What I learned at CRF this weekend:

[Malkavian]

1) The Gambrinus Cup winner this year is REALLY good

2) VIP Parking is the ONLY way to fly.

[Lady Mikayla of Phoenicia]

I fully agree with you on the VIP parking!

[JimF]

I fully agree with you on the VIP parking!

I don't know. Except for the slightly longer walk, regular parking isn't too bad if you get there early enough. And why would anyone come later than opening time? 

[will paisley]

I fully agree with you on the VIP parking!

I don't know. Except for the slightly longer walk, regular parking isn't too bad if you get there early enough. And why would anyone come later than opening time? 

You know, that statement got me to thinking.  When attending my home faire (MDRF) I almost always make it within half an hour of gate.  Part of that is to get set up at the White Hart, and part is to socialize and grab breakfast.  I use to try to make gate to see the opening show, but I really don't care much about that any more because I can never hear it for all the talking by the crowd.

When I go to PARF or CRF, all I'm concerned with is getting there before the first show.  PARF doesn't start their shows until 11:30 or noon, so I'm in no hurry to make their gate.  I'm not even aware of CRF even having an opening gate show.  I'm not sure how much I'd be interested in it, as their royalty are entirely fictional (though I can never pass up inflicting some sheep-related pun on Tom, as he played a sheep baron up at VARF one year).  My wife and I have tried socializing with the rennies at PARF, without much success. (I didn't find out about the PAFaireNetters until after MDRF started, so hopefully that will be remedied on our next visit). While we both know quite a few of the CRF community (and will meet with them, as we usually attend on IWG/A.F.R. invasion weekend), there aren't really any good places to meet up at faire, as there's no place to sit and drink besides the show seating and the food seating full of families. AFAIK, the standard gathering place at CRF (at least guild-wise) is in front of the Dragon and Unicorn, but there's only so much standing I can do before I have to sit down somewhere.  Breakfast is free at the hotel, so I'm not in a hurry to get there for that reason.  All in all, I'm not that motivated to make gate at the other faires I normally travel to.

[shirefriar]

I fully agree with you on the VIP parking!

I'm not even aware of CRF even having an opening gate show.  I'm not sure how much I'd be interested in it, as their royalty are entirely fictional (though I can never pass up inflicting some sheep-related pun on Tom, as he played a sheep baron up at VARF one year). 

CRF does have an opening gate show around 10am with their Lord Mayor who will bore you to death. They actually play the Johnny Carson Theme song as he enters, dear God! The Royals are always fun though and the King is exceptionally good.

Now this part is weird and I'm not sure why they planned it this way. There is a pre-gate show with the Nottingham Players starting around 9:30am and it's totally fantastic, upbeat, comedy, slapstick, and a great song or two with their whimsical characters. This show was cleary written by a very different individual outside of the CRF, perhaps even by the Nottingham director himself.

This first pre-shows gets you pumped up for more fun, and then the follwing show with the mayor falls totally flat and leaves you debating whether to even go through the gate or not 

I would have switched the two around so as to build up, not build down.

[Malkavian]

seeing the Players hijack the mayor's bit would be fun  I didn't realize the pregate stuff started that early, quarter or 10 till cannon is as early as I've managed to show up so far.

I can sympathize with the other comments; there seem to be some things at CRF that have definitely lost their momentum having been repeated a few years.



Another Thing I Learned at CRF:  Careful what trees you lean up against, resin in one's hair is not pleasant.

[will paisley]

CRF does have an opening gate show around 10am with their Lord Mayor who will bore you to death. They actually play the Johnny Carson Theme song as he enters, dear God! The Royals are always fun though and the King is exceptionally good.

Now this part is weird and I'm not sure why they planned it this way. There is a pre-gate show with the Nottingham Players starting around 9:30am and it's totally fantastic, upbeat, comedy, slapstick, and a great song or two with their whimsical characters. This show was clearly written by a very different individual outside of the CRF, perhaps even by the Nottingham director himself.

This first pre-shows gets you pumped up for more fun, and then the follwing show with the mayor falls totally flat and leaves you debating whether to even go through the gate or not 

I would have switched the two around so as to build up, not build down.

Doesn't sound like it was planned at all - sounds more like the faire wrote the Lord Mayor bit and the entertainment director put the Nottingham Playersin to give the early birds something to watch (or for that matter, the Nottingham Players may have seen a bunch of people milling around waiting for the gate show and simply stepped in).  The Tonight Show theme doesn't surprise me at all; after all, the king and queen are imaginary (ie, not historical) and the royal fanfare is (or at least used to be) the tune from Drunken Sailor.  The faire very obviously doesn't take itself too seriously, and as long as I know that in advance, I'm fine with it.  Concur about the King being exceptionally good - I had the opportunity to work with Tom for a short while at VARF and he was tremendous.

Hearing about the nature/quality of the gate show has started me thinking about the importance of plot again.  In that thread, I was of the opinion that Joe Turkey Leg Patron couldn't care less about the plot and probably had no idea there is one.  As you were describing the boredom of the gate show, I wondered if part of the problem is that it doesn't tie in with any storyline running through the day at faire.  Then again, that may be my conditioning from MDRF and VARF.

[RatherUnwieldly]

The Nottingham players pre-gate show was indeed written by their director (who plays Willoby the chicken thief to anyone who is familiar in the slightest with the show..). Its an attempt to inject something new into the faire, which I've observed in the years I've been attending (this being my first year as a cast member) ,  relies heavily on its own traditions.

[Malkavian]

The Nottingham players pre-gate show was indeed written by their director (who plays Willoby the chicken thief to anyone who is familiar in the slightest with the show..). Its an attempt to inject something new into the faire, which I've observed in the years I've been attending (this being my first year as a cast member) ,  relies heavily on its own traditions.

That last bit, tactfully put

I would call it a bit of comedic genius all on its own that their director plays the character he does.

Could be completely off base on my part, but it would seem to me that having more "in character" stage entertainment such as the Players is vital to making Joe Turkey Leg care more about the plot; otherwise people will keep looking at it as a state fair with some intermittent people who "dress up"

[shirefriar]

Doesn't sound like it was planned at all - sounds more like the faire wrote the Lord Mayor bit and the entertainment director put the Nottingham Playersin to give the early birds something to watch (or for that matter, the Nottingham Players may have seen a bunch of people milling around waiting for the gate show and simply stepped in).  The Tonight Show theme doesn't surprise me at all; after all, the king and queen are imaginary (ie, not historical) and the royal fanfare is (or at least used to be) the tune from Drunken Sailor.  The faire very obviously doesn't take itself too seriously, and as long as I know that in advance, I'm fine with it.  Concur about the King being exceptionally good - I had the opportunity to work with Tom for a short while at VARF and he was tremendous.

I wield to RatherUnwieldly who might know more, but I think you're right. The Nottingham Players director must have clearly written the first show which is fresh and very funny. Something to note: they have a different show for each morning gate, very commendable. The fair would have been smart to just let the same dude rewrite the rest for them. I spoke to a lady at the front gate named Debbie who said how frustrating it was because the Players, who write/sing a good deal of music for the faire, had written some special tunes just for the gateshow and the band wouldn't play for them. They couldn't get any cooperation from the entertainment director either. Yet they play that Tonight Show music instead. What a waste. RatherUnwieldly said it best: they stick to their own traditions. Like most fairs and cliques, they probably don't like others with such talent comming in with better ideas.

Hearing about the nature/quality of the gate show has started me thinking about the importance of plot again.  In that thread, I was of the opinion that Joe Turkey Leg Patron couldn't care less about the plot and probably had no idea there is one.  As you were describing the boredom of the gate show, I wondered if part of the problem is that it doesn't tie in with any storyline running through the day at faire.  Then again, that may be my conditioning from MDRF and VARF.

I feel you're right on the money. The Players tie in a storyline about shoe thieves which carries over to their shows and also with their appearances with the King and Queen, which are nothing short of genious sometimes. They broke into a hilarious song about the Queen having a wooden leg. Part of this success is Tom's quick wit as well as the Queens. They obviously all love playing off one another. It's the only storyline going. Joe Turkeyleg may not grasp it, but they sure laugh at it.

[shirefriar]

I would call it a bit of comedic genius all on its own that their director plays the character he does.

Having seen this funny chicken thief entertain as he does, I would totally agree. He has a bag of tricks that they really need to teach others.

[Malkavian]

They couldn't get any cooperation from the entertainment director either. Yet they play that Tonight Show music instead. What a waste. RatherUnwieldly said it best: they stick to their own traditions. Like most fairs and cliques, they probably don't like others with such talent comming in with better ideas.

That's sortof a shame. I've resolved to give some detailed feedback (which will undoubtedly be ignored but I feel like i ought to anyway) at the end of the season in which that iwll probably be mentioned. 

Having gone for four years now, I suspect a good deal of it is also a "it's not broke, so why change it" mentality in that the faire as it is satisfies the vast majority of patrons, so there's not a compelling reason to change things up.

I hope that attitude doesn't drive away the Players next year, it will be a major loss.

[RatherUnwieldly]

Wow, I've been forward this forum as well as the one specifically about the show to the Nottingham director and we and the rest of the players want to extend our gratitude to you all for the interest and support   

Out of curiosity, ShireFriar and Malkavian, how could I identify you this weekend at faire, Willoby and myself as well as the rest of the Nottingham cast would very much like to know who's been speaking so highly of us..

[Malkavian]

If you happen to remember the twentysomething guy with glasses early sunday, with the camera glued to his face  uh yeah hi

I could dig up a photo of myself if that would help

[RatherUnwieldly]

haha, I think I remember you! Dark hair?