And so it comes to pass....

[Sir Martin]

As I said earlier this is an obvious move to make the Faire more business.  We all know it is and has always been a business but the fact is that this business was built on a small amount of PG-13 behavior is what I fear will be lost.  Gone are the kissing wenches and we move more and more to a family fun spot.  I have 5 kids so don't get me wrong that family is important but Houston has a large amount of activities I can take them to for G rated stuff.  My personal fear is as commercialization occurs more of what we love about a Faire will be gone.  It is sad because adults need entertainment as well.

I would be sorely disappointed if bawdy behavior was overly censored at TRF.  There are warning signs at the PG-13 shows and the performers also verbally warn the audiences.  There is plenty of room in New Market Village to accomodate both adult and adolescent entertainment.

The German attack wench from the 1980's was a bawdy lane act, but she hasn't been there for many, many years.  I am a bit concerned that you said the kissing wenches were gone.  There have been a few surprises in the cast announcements so far, but did you mean they have not renewed the contract of Jenny O'Manion - the Scottish kissing wench?  She has been a TRF staple for almost 20 years.

[Rani Zemirah]

Perhaps mgmt is thinking to "tax" the larger vendors at a higher rate than the smaller ones, so that those who make a great deal more money there will bear the brunt of the cost, and those who don't make quite as much will still be able to afford to vend there...? 

[KeeperoftheBar]

As for their reasoning, while check might seem to add value to the faire, I think another reason may have to do with insurance. If you can show that not only your cast and staff are "trustworthy", but your vendors' crews as well, then you may be able to reduce the costs associated with liability. .

I suspect it also has to do with legal liablility.  If any employee of any vendor at TRF does something illegal and is sued, I will wager TRF will be added to the lawsuit because of their 'deep pockets', even if they were not actually involvled.  Remember the parking lot stabbing several years ago?  TRF was sued instead of the low life who did it.  (I cleaned it up)
And for this we have attorneys to thank, but I won't go there. 

[ravic]

OK, let's back up a bit. The $75 passes ARE NOT NEW. For the past few years, we have been allowed 4-6 "free" passes with our booth fee. If we needed more than these, the $75/pass kicked in. The new part is the small fee for the initial passes, which I am almost positive goes to offset the background check. No biggie to me.

As has been mentioned, just because you can pass a check, doesn't mean I'm gonna trust you. The two do not necessarily relate. All that may mean is that you ain't been caught yet.

[Rani Zemirah]

Ahhh... I was confused, then.  I thought you meant there was going to be a much higher fee for the background check after the first 7 passes.  My misinterpretation... 

[ravic]

Sorry, I might not have been as clear as I needed to be.

[Rani Zemirah]

Or I may have just assumed I knew what you were saying... no worries.  At least it won't be adding a huge amount to the already existing financial burden of the small vendor, and that's something to be thankful for!  There are many industries that require background checks, and most do a fairly surface check in order to ascertain that there are no felonies, and that you don't owe enough to make theft more tempting than it would be for anyone else, I believe... because anything more in depth starts to get pretty expensive rather quickly.  I'm guessing TRF isn't going to want to shell out more than then minimum they can get away with, not with over 2000 employees to run checks on.  Even at a fairly low rate of $25 per check, that's over $50,000 right there...

[Strange]

OK, let's back up a bit. The $75 passes ARE NOT NEW. For the past few years, we have been allowed 4-6 "free" passes with our booth fee. If we needed more than these, the $75/pass kicked in. The new part is the small fee for the initial passes, which I am almost positive goes to offset the background check. No biggie to me.

As has been mentioned, just because you can pass a check, doesn't mean I'm gonna trust you. The two do not necessarily relate. All that may mean is that you ain't been caught yet.

Hell... I don't trust me, and I've known me all my life. I'm a bit of a rat bastard.

[Rapier Half-Wit]

[RANT]

And of course the costs will be passed along to the consumers. I agree, we only have the lawyers to thank for this.

[/RANT]

[Strange]

Or I may have just assumed I knew what you were saying... no worries.  At least it won't be adding a huge amount to the already existing financial burden of the small vendor, and that's something to be thankful for!  There are many industries that require background checks, and most do a fairly surface check in order to ascertain that there are no felonies, and that you don't owe enough to make theft more tempting than it would be for anyone else, I believe... because anything more in depth starts to get pretty expensive rather quickly.  I'm guessing TRF isn't going to want to shell out more than then minimum they can get away with, not with over 2000 employees to run checks on.  Even at a fairly low rate of $25 per check, that's over $50,000 right there...

I expect they'll use a subscription service and just run cursory checks, or they might contract w/ the Magnolia or Todd Mission PD to run all the checks on the law enforcement network. Probably only cost them a few grand that way.

[Laird Fraser of Lovatt]

*considering King George owns most of Todd Mission*

[ravic]

[RANT]

And of course the costs will be passed along to the consumers. I agree, we only have the lawyers to thank for this.

[/RANT]

Because of inflation, there is always going to be some higher expenses to the patrons. The patrons will not notice this expense at all. The cost to the vendors will only be a maximum of $35 more than in the past. Anything over that, I am certain it will be included in the 2012 booth fees.

[Rani Zemirah]

I bet food prices will go up this year, though... but not because of this.  Just because food goods have gone up everywhere, and the vendors won't be able to absorb the increase in costs that they will have without raising their prices. 


We will definitely be eating all of our meals back in the campgrounds this year... with maybe a single treat from inside each day.  Such a pity, to, because there is so much amazing food to be found in there! 

[ravic]

I understand they are having trouble holding the line on the cost of sticks. 

[Rani Zemirah]

Oh, no!!!  Might we have Stakeless Steaks this season?!?  Oh, the horror!!!   


Ah, well... one less piece of gristle to gnaw on.  Now, the chicken, on the other hand... well worth the cost of the stick, I assure you!!!  Mmmmm...