i have Lots of questions ...LOTS!!

[LadyWhitney]

So as i mentioned in my Intro Post im new here and im thinking of start a ren faire in my home town Saint John New Brunswick ... and i have some questions as to how to go about getting started im giveing myself Plenty of time to sketch the idea and prep ...

1. how did you start out ?
2. how do you go about getting sponsers ?
3. funds to run the faire ?
4. time line you used ?
5. getting voleenteers? how many is ideal?
6. activities ? ( excluding jousting)
7. food? receipe ideas?
8. decorations ? for a frist faire ?
9. your do and donts ?
10. music ? live bands vs  cd players ?
11. theater and smalls acts ? how do i go about setting that up ? asking around?
12. advertisement ? adivce?
13. Alcohol ? your intake?

well theres a few questions ive come up with thus far all answers/advice welcome

[will paisley]

So as i mentioned in my Intro Post im new here and im thinking of start a ren faire in my home town Saint John New Brunswick ... and i have some questions as to how to go about getting started im giveing myself Plenty of time to sketch the idea and prep ...

Start reading here:

http://scribe.faire.net/faqs/Renstart.Htm

[LadyShadow]

Good luck.

[Celtic_Fae]

So as i mentioned in my Intro Post im new here and im thinking of start a ren faire in my home town Saint John New Brunswick ... and i have some questions as to how to go about getting started im giveing myself Plenty of time to sketch the idea and prep ...

1. how did you start out ?
2. how do you go about getting sponsers ?
3. funds to run the faire ?
4. time line you used ?
5. getting voleenteers? how many is ideal?
6. activities ? ( excluding jousting)
7. food? receipe ideas?
8. decorations ? for a frist faire ?
9. your do and donts ?
10. music ? live bands vs  cd players ?
11. theater and smalls acts ? how do i go about setting that up ? asking around?
12. advertisement ? adivce?

well theres a few questions ive come up with thus far all answers/advice welcome

9. DO have it during a season where you are guaranteed the best chance possible of good weather: for example, if you were here in FL, you wouldn't have it in the summer due to our rainy season and high temperatures. DON'T have it opposite a larger, better established faire.

10. Definitely live bands.

11. Know your circuit, who is on it and their schedules. If you don't have enough money to pay them, sometimes other compensation (hotels, food vouchers, busking privileges) MIGHT work. Treat the well and fairly, get them their contracts in a timely fashion.

[Celtic_Fae]

Keep everything in perspective: it will be very expensive, hard work, and new faires have a high failure rate. You must look at it from a business point of view.

Cost also depends on a lot of factors:
Experience of cast
Popularity of performers/acts
Land (are you going to lease/buy?)
Hard vs. soft site
Insurance prices/how much insurance you must carry
Having a campground available or rooms over the shops
Startup costs (permits, etc.)
Construction costs

[LadyWhitney]

good thing i have a little less than 2 years to prep 

[GirlChris]

From my experience as an entertainer.

7. This may seem strange, but make sure that there isn't one ingredient used in all of the food. Example- I did a faire where everything available to eat had peppers in it. The woman playing the queen was allergic to peppers. She couldn't have anything to eat. Also, make sure there's vegetarian options. All meat all the time is... well, kind of gross.

8. As said by someone great, though I don't remember who- burlap makes everything medieval. If there are modern things that you NEED, but ruin the atmosphere (speakers, garbage cans, what have you) wrap them in burlap. They still have their functionality, but they don't stick out quite so much.

9. DON'T try and do more than you can afford. I've seen three faires collapse because they contracted people for big bucks, then couldn't pay up. Always keep in mind it might rain, and your gate will pretty much evaporate. Have the money to pay what you owe.

10. Live music all the way. You're trying to create the illusion that the patrons are in the past. I've seen performers use recorded music at faires and it tends to take you out of the atmosphere. Also, people will sit and watch a guy play a guitar. They aren't going to watch a CD player.

11. You might want to check out the Busker Festivals in the area. You're likely to find jugglers, acrobats, magicians and various other circus-type performers. Open mic nights (especially at Irish-type pubs) can be a good source for musicians.

12. Contact other local events to see if you can have some performers do a promotional event. Have some cast actors get into costume and go to Canada Day events and hand out fliers. It's also great practice for any cast you may have. They get to try out their characters on real people instead of other cast members to see what works, what doesn't.

[Lady Neysa]

Look at back issue #23 of  Renaissance Magazine, renaissancemagazine.com  "In Celebration of the Renaissance Faire".  There is a detailed article all about the many aspects of starting a faire. 

[Sir Michael Geare]

There are a lot of things to consider.  Frankly, IMHO, a little less than two years is pushing it if you haven't already got some things going.   Not that you don't already.

Anyways, as a participant who works several faires both big and small, I commend you for the effort.  In regards to your questioning...Will's faq link is very helpful for a start to help answer some questions and give you more questions on top of it.

#2  The best way to get sponsors which is how some of the smaller ones starting out currently are doing is to visit vendors of current faires to see if any are also interested in starting up a new faire.

#3  Funds...this all depends on what your vision of how "your" faire should be.  Of course the bigger the faire with all its extras will cost so the more funds you will need.

#4  Timeline...all depends on your preference and the type of customers around your area.  If there are more pirate enthusiast than you may want to hold a pirate faire.  The timeline varies, Middle Ages, Tudor-Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I.  Majority out there, as you know, gear towards Elizabeth's reign.

#5  Volunteers.  There is never enough volunteers.  The more you have the better.  Just like any other job out there, pelple get sick or have other unexpected issues so it is good to have plenty of backups.

#6  Activities are based again on the customer base.  Know your customers or in this case potential customers.

#7  Stick to period food as much as possible.  Yes, this includes the stereotype food of turkey legs.  Yet again, keep the customers in mind when it comes to food.  Granted that Haggis is a very period dish but there are not too many that will eat it given when they find out what it is.  Even the most die-hard of reenactors out there won't touch the stuff.  IMO, there is nothing better than some nice fresh haggis.

#8  Being that you are new and starting out.  Keep it simple.  Don't go all out and break the bank on decorations when the entire venture could be a bust.  Remember, Burlap is your friend.  If it is not period looking, a little burlap will fix everything.  SHop around swap meets, thrift stores and such.  You will be surprised at what you can find that is period appropriate for less.

#9  Don't plan on having a multi-weekend event your first outing.  That is almost certain fair suicide.  As stated earlier, don't compete with existing events.  It will be easier getting acts and vendors if you don't compete with someone who is established already.  Do start with a soft faire.  Tents and pavillions will cut cost and time with building and space rental for a permanent site.  Remember, burlap is your friend.

#10  Of course live bands.  This is an outdoor festival so customers will expect some live entertainment.  CD music playing just ruins the whole atmosphere and and untolerable to long time die hards.

#11  Small acts can be obtained by talking to acts at other events.  Advertising at local colleges and dance studios. 

#12  Of course advertise, advertise.  How can you get customers if you don't advertise.  Word of mouth is always good.  Go to local events and mention it to all the guilds and vendors that a new faire is starting and you would like to have them be a part of if.  There is no better way to have auditions of sorts than to go visit other events and see them perform in real life. 

Most important of all.  Check you local city/county laws and regulations for correct permits and fees.  Remember to have some form of trained medical personnel on staff.  So many a small faires forget about this.

Good luck.  Look forward to hearing how things go.

[LadyWhitney]

thx for all the feed back definitly making notes keep the advice coming i love it .  this will be a small faire  mostly likely with tents .

[will paisley]

thx for all the feed back definitly making notes keep the advice coming i love it .  this will be a small faire  mostly likely with tents .

Ballpark figure for the rental of say, 7 period tents (ticket booth, gift shop, two green rooms for stage acts, three green rooms for cast), for a month's run is about $10,000.  This is with all the vendors providing their own tents, and doesn't include flys/tarps for shade/rain protection for patrons.

[Craigmeister]

I have a Renaissance-themed website.  I recently interviewed several faire organizers w/ questions that are a little different from yours.  Perhaps they could help provide hints in other areas.  My site is www.meistersrealm.com

Godspeed in your festival.  I admire someone who is starting a new fest when so many seem to be going on hiatus this year.

[Count Adolfo]

good thing i have a little less than 2 years to prep 

From an organizational standpoint, milady... fall not prey to the control bug
delegate
put together a dependable and solid team and don't try to undertake such a quest on your own.

The success or failure of the project will depend more on that teamwork than any other single factor... with the possible exception of location.

[Bossmare]

Know everything about your location. Local laws and ordinances, for instance. Health Department permits and inspections. And then look at your facilities. Electric? Who's maintaining the roads/paths? Trash service. Port-a-privies. Where are you parking cars? If it's on grass, what will you do if it rains? Do you need a shuttle?

INSURANCE. Absolutely necessary.

Are you incorporating as a business? Lots of paperwork there. Check into your state laws. Do your employess need to file W-9s? Who's keeping your books? Doing your taxes? That brings up business licenses and liquor licenses.

Having a reliable staff is a MUST. Volunteer Coordinator, Safety Coordinator, Entertainment Coordinator, Site Coordinator, Bookkeeper, etc.

It goes on and on . . . .