A New Low for TRF- Tacky "Name Your Baby" Marketing Ploy

[Terre Albert]

Seems I missed a lot!

I'm sorry you feel this way about this contest.  We feel we have some of the most loyal, dedicated fans in the world.  Many people have told us stories about what the festival means to them and other have told us their child is named Tex or Ren or a combination of the two in honor of the festival. 

While the contest isn't for everyone and it was thought to be a fun expression without any permanent consequences.  Many people name their children after something they care about, Bow Hunter, Cannon Ball, Blue Ivy, Apple and other give their children names with hidden meaning.  We believe that someone cares about the festival and it has enough meaning that they would do the same, we are just rewarding them.

A name is nothing permanent.  If a couple names their child Terre Jonathon Texas Renaissance Albert and accepts the prize they can change or delete our name at any time.  We will not take back the $1,000 savings bond or charge them for any seasons they have already attended.  It may not be an easy process but it is still an option.

Our fans are fun loving tolerant people who don't take life serious.  I hope you understand that and this contest was meant to allow them the chance to have fun.

We may not have any takers but we have had support from our fans and as far as Marketing we have generated a buzz.  We also have the right to choose our winner so we won't just pick the first person to walk thru the door.  We will agree as a group if they should be allowed to use the name.  And that could be no one! 

I respect everyone opinion and their right to it.

Again this is for fun, we researched and realized we would receive some negative feedback but at the end of the day I would never have thought I would turn people against the festival. 

I also beleive people have a right to voice their opinions and should in the proper place.  A public sight (facebook) with all ages welcome is not that place and we will monitor and delete comments that are not welcomed or in bad taste.  You can always e-mail me direct at talbert@texrenfest.com. 

[Chris B]

Our fans are fun loving tolerant people who don't take life serious.  I hope you understand that and this contest was meant to allow them the chance to have fun. 

This is an overly simplistic view of your patron base and your target market.  It is almost patronizing to be honest.  Are the 450,000 people who attended TRF last year a homogenous base in your mind?  Not even the people on this forum are homogenous.  We all attend renaissance fairs and enjoy them for completely different and various reasons.  We come from different ethnic, social, education, work, religious, and political backgrounds.  I do not think you truly understand your market if that is really what you think.

I also beleive people have a right to voice their opinions and should in the proper place.  A public sight (facebook) with all ages welcome is not that place and we will monitor and delete comments that are not welcomed or in bad taste.  You can always e-mail me direct at talbert@texrenfest.com.

People have a right to express their view in any forum available to them.  You made the decision to market this contest in an open forum, and they have a right to respond.  You make comments in an open forum and should expect that they will be discussed in that same forum.  It is very convenient that when people have a problem with decisions made by this festival; threads, comments and opinions magically disappear even when they are supported by facts, are professional, and do not violate any terms of the respective website.  Ignoring people's remarks, responding with overly generalized feel-good comments, and ignoring anything you cannot respond to in a logical or sufficient manner does not make those concerns go away.  Many of us were on these forums long before you ever decided to join.  I personally have a problem with you using these forums as a tool for you to drum up business for your establishment if people are not allowed to equally voice their own dissenting views.  This is not a marketing site for the fair. 

[Terre Albert]

Don't feel that it is a marketing voice for TRF.

Would you rather I leave and then you can discuss and make-up what every you wish?  Similar to your comments below: 

Poor treatment of performers, dishonesty, lack of respect or loyalty for anyone working for you, increasing fees charged to food vendors per ticket without any real potential to offest this with higher revenue to those same vendors, rapidly expanding an infrastructure by either assuming more debt or eating up your retained earnings the years after a major fraud is discovered in the front office, lengthening hours of operation that will increase expenses for all involved with little potential of increased revenue for anyone other than TRF itself, forcing employees to work longer hours without further compensation due to those same longer hours, increasing risks for liability/injury to patrons and workers from traffic accidents due to fatigue, intoxication, etc. also due to longer hours of operation are some examples of poor decisions being made by current management.    Remember, there is a lot more to running a company than marketing and seeking sponsors for your festival.

It's easy to make these comments without any way to back them up. 

[Chris B]

No.  I actually would prefer open dialogue between adults on a forum.  I am entitled to my views, but I also respect your right to express yours.  

As far as the paragraph you quoted, my comments are based on firsthand experience as a performer, countless discussions with vendors, other performers in and outside the performance company, discussions with prior employees of the fair, and personal observation.  My opinion that there are numerous things that are wrong with how the fair is run is based on 15 years of business experience to include time as a consultant for two large multinational accounting firms, a BBA in accounting from Texas A&M, an MBA from UTEP, time spent in the US government, my certification as a CPA and a CFE, experience in litigation and expert witness consulting in law suits such as the lawsuits against Andersen for the Enron audits, and other life experience.  I stated them as opinions and you are free to choose whatever you want to do in your role based off of your own credentials.  I just happen to be one that does not agree.  

[Terre Albert]

I believe you are very qualified to voice your opinions about TRF.  We have discussed this before.  I welcome them!

[Morrigan]

@ChrisB - As you made free to use me as an example, it seems, of the poor treatment that "ex-employees" receive, please allow me to speak for myself on this matter.  Just to be clear, since I made known my decision not to return to cast this year (which was, for the record, a decision having more to do with NON-fair issues than anything else), my experiences with TRF and it's management have NOT been, by and large, negative.   I have not been made to feel unwelcome to return (quite the opposite, actually!), and I have not had negative or exclusionary responses to the feedback that I have provided up until now.

I also have to convey that, for the most part, the feedback I have heard from vendors, performer, and playtrons has actually reflected a POSITIVE response to new management... so the negative opinions you are stating may be valid, but they also seem to be representative of opinions of a minority.

THAT BEING SAID...

Terre, I understand and appreciate why my and other negative feedback was removed from the FB page.   Yes, it is "public", but it is the right of any entity on FB to control the content of their pages, when that page is a marketing tool, it would be foolish for a business to NOT exercise that right.   My outrage got the better of me, I posted a very negative opinion, and am not surprised that it was removed.

This is not to say that my opinion has changed.  I am still appalled, as are quite a few other people who call TRF home (unfortunately, most of the people that I know who share my views on this are still employed at the fair, and are thus not in a position to freely voice their opinions).   Yes, the public response to this has been mostly positive.   My argument was NEVER whether or not TRF would get a positive or negative response.  It is no surprise that there are PLENTY of stupid people out there; TV shows like Jerry Springer and Maury Povich bank on that fact.    My point is this:  with this contest/PR stunt, TRF is actively promoting something that has the potential to have long-lasting negative consequences to a CHILD.   This, from a business that has worked very hard to promote itself as "family friendly".

And thus far, your defenses of this have hinged on 2 points:
1)  Citing instances where children have been given unusual names before - Ok, fair enough.  But there is a HUGE difference between naming a child something unique (but still obviously a NAME), and naming a child something that is OBVIOUSLY a commercial ploy.    Yes, people have participated in naming contests like this before.  Yes, people have named children after sports teams.   But does THAT negate the fact that doing so can have negative consequences that can follow a child into adulthood?  No, it doesn't.     Defending TRF's encouragement of poor parenting choices by pointing out that other parents have made a similar poor choice is just asinine.
2)  You can always change the kid's name - Yes, you can.   But the whole selling point of the contest is "Lifetime passes".  The reality is, "passes for however long you allow your child to carry this burden".   And if said child has to wait until age 18 to change the name on their own, how much of that $1000 bond is going to be eaten up by that process?   Even all that aside... you are defending the legitimacy and "rightness" of this contest by promoting WITHDRAWING from it and relinquishing the prizes... essentially, promoting violating the spirit of the contest in the first place.  And like the first defense, it's just asinine.

I'll give your marketing team this:   From a marketing standpoint, as a PR stunt, it was successful.  It got people talking about it, that's for sure.   And it may end up drumming up attention and business.   But that doesn't make it RIGHT.   And I know this is a strong opinion, but for the first time EVER, I am actually ASHAMED of TRF for trying to say that it is.

I'm very interested to see what kind of response/backlash might come if someone actually DOES win and name their child "Texas Renaissance", and whether TRF will promote it when they do.   I imagine that those parents might want to gird their loins if they are "outed"... I suspect that there might be a negative response to them giving their child a "non-name" for what is essentially monetary gain.

[Chris B]

To clarify, I only mentioned your name with the intention of it being in response to comments being removed; hence, mentioning your name in a separate paragraph.  I did not imply agreement with my comments above or intend to imply such.  I could have worded that a little more clearly on a second read.

As far as my comments being a minority...I disagree.  I have talked to countless other independent acts and they voiced these opinions without any provocation on my own part.  I would tend to believe in the independent performers circle, positive views are slightly the minority.

Another comment I would make is that you say people still working within performance company "cannot voice their opinion".  That is a major problem.  Management 101 would tell anyone in a leadership position that employees should feel comfortable voicing concerns or disagreement in a professional manner with superiors.  That is a constant in business and not open to opinion.  Not any textbook, professor or business advisor would say otherwise.

[Terre Albert]

Thanks Morrigan.  I respect you opinion on this matter.  Thanks for taking the time to reply. 

[Morrigan]

Another comment I would make is that you say people still working within performance company "cannot voice their opinion".  That is a major problem.  Management 101 would tell anyone in a leadership position that employees should feel comfortable voicing concerns or disagreement in a profession manner with superiors.  That is a constant in business and not open to opinion.  Not any textbook, professor or business advisor would say otherwise.

You misunderstand.   Had I been still employed by TRF, I would not have hesitated to express my opinion to "my superiors".   Terre has made himself very open and available to feedback from everyone associated with TRF.   However, as someone who would potentially be representing TRF at promos, on FB, and during performances, I would have hesitated to PUBLICLY express those objections.  Even so, I still strongly hesitated to do so in this instance, simply because I recognize that with my long tenure out at TRF, my speaking out had the potential to reflect badly on others.   As I said, my outrage got the best of me.

[Terre Albert]

An opinion different from that of the office is completely acceptable.  Voicing them in a constructive way is also welcomed.

[Rowan MacD]

  *rant*  I hate contests like these on general principle. It's immoral and disgusting to encourage morons to do stupid or debasing stuff simply because they will.  It's like throwing food in the dirt because you think it will be amusing to watch a starving person scrabble after it.

   I dub thee-'Jackass-The Contest'.

Step right up and expose yourself and your newborn to ridicule, sow doubt about your parenting skills and show the world that you will do anything for....what? 
   A Saving Bond? Free tickets?   

   You say it's all in fun, maybe even that nobody could be stupid enough to take you up on it, or even that you can't be blamed if someone does?  Think again.   
   
  Remember that radio contest where the Mom killed herself drinking water to win an Xbox for her kid?  They are still living it down.
  Some folks need to be saved from themselves.  In this case, an innocent baby.  *end rant*



 
     That said:  In the spirit of 'constructive criticism' , might I suggest a modification to the contest?

     Perhaps a 'name your pet' or 'most elaborate henna (or real) tattoo featuring the name and logo of the faire', or even a 'Paint your car with faire scenes' (that one makes sense from an advertising perspective).

    Involving an innocent kid in the name of whatever-the-purpose-this-serves is, is not funny in the least, definitely not cute, and has long term ramifications beyond the immediate gratification of whomever thought this up. 
     
 
   

[Terre Albert]

Good Idea, maybe we can alter the contest in order to declare a winner with less impact to the babies of the world. 

[Rowan MacD]

  It is a face-saving suggestion. 
  It's out there, for better or worse, and like the curse of the fairy godmother-while you can't make it go away; but it is within your power make it much less harmful and actually fun.

  Suggestions?
 
   I personally like the paint, decorate (or wrap) your car/van/RV with promotional media for a rolling advertisement.
   A radio station here did something similar.  The winner covered his entire car with bumper stickers and lights. 

[Dracconia]

I believe names are sacred. They hold meaning and in many ways shape who we are as we grow older. I was given a very meaningful name by my mother and I strive to live up to it. I believe that naming anything should be done with extreme care but especially a child, and I don't think that changing names is as easy as you make it sound. Perhaps, legally it is easy, but there is so much more to the changing of a name.

I truly believe that this contest is in poor taste for several reasons and there are so many ways to perhaps modify it. TRF is set during the King Henry VIII's reign, perhaps you should utilize the historical aspect of the faire and reward those who incorporate a historical character into their child's name?

I do not think any malice was meant, and it is the right of anyone to name their child/promote their business in such a manner. I merely thought that TRF was above such...cheap advertisements or perhaps juvenile is the right word...it somehow seems below the faire imho.

[Breandan]

Terre, Drac hit upon something I pointed out the day I discovered this- TRF is a business, yes, but it also prides itself on being (at least nominally) and educational business. I would have no problem with the contest advocating naming a child after a key renaissance-era historical figure as it is A) within the norm of names, and less likely to cause stigma, B ) lends itself- however tenuously- to an educational purpose, and C) is just flat less tacky than naming someone after a business or product.

Additionally, as I pointed out in a reply to the argument that the parents can always change the name on the TRF FB (which was removed), it is neither a simple nor cheap task. Between having to file numerous forms with several agencies ranging from the county clerk to the IRS, paying fees to each as well as to notaries, there is also an unforeseen consequence for the child if they wind up in the military or working for the government later in life. My surname was changed to my mother's maiden name as a resort of a very messy divorce when I was young, and when I went through my background checks and interviews for my security clearance it cropped up, causing delays and other problems that caused me to be unable to get my job slot for six months while they vetted the documents and verified them with the court in which they had been changed. Considering the intervening years, this took time. Imagine a kid getting such a name change around, say, three years of age. Fast forward 17 years to said child now enlisting into military intelligence or another position requiring TS-SCI clearance. They may well lose jobs or slots due to the delay this will cause, and could be denied clearance because the interviewer and OPM determine that the parents' decision to name their child after a business reflects poor judgement and a willingness to compromise basic principles for personal gain, which would then lend suspicion that the applicant's upbringing has influenced them in a similar manner and makes them a potential security risk. I have seen it happen before, where relatively inconsequential actions on the part of the parents (compared to criminal acts) cost some of my coworkers top-tier clearance for that very reason. I've worked in vetting for a PMC before, and know well how psychotically picky the Dept. of State can be.

All of that aside, in the end you have potentially lost some dedicated people over this due to how... well, speaking bluntly, how debase and crude this sort of contest is. I expect this sort of juvenile contest from beer companies, The Buzz, or Howard Stern, but I held TRF to a far, far higher standard than that, and was- frankly- shocked when I saw this. My wife's first words were "Someone at TRF has lost their everloving mind... look at this and tell me if you think they're out of their gourd". I agreed with her, and I say unto you, as the GM, this was a  V E R Y  bad idea, and doubling-down on it is even worse. It's your right to do it, but it is a mistake in the opinions of many of your loyal customers, the ones who pay out the nose to come several weekends a year and do the King's Feast as opposed to the boobies-n-beer types this appeals to, who maybe come out one or two days a year. Again, I expected better. You've been offered alternatives, so you have options. I will wait to see what you do with them to determine what we do.