Suggestions for Terre: Ideas and Suggestions for Future TRF Development

[Batonrogue]

I have to agree with AngieT.  I have always had quite a bit of cast interaction every time that I have been.  I guess I just have an approachable smile.  Though I haven't been goosed by a wench in quite some time(in the 90's this seemed to happen at least once per visit).  I brought a faire newbie with me during AHE and she loved all of the attention that the cast gave her.  They now have a fan for life in her, so I say excellent job this year.  I would like to see more cast members in the lanes and I did notice that the faire seemed much quieter than in the many previous years visits.  The one real suggestion that I have is please please please get some new material for some of the acts.  It is to the point that I don't even go to many of the shows anymore because it is the same thing year after year.     

[Riff Raff]

The one real suggestion that I have is please please please get some new material for some of the acts.  It is to the point that I don't even go to many of the shows anymore because it is the same thing year after year.

I couldn't agree more (*wave to Ded Bob*).  I was caught out by this incorrect expectation though regarding a couple of shows this year, the jousting and belly dancing.  Saw some photos after the fact of each that were just amazing, and was disappointed to have missed it when I was there due to the assumption that it hadn't changed.

[nolekhan]

I couldn't agree more (*wave to Ded Bob*).  I was caught out by this incorrect expectation though regarding a couple of shows this year, the jousting and belly dancing.  Saw some photos after the fact of each that were just amazing, and was disappointed to have missed it when I was there due to the assumption that it hadn't changed.

This happened to me with jousting. However, in a complete 180, Sound and Fury was alternating two shows every day. Then they announced development on a new show for next year. Now we will never be satisfied with anything less!

[ravic]

S & F are constantly working on new bits for their current shows AND completely new shows. They also do shows that aren't really ren-related.

[lys1022]

The one real suggestion that I have is please please please get some new material for some of the acts.  It is to the point that I don't even go to many of the shows anymore because it is the same thing year after year.     

Most stage acts are independent acts and the faire has little to no say over the content of their shows. The only control that the faire has is the ability to bring an act back or to not do so, and when an act doesn't come back (no matter WHAT the reason is) all that happens is that people whine and complain that the act isn't there.  So it really is a Catch-22 for the faires.  You can bring in new acts with new material to satisfy the people who say that the stage acts are always the same, or you can keep the same stage acts to satisfy the people who complain about every change, no matter how minute.  I'm just glad that I'm not Faire Management at any faire, because always having to hear people complain no matter WHAT I did would drive me B**SH** crazy!  (At least, crazier than I already am! *snerk*)

[ravic]

Also remember that we here are a small sample. WE may have heard the acts 100 times but the 50K others that come that day may not have heard it even once. So who does the artist need to please?

[raevyncait]

Also remember that we here are a small sample. WE may have heard the acts 100 times but the 50K others that come that day may not have heard it even once. So who does the artist need to please?

Ideally, a little bit of both. Realistically, having sold merchandise for an act, and observed the tipping habits of folks, WE are the ones who actually stay around to the end of the show, and through the hat pass, and WE are the ones who know and understand just how important that bit is. The average patron coming through the gate often makes the assumption that the act is compensated extremely well by the venue, and doesn't "need" tips. There are acts that I can practically quote verbatim, but I still enjoy the show, and make an effort to show my appreciation. 

[Merlin the Elder]

The one real suggestion that I have is please please please get some new material for some of the acts.  It is to the point that I don't even go to many of the shows anymore because it is the same thing year after year.     

Most stage acts are independent acts and the faire has little to no say over the content of their shows. The only control that the faire has is the ability to bring an act back or to not do so, and when an act doesn't come back (no matter WHAT the reason is) all that happens is that people whine and complain that the act isn't there.  So it really is a Catch-22 for the faires.  You can bring in new acts with new material to satisfy the people who say that the stage acts are always the same, or you can keep the same stage acts to satisfy the people who complain about every change, no matter how minute.  I'm just glad that I'm not Faire Management at any faire, because always having to hear people complain no matter WHAT I did would drive me B**SH** crazy!  (At least, crazier than I already am! *snerk*)

I think you hit the nail on the head.  I can certainly understand with comedy acts that completely changing an act from year to year is risky, but with the touring, surely they can be writing new gags, and trying them out over the tour. By the time they come back around, there's a whole new act.

Yes, there have been some that we liked and they left, but in reality, it was time. The same schtick every year doesn't bring the crowds back, with some exceptions.

The music acts SHOULD be a lot easier to change up, yet some play the same stuff EVERY performance.

I, for one, don't mind the change.

[Riff Raff]

I want to know who decided that every bagpipe band is absolutely required to play Amazing Grace for every single show.  

I'd like to single out Iris & Rose as being particularly good regarding changing up their material.  They always make it a point to not repeat the same song for more than one show on the same day, and frequently the same weekend.  Of course it helps if you have a catalogue as large as theirs!

[Riot]

I want to know who decided that every bagpipe band is absolutely required to play Amazing Grace for every single show.  

I'd like to single out Iris & Rose as being particularly good regarding changing up their material.  They always make it a point to not repeat the same song for more than one show on the same day, and frequently the same weekend.  Of course it helps if you have a catalogue as large as theirs!

I don't go to shows all that often, but I know Tartanic will sometimes play it in honor of a fallen friend of several of ours when they see us. It is usually in the lanes or after closing cannon in front of gate when they do though.

[nolekhan]

Tartanic will acknowledge that Amazing Grace is THE requested song before they play, sometimes tongue in cheek. It also is how they end their after-faire performance. However, they keep putting out CDs with new music but don't always play the new stuff.

[Zardoz]

I want to know who decided that every bagpipe band is absolutely required to play Amazing Grace for every single show.  

Basically,  the people that listen to pipe bands!  'Amazing Grace' and 'Scotland The Brave' are the most requested tunes for most pipers and bands. After that it's a mix of 'Garry Owen', 'A Nation Once Again', 'Pressed for Time', 'The Clumsy Lover', 'The Gael', and lately 'Mull of Kintyre'.

[Fenster]

Tartanic will acknowledge that Amazing Grace is THE requested song before they play, sometimes tongue in cheek. It also is how they end their after-faire performance. However, they keep putting out CDs with new music but don't always play the new stuff.

Tartanic have quite a catalogue of music, but seem to play the same songs every show. They also need to play more music and talk less.

I think there should be more music.  One should never be able to stroll a lane at faire without hearing music IMO.

[raevyncait]

Keep in mind as well, that while a group may have an extensive collection of CDs, with a great variety of music on them, that the overwhelming majority of those are STUDIO cds, rather than live ones, thus they have more versatility as far as additional instrumentation (even without adding additional musicians), and there is a limit to what is reasonably playable in a (largely) acoustic venue such as faire, simply because 2 pipers and 2 drummers can ONLY manage so many notes, even if the chanters are different keys.

[Fenster]

Keep in mind as well, that while a group may have an extensive collection of CDs, with a great variety of music on them, that the overwhelming majority of those are STUDIO cds, rather than live ones, thus they have more versatility as far as additional instrumentation (even without adding additional musicians), and there is a limit to what is reasonably playable in a (largely) acoustic venue such as faire, simply because 2 pipers and 2 drummers can ONLY manage so many notes, even if the chanters are different keys.

True, but in the past Tartanic has played these additional songs.