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 :o , 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.
https://www.facebook.com/TexRenFestMasqueradeBall (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 (http://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.
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
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.
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".
Quote from: Tink on November 06, 2013, 08:50:18 PM
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.
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.
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...
I've heard they're trying to do a kind of "Masquerade Ball Labyrinth of Jareth" type thing...
Maybe Terre will come on and clear up the price for us as most of my group is looking forward to.
Should we assume the ball tickets will include entrance to the faire and camping?
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/ (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!
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. :)
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.
By what Mike was saying, it sounds like it will be an indoor event.
TRF has a Facebook page up for the Masquerade Ball already.
https://www.facebook.com/TexRenFestMasqueradeBall (https://www.facebook.com/TexRenFestMasqueradeBall)
No real prices yet.
Not renfaire themed - modern tech for entertainment (according to King's post on one of the FB pages - not sure which one)
Calls it a pavilion in a new garden area (guess they'll be putting in some greenery by next fall).
Age is 21 and up; categorized as nightclub. Hours 8:00 pm to 2:00 pm Saturday night during faire.
Valet parking.
Nothing yet on whether it will be part of the camping (i.e. require camping pass as well as festival ticket) or a separate entertainment venue.
Hopefully it will have its own privies, not having formally dressed people in elaborate evening wear costumes traipsing across to the flushies nearby.
Perhaps they will relocate the camping entrance or create a new entrance for this nightclub. Perhaps that is why they have valet parking - to get the attendees to and from the Ball, yet separate from the camping.
Looks interesting; they just have to figure out the logistics if they have not already.
I'm hoping camping is a requirement to attend, because I am not looking forward to even more drunks on the road around here :/
Quote from: Tink on November 11, 2013, 08:39:31 PM
I'm hoping camping is a requirement to attend, because I am not looking forward to even more drunks on the road around here :/
Agreed
Quote from: Rennytom on November 10, 2013, 11:40:05 PM
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!
Hmmm.... People take photos of us all day, but I never really think of that photo being something somebody would keep and remember. Are you one of the nice people who come up and say "Hi! Would you mind if I took a photo with/of you?", are one of those who stalk around after people, snapping photos "undercover" like they're getting away with something illegal? We see you, you know! (Fodder for another, whinier thread).
Well, at least I hope it's a GOOD photo.
More than once I've been trying to lean back or step aside from a camera so as to not block their view, and the camera follows me. That's when I ask if they want me in the pix and find out they are trying to get my pix. :)
I just love visitors from Japan. Usually it's a group of college aged kids or a family, with multiple cameras. Works out great because I can call them over to be in pix with me and they take turns taking pix. I'm old, wrinkled, dough-boy soft, and apparently pretty approachable for strangers. I do think there are some Mamas in Japan who will never let their daughters out of their sight again after seeing pix of the kind of people the girls met while at an American renfaire! :o
Quote from: BarbarianQueen on November 12, 2013, 08:00:45 AM
Quote from: Rennytom on November 10, 2013, 11:40:05 PM
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!
Well, at least I hope it's a GOOD photo.
Oh, it is, Barbarian Queen, it is...
Would you like me to post them, so you can have a copy?
I see problems with this venture right off the bat strickly looking at it from a marketing angle. In my personal oppinion their are several problems that TRF will run into. I would like to point out that I think they will build very nice venue for the Masquarade Ball. Here are the problems that I see in no standing order:
1. The hours: 8pm- 2am I think this will cause problems because it will canaiblize the faire itself especially during the first 3-4 weekends depending on how the calender falls. TRF wants its patrons to stay as late as possible to see the fire works make those last second purchases or get that last adult beverage. If patrons stay late in faire how are they going to enjoy the Ball to the fullest? By the time they get back to camp and freshing up or change grab it will be 9:30 or 10:00 at the earlest that patrons will attend. That only leaves 4 hours of Ball to enjoy. Not much time to enjoy for the money that they will be charging. More to come as I gather my thoughts and try to put them in writing.
Sir Smithwick, agreed. I would think that going to the ball would require a massive costume change, and that adds another hour between. And if the ball is a scripted one, can folks even arrive late?
I would dearly love it to be like something RennyTom describes - that looks like a blast! We all need more fantasy in our lives, but I wonder at the ability of TRF to pull something like that off.
And Rennytom, I would like to have copies of the photos. Are they something you can post here or on the photo thread?
While I think putting it in "quiet" camping may seem to be an issue on the surface, as little use as that section is getting currently (at least until the trees grow to give some cover), I think that won't matter much. Logistical issues will crop up, to be sure, but honestly the money to build this might have been more wisely channeled into building a themed inn with 10-15 rooms and a tavern common room style restaurant and bar. This would have numerous benefits to TRF- 1) they could charge $200+ a night, and people would pay it for the fun of getting to stay indoors in a medieval/renaissance-themed hotel, maintaining immersion for the full weekend (hell, I'D pay to do that for at least one weekend a year, and you all know how loathe I am to fund George's excesses), not to mention extending the income from food and alcohol vendors beyond closing and out into the campground without losing oversight or legal controls, all of which would be a major revenue stream for the company. 2) Non-core-cast actors could make extra money working there, which would seriously boost the morale of those actors who get paid little or nothing to be at faire, which would in turn improve their loyalty and the quality of their performances. 3) It is something new, something I have never seen at any faire I am familiar with, and would be able to be showcased in detail all over Hel's creation (unlike the somewhat meh overhyping of the Masquerade with no real substance to the marketing hype), all of which would be both a marketing and PR coup. 4) Lastly, it'd add safe, secure and comfortable lodging on-site for people with disabilities who would be willing to shell out the money to not have to shuttle back to a hotel in Magnolia or Conroe.
Just my own $0.02
Quote from: Breandan on November 14, 2013, 02:16:00 AM
While I think putting it in "quiet" camping may seem to be an issue on the surface, as little use as that section is getting currently (at least until the trees grow to give some cover), I think that won't matter much. Logistical issues will crop up, to be sure, but honestly the money to build this might have been more wisely channeled into building a themed inn with 10-15 rooms and a tavern common room style restaurant and bar. This would have numerous benefits to TRF- 1) they could charge $200+ a night, and people would pay it for the fun of getting to stay indoors in a medieval/renaissance-themed hotel, maintaining immersion for the full weekend (hell, I'D pay to do that for at least one weekend a year, and you all know how loathe I am to fund George's excesses), not to mention extending the income from food and alcohol vendors beyond closing and out into the campground without losing oversight or legal controls, all of which would be a major revenue stream for the company. 2) Non-core-cast actors could make extra money working there, which would seriously boost the morale of those actors who get paid little or nothing to be at faire, which would in turn improve their loyalty and the quality of their performances. 3) It is something new, something I have never seen at any faire I am familiar with, and would be able to be showcased in detail all over Hel's creation (unlike the somewhat meh overhyping of the Masquerade with no real substance to the marketing hype), all of which would be both a marketing and PR coup. 4) Lastly, it'd add safe, secure and comfortable lodging on-site for people with disabilities who would be willing to shell out the money to not have to shuttle back to a hotel in Magnolia or Conroe.
Just my own $0.02
I would be down with this... Opening weekend with A/C... heaven.
Breandan, you sure do talk purty! Seriously, I've thought for quite some time that someone needed to do something like this. It would be the ONLY way I'd consider attending TRF again.
Quote from: Merlin the Elder on November 14, 2013, 09:36:28 AM
Breandan, you sure do talk purty! Seriously, I've thought for quite some time that someone needed to do something like this. It would be the ONLY way I'd consider attending TRF again.
Wow, some strong words, Merlin! Did you have some sort of bad experience at Texas Renfest?
More information will be coming soon. It's a party to celebrate our 40th year. It will have completely different entertainment than TRF and yes we have visited TLOJ ball in
LA as our inspiration. Quite camping will be reduced but based on the amount of land and it current use it will still be large enough. Tickets will be affordable, food and drink included. This will be the party of all parties. Rules and a 3D rendering will be out in a few weeks.
Quote from: Terre Albert on November 14, 2013, 06:57:02 PM
...and yes we have visited TLOJ ball in
LA as our inspiration.
Yay!!!! THat sounds AWESOME!
Quote from: Terre Albert on November 14, 2013, 06:57:02 PM
This will be the party of all parties.
The problem here is, just because everyone keeps SAYING that it will be the party to end all parties, doesn't make it so.
EVERYONE "official" just keeps saying this, but no reasons given.
O well, best be patient I guess and wait.
Quote from: Rennytom on November 14, 2013, 06:34:39 PM
Quote from: Merlin the Elder on November 14, 2013, 09:36:28 AM
Breandan, you sure do talk purty! Seriously, I've thought for quite some time that someone needed to do something like this. It would be the ONLY way I'd consider attending TRF again.
Wow, some strong words, Merlin! Did you have some sort of bad experience at Texas Renfest?
I didn't mean for it to sound quite like that. No bad experience, but I want to keep it that way. With all due respect to those who
enjoy the atmosphere that TRF now embodies (based on all the first-hand accounts I read here), it's
not what my bride and I like about attending Ren faires. It is just our way. We all have different likes, and that is
all it is. Not intended to pass disparaging remarks on TRF.
None taken Merlin, this is not inside the gates of TRF and was designed for seperate taste and fun. It will not be for everyone and if it is not for you then we understand. If you have been to TLOJ in LA then you understand what this is. It's a play, it's a night club and it is a celebration.
haved no idea what TLOJ ball in LA is.
The Labyrinth of Jareth
SirRichard- it's a themed dance/club event that is based on the ballroom-in-a-bubble scene from the movie Labyrinth- http://youtu.be/0nSzSfmC4MI (http://youtu.be/0nSzSfmC4MI)
thanks
Terre, I think you need to get Mr. Bowie out there for the opening. I'll definitely show up for that! ;)
Personally, I will likely never be able to afford this sort of expense, no matter what it includes... and it's just one more thing at TRF that is priced beyond my ability to attend. We travel 1000 miles round trip just to get there, and spend an average of around $500 or so for the trip... and something like this, or the King's Feast, isn't even remotely within any budget that would still allows us to attend, at all. Also, as the parent of a minor, I would still be unable to attend even if I COULD afford it. Apparently, all of the "special" events at TRF are only for those who have plenty of expendable income.
The more we learn about this special affair, the less it seems targeted only or specifically at Faire-goers or campers.
There is probably an entire market for this special type of affair, but it is limited to those who are willing to pay more for the experience. Likely there are people who would attend this Masquerade who would not be interested in the Faire itself.
We'll just have to wait to see more information on the Facebook page and eventually, the TRF Facebook page and here, of course.
Quote from: Tink on November 16, 2013, 06:45:43 PM
Terre, I think you need to get Mr. Bowie out there for the opening. I'll definitely show up for that! ;)
I think this is something we can all agree on ;D
Greetings everyone..:)
I have been waiting in anticipation on any more news on the ball.. anyone heard anything lately??
As seen in a post on facebook:
The Texas Renaissance Festival - I think we are going to do a different kind of pricing for the Masquerade Ball. February, start out at $55 per person as as the event gets closer and fills up $75 and then $95 in September.
Which means you need to buy your tickets EARLY!
We wont sell tickets at the entrance.
That includes your beer, wine, horderves and entry and entertainment...that I have yet to show you!
Think that sounds fair?
?The King?
I'd rather pay $55/ ticket than $95, but I'm not going to spend over $100 for the hubby and myself and not really even know what I'm paying for. Perhaps there could be an open house/ trial run type event to show people exactly what this whole thing is? Or another idea would be to stick with cheap(er) tickets this entire opening season, then start raising prices next season once people know what this all is and can inform others. Just some thoughts.
I think that is one of the big problems TRF is going to face. They've been hyping the hell out of the Masquerade as an über party, but details remain ambiguous at best. The economy is tight as hell, people are pinching every penny to maximize their holiday buying power for friends and family, and there's a lot of folks out there who aren't willing to gamble even $55 on a complete unknown. I think it would be in TRF's best interest to notch back on the mystery throttle a bit and leak a few details of what it will entail to entice people. So far, vague comments like "Oh, you WILL enjoy, I gaurantee it!", "I can't tell you about everything just yet, just know that it will absolutely sell out any time, so get your tickets early!!!" as I and others have heard do not engender the kind of confidence in anyone with an IQ above their shoe size that it will be as advertised without SOME element of backing. It's a teaser trailer to a complete unknown, informative of the existence of the ball, but not enough to push sales beyond impulse buyers with money to spare. Those are growing increasingly rare these days, and should not be relied upon by the marketing staff of ANY corporation. Comments from the marketing staff along the lines of "You think the parties around the village and in the campgrounds are wild. They'll be NOTHING compared to this (nod, nod, wink, wink)!" imply that the advertising department is woefully unaware of the parties out in the campground and how wild some of them can get, has something truly groundbreaking up their sleeve (and to top some of what I've seen after-hours at TRF, they bloody well better have antigrav generators to flit people about the room), or are targeting a completely different audience than the die-hard regular clan campers and playtrons who dump a significant portion of TRF's take every year into the faire and have designed something completely different for the ball to appeal to those markets. If the second one is true, then they need to get the word out somehow, even if it is unofficial "leaks" (corporations love those, plausible deniability and the ability to assume the role of wronged victim to get sympathy on one hand, enticing customers with their product in a way that doesn't appear to come out of a corporate PR shill on the other), to get people interested AND informed. That will help open up some purse strings, I promise you.
I agree that more details are needed. If I paid $95 up to $150 per person, I would consider that a ok deal for an open bar and appetizers and dinner with entertainment.
But I would be royally knickered if it turned out I paid that much and got 2 drink tickets, a plate of nachos and the bar was cash after that.
Breandan,
When the specifics of the ball are ready they will be released, sometime before tickets go on sale. Why can't we have some mystery about our new event?
Oh you can, and there's nothing wrong with having a little mystery or even quite a lot. However right now it is a complete mystery, and many of the rennie friends I know who drop serious money out there- including things like the King's Feast- are hesitant to pay for a complete unknown. I'm not suggesting unveiling the entire thing, but releasing tantalizing snippets here and there to hook people would work a helluva lot better than the complete ambiguous hype that has been presented thus far. I understand that a lot of the actual on-the-ground details of the event haven't been finalized, so you can't exactly reveal what isn't set in stone yet, but there are still some elements that can be disclosed I'm sure.
A good example would be the teaser chapters and snippets of novels I am currently working on. While it does tend to irritate one's agent a bit when you let things like that slip, ask around anyone who has read them and you'll find it only heightened their desire to buy the books as soon as they hit shelves. Three books in and I have a loyal following with minimal need for marketing because of it. I gave them a taste of what was in the books, word of mouth spread, and voila! Book sales. This holds true in my other business as well. You will never see an ad for our bodyguard company, yet we never hurt for customers. Why? Because of word of mouth sales generated enough business to keep us fully loaded. That word of mouth was, in turn, generated by showing what we could do and the actual capabilities of our company as opposed to any marketing hype.
I think the ball could be a hell of a great idea if done correctly (I still vote for building an inn out there, but that's just me ;D ), but I also think there are problems with how it is being marketed that might hurt the entire endeavor. Again, I am not trying to tear it down, just giving my own advice and opinions based on what I've seen work and fail in my own experiences, and based on what I hear from the people who's tightly protected wallets you want to charm open ;)
We will start releasing rules and rendering in the coming weeks. Way before we would expect anyone to buy anything. I would never ask someone to buy tickets without information. Ticket don't go on sale until February.
Good to hear! ;D