What would you want from ANY festival?

[Merlin the Elder]

I'd like to open a discussion here—not a pissing match—of things you feel would be beneficial to faires in general. Rather than call out your own (or other) faires and complain about them, what I think would be more constructive would be listing things that in your travels you might have had one place but not another.  If you've experienced the positive at a particular faire, you may mention them as an example, but no faire bashing allowed!

Having visited four different faires this year (so far), I've got a pretty good idea of some of the things I liked that may have varied from one to another:

• Shade...lots of shade! This was/is a murderous year for heat! There were acts I had to forgo because there was no shade. Sherwood has a considerable amount of shade, as does Oklahoma RF (Muskogee). Scarby has added some more shade netting which has helped a bunch.
• Act rotation: I realize we all hate to see our favourite acts not be at their regular spots, if they aren't performing at least some new material each season, they are going to get stale. Yes, there are some anchor acts, and that is perfectly acceptable if they are good enough, i.e., Don Juan & Miguel...I think they've done all but one year at Scarby? Always entertaining! Acts DO need to rotate. It's good for the acts as well as for the faires.
• Good paths: Mulch definitely makes it easier on the legs and feet. Hardpack will wear out the patrons a lot faster.
  Nice places to eat: I gotta say that finding a relatively fancy Italian restaurant on the grounds of Sherwood was a total mind-blower. It is a treat to have a sit-down restaurant at faire. Scarby's Rose & Crown is nice too...
• Ticket prices: From what I experienced this year, prices varied from hell-to-breakfast, and regardless of what the prices were, folks were not happy. I really don't understand that. I know that not everyone has unlimited resources, in fact, I know NO one with this "problem," especially this year. But do realize, this is entertainment...it is recreation, and as such, it is NOT absolutely required that you participate, albeit it is better for you if you do. You need this, and so do I.  But also keep in mind, that these are businesses, as much as we hate to hear that. For them to provide you with the acts you want to see, the food you want to eat, the facilities you want to use, they need your money. Whether or not they do a good job of utilizing their income, that is another issue.
  
• We're not campers, but faires with camping facilities have something extra going for them.

Let's face it: owners are going to want to minimize costs and maximize profits. Their main concern is the "bottom line." (At this point I will exclude one faire that I have attended, and you know who you are).

We rennies do not "make" the faires, but I would like to think that we help in that respect, and I know that we, for the most part, are positive advertisements for the faires. Consequently, faire management might want to take a serious look at what we consider minimum specs for a good faire.  Your CONSTRUCTIVE comments, please! If you have negative comments, please do NOT name the faire.

[Lady Toadflinger]

Merlin,
I agree with you about the shade. My favorite faires are set in trees, with lots of shade. I love our Valhalla Faire, set in a campground in South Lake Tahoe. Natural shade is best, but man-made shade also helps. I also agree with you about the entertainment rotating. Unfortunately, this doesn't happen much around here. The next thing that I really want at a faire is seating areas outside of the stage areas! This can be as simple as bales of straw scattered in shady places.  My number one favorite thing to do at faires is people-watch, and it is much more pleasant to sip a cool drink and sit while observing the crowd. (I like to see families, how they interact, and how they do or don't look alike) Next, I like to see new and different types of vendors. That will usually coax some disposable income out of me, thus helping the faire. (that's my story, anyway) That's about it!

[NoBill Lurker]

More clean privies that are in the shade, also would love to go to a Faire that has flushables...

[Delireus]

I love when there are huge trees providing shade. The first thing that really charmed me at my first faire, which was TRF, was the huge trees surrounded by a little stone bench, with blooming flowers on them. It is so beautiful! You can really tell there was a lot of thought put into which trees to not cut down or where to plant trees for the best shade.

I also love little sections of faire, such as at Muskogee, there little fairy children's section. So cute! The wooden bridges in the trees really made it special for me. And again, there was a ton of shade because of the trees! The gardens at TRF are also lovely. I don't know, it sound silly to say "I want the faire to be pretty" but thats all I can really think to say. Going along with the gardens at TRF and the childrens realm at OK, I love the bridges at scarby and KC renfest. They're just so...pretty!

Oh, one thing I have always wanted and never understood why none of the faires I go to have are mirrors! I won't name faires, like you said, but in the women's restroom, they had itty bitty mirrors that you could barely see your face in. In our garb, especially after maneuvering out of a tiny stall, we all know how hard it can be to get re-situated, and at least 1 full length mirror per bathroom would be good! I can't tell you how many times I've been saved by a kind soul who told me my skirt was tucked into my shorts underneath 

One thing I am upset with myself more than the faire is hidden lanes. I usually forget to look for this one lane at a faire I go to regularly that is literally hidden, depending on the way you're coming up on it. I have to make sure I go find it so I won't miss it, as unlike other faires where you can just wonder about and usually see everything. I don't want the lanes to be a tic-tac-toe pattern, but I'd like them to all be clear and open.

Have you ever heard of the game Rollercoaster Tycoon? You get to design your own theme park, and I feel like I'm kind of doing that!

[Butch]

Great topic!

Recommend a few things:

Faires sell multi-day tickets (weekend passes).
Faires establish a "Friends of the Faire" upgrade, similar to the one they do in St Louis.
Urinal troughs for the men.

[Delireus]

Faires establish a "Friends of the Faire" upgrade, similar to the one they do in St Louis.

Here here!

[Ms Trish]

Faires establish a "Friends of the Faire" upgrade, similar to the one they do in St Louis.

Here here!

For those of us not familiar with St Louis's faire, explain please?

[mehan]

As much help/expertise in getting people out of the parking lot as getting in. Never understood the 45 people parking cars and barely two directing traffic leaving. 

[Merlin the Elder]

You have a good point there, Mehan. I think everyone is about pooped out by day's end, but that would be exTREMELY helpful.

Trish, I'll let Butch explain the Friends of Faire as St Louis does it, but at Scarborough, it's a season's pass with extras: preferential parking, 10% discount at the faire-owned souvenir stands, a nice commemorative pin, access to FoF pavilions that serve water or Gatorade (no charge), an invite to a pre-faire rehearsal day which includes a meal, 2 comp tickets good for the first couple of weekends, and 2 comp tickets to Screams, which is Scarby made over as a Halloween theme park in October.  Bought early, the FoF passes are only $115 (or have been last couple of years) which I consider a good deal.  Each year, Scarborough unveils a new or refurbed facility that has an FoF dedication plaque.  Last years complete reconstruction of the Crown Stage was a real eye-popper.

[The Rabbi]

Much grattitude good Merlin as I am now in the midst of preparing the grounds for SoM. One thing I would like to see is more areas for the children as happy kids allow for parents to enjoy thier time and loosen thier walletts and purses. Shade is very important as getting overheated is a major concern of mine. More handcrafted items would be nice as I do not care to buy something at fair that can be purchased elsewhere at half the price. Seating is also nice as with two bad knees and hips it is nice to rest this wore out body and still enjoy the fair.While I admit I greatly enjoy stage acts I always enjoy the lane performers so much more it is the whole up close and personal aspect. i too enjoy the concept of a well balanced meal without leaving the grounds to do so dont get me wrong Funnel Cakes rock. And Thank you all i have allready benifitted from this as a full length mirror never entered my mind.

[Rogue Hidesmith]

I wish my home faire had an official FoF. There's a pretty active FoF community, but it's not officially associated with the faire. Thus, no perks (except being one of the cool kids )

[Rowan MacD]

   I would love to see a FoF organization here in Omaha.  It will happen one day!

   As far as faire itself (and it looks to be a recurring theme):  Every faire I have been to could use  much more random clean seating and a lot more shade outside of the stages and food courts.   If not trees, perhaps pretty shade pavillions?  Extra seating for the purpose of resting and people watching would give the Playtrons in fancy garb in particular, a safe place to get off their feet, display their outfits, and add ambiance to the grounds while staying clear of the folks who are eating, or trying to watch a show when seating is scarce.
  David an I have attended shows where we just wanted a place to sit and rest having already seen the act a few times.  Folks were left standing who would like to sit and watch and  I felt bad, but my feet were killing me, and there was no place else to sit other than the ground. 

[Magpie Flynn]

I agree with the act rotation. I don't mind seeing the same individuals, but when it gets to the point where I can recite the lines along with them year after year (especially when I only make it 1 or 2 weekends a season)? I tend to get bored and will pass up acts. I will say I absolutely love what Sherwood did with the storyline. It's something different each year with several different shows within the day. Brilliant idea on their part

Also agreeing with the full length mirrors! Very useful if you don't already have a friend or two in the bathroom with you to let you know if you're "all down" with no skirts tucked in undergarments

[Bahlien]

-An Official fair themed camp grounds, nearby fairs. Reasonably priced, reserved ahead of time (be jammed and a nightmare if not). Pre-pitched tents of renaissance-ish style. You know, the big canvas kind with the many different colors, and the drape-style doors. Could be set as a package deal, camping for a weekend includes tickets? No alcohol (rowdy partying- no one would ever get a good nights rest) and weapons to remain peace-tied. Fixed-raised fire pits, set for evening use only... that way no one leaves a fire unattended.  Just to keep it a family friendly environment.

- Drinking Water fountains(cleaner equivalent?). I know water is a precious and expensive resource anywhere you go, but it is also expensive to the patrons. $10-12 for a family to get bottled water that wont last them the whole stay. Especially on exceptionally hot days. Or at the least, don't prohibit people bringing their own water in. Not soda or Gatorade or anything else. Just water.  

-Description on tickets or with tickets that explains just what patrons are paying for to get in. All of the shows they can watch... Maybe even throw in a voucher or two for a free costume rental once in a while? Or a raffle of some kind for ticket stubs at the middle-end of the day.    

-Cobbled paths. Specifically on parts of the fairs ground that get the most traffic, and dare I say steps in certain area's of fairs with more steep/hilly terrain. Couldn't begin to count the number times I've seen children and adults a like take a spill on uneven terrain or slipping on grass/gravel.

[Merlin the Elder]

...More handcrafted items would be nice as I do not care to buy something at fair that can be purchased elsewhere at half the price...

As a faire owner, you have that control. Some faires have juried vendors, [partially] meaning that their wares must meet certain criteria, and usually (as I understand it) that includes being hand-crafted. You can make that part of your vendor contract. You can specify 100% hand-crafted or less if you wish, but it's your party, you can do what you want to (paraphrasing Leslie Gore).

The random seating that has been mentioned is very important. Seating is relatively cheap. The shade, at some faires, might be a little more problematic and/or expensive.

The issue of water... All the faires sell water. As a bona fide tree-hugger, it think it's nuts to issue that many plastic containers! If you have your own vessel, why can't it be dispensed from a large (returnable) jug for free, or minimal charge? (I heard that there was one spot at OkRF that would give you water if you had your own cup)  Knowing from personal experience that drinking tap water away from home can be...ahem...problematic, I cannot trust local water. Even at home, most of the water we drink is bottled, but we buy in 5-gallon returnables. Something to consider, faire owners.  You can make your good money on your ales and meads, but I've bought water at faires that cost a lot more than beer at my local taverns! It should not be that expensive! If you want to know the truth, that is pretty much the ONLY thing at faire that I will complain about the cost of.