What single thing at faire hurls you off into the depths of rage?

[Ser Niall]

No Pub or the Pub has run out of Beer.

Yes!  I've been to a dry faire, and I only found out about it once we got there.  I just assumed there would be plenty of beer at any renaissance faire.  I don't know if it was an ordinance or they just didn't want to serve alcohol, but it was bit of a disappointment.

Also, it's a little annoying when you can only consume beer within a designated area.  I like to enjoy my ale while walking around the faire.  I know this has more to do with liquor licenses and ordinance than anything else, but it's still annoying.

[Bob of the Lake]

No Pub or the Pub has run out of Beer.

Yes!  I've been to a dry faire, and I only found out about it once we got there.  I just assumed there would be plenty of beer at any renaissance faire.  I don't know if it was an ordinance or they just didn't want to serve alcohol, but it was bit of a disappointment.

Also, it's a little annoying when you can only consume beer within a designated area.  I like to enjoy my ale while walking around the faire.  I know this has more to do with liquor licenses and ordinance than anything else, but it's still annoying.

A pub running out of beer would be a major annoyance for me too, but I will--and do--attend dry faires. As long as I know in advance that no alcohol is served, I'm okay with that. But, like Ser Niall, I DON'T like to show up only to find out it's dry! Did that once and it was pretty disappointing! I like my beer at faire and if there's not going to be any, I want to know in advance!

[The Rabbi]

No Pub or the Pub has run out of Beer.

Yes!  I've been to a dry faire, and I only found out about it once we got there.  I just assumed there would be plenty of beer at any renaissance faire.  I don't know if it was an ordinance or they just didn't want to serve alcohol, but it was bit of a disappointment.

Also, it's a little annoying when you can only consume beer within a designated area.  I like to enjoy my ale while walking around the faire.  I know this has more to do with liquor licenses and ordinance than anything else, but it's still annoying.

A pub running out of beer would be a major annoyance for me too, but I will--and do--attend dry faires. As long as I know in advance that no alcohol is served, I'm okay with that. But, like Ser Niall, I DON'T like to show up only to find out it's dry! Did that once and it was pretty disappointing! I like my beer at faire and if there's not going to be any, I want to know in advance!

As a small fair owner I can not afford a liquor liscence but it is well known that I do not serve beverage so if you have a tankard and behave properly I aint gonna check your cup or your botta bag. Chances are after a brief introduction i might even be persuaded to let you place your cooler within reach and not in the vehicle. I live on site so my brew is always handy just dont drink during business hours. I also wish other fairs would consider a picnic area within the fair grounds as well. i hate overpaying for sub par food just because I am at fair.

[Rowan MacD]

Not a generalization to faire or vendors, this is specific to my local faire, and an incident that keeps reoccurring over the run of the faire.

There is a vendor who brings her child to the faire, as do many.  The girl is around 8 or 9.  Her mom's shop is 2 shops over from a large stage with very good entertainment.  Which becomes the babysitter while the mom is busy in the shop.  The girl sits in the front row, dances in front of the stage when there is music playing, and yesterday at the musician's revel, she got up on stage with the musicians and danced while they were taking turns performing.

I feel sorry for her because it is obvious, she has nothing else to do, and no one to look after her, but it is very annoying to see every time you go to that stage.  I'm thinking none of the musicians say anything to her or her mom, because they realize the mother has to work, and they are part of the faire family, but as the weeks go by, it is getting out of hand.

Not a rage on my part to be sure, just an annoyance.

That reminds me of an older post on here somewhere about kids that hang out in other shops, getting in the way of paying customers.   Definitely a side effect of boredom.
   On a crowded day, in particular, you don't really want another vendors' kids in your shop, just because they don't have anything better to do, messing up displays and blocking prospective customers from getting to the counter.   I realize that some of the vendors want to, or have to, bring children and it was a common practice back in period, but back then, the parents put the kids to work in their own shop; sweeping, running errands, and keeping an eye on the merchandise.
    People are so used to not making demands on their children nowadays, that all that energy is going to waste.   Idle hands breed mischief.
   

[Dinobabe]

When my grandparents owned a booth I made friends with a girl the same age in a shop down the lane.  We were ENCOURAGED to go away and play to keep us out of the shops!  Of course, we were also given strict etiquette rules on how to behave and any other vendor/performer would have told grandma and grandpa if we were misbehaving.  And believe you me I didn't want that to happen!!

[insidiousraven]

I also wish other fairs would consider a picnic area within the fair grounds as well. i hate overpaying for sub par food just because I am at fair.

I do think food can be overpriced if you are a regular faire goer (most patrons aren't), but I know that most of the KCRF food booths are run by volunteer organizations and charities that get to keep money they bring in.  That's a nice little thought.

[Ser Niall]

Food and drink prices at most faires are high, but it's still a relatively good value for a full day of entertainment.  It can cost $100 or more to go out for a dinner and a movie.  You can easily have an enjoyable full day at the ren faire for that money, not including any artisan goods you might purchase.

Also, once you pay the admission fee all of the music and shows are free (except for tip of course).  When you look at it like that, the ren faire is looking pretty good.

[Rowan MacD]

Food and drink prices at most faires are high, but it's still a relatively good value for a full day of entertainment.  It can cost $100 or more to go out for a dinner and a movie.  You can easily have an enjoyable full day at the ren faire for that money, not including any artisan goods you might purchase.

Also, once you pay the admission fee all of the music and shows are free (except for tip of course).  When you look at it like that, the ren faire is looking pretty good.

   Faire is definitely cheaper than a theme park or a circus, and is on about an even par with a carnival or state fair, when you consider the rides cost about $3.00-4.00 each and the food is comparable in price. 

[Rowan MacD]

When my grandparents owned a booth I made friends with a girl the same age in a shop down the lane.  We were ENCOURAGED to go away and play to keep us out of the shops!  Of course, we were also given strict etiquette rules on how to behave and any other vendor/performer would have told grandma and grandpa if we were misbehaving.  And believe you me I didn't want that to happen!!

I'll bet you behaved very well.  I know many long time vendors who adhere to the unspoken etiquette rule of 'look after your own, as well as the other faire kids'.   It takes a village to raise a child.
 

[Merlin the Elder]

I notice the creeping up of beer prices more than the cost of food, but when it comes right down to it, I don't care, because I'm having a good time, and I don't mind bearing the cost of being happy.

[Hoowil]

Wouldn't that be beering the price of being happy?

[Lady Renee Buchanan]

I notice the creeping up of beer prices more than the cost of food, but when it comes right down to it, I don't care, because I'm having a good time, and I don't mind bearing the cost of being happy.
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This doesn't throw me into rage, but reading Merlin's post brought to mind today at faire (Bristol).  I was in line to get soup in a bread bowl (it was raining, and yes, there was a breeze!), and was right next to the turkey leg booth.  The price is $8.50.  I don't eat them, but I'm kind of thinking that they have gotten more expensive then what I remember.  Of course, I don't pay attention to the price on a regular basis, but I was surprised to see that price on the sign.

[Ser Niall]

That's pretty high.  At MI Ren Faire, it seems like everything is in the $5-$6 range, including beer, wine and mead.  Haven't been to faire yet this year so I can't say if they jacked up the prices.

[Rowan MacD]

  Seems to be a Larger faire issue, Sort of like McD's making a big portion of profits on the soft drinks.
 
 Beer, wine and mixed drinks at DMRF (a mid sized faire) 3-4$ range. Last time I checked.
  I think the mixed drinks are 12 oz, the beer is in bottles.  I don't drink beer.

 Same drinks at KCRF are $5-$7 for half the amount. I don't know how much they were charging for beer, but I didn't see a lot of people buying it. I ordered a glass of Chaucers at KCRF (food court) $4 for about 4 oz.  Not worth it.
 Turkey legs should never be more than $6-$7 and IMHO should be less. I've seen some going for $8-$9, but they dropped back down the following year.

    And don't get me started on the price of Scotch eggs.
   $5.00 and sometimes $6.00! for one egg covered in sausage!?
    For crying out loud,  I make much better ones at home, and can tell you they cost about .25 cents to make, if that, and I don't even buy my sausage in bulk, like these guys probably do (awful stuff).
  Vendors would sell many more if they sold for $2-$3.  They are small, they are portable, but nobody is going to buy more than one at $5.00 a pop, and you want them to come back. 

[Merlin the Elder]

Good points, Rowen. I think, though, that faires are going to test the waters with prices. If they aren't careful, however, it's going to backfire on them.  Partially in their defense, this has been a tough year, and prices ARE up for farm goods. Drought. But on certain items, I HAVE seen prices rise faster than they should.