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

[Glaodian]

I'm going to try to express an oposing view one last time.  Then I will just sadly shake my head in confusion.

It was a great marketing ploy that got TRF mentioned in many different venues.  However, I do not believe that anyone at TRF seriously thought someone would actually try and win the contest.  Maybe I am naive but people are generally not THAT stupid.

Lawsuits.  Anyone  who had been on this forum for long, knows my opinion of the legal profession, but the contract is between TRF and  the parents, not the child.  Children's rights are somewhat limited until they become of age.  If the child wants to sue, they should sue their parents, not TRF.  Alas the legal profession seems to go out of its way to reward stupidity.  And one of the biggest farces of all is their hallowed "DEEP POCKETS DOCTRINE"

Lastly, people have the right to be stupid and it is not our duty to constantly protect them from themselves.  Parents have the right to name their children whatever they want as long as fraud is not involved (no Bill Gates Jr.).  However they need to live with the consequences.  It is one of the joys of a free society.   I may not agree with them, but I will defend their rights to do so.  And that includes being stupid.

Maybe I am also being stupid so I shall get off the soapbox and let this be my last comment on the matter.

Very true Keeper.   

[The Rabbi]

Just my two cents: I have no idea or concept where such an idea could have been concieved as a good idea and have followed this thread for a time now. Those of us who respect and comprehend the sacredness of a name would never consider doing such a thing anyone who would will eventualy find something equally as stupid to do even without TRFs assistance. Publicity stunt whatever here are my final words of thought for TRF........It is impossable to cure stupidity please dont encourage its growth.

[Breandan]

Keeper, I am not saying they can't do this or that stupid people can't muck up their kids with names for their own amusement. I am saying that it was not the behaviour of a respectable business that prides itself on education and stepping away from the tawdry cares of the world to be a place of escape, and that they will be- and are being- judged by it. I am also saying that, in addition to the social backlash, there are very real legal ramifications that they failed to consider. If they didn't believe anyone would actually take them up on the offer, then that just increases the foolishness of this stunt. What attention it did gain TRF beyond those who were already going anyway is negligible, and in exchange they have alienated many of their die-hard dedicated patrons, playtrons and even employees. I guarantee you the income they will garner from this will be seriously offset by people like my family, who spend a LOT of money out at TRF, who are so put off by this behaviour and the direction they are going that we will be taking our money elsewhere. We've already purchased tickets for this year and made commitments for two weekends, but the remaining tickets are likely going to be sold or given away, depending on what Tiff decides to do with them, and we will most likely no longer be attending TRF. They've lost multiple customers with my family amounting to around $8-10,000 in ticket, campground and food sales alone (big family).

I get it that people out there from other cultures don't care about names. I also get that some people will defend TRF to their dying breath regardless of the egregious actions that pop up from time to time. My message is not to those people, as short of being set on fire by TRF management they will never even consider leaving the fair. My message is to Terre and others in charge, a message explaining that this is a bad idea, why, and giving solutions. There are plenty of people out there who are happy to vocalize support regardless of what management or marketing do, I am not one of them. They need to know when something comes across as being in poor taste rather than be surrounded by people blowing smoke up their keesters. The fact that they then doubled-down on the bad idea with poorly-scripted excuses likely written by one of those apologists that not only do not address the concerns raised, but are often insulting to the people who have a problem with this- just made a potentially salvageable situation spiral out of control into irreparable public relations damage. Quietly burying it after the backlash rather than come out and openly say "Okay, we screwed up, we thought this was a good idea but we did not take some factors into account. The contest is over, lesson learned" does precisely squat to solve it. Had they done that, they would've regained a lot of the respect they lost. There's still time to do so, but I'm not holding my breath. The behaviour thus far is indicative of a larger problem within the corporate environment, one which TRF does NOT need considering the many years of scandalous issues they have had ranging from the fraternal war between George and his brother to the armed seizure of food booth assets by George to the most recent front office scandals they've had causing the massive scorched-earth purge. Trust me, TRF desperately does not need yet another public relations black eye, no matter how small.

I love this faire, have been going here and working here for 23 years, but it has been going down a road I cannot follow for many years now. As I keep saying- and let me bold, highlight, and enlarge this to make DAMNED sure people get it...

IT IS THEIR RIGHT TO DO THIS... IT IS THE RIGHT OF THE PARENTS TO DO THIS...

It is, however, a bad idea added to a list of bad ideas that have come out of TRF in recent years.

[PyroMaster]

The major premise from each side of the argument has been repeated several times now. We get it. Let's move on.

M.

[Zardoz]

While I agree wholeheatedly that it's a dumb and tacky way to market anything, I think we need to realize who it's aimed at.  

I feel like very little of TRF's marketing is directed towards the die-hard dedicated patrons and playtrons that come every year. They are not worried that we are gonna forget about them during the summer and forget to go next year.  Their efforts are directed towards recruiting new patrons. Because they were one rainy day away from 500,000 last year, and the place really needs some more people packed into it!

This year I've seen or heard about TRF, (represented by some dedicated cast members, who are just doing their job) pimping the faire at two Sci-Fi cons, a beer festival, music festivals, ball games, some bar in Kemah, something at the shooting range near my house, a winery, and a couple movie openings. And I'm sure some other stuff too...

I feel safe saying that I believe these efforts are not directed at current patrons, but are primarily an effort to recruit shiny new ones. Fresh ticket buyers to be part of the mundane, bud-lite drinking, screaming kid hearding crowd of 38,000 the rest of us will be shouldering through by afternoon on most Saturdays.

All that and no Circa Paleo, see ya'll at Sherwood Faire

[scarletnyx]

While I agree wholeheatedly that it's a dumb and tacky way to market anything, I think we need to realize who it's aimed at.  

I feel like very little of TRF's marketing is directed towards the die-hard dedicated patrons and playtrons that come every year. They are not worried that we are gonna forget about them during the summer and forget to go next year.  Their efforts are directed towards recruiting new patrons. Because they were one rainy day away from 500,000 last year, and the place really needs some more people packed into it!

This year I've seen or heard about TRF, (represented by some dedicated cast members, who are just doing their job) pimping the faire at two Sci-Fi cons, a beer festival, music festivals, ball games, some bar in Kemah, something at the shooting range near my house, a winery, and a couple movie openings. And I'm sure some other stuff too...

I feel safe saying that I believe these efforts are not directed at current patrons, but are primarily an effort to recruit shiny new ones. Fresh ticket buyers to be part of the mundane, bud-lite drinking, screaming kid hearding crowd of 38,000 the rest of us will be shouldering through by afternoon on most Saturdays.

All that and no Circa Paleo, see ya'll at Sherwood Faire

Real quick sidenote here; is it official that Circa Paleo will NOT be at TRF or is it just a ren-rumor if you will? That would make me sad, but hopeful that they have a group that can expand my musical horizons if you will.

[RenStarr]

Looking at Circa Paleo's web site, looks like the the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire has them booked for almost 3 months
(8/4 - 10/28).  That's a long run for a faire.  The band may have simply went for the 3 month contract at the Penn Faire instead of the 2 month contract at TRF. 

Here's a link:   http://www.circapaleo.com/calendar/

[Zardoz]

I really like Circa Paleo, so I wouldn't joke or rumor about that.
To be honest, I don't know if the band just went for the Penn faire deal over TRF, or if TRF made them an inadequate offer, or didn't try to keep them etc.. I think it's a shame that the largest faire in the country couldn't  book one of the most popular acts from their faire, and indeed in the faire world.

Really though, I'll get other chances to see them, but this is just one more straw in the camels back that is me and TRF for the last few years. The prices, the crowding, the acts I like leaving, the relentless and sometimes tacky promotion, are all part of my problem with the whole thing.  

 

[DancingDogDairy]

Right now, I'm on bed rest trying to save a high-risk pregnancy that I don't think there is any way we are going to be able to save. I think it is safe to say that I could not possibly be more emotional about babies right now.

I still am not able to get myself all angry about this contest.

I agree that names are sacred. If God intervenes and saves this pregnancy, I will not be naming this baby for the festival, but for my father who I miss more and more each day.

Even so, I can still imagine a different kind of person wanting to give their child a name that honors the place that has held so much meaning to us all. I can just picture the parents staying up and looking for ways to incorporate the festival, maybe in a mother language, maybe in symbolism into their unborn child's name.

I wouldn't enter, but it does not make someone who does uneducated and a drinker of cheap, nasty beer.

I understand why people are disappointed in the direction the festival has taken. Having spent my childhood there, I understand longing for those early years, but no one could make that stay, or bring that back. It just isn't possible.

Yes, everything is bigger and more crowded, but the magic is still there. There is magic in the music and the trees and the unbelievably big HEARTS of the people who work there.

We each have a choice to either be angry about what has changed, or to open ourselves up to the magic. It is still there, we just have to choose to let it in and embrace it.

I can not wait to see all of you again and start celebrating another incredible season on the grounds that we all love.

[eldatari]

Very well said, I couldn't agree more.

[Lady Laura]

I couldn't agree more DancingDogDairy.  And my heart and prayers goes out to you and your child.

[LibraryPrincess]

I really like Circa Paleo, so I wouldn't joke or rumor about that.
To be honest, I don't know if the band just went for the Penn faire deal over TRF, or if TRF made them an inadequate offer, or didn't try to keep them etc.. I think it's a shame that the largest faire in the country couldn't  book one of the most popular acts from their faire, and indeed in the faire world.

Really though, I'll get other chances to see them, but this is just one more straw in the camels back that is me and TRF for the last few years. The prices, the crowding, the acts I like leaving, the relentless and sometimes tacky promotion, are all part of my problem with the whole thing.  

 

Circa Paleo won't be at TRF this season; they just couldn't afford to do it. They were hardly breaking even as it was with their performance location all the way at the back of the faire. I understand if the faire can't afford to pay them more, but even a better stage location could have boosted CD sales. I'm disappointed that TRF (seemingly) didn't try too hard to keep them. But that just makes Sherwood Forest Faire that much nearer and dearer to my heart.

[Autumn Blaize]

I have not heard any more about this. Did they drop the contest or did someone win?

[Hector_]

I have not heard any more about this. Did they drop the contest or did someone win?

LoL!!  Neither, but as far as I heard, they (TRF) don't talk about it either.

[Breandan]

I don't think they expected the controversy it caused- again, poor marketing research of their target market- and quietly shoved it under the rug as a result.