A New Low for TRF- Tacky "Name Your Baby" Marketing Ploy

[Breandan]

I wish I was kidding- http://www.texrenfest.com/heirtothethrone

When the hell did TRF devolve to using Howard Stern/Jerry Springer antics? Seriously, this is the kind of sleazy shock-marketing I expect from cheep beer companies and tawdry-antics-prone companies like GoDaddy and the like, NOT from a (once) respected renaissance festival. This crap makes me regret purchasing the tickets we already have for this year, and makes me SERIOUSLY rethink next year. Louisiana Ren Faire isn't too far off, and doesn't resort to this sort of tacky antic to gin up business.

Terre, as you are the GM of TRF, I am telling you- this has a VERY high chance of backfiring. It offended the hell out of my family, for sure. I don't know if you vetted this before letting it go to press- and I'm sure there are some out there who would do this to their children to get free stuff- but I truly expected better. You guys were doing so well until this, making me think TRF was making a turnaround from the over-commercialized medieval flea market/beer stand it had become. Now... sweet Jaysus, Terre, did you guys do ANY target market surveys before popping this one out? I could see it if you were asking someone to name kids after a key historical figure, such as Henry Tudor X or Anne Boleyn X, but this? Wow. I guess the reason this disappoints me so much is that it's undignified and beneath an institution that prides itself on "the dream" and educating the public. What's next, wet bodice contests at the gate for free tickets? Tramp-stamp tattoos of the TRF logo for a free entry to the King's Feast?

EDIT: I see from the TRF facebook that a great many sycophantic people are lauding this as a good idea, and kissing butt in support, real or faux. I give up, the festival belongs to such people now.

[iain robb]

I saw their email announcement and -- with my first grandbaby due any day -- could not believe it. I read it again. Really? Texas Renfest Robb? I think not.

[KeeperoftheBar]

I don't believe I am kissing arse but I thought is was a pretty good idea.  I seriously doubt anyone would take them up on it but it does get them talked about in the off season when 'danes might make plans to attend.  With this and the pub crawls I am happy that the marketing department is trying different things to appeal to the sort who normally wouldn't attend.  TRF after all, first and foremost, is a business.  And if a stunt like this helps increase attendance without drawing away from the actual festival, then I approve.  Life is too short to take something like this so serious as to be offended. It is a joke.

Now, let's start planning the wet bodice contest.  Sounds like something for the Sea Devil to me.

"When tasting of life, take big bites.  Moderation is for monks."
Lazeras Long.

[Breandan]

it's not likely to gin up as much business as it will lose, frankly. Most of the types of people who think this is "cool" would go there anyway, and many of those of us who have been going there for over 23 years who remember what it USED to be are just disgusted by this, and will be taking our money elsewhere. Sherwood and Scarby might as well have handed TRF this stunt, because they stand to benefit from it far more than George does

[Breandan]

As an aside, my own critical comments and those of other people have been deleted from the thread on FB, so methinks they are getting a lot more backlash than they are allowing to be seen publicly.

[eldatari]

I'm sure that there are plenty of people(me being one) who would love to take those tickets off your hands if you no longer want them. I for one will still be there for sure!

[Breandan]

Don't laugh, we're seriously considering it. They're pre-orders in our name at will-call, but once we pick them up, we'll talk as Tiff is pretty disgusted as well. This, word that neither Circa Paleo nor Shunyata will be returning, and some other issues of concern that have been cropping up lately... not liking it. We're already obligated to go to AHE weekend, but the rest of the tickets are likely to get sold off for what we paid for them, and our faire budget for next year is all going to Sherwood. Right now, too many negatives about TRF to justify it for next year.

[KeeperoftheBar]

Sorry to hear that Breandan, I was hoping to get to know you a wee bit better.  From some of your tales of tribulations getting to the Festival, you sound like someone I would enjoy.  But, you gotta do what you gotta do.  Guess I shall have to try harder to make it to Sherwood.

[lys1022]

As an aside, my own critical comments and those of other people have been deleted from the thread on FB, so methinks they are getting a lot more backlash than they are allowing to be seen publicly.

My comment against the idea has also been removed, or at least wasn't there last time I looked.  Now, whether that was the faire FB page moderator or whether it was yet another FB glitch, I can't say.  It just wasn't there any more.

Quite frankly, this is an embarrassment to all Texas festivals, and festivals in general.  The general public already has a negative or condescending opinion of faires (sadly, though considering the things that ARE considered popular entertainment, I don't see how they have the gall to judge), and stunts like this only serve to increase the disrespect and derision.

If it was meant to get publicity via the "Odd Things" sections of newscasts and publications, it succeeded, so congratulations I guess.  Unfortunately, that notoriety carries a price, and that price is a total loss of validity.

It is very disappointing that they did this.

[Mouse]

I can't believe I'm about to do this because I strive to be a compartmentalised individual and to each their own...but as age and experience go on I find myself more and more firm on many things....and this one of them.

A name is a sacred thing. Not a ploy to drum up revenue, not a gimmick. I may not like the definition of what my name means as I don't hold the values upon which I was named, but it is mine. It stemmed from something my parents held dear to themselves. A parent names their child in such a way as to honor something that coils around their existence as a family, what made them whole...the tie that binds so to speak....I spoke for this because it amused me and it didn't affect me in any way..but I've thought on it and I can't shake that, I too, am appalled by this. I will go back to faire because I love faire. My tolerance is still high for that which strays....this is a fact. But jebus, I can't believe that. I do hope no parent does this, because while I may shake my head at someone for naming their child Woodstock or anything that was an location or even that meant something to them *or because you were conceived there*, for a contest...for life....the price is too high, bad PR aside.

[Lady Kett]

I need to add my name to the list of folks who think this is in horribly poor taste, too. Tho any who would name their child thusly may have been planning a name much worse to begin with.

Nicely said Mouse on the sacredness of a name. 

[DonaCatalina]

Well said indeed Mouse.
This has got to be one of the worst ideas that I have ever seen.
I can't find any commentary on their facebook page or on the friends of facebook page. So I have to wonder if they are deleting it due to overwhelming negative feedback.

**edited for additional content**
I posted this morning on their Facebook page and added my commentary. So far it has not been deleted.

[KiltedPrivateer]

There is an email address at the bottom of the page linked in post #1 - marketing@texrenfest.com.  Has it been flooded yet I wonder?

Oh, and while I'm here, put me in the "NO" column as well.

Carry on, doing a fine job everyone (o:

[Morrigan]

Yeah, mine were some of the negative responses that were removed.  Not only that, I have been blocked from further commenting on anything on the TRF FB page.

This doesn't surprise me, really, because my responses were VERY passionately negative. I can understand them not wanting feedback like that (especially when it was supported by published research) on a page that is used for marketing purposes... not good for business.

Another reason I think that my responses were removed, while others characterizing the contest as "cruel", "stupid", and "utter horseshit" were left alone, is that (a) I pointed out that the detrimental effects of giving children highly unusual names has clearly demonstrated by research, and that it is actually very easy to find published data to support this, and (b) I continued to defend my position by pointing out that all of the defenses of the contest so far were based on either violating the spirit of the contest ("you can always change the name") or pointing out that people have been saddling their children with difficult names for ages (which apparently makes it a fantastic idea to encourage people to do so NOW). 

But I happen to be one of those who is very passionate about names.  I think names have power.   Names are important.  If they weren't, why on earth would expectant parents spend so much time and energy choosing just the right name for their child?   And I would challenge any parents in the TRF marketing department or in TRF management:  how much care and thought did YOU put into your child's name, and would you have considered "Texas Renaissance" an appropriate name for your child?  WHY NOT???  It's just a name, right?

Yes, people have been giving their children unfortunate names for forever... yes, there could be names more difficult and cumbersome that what TRF is proposing.  But IMO, that doesn't make it any less difficult on the poor kid.  I always found the idea that parents would intentionally give their children names that would paint a target on them to be mind-boggling; the possibility that a parent would do for what is essentially monetary gain is just... REALLY disconcerting.   And then throw in the fact that TRF is SOLICITING inflicting this on a child...

I'm just... I don't know what else to say.   I am very proud of the years I spent at TRF, and very proud to have been a part of the entertainment company.  I still love TRF, and want it to succeed and grow.   But RIGHT NOW, I cannot say that I am proud of this. Because I'm not.  I'm ashamed that an organization that has been such a large and valuable part of my life for so long, and is so close to my heart, is promoting something like this.  Yes, ashamed.  And that is heartbreaking.

[maeven]

Go ahead and put me in the "NO" column as well...

I can't imagine naming my child anything other than the name I gave her... even if it did offer lifetime passes. Love TRF, but not to where I have to basically give up my child's identity in order to save some money on passes for the rest of our lives.