What would you change?

[Seriously]

Hi Everyone,

I am very sad that another year is done. The cast and crew were simply amazing as usual but I am a curious person and I believe everything can always be a little better.

If you were king of the world, what would you change for next year?

Please keep it positive. I am not looking for any bashing.

I would say more music. The music at the faire was very good. I have CD's from almost every artist that was there but the joust end of the faire just seemed very quiet this year. My dream is to hear music all day no matter where you are in the faire.

What do you think?

Have a great day!

[blueguy]

So you are more curious about the entertainment end of things. OK, I can work in those parameters for suggestions. 1- two stage acts on every stage...minimum. As to who goes where, it does not matter much but a couple things need changed. We need a strong musical draw at each of the food court stages (as Circa Paleo and the Rogues have done for us in years past). I would like to see those stages split comedy and music. The other stages probably need to be dedicated as music or comedy/drama to help casual visitors out. 2- We need a two "man" swordfight show back next season. There are several good ones so i'm not insisting on anyone in particular but I heard a lot of disappiontment from guests in not having one. 3- I would like to see a single daily show of the independent troubadours sitting in to play a set together. 4-. More shows in other spots on the grounds for the younger kids. Faerie forest is great but not enough. We need to givee them a couple more options on the other side of town. 5- bring back the historian lectures and encourage skilled vendors to do more demos of period style craftsmanship. The forge and glassblower are both doing a great job of teaching while entertaining. 6- this is the important one to me. As good as the cast tends to be, I didn't spend a single day there and not have a member comment on a visiting former member doing a bit in the streets that impressed them. We have been blessed in the past with amazing street players and someone needs to teach that to next year's cast. I would be getting in touch with the old guard and begging them to do some workshops to increase streetplay with the patrons.

[grouser]

I'm a bit of a noob to the whole faire thing so I've little experience to draw on but it seemed there were a lot of acts that didn't work the full run of faire (i.e. Paleo, Naughty Bawdy Babes, Broon).

Is this typical of a season? While I understand that variety can be the spice of life, I would change it to a more consistent schedule with one-offs for themes.

[Seriously]

This is simply a wish list. People can add business suggestions also but I figured that was beaten to death in other posts.

[Lady Catharine]

I would book Circa Paleo asap for next season.
Starting with 2nd wknd thru final wknd.
why? first wknd is light compared to remaining wknds.

As blue mentioned more pipes...I love the sound of pipers.

More lane work from cast members.

Cast in Bronze..Awesome...

Bring back Sword School...
Just my 0.02..

[grouser]

Aug 15, 2011 8:53:20 GMT -5 Seriously said:

This is simply a wish list. People can add business suggestions also but I figured that was beaten to death in other posts.

Good luck separating the two.

[CapnRedShirt]

I was able to interact a lot with many of the cast this year, and I cannot say enough about how great they all were.

What I noticed that I would want to see for next year is some in-depth maintenance for some of the stages. Several of them are really starting to look (and feel) like they need shored up, or taken apart and rebuilt.

Also, I know a lot of people were a bit lost without the programs that had maps and timetables in them. While I think the lack of a pre-printed timetable worked out in the end, allowing some adjustments of times where things weren't quite working, a program with information about the different shows is a must. Maps could be put in the programs or posted at key points in the lanes (this was suggested on the Facebook group by someone) and the timetable could be handled separately (but inserted into the program) or posted along with the maps.

The programs don't need to be as fancy as they have been in recent years... they could just be printed in-house on plain paper if that saves money and time, but the information needs to be readily available.

[Sir Trevor]

Aug 15, 2011 8:47:10 GMT -5 grouser said:

I'm a bit of a noob to the whole faire thing so I've little experience to draw on but it seemed there were a lot of acts that didn't work the full run of faire (i.e. Paleo, Naughty Bawdy Babes, Broon).

Is this typical of a season? While I understand that variety can be the spice of life, I would change it to a more consistent schedule with one-offs for themes.

I can handle this one.
In a situation like that with Broon.
The reason he is not there final weekend, is because he is already booked for a much larger faire that start on that weekend.
Long ago, that didn't happen. But the faire shifted it's schedule a week, in order to move opening weekend off of 4th of July weekend. So, that shifted our closing weekend out a week. Which now conflicts with a few other faires.

This leads to a bit of an issue.
Do you want to fill that stage with someone that will work the entire run?
Or do you go for 5 weekends with a very proven comodity, that most people love, and want to see there, and come up with something to fill the void on final weekend?

I think the faire makes the correct decision there.

In the case of Circa Paleo, they wanted to do the whole run.
But could not get in contact with anyone from faire to firm things up. Since that is what they do for a living, they had to take work that came along, to make sure they could continue working and supporting themselves.
By the time the faire got back to them, only 2 weekends were open on their schedule.
And 2 weekend were better than none, as far as those in attendance were concerned.

So, that was a bit of a snafu on the faire's end.
I still think it could have been saved though, if they could have found some other musical acts to fill the other weekends.

[grouser]

Yeah, I understand what you're saying with the conflict with the larger venue for week 6. I do agree 5 weeks is better than none with an established act like Broon and two weeks better than none with CP.

I was curious, though, because when I actually stopped to think about it, I'd only been to the faire one day last year and didn't actually know if CP (or anyone else I saw last year for that matter) was actually there for the entire run. So I had no idea if this year was the exception or the rule.

[Sir Trevor]

Now, for my thoughts on entertainment.

In my ideal world, where money is not a limiting factor.

I agree with Blueguy. We need a sword fighting show. I think the faire was counting on getting Dueling Fools, but that didn't happen due to other stuff going on with them.
I hope to see them back again next season.

We need music and comedy on both the pub stages.
Danger Slash and Circa Paleo are a great combination at stumble. (but I would also be happy with a revolving musical act there, if they cannot get Circa for the whole run. Maybe some new up-and-comers, like Circa was when they first came to our faire)
Drift, I'm not sure who to pair up with Axel. First, because it is kind of hard to define Axel. He is a unique combination of music and comedy all roled into one.
Maybe match him up with Menagerie and their classic naughty show. As they too, are a great blend of music and comedy.

The other stages, though, are pretty much set, with 2 acts already.

Maybe swap the Plunder Doggs and Silent Lion.
I think Silent Lion would do better on a smaller more intimate stage.
And you can't really cram 2 acts on the Minstrel Manor stage. It already has to work around the joust and the Highland Games.

Same with Washing Well Wenches. Not much else you can put there.

Johnny is about the only other one that has a solo stage.
Who else could fill that stage in the off slots?
And if you do that, what do you do about dance?

One thing is for sure though.
They need a mud show next year.
I personally, could care less. But I heard the question over and over and over again this season.
"What happened to the mud show?"
And that was from regular patrons.
You know, the ones in normal cloths. With the whole family in tow. Spending money on drinks, food, souveneers, and other goodies from the vendors. The ones that come once a year and spend a big chunk of change in the process. The ones the faire needs to survive.

And while we are wishing and hoping. How about some real, full contact jousting?
You know. The kind that will actually fill the bleachers down there, and keep people there late to see the final joust.

[Sir Trevor]

Aug 15, 2011 18:05:14 GMT -5 grouser said:

I was curious, though, because when I actually stopped to think about it, I'd only been to the faire one day last year and didn't actually know if CP (or anyone else I saw last year for that matter) was actually there for the entire run. So I had no idea if this year was the exception or the rule.

Which is why I answered.
I knew you were all new to most of this and had no idea how a lot of it works.
And I am sure there a lot of others that read, but never post, that are in the same situation.

What would have really blown your socks off, was a few seasons ago. When we used to have 2 different themed acts every weekend. For those of us there every day, there was way too much to catch and still have time to hang out.

[blueguy]

Actually, I hate pipes but I know I am in the minority there. I had totally forgotten this but shifting from a stage joust to full contact would actually get me to attend. As for stage repair, that is a different topic and one a core group of patrons take very seriously but it keeps falling on deaf ears (and occassionally a skull). We got damn lucky last year and they need to recognize that and do some work.

[grouser]

After what happened in Indiana this past weekend, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see regulations, inspections and fees coming out of statehouses across the country that would apply to any outdoor venues with stages, regardless of whether they're permanent or temporary.

[Sir Trevor]

Yeah. You should have seen what the stages looked like before.

And if you think some look a bit scary from the audience side, you should be back stage to get a better look at them.
(There is a reason that the upper section of Johnny's stage doesn't get more use.)

Part of the problem though, is the whole litigation issue. They can repair things, but they can't actually tear down and build new. (At least last I knew.)
The other reason is organization and materials.
IF I knew they had the materials on hand to actually rebuild some of the stuff, I would make time to get out there in the spring to do the work.

[Lady Catharine]

Aug 15, 2011 21:34:07 GMT -5 blueguy said:

Actually, I hate pipes but I know I am in the minority there. I had totally forgotten this but shifting from a stage joust to full contact would actually get me to attend. As for stage repair, that is a different topic and one a core group of patrons take very seriously but it keeps falling on deaf ears (and occassionally a skull). We got damn lucky last year and they need to recognize that and do some work.

You What??

I cannot Believe you HATE the pipes..

Aye, Mr Blue Man you are the minority...

Ya either love it or not..

I LOVE the pipes,and could listen all day