reflections on the 2011 season

[rengypsy]

After the Dust has Settled...a look back on 2011

We will call this "The Year of Sand"...and sand there was.  We put down $6000 of mulch, so just imagine how much worse it could have been.  The result of no significant rainfall for 9 months.  But we survived it in grand fashion.

Our Second Year for Sherwood was memorable, meaningful and rewarding.  While we are still young, as faires go, we are one soulful bunch of gypsies.  We danced, we sang, we drummed, we laughed, we ate and drank (sometimes a bit too much of our own Kool-Aid), and we loved.  What more could one ask for?  MORE PATRONS!!!

Sherwood grew from an estimated attendance of 30,000 during the first year with 12 days of faire to 42,500 the second year with 15 days of faire.  Not a bad growth curve—though with as much marketing, including all the wonderful work our volunteers did at festivals, parades, etc, we had hoped to exceed 50,000.

Be that as it may, we still are doing fine from a new business perspective...and from the objective of building a sense and feel of community, Sherwood scores an A+.  We love our tribe!!!

Here are a few of the highlights I would like to recall:

A mom presents her young daughter with her first drum at the closing drum circle...and the young girl cries as she embraces her drum and then joins in the music.  She is there the night of the Spring Equinox playing all night.

The Fairy Troupe and Band of Pirates, all volunteers, who graced us with their passion and talent.

The Hands of Fatima Belly Dancers and their wonderfully talented drummer who entertained us for two years—again volunteers for Sherwood.

Our Fire Spinning Show at the end of each day—thanks to Jinx and all the unbelievable, creative people who ended our faire in style—yes, again, volunteers.

Our trash lepers...who created characters from the depths of their imagination.

Circa Paleo, Wino Vino, The Bedlam Bards, The Rambling Sailors, Marc Gunn, and so many more fantastic musicians who sang and played and took us away into a world of enchantment with their music.

Robin, Marian, Friar Tuck, Will Scarlet, Will the Bowman, our Jester, The Sheriff of Nottingham, and all the various members of cast...

The Knights of Mayham and our first year of Full Contact Joust.

Our Clans who filled our campgrounds every weekend...and offered us a place to commune once the Faire ended.

Louis and the wonderful food and environment he offered Sherwood both during and after hours at Como's.

Flushing Toilets!!!

Expanded parking lot.

Our great operations and grounds crew.

Trees.

The Seven Sisters.

The Pub Scene every day near closing.

Our wonderful artists and artisans who share with us their talents and skills, selling the wares they made with their own hands.

The magic of Gual as he danced and pranced about the grounds.

Centaur and The Fox and the Treant.

The love we feel from entertainers like Maverick, Merlin, St. Louis, and so many others...

Our fabulous patrons who came in costume and played with us from the heart and soul.

Our new Mud Stage and the Dirty Filthy Scoundrels.

The Birds of Prey Show.

Meade and Ale!!!

Great Food Vendors.

Children dancing and playing in the sand at the Seven Sisters.

A thousand hugs and good wishes from tribe members I didn't even know.

The best business partnership and management team one could even dream of.

Our Wine Tasting extravaganza.

The magnificent spirit of Joaquin . . . and the new spirit he brought to Sherwood with his drumming and fire spinning and dialogue.

FRIENDS OF FAIRE who have so been a part of the creation of Sherwood as volunteers and patrons.

The rennie families who make the spirit so alive and guarantee the next generation of folk to take the helm one day to ensure Sherwood is not a fleeting fancy, but a living breathing organism.

Tom and his games...and all the energy he and his folk give to the experience.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!!

Sherwood is surrounded by beautiful souls and a wonderful spirit of acceptance & inclusion. 

We love this faire.  We love you.  We appreciate and are honored to be with you on this magical and extravagant journey into medieval Nottinghamshire where life is simpler, cozier, more familial, and tribal. 

Blessings to each and every one of you,

Rengypsy

[Breandan]

I can speak to a few things with the lack of patrons from an outside perspective, and none of them are the fault of Sherwood. For the most part, things are just so bloody tight right now that folks who wanted to go, couldn't. As I mentioned in another thread, I make well above average income, and yet it was tight for us to make it with our increased overhead (insurance increases, tax increases, a toddler that does more property damage than a rampaging bulldozer, etc.) and skyrocketing gas prices. We're not alone in this. The fact that you managed to increase numbers in one of the worst economic crunches in the last fourty years says a LOT, frankly. My wife and I spread the word as much as we could- even paid for tickets for some friends to come with us- and we got the same answer many times- "We want to go, but we just can't afford it." It's not gate prices or the like, its just the general crunch. People have less money and are working more hours. It will turn around in a year or three, so hang in there and keep the faith

[Merlin the Elder]

I'll agree with everything Breandan said with one exception: it is the worst economic crunch in the past 80 years—since the Great Depression. 

My only complaints about our trip to your faire can be laid at the feet of Mother Nature...and Texas. I know Texans like to brag about how big things are there, but I've never run into cockleburrs like the ones I got in my feet and hands! They were downright painful. During the down season, perhaps the parking lot could be sprayed to get rid of those plants!

Within the gates, it was truly another world. Opening weekend, the attendance was light, but I think—I know—you found some new patrons, Nimue and I among them. We will return, and we will bring more.  The sooner you announce 2012 opening dates the sooner we can plan to be there!

Thank you!

EDIT: I just saw my SWFF mail...See you February 11, 2012!

[Snylor]

Rome was not built in a day! I am so very proud of EVERYONE who has helped make this THE FUNNEST Ren Faire I know of. I was there for the grand opening of MANY others and this one far and away out does them all including T.R.F.! I only see great things for this faire and look forward to many, many, many more years of pleasure and friendship and sense of community. A hearty THANK YOU to everyone involved and all who attended. HUZZAH!

[ThreeAcreRanch Soaps]

I think gas played a huge roll in attendance.  It rose so high, so fast and right when the faire started that I think people didn't have time to adjust.  Not that you ever adjust to getting screwed, but that is a topic for another day, lol.

I know as a vendor, I would have liked more attendance (what vendor wouldn't) but I have to say, the people who did come out were fantastic.  Patrick the Jester totally made my day, twice.  I don't think I will ever forget him   And I had one little girl who saved her own money so she could buy a bar of soap just for herself melted my heart.  It's the wonderful patrons like those that keep us vendors coming back.  I hope Sherwood never looses that Willy Wonka like magic.

[Merlin the Elder]

....Willy Wonka like magic....

Good analogy. That's exactly what it is.

[Drudonn]

Seeing as how I just got a job, I plan to be at Sherwood next year. Once a year is too long to wait for faire (TRF). Didn't have the money for it this year, but by next season, I'll be out of school, working regularly, and so should have the funds for it.

You're on my calendar, Sherwood.

[Magpie Flynn]

Sherwood, in my opinion, blows all the others way out of the water. You walk through the gates and you can feel the love and hard work that went into making it. I absolutely love that theres isn't a huge "commercial" feel that I get with some of the others (as if I've walked into a fantastic mall) but rather a total experience feel. You guys truly made me (and my group I travel with) feel as if we'd traveled back in time. I loved the story lines and I'm very excited to see what you come up with for next year. Theres a great interaction with all of the cast members and volunteers and over all it's very welcoming. All you guys go above and beyond the call of duty and it's fantastic! I was also thrilled that you kept a lot of the trees while still adding to the faire.

All in all, well done! I can't wait to come back next year, and hopefully for more weekends!

[Trillium]

Sadly, all our extra money had to go towards my hubby's upcoming training.  I am determined to make it next year!!!!  It's killing me that we didn't make it this year!!

[Hercules]

We enjoyed it! Made new friends! Spent tons of $$$ (mostly on mead)! And plan to attend next year too!