So what exactly is this King Midas Masquarade Ball about???

[BarbarianQueen]

I've been seeing ads all over the place for it, and even sat and talked a while with King Midas in the village, but couldn't quite nail it down.  I do know it costs $150 per couple , and it takes place out on the concrete slab with pillars out at the north entrance to the camping, but that's about it.
Midas was rather coy about it.  He kept saying, "Oh, you WILL enjoy, I gaurantee it!", "You think the parties around the village and in the campgrounds are wild.  They'll be NOTHING compared to this (nod, nod, wink, wink)!", "I can't tell you about everything just yet, just know that it will absolutely sell out any time, so get your tickets early!!!".

It was all a bit slimy feeling - Midas seemed like your drunken pervert uncle tossing out creepy double entendre's to his 14 year old nieces.
Though maybe I'm too harsh - he looked really tired and hot, and we saw him late in the day, and I'm sure he had been shilling for the Ball all day.

So...can anybody say exactly what it's going to BE??  $150 bucks is a lot of green for not knowing what you're getting into.

[nolekhan]

https://www.facebook.com/TexRenFestMasqueradeBall

"In the heart of an enchanting new garden, King Midas is raising a luxurious pavilion and planning a night of dancing, sumptuous feasting and dazzling entertainment for adults 21 and over as only the Texas Renaissance Festival can provide. Visit www.texrenfest.com beginning February 2014 for details. It's going to be a party beyond your wildest imagination!

This ball will happen every Saturday night right after "The Kingdom" closes.
This ball will be like nothing you have ever see before."

All they've announced. People have talked about a ball/nightclub/Medieval Times possibility.

[Breandan]

I hope they realize that overhyping it will blow up in their faces when people get shortchanged and spread the word. I'd hate to see TRF, Inc. invest a crapload of money and other resources into something and then build it up beyond their ability to deliver

[Tink]

Since when does a cleared open campground equal an "enchanting garden"?  Regardless, the door is too green for my taste.  I'll just have to look at others' pictures.

[BarbarianQueen]

Somehow, looking the ads, watching the brief videos, and mostly talking to King Midas, and hearing"Secret Masquerade ball", all  I can picture is the masked ball ritual scene from "Eyes Wide Shut".

[DonaCatalina]

Since when does a cleared open campground equal an "enchanting garden"?  Regardless, the door is too green for my taste.  I'll just have to look at others' pictures.

I feel the same. Sounds a little over-hyped as well.

[mpullen]

Just wait a few weeks. The construction crew should be staging material this week and commencing work.

Those pillars in the campgrounds are only the entrance to the building. If you look around, you can see the survey stakes showing the outside dimensions of the building.

I suggested the contractor/architect put up a billboard with the artist conception of the building, so all will know how it will look when completed.

As far as the cost, The King's Feast is $99 per person and the Ball will have unlimited food and drink, plus entertainment.

[BarbarianQueen]

I may have been mistaken then - it could be $150 per person. King Midas mentioned the price, and then began to justify it by comparing it to the feast price, and how though it was "a little more" , it would be an even more "incredible experience".

Please correct me if I'm wrong. The conversation took place after a bottle of mead, and its a little hazy...

[LibraryPrincess]

I've heard they're trying to do a kind of "Masquerade Ball Labyrinth of Jareth" type thing...

[LadyJessica]

Maybe Terre will come on and clear up the price for us as most of my group is looking forward to.

[KiltedPrivateer]

Should we assume the ball tickets will include entrance to the faire and camping?

[Rennytom]

I've been lurking here on and off for 4 years, as my job has taken me in and out of Houston several times, and though I don't post much, It's great to come here to catch up.
I have a friend who shared that the model for the King Midas Masquerade is indeed the rather famous Labyrinth of Jareth Masquerade Ball, which is done in several places around the country, but done really HUGE out in LA.  Here's a link to their website - hope it's OK to post it here - http://www.labyrinthmasquerade.com/

THat site has a very detailed description and great photos of the event.
For those who hate to click and read -
It's basically a themed costume ball held in a huge space, and it's filled with multiple ballrooms that have "stories" being played out in them constantly.  They are based around the move plot "Labyrinth", but branch out each year to keep it interesting.  People are encouraged to come in the most elaborate costumes possible (or formall), and they can interact to a degree with the performers.

Its sort of like a giant haunted palace, but instead of "haunted" it's a fantasy world, based loosely on the Kingdom of Jareth, the Goblin King.
I must admit I have not been, but I have friends who go every year and they work all year on their costumes.  Its a crazy big deal to thousands.

What I've heard is that TRF will be recreating this sort of event, but with a storyline based around the story of King Midas ( to keep it medieval).  If they can pull it off even a 5th of what they do in LA, it will be quite the accomplishment and worth the money to attend.

Make sure to take a look at the galleries at the website above - the costumes are phenomenal!  NSFW warning - body painting, partial nudity and highly erotic costumes are a large part of the scene in LA, and that is reflected in some of the photos.  Not sure if that's what King Midas was referring to when he said it would be "wild".

My friends who go say it is the most surreal and trnasporting thing they've ever done, due to the elaborateness of the sets and the storylines, actors.  Apparently, it's like being in a fantasy movie come to life.  With about a 100 David Bowie's.

If memory serves, Barbarian Queen, your costume would fit in just fine in LA (if that's you in your avatar).  I have a photo or two of you and your friend from last year in my TRF photo gallery.  Huzzah!

[Sir Martin]

Thanks for the info, Rennytom.  I looked through a few (not all) of the photo galleries and did not see anything that would set off an alarm here.  Most of the costumes are very ornate and beautiful.   The ones I found most disturbing were some of the furries . . . and that was because they looked very real and spooky.  Guess that was the point.   

[PollyPoPo]

Considering the location of the ball is within the family/quiet area, there may a curtailment on attire or noise level. 

Unless, of course, there are plans for a barrier to keep the ball confined to a specific area or plans to change what is now designated as family/quiet camping. 

If it were just one weekend, there may not be much of an overlap.  However if it is to be held every Saturday evening, it seems like it would squeeze a good portion of the quiet camping between the adult themed ball and general camping. 

Just more food for thought for TRF management as they go into the future.

[KiltedPrivateer]

By what Mike was saying, it sounds like it will be an indoor event.