Input Sought

[RenStarr]

The gatherings during times when TRF, Scarby, or Sherwood are not going on was and is a GREAT idea!!  Keep those going, and I believe the spirit of Sherwood will burn bright all year long.

Maybe Mike Pullen could pass out a camp site award each week of faire.  Something along the lines of most "period camp site", best "spirit of Sherwood" camp site, best Clan representation during Faire,  etc.....   Some type of crest/flag that could hang in front of camp thru each weekend till it is ether given to another clan or kept by the same clan.  Maybe King Richard could make the presentation himself an hour before opening cannon each Saturday morning?  When the camp sites for each clan becomes a real source of pride, attendance to faire will always be robust.

Kids Games during the days.  Maybe put together some kids games in the jousting arena.  Stick horse races, nerf sword contests, nerf jousts on the stick horses, archery contests, best Robin Hood/Maid Marian, etc............



Some of the ideas posted here that I'll add my 2 cents too:

Street Names (also paths and trails), after all, this IS Sherwood Forest. 
Robin Hood Way, Little John Trail, Will Scarlet Path, Lady Gwenivere's Path, Maid Marian's Walk, King Richard the Lionhearted Royal Road, Friar Tucks Way.  Just some suggestions on names that are well associated with Sherwood Forest.  Also Names of key persons in the establishment of Sherwood Forest is a great idea!

Water.  Try and make drinking water as reasonable as possible.  $3 - $4 for a bottle of water is getting too steep.

Ice.  Same as water.  Make ice available at all booths where drinks are sold, and encourage vendors to keep the price for a mug of ice reasonable.



   

[hoodofsherwood]

Water.  Try and make drinking water as reasonable as possible.  $3 - $4 for a bottle of water is getting too steep.

Agree strongly with the above, When a 28 pack of bottled water is under 5.00 per case its a big turn off when places sell 1 bottle for 3 or 4 dollars. At 1.00-1.50 per bottle that is still a huge margin of profit.

[PyroMaster]

Or, dispense with the whole concept of bottled water (with all the plastic waste) and have taps of filtered water that people can fill their mugs from. Even if it was a quarter a fill (or so), something like that would get the place talked about amongst the wider Ren community.

[Bombaatu]

Agree with the filtered-tap post and/or reasonable prices for bottled water. If bottled water is sold, perhaps you could have recycling receptacles next to the trash cans?

I also strongly agree with the idea of a "peace-and-quiet" path - an area with no vendors, just the natural beauty of the site.

I'm counting down the days until February! 

[Sitara]

perhaps you could have recycling receptacles next to the trash cans?

This is what I was just going to suggest.

[Rapier Half-Wit]

As a parent, I say nix on the fetish weekend. There's plenty of that to be found in the campgrounds after-hours, and other places besides.

[rengypsy]

i have been remiss in responding this this post thread for sometime.  all good ideas.

here are a few comments from admin on faire ideas...

we are not having themed weekends for the first or couple of initial years.  our theme is established as "sherwood forest faire"  --  robin and company have invited the village and country folk into the protection of the woods to have a spring festival.

the story line will astound you, i hope.  i was privy to several scenes during the last two weekends at sherwood and i believe you will feel you are there amidst a real and fascinating story unfolding.

we will not have formal paths the first year.  its a forest.  folk will make there own paths.  again, its a forest.  over the years, the folk of sherwood will create their own paths.  we are all creating what the faire will be...

fetish? hmmm...sherwood will focus on family--pg to pg13 rating.  in the expansion phase, we will have a hide-away section of the faire behind the pond with an R rating...well marked with parental caution and requirement of either an id or accompaniment of parents.  nothing outrageous, but quite a bit more bawdy experience...and i assume fetish folk could congregate in this section...but a fetish theme is not in our current plans.  having said that, we are examining a separate event during the non-faire time which would be like a long weekend carnivale type new orleans experience.  so hold on for a heck of a ride as time passes.

and we will be respectful of prices of bottled water prices.

love your comments.  thanks.

also, yes, fairy woman...i loved yalls performance at trf.  i was not the owner of trf, but am of swff.  your costumes, your presence as flitting fairies were fantastic.

rengypsy

[Barret]

Some thoughts and comments,

As an Austinite I am thrilled to have another faire coming this close to home, as a person who likes to get involved in things I think it would be awesome if there was a volunteers thread or some such where people who want to help out could offer their time and vendors and faire staff could ask for help.

Now onto suggestions,

1. Whoever recommended taps for filling mugs was spot on, I carried my mug on my belt at TRF this year and could stop in at any bathroom and fill it up from the water fountain. As someone who likes to drink A LOT of water it made the whole event a lot more enjoyable.

2. Maps: I would appreciate a free map of the faire when I come in, TRF sells the programs with the map but sometimes I just want a little trifold map for free. You can sell the nice programs with pictures and everything as well. Take the play or opera approach, they always give a free playbill that shows the schedule for the night and has some  other basic information and then sell the program that has nice photos and more indepth information on cast and crew etc.

3. I second the smoke free area comment, I'm not allergic or anything, but coming from Austin, which has a citywide smoking ban for public areas, I definitely notice it if people are smoking and it makes my experience less enjoyable.

4. Events that encourage patrons to get interact with the cast. Last year closing weekend TRF ran a scavenger hunt where you had to get little items from different cast member (people from the different courts, robin hood, etc.) It was fun and gave me something to do for an hour or so. They offered up a season pass for the next year as the prize. Something like this announced at the opening on Saturday morning would be cool.

That's it for now I think