Preferred Parking????

[Alerrick Afon Adou]

REALLY TRF REALLY..........Why should we have to pay for parking up close? Are all of you at TRF Money Grubbers. You can`t make enough in the faire so You start as soon as We come through the gate to park. How sad is that?

[Alerrick Afon Adou]

I will make sure I let everyone I speak to about TRF to be aware that TRF will charge you for anything they can so be very cautious about attending.

[BryanPopp]

Let em charge, every person that pays 10 bucks to get a little bit closer helps keep my ticket prices down.

I doubt that. How often do you see ticket prices at any venue, not just TRF go down.
That will not happen.
I know personally, if they charge across the board to park, then my trips to TRF will be cut back severely or cut entirely.

[Chandler]

Let em charge, every person that pays 10 bucks to get a little bit closer helps keep my ticket prices down.

I doubt that. How often do you see ticket prices at any venue, not just TRF go down.
That will not happen.
I know personally, if they charge across the board to park, then my trips to TRF will be cut back severely or cut entirely.

I didn't say anything about them dropping the prices. I said that if it helps keep them down, meaning not going up in price, then so be it.

He did say that they weren't going to charge for general parking.

[Zardoz]

The FB post;
"Just noticed the Kings perferred parking this weekend. Unfortunatly we didn't have $10 cash but you can bet we will next weekend. Thanks for making that available. Nothing worse than the long trudge back to the car after you're already tired from a day full of fun. Yeah preferred parking!!!!!!!!!!"

Yeah that seems legit, everyone comes to faire with no money on them

[PollyPoPo]

That my first thought, too, Zardoz. 

Then I'm kinda, like, yeah, well, uh, I know people who do that, walking around only with plastic (not usually experienced renfaire goers, though).  I'm one of those people   for the most part nowadays, but I absolutely refuse to pay the ATM fees at faire (even if I wasn't so distrustful of whether the machines would have money or not). 

For faire, I make sure I have plenty of cash, often in gold coins.  Hopefully the Son-in-Law is stocking up plenty for me for the next few years.  They are hard to come by in San Antonio now.

[BryanPopp]

When I read "keep ticket prices down" I understood what you meant. I just worded my response wrong.
What I meant to get across, is that a parking fee of any kind in any form will not stop them from raising prices.
I know it was stated that general parking would not be charged. I doubt that will hold long term.
Like the chip commercial. You just can't eat one. That is the nature of most businesses.
In 5 years there will probably be a toll booth when you turn onto 1774.

[BryanPopp]

@ Zardoz
I'm glad that I am not alone in that thought. I thought it sounded like a canned response.

[eldatari]

REALLY?! A toll booth on 1774?  You have got to be kidding me!  I am so sick and tired of so many people on this forum blowing things out of proportion.  TRF makes a few changes and you people act like it's the end of the world!  Do you really think the constant threats of no longer attending are going to make any difference?  NO, they are not.

I am tired of new people getting on this forum and all they can seem to find are negative comments about our beloved faire!  Has anyone else heard the saying "if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all"?

I realized a few years back that the magic of faire is what YOU make!  I was going through a period where all I could see where the changes that I didn't like.  I was not enjoying myself like I did the first few years I went.  Then someone pointed out that I was focusing on the negative instead of the positive.  Now I focus on all the things I love about TRF and I love going and look forward to it every year.

So, my advice to everyone here who has nothing but negative things to say is, that if the negatives outweigh the positives,then stop threatening to no longer attend and just do it!  I personally won't miss you and I will NOT miss all of your negative comments!

[SolRac]

REALLY?! A toll booth on 1774?  You have got to be kidding me!  I am so sick and tired of so many people on this forum blowing things out of proportion.  TRF makes a few changes and you people act like it's the end of the world!  Do you really think the constant threats of no longer attending are going to make any difference?  NO, they are not.

I am tired of new people getting on this forum and all they can seem to find are negative comments about our beloved faire!  Has anyone else heard the saying "if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all"?

I realized a few years back that the magic of faire is what YOU make!  I was going through a period where all I could see where the changes that I didn't like.  I was not enjoying myself like I did the first few years I went.  Then someone pointed out that I was focusing on the negative instead of the positive.  Now I focus on all the things I love about TRF and I love going and look forward to it every year.

So, my advice to everyone here who has nothing but negative things to say is, that if the negatives outweigh the positives,then stop threatening to no longer attend and just do it!  I personally won't miss you and I will NOT miss all of your negative comments!

HUZZAH!!!!!!

[PyroMaster]

Most of the hot air here is coming from a limited number of people and the volume of noise doesn't necessarily represent the majoritarian viewpoint. Personally, I think that if you don't bog yourself down in puritanical opinions, faire is quite enjoyable this year.

[Endestroy]

Well said Eldatari. Faire is my major holiday each year and I look forward to it for months, but the constant negativity on this forum has always disuaded me from joining the community.

I understand that changes can suck at times and constructive criticism has its place, but many seem to just not be happy with faire, ever. I've found that much of life if what you make of it, so I will continue to enjoy whats good about TRF and avoid what's not my cup of tea.

Also as has been suggested by others, I think Sherwood may be a better fit for some who are unhappy. A lot of TRF's negative areas are the strong points of Sherwood (and vice versa). I enjoy both

[Zardoz]

OK,
Just shut up, put my blinders on, and come to faire (and bring money)
Or
Go someplace else.

Message recieved

[PollyPoPo]

OK,
Just shut up, put my blinders on, and come to faire (and bring money)
Or
Go someplace else.

Message recieved

[Breandan]

There will always be people who take offense at legitimate concerns about the direction faire has taken want to because they have loyalty to it and will rabidly defend it. I get that. However, attacking me and others who raise those concerns is a waste of time as it still doesn't address the issues. These issues exist with or without our commentary. I see three of you attacking those of us who voiced issues. That's three possible sources for solutions that are wasting time attacking the messenger rather than giving constructive criticism to Terre or explaining to those of us who are concerned WHY these things are good for TRF over the long run.

Additionally, I point out the good of TRF as well as the bad, which you would know if you bothered to read my posts. I praised the renovations to the campground, the increase in security there, the new amenities, etc. I was very happy with the rebuilt Globe stage, the new Barbarian Inn, and the deck in the Sea Devil. I am also going to point out the bad as well in an effort to try to light a fire under peoples' backsides to even further improve- or correct downturns in- the faire. I am not doing this because I feel like bitching and moaning, I am doing this because I love the faire and see unhealthy downturns and erratic management that could potentially cause significant problems over the long haul.

I am a businessman, this is my trade, and what I see concerns me. The unprofessional responses to the criticisms and concerns just further my worries, and frustrates the living snot out of me. I have bodyguarded CEOs of fortune 50 corporations all the way down to the chairman of a non-profit working in the inner city, and in addition to my own business experience I have been front-row for many of the planning strategies in management that these men and women engaged in. A company at the level of TRF should NOT have these sorts of flippant and damaging responses, and this complete lack of marketing and public relations oversight in a multimillion dollar firm is, frankly, troubling to me as a customer.

I get that some of you will NEVER accept any criticism of TRF, and will lash out at anyone who dares do so. This is neither healthy for a levelheaded discussion, nor does it do anything to address the problems that some of us obviously have. So, again, rather than insult us or tell us to go away because you don't like what we have to say, maybe you should try to figure out WHY we have the issues with your beloved faire and either help us understand how these things are good for us and faire, or help the people in charge of faire find solutions to end the backlash.