Thoughts on the 2007 season

[Juan Don]

The 2007 Season was a nice step back to yester-year, with the return of Broon and Fool Hearty, and Hack & Slash (just the last couple years). The Lanes People were very good at keeping the people entertained, especially Will Scarlet and Little John.

When I worked at the maze, I found there were "still" many people that visited the faire for the first time and they were ALL excited and happy with what they found with the faire! I would also get many people asking the location of the restrooms. I had many people asking me if there was a joust this year. The name of "free lancers" did not register. For the future, having the word "joust" in the program (the program says "jousting" once) or "joust" on the signs could help get more people there.

I thought the childrens' program was fantastic with the water dragon, fairy god mother, and Peter Pan. If you missed the water dragon show, you really missed something. I thought it was done as well as Jim Henson's muppets. Peter Pan seemed a little long to me but it still kept the kids' attention and the originally written song at the end was nice. No, I'm not part of the childrens' program but I liked it! I noticed cases where one adult would have many kids in the children's area and I presume the rest of the parents were off on their own at other shows.

With so many people having to walk clear down to the chessboard stage for the nice chess match and escape shows, I vote for having the chessboard stage in the middle of the faire again instead of the far end. It would also be nice to see some stage people back in the chess match show, at least for an early combat and then they can leave. How about one early fight where Hack, Slash, Johhny, Broon, Fool Hearty, Mud Skippers, etc. are all injured at once and carried out on stretchers? [glow=red,2,300] [/glow]

The music has always been a great part of the faire and 2007 was probably the best yet. I've enjoyed Owain's music since 1997. E Muzeki was growing on me each week. The finger work on the bouzouki, especially The Victor song, is amazing. I liked the original songs by Richard for the opening, escape, and chess match. I also like Porter & Stout's Christmas album. I also bought a new Silent Lion CD, E Muzeki CD, and Doc Martin CD (person behind the water dragon). So, the music continues here at home!

That's all I can think of for now. Thanks to all that made 2007 so nice!

[Lady Catharine]

Indeed- a most memo ;)rable faire season it twas!

**is it 08 yet*****?

[BeerBlessings]

I concur that Great Lakes has better entertainment overall than Pittsburgh. Fresh back from Pittsburgh, I'll toss in my $0.02.

Great Lakes has much better beer than Pittsburgh. But when Coors is a sponsor, you end up with Killian's and Blue Moon. Not bad, but still not as good as Newcastle or Smithwick's. And no Guiness to be found.. Also, only one size of beer: regular plastic cup. I expect both of those points to be remedied in the next couple years. (Especially the lack of imports.)

Great Lakes can improve the porta-johns. Pittsburgh had the flushing kind, and you couldn't see all the muck. Also, hand sanitizer dispensers in all the porta-johns, and always filled.

Great Lakes has some really great food available. The down side is pricing for standard "faire food". Pittsburgh's was a buck or so less per item in general. However, Great Lakes REALLY shines when it comes to such places as Friar Plucks, Black Ox, Creekside, the Pickle Grove, and the other places that sell the non-grease varieties. I horribly missed all of the previously mentioned places this past weekend after getting spoiled this season..

Oh, and Great Lakes Pub Sing is the freaking BOMB! After seeing Pittsburgh, I truly realize just how well GLMF's Pub Sing brings everyone together, wraps things up, and makes you incredibly glad you stayed till the end of the day.

[SwordSchoolGroupie]

Ditto all that... especially the part about the port-a-johns. The Pittsburgh ones were sooo nice and they actually smelled minty-fresh. I forgot to mention that before - thanks BB.

[Sir Trevor]

From what I remember from a couple years ago, the port-a-johns at Pitt were nice.
Though I had never seen any like that ever before.
Don't even know if anyone in this area would have any for GLMF to even check into.
Definitely something to bring up in the next wish-list / improvements thread.

[Scarlett]

I agree that the privies in Morelandshire are superior to those in Avaloch. I likewise agree that Avaloch's pub sing is better than Morelandshire's. As for the faire food,I must confess to not eating (hardly) any at either faire. Morwyn and I bring our own grub - we head out to the parking lot for about 20 minutes for lunch and an ale then head back into the shire, whichever it may be.

Avaloch has some of the best entertainment out there. That's one of the main resons I love this faire so much! And the people of course!

[BeerBlessings]

Oh, another thing to add to the "Wish-List".. and something that would prevent counterfeiting the purple money:

For those of you that have seen my sign, it was made by a company called Dragonfire Laser Crafts. They also did the small price signs that you see at Griffin Leather. You can check them out at www.dragonfirelaser.com/

They also make engraved wooden tokens that may be a decent idea in the future. (http://www.dragonfirelaser.com/Tokens.html) They may be a bit pricey for the initial investment, but the theft/counterfeit protection might be worthwhile. Plus, they'd have the added benefit of being taken home as a souvenir, so those that don't spend all their money will have a small keepsake of sorts.

Just an idea, and one that may have a high "Coolness Factor". Paying for food in wooden coins just sounds fitting for the faire!

[bunbun / Hank]

Hey...Got a question for all you "other Faire"going people. Does anyone besides GLMF use "Confederate" money? Or do they just use good old American greenbacks? I for one wish they would do away with the Confederate stuff, Maybe Larry should look into hiring more "honest" people. I refuse to use it myself. If you don't accept greenback dollars, I just don't buy from you. What say you, Capt. Morgan? You seem to have hit every faire East of the Mississippi at one time or another. Are we the only one's using the stuff, or is it prevalent at other faires also? HANK.

[bunbun / Hank]

Here is another thought to my above posting. I noticed a lot of you went to the Geauga County Fair, and you made mention that Larry had a lot of his people there selling goodies to eat. Did you have to pay in "Confederate money," and if not, why not? Did he have a more honest crew working the booths? Or was it the same faces one See's at GLMF? Things that make you go, HMMMM? HANK.

[SwordSchoolGroupie]

Well is was Friar Pluck himself and the people at Piper's Pub who always took real money....They accept real money at GCF but Larry is not in charge of the GCF and so has no control over that. And in Pittsburgh they gladly accepted my american dollar. although I can't remember where I saw it either Pittsburgh or MiRF- the money was deposited into locked wooden boxes with a slot in the top not just a cash drawer.

[Sir Trevor]

Hank, I do know there are other faires out there that use "funny money" as well.
Can't remember them off the top of my head though.

I also know when we had the bakery here at our Oktoberfest a few years, they took real money. Then again, it was people like Cindy working the booth, so I think they can trust her.

[Scarlett]

I have never been to another faire besides GLMF that uses it's own currency. And to be honest, I have a great level of doubt as to the reason why it's in place. Dishonest employees handling the money? I doubt that. Seems to me like a way to make more money from the patrons. How many of those stupid purple backs do all of you have left over? How many does the general mundane public still have? Think about it. That' just my opinion of course.

Pittsburgh does have locked boxes on top of the counter at the pub but I had thought it was for tips. How can you make change for a customer if the box can't be opened?

[Sir Trevor]

Actually I do believe some of the reasons.
I know for a fact, before the purple money and the posted price lists, prices would vary on items from day-to-day.
I know for a fact one day I would be charged $3 for a brownie, the next it was only $2.
Where do you think that other dollar went?
Same place a lot of other money went, into the helps pocket.

[BeerBlessings]

I've been to many a festival where you have to buy Tickets to exchange for food and liquid refreshment. Just about every Irish fest I've gone to has done this. Generally the tickets are about $1.50, and you'll see the prices for food and beer listed in "Tickets". .. It's nothing new to me, except that at GLMF the purple stuff is good the following year.

[Kayenne]

admin said:

Actually I do believe some of the reasons.
I know for a fact, before the purple money and the posted price lists, prices would vary on items from day-to-day.
I know for a fact one day I would be charged $3 for a brownie, the next it was only $2.
Where do you think that other dollar went?
Same place a lot of other money went, into the helps pocket.

There's still a problem with pricing. Poison Ivy would get the chicken tenders, just the chicken. Sometimes it was $5 and sometimes it was $3. Not just theft, but a whole lot of confusion.