Contrast

[vakkotaur]

As previously mentioned Jay and I and my folks all went to the Siouxland Renaissance Festival this past weekend and a good time despite the mud.

Since then, I've seen number of attendees, including merchants and performers, praise the festival and express concern that it might not be around after this year, Siouxland's fourth, when the weather was lousy and thus attendance was severely down. One person summed it up, "...you should know that it would seriously bring our spirits down, as you folks are one of the few out there that understands what an actual renaissance faire is supposed to be."

By contrast, a different renaissance faire is not being attended by some due to various poor decisions that were not rectified. Another person asked, "After doing this for 22 years, don't you think they'd start to get it right?"

Comments

[foolscap001.livejournal.com]

My experience, having performed at said different Renaissance fair, is that it is of, by, and for the vendors.

One year, my fellow performers and I were told that there'd be a breakfast on Sunday morning where the folks running said fair would get people's opinions. This struck me as a Good Thing, so I went.

The next year, it was made clear that the Sunday breakfast was for vendors only. I guess performers' opinions aren't of interest to them.

That said, the fair definitely doesn't suffer from the problems that the fairs run by someone we all know and...know... do; it has a respectable complement of entertainment, and does occasionally invest in improving the fair.

[vakkotaur.livejournal.com]

Jay and I now only go to that person's events to see friends we might not otherwise see. I had no problems skipping one and going to Huntsville for something else instead. If Jay and I go to the Amanas, it'll likely just be for one day, not two as previous.

I think I burned out a bit last year as there was no Waterloo, no ARA, no Nishna, and that left Siouxland as the one and only really good event.

[melissasutton.livejournal.com]

Have I mentioned that I love you!!!! You and Foolscap, Jay, Irpooh, Chinarose etc all rock my socks off!!

You have no idea how hard the past 4 days have been, thank you thank you thank you for your great attitudes, constructive critcizm when warrented and praises. I'm sharing them with the siouxland board who will be meeting next week to try and figure out this mess =)

thanks!!!!