hey Everyone!
First, let me say a huge THANK YOU for all of the compliments. We are trying, and many are learning, so please keep watching.
I also wanted to say thank you for the *criticisms* on this forum. Last weekend's criticisms seemed to break down to "I miss old people/places/things". It was a little hurtful, but I understood very much the place that it was coming from and miss those people myself, so I let it slide. This forum's critiques seem much more *constructive*, which I am always open to. So, I guess after a couple of weekends, I'm ready to respond to some things.
Story Line and Street Work: Yep, the story is very light this year. Last year we heard all sorts of complaints that the story was too complex, and it drew cast off the streets for too many shows. So, this year we went back to roots, light story, very few shows, put more things ON the streets. Many are already complimenting the street that they are seeing: thank you, but keep watching! As the cast gets more comfortable (esp. newbies) we will hopefully see *bigger* bits, but I am already seeing much *more* street than the past couple of years. As to the size of the cast, I did a little research (being a numbers guy). 1. Though the cast is not as large as the past couple of years, at about 60 people it is larger than every year prior to 2002. 2. With anticipated attendance for the run at 75,000 (guess based on Renaissance Magazine ads), if each cast member were to "hit-up" an equal number of patrons so that each guest was "hit" once, cast would have to "hit" about 105 people each on 12 days of run. In contrast, Michigan Ren Faire cast, numbering about 90 if we count people who only dance and don't interact, with attendance at 250,000, would have to hit about 200 people each on 14 days of run. My conclusion: We have a good sized cast that will ensure that every patron can be touched on several times throughout the day. Of course, there are many who don't want to interact for whatever reason, and it is obvious that this is so from their body language. People that do want to interact though will often send mixed signals because they are conditioned by society to not do so. If you are not getting the level of interaction you desire, don't be shy about approaching cast members - many of them are still a little shy about approaching you. That should fade though, so that we see more and bigger stuff on the streets.
Whew - this is getting long. But on we go!
Missing Vendors: First a disclaimer: I'm only a cast member, not an office guru of some sort, so much of my info is second hand. But yes, apparently there were some communication problems with the office and a couple vendors this year that caused those couple of vendors to miss deadlines. There isn't much of an excuse for this to have happened, but it did, and hopefully it won't happen again and these vendors will come back. However, the vast majority of vendors that are not back are due to lack of profits or personal reasons. This includes the man-powered rides, honey booth, and many more of the ones mentioned. I know how you feel, I miss them too, and it does make the shire seem more empty. But there is nothing anyone in the office could have done about it by the time that faire started. Hopefully, they will scout for replacement vendors this off-season so that the shire will seem more full next year. In the meantime, go to the odd vendors that you don't normally buy things from, and see if there isn't something you would like from them. Elsewise, I know several more vendors will likely leave for the same reason: lack of profit. I know I am trying to spread my faire budget in some different directions this year: I've already bought two CD's and plan to buy a few more (huge difference for me, cause I know/buy music like I know Chinese - not at all), and I got a hair twister on Sunday.
Alright, that's enough for now - I'm hungry. Thank you all again for your kind words, and know that we as a cast will keep trying to improve things.
Greg / King Arthur
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Post by Hokie Bird on Jul 12, 2005 11:10:48 GMT -5
Long Live the King!
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Post by Sir Trevor on Jul 12, 2005 11:21:17 GMT -5
Whew - this is getting long. But on we go! Though your posts may be large in size, they never seem long when I read them. They are packed with information and lots to digest. I thank you for taking the time to address some of the concerns. I know it won't satisfy everyone, but it is helpful for a lot of people.
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Post by CelticWench on Jul 12, 2005 13:49:20 GMT -5
Thank you, your highness, for stopping by our humble gathering place!! For the record, let me say that as a pretty "regular" patron, I had no problems with cast interaction. My earlier post was simply passing on a comment from a coworker, who was an older lady in 20th century attire. I did tell her that many of the cast were younger and new to the faire experience, but she is still convinced that it will not be worth her time or money to return. I know there is very little I can do to convince her otherwise. I just relayed her issues in hopes of keeping a future patron from feeling the same way....although I know you can't please everybody all the time. ...go to the odd vendors that you don't normally buy things from, and see if there isn't something you would like from them. I heartily second this statement!! I bought a Rogues CD on Sunday that I *think* I might have found cheaper online....but I had no qualms about telling the guys that I was buying it at GLMF so they'd be sure to come back! ;D Erin
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Illyanna Adamczyk
Squire
Avatar coming soon...need to finish the darn costume!
Posts: 26
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Post by Illyanna Adamczyk on Jul 12, 2005 17:09:10 GMT -5
Greg, I am confused, though, as to how you came up with 60 for the cast...Trevor must be missing a few on his board. We counted only 51 without counting Brook and Taren and Rachelle. Trevor, are you slacking? Are there some missing?
As to the street bits, I only had one person do a bit with me. I know I can't be everywhere, but that's all I saw. Sorry, I can only report what I personally see!
And Trevor, as to the chess match and the "flubs" don't forget that I have been trained for the last 11 years to see things that patrons don't! So that's probably why we saw different shows!
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Post by Sir Trevor on Jul 12, 2005 17:37:23 GMT -5
And Trevor, as to the chess match and the "flubs" don't forget that I have been trained for the last 11 years to see things that patrons don't! So that's probably why we saw different shows! Very true. But even though I have been trained in some sword work, I was looking at it as a paytron. That is who the show is for. Have I seen better individual fight scenes before? Yes I have. But taken as a whole I still think this years production is the most balanced I have seen. In previous years, I have seen shows with some awesome fights, but they were sandwiched between so-so ones, with actors that were clearly not comfortable with stage combat. This season, it seems to flow well, and keeps a certain level of skill throughout. That is the frame of mind I am coming from when I say that I found the chessmatch to be rather good. I will be catching it again this weekend to see it with Polly. The one I saw, she was absent and Boom was replacing her.
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Post by Sir Trevor on Jul 12, 2005 19:29:58 GMT -5
I just remembered something that I didn't like this weekend. The moving of the barracade! Now it is sitting in the middle of the sword school area I have my suspicions as to why it was moved. And if correct, I can see why it would have been a bit of a scramble to find a place to move it to. Hopefully they will find a better location for it by this weekend. Maybe closer to the pool house?
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Illyanna Adamczyk
Squire
Avatar coming soon...need to finish the darn costume!
Posts: 26
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Post by Illyanna Adamczyk on Jul 12, 2005 19:31:52 GMT -5
I disagree that past chess shows have not been better than this years', but that's the beauty of this board...we are allowed to disagree! ;D
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Arthur Pendragon
cast
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Post by Arthur Pendragon on Jul 12, 2005 19:43:52 GMT -5
Jen - No, you were right on the cast count. I had 60 stuck in my head for some reason - maybe that was the count before a couple of people fell out of rehearsals? Regardless, my points still stand. The math changes to 125 patrons per character per day, but is still very reasonable. Would more cast be better? Probably, but I'm seeing good street stuff out of everyone we do have on cast. And Jen, I took no offense at all from your post - I know you are only reporting what you see and can't see everything, etc. I know I saw / was involved in many level 3 & 4 bits this weekend from / with many characters, and I expect them to grow into even more. Also, personally, I didn't *want* to do any big bits with you. You are already *family*, know all the rules, etc - I wanted more to interact with the kids knightings, the couples and families that are visiting for the first time, etc. That's where I feel the king should be focusing his attentions. Also, you were so proud to be portraying a "patron damnit" it seemed like you didn't want to interact either. Anyway, no hard feelings felt on this end at all. I love ya too much, and it was too good to see you for there to be any bad feelings. Trevor - thanks for the nice comments about the chess match. Jen *does* have some very valid critiques, but I think you are right in saying that the show plays well for most people. And again, I'm certain that the fights will continue to improve as the run goes on. Erin - No hard feelings from your post either. Yeah, you can't please everyone. We try though, and that's what counts I think. Enough blathering from me. Thanks again all of you for your support and help! Greg / King Arthur
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Post by Sir Trevor on Jul 12, 2005 20:14:33 GMT -5
but that's the beauty of this board...we are allowed to disagree! ;D And that is where the fun lies. If we all just sat here singing praises it would get dull awfully quickly. And I like to think that everyone who speaks there mind does so because they love the faire. And want to see it succeed. Regardless of all the politics, and the crap that drives us batty. It is our faire.
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Post by bridget2284 on Jul 14, 2005 22:20:14 GMT -5
well if what I am hearing from the other vendors is any indication - its no wonder so many didnt come back this year. everyone I talk to says that the patrons just arent buying. I didnt talk to too many people sunday koz I was in a "mood" over other matters, but as of Saturday - all the vendors I talked to said the same thing. "we're just not selling."
I was really hoping to get a new fairy wand too. gawd I love those things! (I also do face painting and the kids love them!) along with many other things I was excited to have access to since I am working this faire this year.
I had hoped to build a booth at glmf next year.....but unless the situation improves greatly - it aint happ'nin.
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Post by bridget2284 on Jul 14, 2005 22:27:16 GMT -5
oh and I just thought of ONE thing that bothered me about cast bits in the street. at one point - and dont get me wrong koz we LOVE to play with cast - but at one point the king and queen had a rather large group collected in the street outside our booth.... which turned into a knighting ceremony. I love this...but at some point, it became a serious blockade. for about 20 - 30 minutes no one could get anywhere near my booth. it was great to have the entertainment, the crowd and the attention there, but even if anyone had wanted to come into my booth they could not have. so....my only request to the cast doing bits in the street is - try to be mindful of crowd control once you collect a crowd, and be sure that patrons can still GET to the vendor booths. H
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