**This thread is not meant as a faire bashing thread**
Now that this has been stated, what makes you not want to go back to a faire or event? What makes you decide that you are no longer inclined to return?
Once you've decided you have had a bad experince how can the establishment win you back?
Rude, impatient gate cast who give you the impression they don't want to be there, you are just another person interrupting their oh, so important gossip session with the person at the next ticket window, and then are openly impatient if you ask them a question
Example: *barely concealed eye roll* - "You can get a program inside the gate...Next!"
The same thing goes for cast member inside the faire.
Gossip and hooking up with one of the shoppe wenches can be done on your time; your job is to schmooze the paying customers.
If it takes 3 times before the lady with the daughter dressed as a princess can peal your attention away for a photo op, then you are not doing your job.
A rude cashier... If I'm going to spend my time looking for what I need then spend the money on it, I would hope the cashier would act like they care.
Not enough ambiance, and/or too much distraction. If I am going to be at a Ren faire, I want it to feel somewhat like being at a market during the Renaissance. Medieval faire (i.e., Sherwood), same thing.
Distraction comes in the form of too many totally out-of-place characters (storm-troopers and the like), though I can ignore a couple if they don't get in my way. I find the interruption of ambiance in overtly modern things, like advertising kiosks, or asphalt paving inside the faire.
Faires that are difficult to navigate because of a poor layout or very narrow lanes will stop me from returning.
I have to say that some of the things I read here help me decide where I want to go and where I want to avoid. I do not use a single complaint to form my opinion, but will use the descriptions from many.
We have been lucky in that we have never had a bad run-in with any faire personnel.
Rude shop people who tell young ladies they cannot try something on because they cannot afford it. This is always at the lesser expensive shops. That's when I tell our young lady we're through window shopping and we'll go back to Moresco or Sandlars where she can spend her money on a new whatever.
Places overrun by drunks.
Hawkers that stop traffic and literally try to prevent me from walking away. At my age I've got that drop dead voice "Remove ... Your ... Hand" line down so that people from 20 feet away turn to look at the fool who tried to grab my arm to keep me from leaving.
Come to think of it, most of the things that would cause me to forgo a specific are the same things that make me avoid other types of events.
Impolite mundane patrons who gawk at or make fun of patrons in garb is the number one faire turn-off for me. I've experienced this a few times at a faire in Texas and it makes the atmosphere less friendly. Also, faire's that don't have camping. Camping is such a fun part of the faire experience! Besides, I'd rather spend the extra money I waste on a motel inside the faire!
Here's a short list of things that leave me disappointed:
Too many (as Merlin stated) "out of place characters".
People walking around talking on a cell phone and making no attempt to be discrete.
Any modern advertisement signs (ie Bud Light signs) in the pubs. If you can't tell what your brew options are by looking at the tap handles, you probably don't need to be drinking any more anyways.
The cost of ice. I don't mind paying for a cup of ice, but $1 for approx 8 oz's of ice is just too much.
Rock climbing walls and bungie jumping whatever their called. >:(. I get why they are there ($$$$). But I don't have to like it.
Rude drunk people. Happy drunks, who doesn't like to laugh with and sometimes at a happy drunk. But a drunk rude person just kills what might have been a good time.
The cell phone thing is everywhere, not just at faire. I am so tired of dodging people who are texting and either walking or driving, paying NO attention to what is around them. I'm tired of trying to hold a conversation with someone and be interrupted by their cell ringing, and them picking up. Put the freaking things down and talk face-to-face with someone! </rant>
Thank goodness we've never visited anywhere that we had to payfor ice. I certainly would not pay more than a quarter to 50 cents. I usually ask for a cup full when I get a bottle of soda. Luckily, I haven't had a vendor turn me down yet.
My pet peeve is bottled water. It does not cost even 1/2 what a case of soft drinks does, and thus should not be sold for the same price as the same size bottle of soda. Gouging folks for something as necessary as water, especially if the venue has NO other sources for hydration is just wrong on a number of levels.
Cell phone etiquette (no matter where you see them) is deplorable. Common manners seem to desert folks when the phone rings.
If you are with someone at dinner (and you have neglected to turn off your phone) you should apologize and ask permission to answer it.
If you need to have it on at all times, then it is only polite to inform your dinner guests that you have to keep your phone on, preferably why, and take the call in another room if you get one.
You should never take a call, much less read or answer texts when you are supposed to be giving your attention to someone or something else. Period. That is just rude, and frequently dangerous.
If you are at faire, and in garb, the same rules should apply as if you were in a theater or church. Turn OFF the phone, or leave it on mute if you must.
You can check your calls/texts/twitters when you are alone. Never in public.
I don't get rock climbing walls either, but I suppose it makes about as much sense as the high striker carnival strongman game that is at nearly every Faire now. I don't think those were invented until around the late 1800's.
Heck, I've even seen a Madam Mysterio gypsy fortune telling machine set up at one faire. :o
Quote from: ladybriony on November 22, 2013, 04:17:49 PM
Impolite mundane patrons who gawk at or make fun of patrons in garb is the number one faire turn-off for me. I've experienced this a few times at a faire in Texas and it makes the atmosphere less friendly.
And if the people they are making fun of are inclined to drink and are portraying a tough guy character-things could get hostile.
Sometimes its hard to tell if the person you are snarking at is an employee or a Playtron.
Any Faire that does not welcome playtrons.
Quote from: Norfolk on November 23, 2013, 10:23:59 PM
Any Faire that does not welcome playtrons.
Does that really exist? Sad...
Quote from: theChuck on November 24, 2013, 12:09:05 PM
Quote from: Norfolk on November 23, 2013, 10:23:59 PM
Any Faire that does not welcome playtrons.
Does that really exist? Sad...
I've seen some that will politely request that you don't try to portray royalty so as to eliminate some confusion, but to disourage the whole thing? Wow, that takes away too much of the expereince, for the playtrons and paytrons alike. Kind of destroys the whole purpose behind garb merchants too.
Quote from: Norfolk on November 23, 2013, 10:23:59 PM
Any Faire that does not welcome playtrons.
Really?
I'm glad I haven't run into one yet.
Turn offs for me.
1. Bathrooms made so small that one person has trouble fitting in the door.
2. Lack of ambiance (i.e. one faire had a single fiddler for music all of Saturday)
3. Rude employees; whether they be gate or cast.
4. Lack of food (one vendor selling hot dogs who ran out before noon)
Quote from: Norfolk on November 23, 2013, 10:23:59 PM
Any Faire that does not welcome playtrons.
Wow. :P
Even re enactment events generally welcome garbed spectators....I agree with Hoowill...what about the garb, weapons and accessories merchants? I've never seen a faire without them.
I had one bad experience at a faire that kept me from returning. There was only one building with all food coming out of there. It was a bit of a wait, but that wasn't the problem. It was set up poorly, they lost our order, didn't go double check until I insisted people had gotten there food after ours, and then was told I could order again but it would be put at the end of the large pile. By that time we were starving and had already been standing there for an hour. :-/ It could have been a bad day, but it's a far enough drive that I haven't made it again.
So once you've had a bad experience at a particular faire is there anything that would make you try it again?
I would not let a single event turn me away from a faire permanently. I mean, really, sh..stuff happens. A RECURRING event would keep me away. A generally poorly operated faire would most likely not get a return visit from me until I was hearing lots of good things about it a couple to a few years down the road.
Not having any local faires, I have to depend on comments and reviews to decide if I even want to attempt a faire.
A lack of money spent on good quality entertainment turns us away. We've been going to one faire for many years. It's a one weekend faire in Oct. They always had great entertainment, and we happily drive almost 2 hours each way to support this faire. Lots of good vendors, and it was enjoyable enough to drive back and forth both days.
This was a fundraiser for a church camp. About 3 years ago, the powers that be didn't invite back most of the regular musicians. Dropped it down to 2 or 3. Next, they raised the vendor prices, less vendors participated. Last year, they had 2 musical acts, and there were half the vendors. My husband decided it wasn't worth it anymore, so he won't go.
This year, a friend and I drove and met some friends. There was 1 musician and 12 vendors. Plus they raised the admission price $1. The castle tour used to be included in the admission price, now it's $2 extra. We were there a total of 1 hour. Walked around twice. There literally was nothing else to do.
If the faire continues this way, I don't see it surviving for too much longer. I will happily pay admission even if it goes up, but provide something for the money. Our group has decided we will not return unless we hear about drastic improvements.
You should tell the operators of the faire the same thing you said here. If they are worth their salt, they will consider your complaints. You would have to see the financials on their efforts to know what and why, and which direction it's headed.
Quote from: Merlin the Elder on November 30, 2013, 07:34:19 AM
You should tell the operators of the faire the same thing you said here. If they are worth their salt, they will consider your complaints. You would have to see the financials on their efforts to know what and why, and which direction it's headed.
Merlin, I posted on their FB page how disappointed we were this year. They removed it. Perhaps I shouldn't have done it so publicly, but we've been going to the faire for more years than I can imagine, and I was stating something obvious. I looked back to 2006. Then, they had 35 vendors. In 2010, there were 25. This year, 12. That is telling right there.
Yeah... that sure sounds like they are spinning down. They may not have been making enough for the energy spent, if only in their minds.
There was an attempt at a faire in Little Rock several years ago. Nimue and I were excited at the prospect, showed up, paid what turned out to be a totally exhorbitant admission for what was behind the walls. There was a couple of craft booths, one food vendor, no music, and a 15-minute tutorial on jousting. I would classify it as a total disaster. They did not try again.
I occasionally run into someone who goes to, or has gone to, faires, but they are rare in this area. Oddly enough, in the neighborhood we moved into, one of our neighbors used to live in Dallas and go to Scarby! They want to do faire with us this next season!
About the only thing so far is scheduling that puts me in conflict with another faire.
The reason for this post is that I am trying to revive and build up interest in my home faire, but people keep saying that they were there years ago and didn't like it, it wasn't enough and they won't come back. I am beyond frustrated because there have been so many changes and the folks are working so hard, I just don't see why people won't give it another chance.
Can I assume you are referring to Four Winds? I haven't made the trip there as of yet, but would like to. Timing is an issue for us, because it is too far for day-tripping. We are hotel campers, so added expense there.
Talk it up more! :D I know you already do, but let everyone know the changes that have been made to improve things, if there was an issue in the past. The best you can do, is your best!
The hubby and I visited Four Winds a couple of times when we lived up in East Texas. We liked the jousting and the people out there, but it was just too small to make the drive and cost worth it. We saw definite potential, but haven't been back since we came back to the Houston area.
Quote from: Tink on December 01, 2013, 08:58:06 PM
The hubby and I visited Four Winds a couple of times when we lived up in East Texas. We liked the jousting and the people out there, but it was just too small to make the drive and cost worth it. We saw definite potential, but haven't been back since we came back to the Houston area.
To me, the size of the faire is not the deciding factor for me. I choose a faire based on the atmosphere of intimacy and welcome, and the over all 'feel' .
If I can go there and lose myself in a small village atmosphere, I will choose that over a huge, busy, impersonal experience any time.
For instance: I go to Siouxland every year. It's a one weekend event on a non permanent site, but the sponsoring Patrons don't stint on trying for an unmistakably historical feel, and in spite of their size and non-multiweekend run, they still hire quality acts every year due to the excellent fundraising abilities of the FoF.
KCRF is actually closer to my house, and many, many times larger; but it been years since I attended.
To me it's not worth the drive to visit a huge commercial event like that every year.
Quote from: Rowen MacD on December 02, 2013, 12:31:13 PM... I choose a faire based on the atmosphere of intimacy and welcome, and the over all 'feel' . If I can go there and lose myself in a small village atmosphere, I will choose that over a huge, busy, impersonal experience any time. ...
I know it's a very long trip, but I would urge you to visit Sherwood, if you don't mind traveling back to the 12th century.
Quote from: Merlin the Elder on December 03, 2013, 07:21:07 AM
Quote from: Rowen MacD on December 02, 2013, 12:31:13 PM... I choose a faire based on the atmosphere of intimacy and welcome, and the over all 'feel' . If I can go there and lose myself in a small village atmosphere, I will choose that over a huge, busy, impersonal experience any time. ...
I know it's a very long trip, but I would urge you to visit Sherwood, if you don't mind traveling back to the 12th century.
When we finally get down to TX, we will do that! We have heard many good things about Sherwood.
Have you attended the SCA's Gulf Wars in MS? I've only done Lillies outside of KC, but that was some serious 12th century atmosphere. Some non-ha stuff, but nothing like what you see at the commercialized faires.
My dream faire would be somewhere between that and a full scale commercial living history re enactment ala the UK or Spain.
Quote from: Merlin the Elder on December 01, 2013, 05:07:37 PM
Can I assume you are referring to Four Winds? I haven't made the trip there as of yet, but would like to. Timing is an issue for us, because it is too far for day-tripping. We are hotel campers, so added expense there.
Talk it up more! :D I know you already do, but let everyone know the changes that have been made to improve things, if there was an issue in the past. The best you can do, is your best!
What improvements has Four Winds done in the last six years to make people want to come back?
New privies?
More musicians?
please enlighten us.
No to the new privies, but we do have some new music acts that have joined us over the last few years. We have built a pub and several new structures, as well as adding on to the cast and the acts which go on throughout the day.
I am in the process of negotiating having art students from local colleges come out and give pottery demos, paint portraits and the like. Dona, as you have been to Four Winds I would love to hear any constructive criticism that I can take to our next meeting :) Feel free to PM me if you like!