a retrospective

[rengypsy]

the signs have been stored. the booths emptied and locked up for the season.  the tents and campers all gone...and the forest is quiet, except for the birds, frogs and occasional winds rustling through the tress.  but the spirit of sherwood permeates the grounds.  and the stones of the seven sisters exudes the energies of the thousands who touched them and walked among them.

what a season!  what a season!!!

season three started cold and rainy.  george and i spoke after the first four weekends and wondered if this was to be that season when it would rain almost every weekend...and we would have to dig further into our cauffers to make it to season four.  but, even amidst the rain and small attendance at the onset, our spirits were high.  we believed in sherwood. we believed in our family. 

when it was pouring down one saturday, there were close to seven hundred patrons drenched, yet still walking the grounds, visiting our vendors, and watching what shows could still happen in the flood.  there were two hundred faithful campers who survived the flood.  and the next day, over twelve hundred showed up. 

this is family.  this is patronage.

and as the season moved forward, the rains let off, the temperature warmed, and the faire grounds begin to fill up.  weeks fsix, seven and eight continued to break attendance records.

remarkable success for a third year faire.  people traveled from all over texas and from states as far away as tennessee, michigan, oklahoma, and arkansas...

the talent from the entertainers was astounding for a start up faire.  the workmanship of the artisans shown.  but most of all, the collective spirit of the patrons -- both mundanes and playtrons -- was over the top.  we are collectively succeeding at building a community around a faire!!!

we are a living breathing spiritual and loving experiement -- creating something that is unique and powerful, something that is having an impact on other faires...not because we have the biggest named acts or the fanciest grounds, but because sherwood was begun and remains a faire about the human spirit and holds respect for all the various parts that make up our faire.  we see faire as a living organism with a soul.  and we are all a part of that entity.  we all have a special role to play in the growth and nurturing of its spirit. 

this year, there were kids galore running around.  up around the castle, at the fae's tea party, dancing around the seven sister's drumming at dusk, etc.  kids, parents, the aged...generational experience.  that is paramount in the growth of our community.

the closing of faire was harder this year.  we had all endured challenges at the beginning, but it ended in such fine fashion that we knew sherwood was strong and on the right path.

the exit surveys were overwhelmingly positive.  two out of hundreds and hundreds expressed disdain for faire, but 90+% said we were on the right track and gave us exceedingly high remarks (even when we take into account our running out of water on the last day).

we love yall. we believe in you.  we thank you for the spirit and soul you bring to this organic and beautiful mosaic of art of wonderment.  we are all creating what we envision faire should be.

we welcome your suggestions, ideas and critiques.

onward to the celtic music festival in the fall...and then season four.  see ya at scarby and trf.  thank you.

much love,
rengypsy

[Hercules]

two out of hundreds and hundreds expressed disdain for faire

Poopie-heads with no sense of fun.....   

[Glaodian]

I am already dreaming of next season.  Just waiting on next year's schedule so that I may schedule my vacation.

Just remember, the sooner you can get that schedule up, the sooner more folks can plan to take off from work.    

[C Dragonworks]

I agree it is simply too wonderful. I am glad to be a part of it...in many ways. As a Playtron and an artist... I like both sides...all sides!!! Now if the cost of fuel comes down I hope to be able to be there for parties and work weekends!!!!! HUZZAH!!!!

[Queen Bonnie]

 It was a wondrous season! Happy to be a small part of a grand faire. Can't wait for next season.I miss it already.I had way too much fun despite a "Smashing" opening day. I tripped over a root and squashed my nose and I over did the walking and am recovering from a pulled achilles tendon and two strained calves.I love Sherwood and so happy to have such a wonderful home faire!I'll be back! Hugs to all!

[PyroMaster]

Roots are for potions, not tripping over! 

[Queen Bonnie]

 Indeed! I will not try to defy gravity again!!!I lost!

[PollyPoPo]

I am already dreaming of next season.  Just waiting on next year's schedule so that I may schedule my vacation.

Just remember, the sooner you can get that schedule up, the sooner more folks can plan to take off from work.    

Not sure if you've seen the SWFF Facebook (www.facebook.com/SWFF2010) page which shows next year's dates as February 9, 2013 – March 31, 2013, plus Friday, March 15, 2013.   

I meant to put this here earlier when I first saw it, but got sidetracked.

[Glaodian]

Not sure if you've seen the SWFF Facebook (www.facebook.com/SWFF2010) page which shows next year's dates as February 9, 2013 – March 31, 2013, plus Friday, March 15, 2013.  

I meant to put this here earlier when I first saw it, but got sidetracked.

Thanks, I must of missed that.  I am going to start planning my vacation now.

Planning on opening, closing, plus one other weekend.

[Chris B]

I have to be honest that I have been a little skeptical of Sherwood and the Kool Aid that everyone has been drinking for the past three years  , but this season changed it for me.  After what I saw this year and after the way management treated a friend working out there that had a medical emergency, it seems that you all really do care about your performers, your vendors, and your patrons.  It is very refreshing to see a fair that wants to stand behind their people.  I will definitely be giving a major effort to support you in the years to come.  I look forward to being out there more the next season and will be sure to tell my own group of family and friends in the B/CS area all about it.  

[rengypsy]

thanks for the kind comments.  we too remain concerned about the kool aid...thinking at times we may not be as objective because we are so into the experience.  but, we are rennies.  we love faire.  we try as hard as possible to do what is right.  we actually believe in the golden rule, or the forces of karma, as well.  having said that, we stumble at times.  we make decisions that in retrospect could have been made more astutely.  we have our descentors, but they are few.

mostly, what we desire of folk are that they bring their best to fire circle, metaphorically speaking.

george and i attempt to remain quite accessible and accepting of critique and criticism from our family--and yall are all our family.  we have asked folk to let us know when they think we are wandering astray.  sometimes decisions are made that the community may hear about, but they do not know the complete details of the reasons we have made the decision(s).  sometimes we can explain. sometimes, for legal reasons, we must remain somewhat silent.  what we ask is that you judge us in the gestalt--the whole of what you witness--and not on any single event you hear about...which might or might not be factual.

but in all circumstances, feel free to inquire and offer your insights.

we are about building a community.  all of being part of the design and construction. 

we love you guys.  we love faire.  and we love sherwood.


again, we so appreciate your kind words and encouragement.  this faire is an endeavor of the heart of many.  we thank you for participating in the experiment and experience.

rengypsy 

[Merlin the Elder]

I think we'll continue to make opening weekend our weekend for Sherwood. Because of the distance, one weekend a year is about all that's practical for us, though that could change. Sherwood has something that I haven't felt at the other faires. By the same token, other faires also have their uniqueness. Maybe it's the time of year, or the large fae population, the time period presented...I don't know, but there is most assuredly something very special happening there.

I will continue to guide people in the direction of the Forest, some of them will find things wrong, others will find things perfect. You can please some of the people all of the time, but not all of the people all of the time.

It has been proven to me on numerous occasions, that good karma is returned to you. Keep it up. You'll never regret it.