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Post by Sir Trevor on Jul 9, 2007 17:54:32 GMT -5
Ok, the return of the weekend summaries. OMG! This had to be the best opening weekend I can ever remember Other than the heat of course. There were so many happy and smiling people all over the place. We thought there was a turn around and a positive vibe last season for opening day. This one blew it away by a mile! Yes there were glitches. No programs being the biggest that comes to mind. But considering how smoothly everything else went, I can deal with it. And I can tell you, that behind the scenes this was one smooth running opening as well. Usually the staff are running around dealign with a whole bunch of issues that most patrons never know about. This season was a lot a different. The radios were mostly quiet. And the staff got to work on fine tuning a few things instead of putting out fires all weekend. I saw a lot of happy vendors. That had a good weekend, not just a good opening weekend. Sure there were others that didn't do so well, yet. But by far, there were many more happy ones than in years past. I didn't get a chance to talk to many of the stage performers to see how their shows went, but I saw decent opening day crowds on Saturday, and considering the heat, a moderate crowd for Sunday. Though things were busier in the morning before the heat. Which is rare for a Sunday. So hopefully the faire's advertising blitz is paying off, and we can get a lot more people inside the gate this season to enjoy the magic of Avaloch.
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Post by BlackKnight on Jul 9, 2007 18:27:53 GMT -5
Yes..an outstanding weekend!
Emuzeki rocked the place! I knew they would do well. They looked like they sold a ton of CDs and always drew a crowd. I see New Entertainer of the Year award there...Thanks John!
Yeah...no programs...and no comment...sorta. There is just no excuse for that after 15 years, I'll leave it at that.
Looks like next weekend will be cooler...keep the fingers crossed!
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Post by CelticWench on Jul 9, 2007 19:05:47 GMT -5
LoveloveLOVED E Muzeki. Had never heard them before, and found myself heading over to that side of shire for several of their shows....I'm so glad there's another awesome group performing over there, so I can curl up in my favorite tree trunk to listen. LOL I hate to say that I don't pay attention to the cast/street/etc., but I rarely seem to end up in the right place at the right time to catch it. I did see some of the show outside the gates in the morning, and I thought it was very well done. Once I'm in the shire, though, I'm either a) talking with someone, b) helping out at Fiona's Fineries, or c) "walking with purpose" -- ie, I want to get to a specific show. I was only there Saturday - Sunday was too hot, even for me - but the crowds seemed great as it got later on Saturday. The first Rogues show was a little thin, but it WAS early! I spoke to a lot of folks - vendors and patrons - who seemed happy overall with changes in the layout. I thought the repairs looked great! The stages were a hundred times better than they've looked in the past, and the annual cleaning really showed this time around (I thought). My biggest complaint - hey, I can't be 100% happy, can I?? - was the Giant Eagle/ticket issue that I've ranted about in a couple threads here already. There are radio stations in PA carrying the ads that say tickets are available, and I can't find any at the Giant Eagles in Erie. The store on Peach St. has always had them in the past, and I can't get an answer anywhere as to what happened....
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Post by Lady Catharine on Jul 9, 2007 19:12:09 GMT -5
CW, (nice footnote) Now my point to you is, Ive heard them on a snippit..AWESOME! All's I can say. I surmized they would be welcome .. They are fabulous..fablous.fablous!
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Post by BeerBlessings on Jul 9, 2007 20:51:25 GMT -5
Well, the shows at the Stumbull Stage just KILLED!!!
Or at least killed whatever was hiding under the Stumbull bar.
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Post by CelticWench on Jul 9, 2007 21:00:55 GMT -5
Hey BeerBlessings.....I think I was parked next to you! I didn't know who you were, then I saw some postings over in the picture threads. Anyway, I was in the red Rav4....wearing a black top and brown skirt, didn't have my bodice on yet....
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Post by Sir Trevor on Jul 9, 2007 21:12:53 GMT -5
You mean like this
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Post by Athena on Jul 9, 2007 21:21:38 GMT -5
Well, the shows at the Stumbull Stage just KILLED!!! Or at least killed whatever was hiding under the Stumbull bar. BLECH! It was bad enough Saturday...I could only imagine how it was sunday with the heat! Opening day was FANTASTIC, I had so much fun! The ale flowed freely, and the hugs...there was such a great vibe in the air, everyone was so happy. I *love* E Muzeki, and hope they return next year!
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Post by BeerBlessings on Jul 9, 2007 21:23:12 GMT -5
On Sunday, I parked between Pirate Dave and Jean-Paul, so you must have parked next to me on Saturday.. About 11:00-ish. Sound about right?... If so, introduce yourself when next you bump into me! I do change up my outfits between black and white, and monk and priest. But my sign will always give me away. I still find it funny that the most important part of my outfit(s) is a 3"x5" wooden placard. So many people get a good laugh out of it. Numerous people have matched up the screenname and person because of it. And I have gotten a good amount of beer from it as well! (And that's the important part!!) Other thoughts of Opening Weekend.. I was not impressed with the Joust. If I don't go back again this year, I won't be missing anything. I feel sorry for the squires that were thrown in at the last minute. Fairy Land is AMAZING! As part of the clean-up crew, I knew some of what it would look like, but I still had no idea it would turn out like THIS!! Everyone is talking about Emuzeki. More than anything else. I am extremely glad they are there for the duration of the faire! It felt kinda small to me. It feels sorta empty back near Washing Well, since some of the vendors moved to Old World.. At least we have Emuzeki to enchant the area!! Also for consideration.. Not only did the heat keep some people away, but Opening Weekend was also competing with Origins (Gaming convention in Columbus, which is normally the weekend before 4th of July) *and* Pennsic.
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Post by Sir Trevor on Jul 9, 2007 21:28:06 GMT -5
Another thng to keep in mind, was this was also something of a holiday weekend still. With the 4th falling on Wednesday, some places and people were celebrating the holiday this weekend instead of last weekend. I know Ashtabula had their fireworks Saturday night.
Even with that, I thought the crowds were great for an opening weekend. I remember coming opening day and having an almost deserted wasteland to run around in.
I remember a Johnny Phoenix show on the Excalibur stage with a total audience of 5 people.
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Post by CelticWench on Jul 9, 2007 21:29:24 GMT -5
BeerBlessings - yep, Saturday, I wasn't there Sunday.
Hey Trev, thanks for posting the pic!! And reminding me that I NEED to find a more....ahem......"supportive".....bodice......
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Post by tomnaboley on Jul 9, 2007 22:04:23 GMT -5
We didn't see the Joust, yet. We loved the Robin Hood Archery Match on the chess board. The Rogues are awesome. We enjoyed all the musical groups plus the "little" stage shows we caught. Faire site looked great. Thank you to all that helped clean up before Faire started.
We know that "Health to the Company" is an " Owain song for most of you......but we would like to hear it more at Pub Sing. Coming from working faire in California and always hearing it, we miss it. (Didn't Silent Lion start it off a couple of times last year/2 years ago?)
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Post by Teatime the green-blue faerie on Jul 9, 2007 23:02:41 GMT -5
I really missed the programs.
i heard alot of the vendors were happy about where they were.
archery turnament (stunt show) was great. Brittny (blacksmith) was really funny with the bomb throwing and stuff. I liked the humor put into it.
Hack and slash was good. I liked how hack missed everything by 6 inches and how slash would obviously fake getting "hurt" to make Hack think he was great.
Joust wasn't the best i have seen. I was more entertained by the jousters yelling at the squires when they screwed up then by the actual joust story. when the jousters were yelling at the squires i couldn't really hear anything else. It also seemed too planned. it was like the jousters were just trying to get it over with instead of at least acting like it was important to them.
I never did go to the sword school thing but it was a lot better to look at then what was in its place.
I only went to listen to the rogues when they were near the end of a "show" but i was absolutely entranced. I love it because it isn't the typical bagpipes. the guys really connect with the crowd. I saw a lot more people gather around to listen to the point that the place was filled like it is for pub sing. definately going to buy a cd online to listen to before/after my surgery.
maidens IV was okay. they all seem so young and inexperienced to have such big advertisments that are so professional.
I agree that the area close to the chess board seems empty compared to the area close to jousting field.
I liked fairyland better in the back because it made it seem that you really were going to a different land. now it seems like a regular playground.
thanks pickle goddesses for the saftey pin.
kaite
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Olive
Upper Class
Posts: 89
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Post by Olive on Jul 10, 2007 1:52:59 GMT -5
What a joy to see so many of you again and meet new folks! Thanks for introducing yourselves, Kat and fairmomrita. I wish I could get away and see more of the great shows, but --ah--the responsibility of being in business. The music I heard at my cottage really rocked! Was it eMuzeki or Amadon? I had been whining that I wouldn't hear the Rogues this year since they moved up to Stumble, but someone is rocking our back end of the woods!
I have wonderful neighbors on Faerie Dust Lane and Spritzie the dragon has a great singing voice.
There was a steady stream of happy people flowing past and into my place all day Saturday and half of Sunday, until the heat forced most sane-minded people into air conditioning, and THAT was a welcome change from the forsaken no-man's land that Faerie Dust Lane had been last year. I noticed a LOT of children and their parents enjoying the Shire and spending money. I think we are getting much new visitorship because of the management's marketing campaign and I think it's good for Avaloch: lots of potential playtrons to convert. Not to offend any Tortuga groupies, but I myself don't miss them at all, and it looks to me like we have a lot of good acts and cast.
Costumes of cast all look great, but many seem hot and heavy, like wearing a sofa, so I feel for ya. And the grounds clean-up looks great. Many thanks to Bunny for raking out my area.
Missed Hoss, but Mark seemed happy to make a few trips to the pub to visit the cute girls in there this year. Miss Mike and Paul, but got to meet Tom & Stacey the Tea People: Friendly, fascinating, talented couple with adorable kids. Try their tea if you haven't checked them out yet. Got a nice set of beads from Ear Art.
Thanks to everyone who stopped by and who bought something to eat or drink. Thanks Ginny for the sandwiches. Thanks Gwynn for the drink. And thanks to Fidget for helping me Sunday.
I'm exhausted but can't wait until next Saturday.
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Olive
Upper Class
Posts: 89
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Post by Olive on Jul 10, 2007 2:00:47 GMT -5
P.S. What's with the Chinese guy statue and the canons up front???
The whole main road inside the gate except for the sword booth, looks empty and sorry until the statuary guy. I do like the new minstrels' gazebo.
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