Ticket Prices

[duffy]

that is a deal. wish i would have known about that. i do get a law enforcement discount though whcih helps me. still worth every penny.

[Nailin]

I wanted to post this here because this is my first time going to Sterling and I wanted to know what the proposed "Suggested Itinerary" would be to a newbie - It is a costly faire to attend but, I've spent the past 4 years hearing everyone talk highly of Sterling & I finally get a chance to go - Plus, it doesn't help if your good friend gives you a Sterling cast CD of the pub sing - That is thing I love about faire is everyone coming together at the end of the day to sing to the patrons - So, for 25$ what should I do to make it worth it? Is there anything special that sets Sterling apart? - Thanks!

[duffy]

i personally think you must see don waun and miguel. all the musicians are great. this weekend is the highland fling and if rafferty the piper is returning, he is awesome.

[Khaalis]

This is why we think they need a "Suggested Itinerary" for new people to Sterling. However, with that said, there are SO MANY things to see at Sterling you won't come close to covering it in one day or even one weekend.

What are your interests? Comedy, music, magic/carnival, children themed, animals, combat, etc?

You can download the program Here to get a better idea of what you want to see.

Some of my favorite shows off the top of my head:
* Mud Beggar Show
* Don Juan and Miguel (see the wierd show and can catch Danny Lord of Mischief right beforehand)
* Hey Nunny Nunny
* DaVinci Brothers
* Daniel Duke of Danger
* Zilch the Storyteller
* Wench Auction
* Pirate Show
* Trial & Dunke
* Wolgemut !! (Great LOUD music - German bagpipe and drums)
* Wellwenches
* Joust
* Falconry
* Human Chess Match

I could also spend most of the day at the Falstaff Pub listening to the music. And another just going around checking out the artisans and food.

[MMario]

Staying for the final pub sing is a must....the cast sings WITH the guests/patrons - not AT them; a distinction that is a HUGE difference from many "finales".

And the "gauntlet" (sp?) outside the gate as everyone leaves...(Sterling tradition is that the cast lines the exit from the gate and the patrons pass between the two lines of cast)

[Khaalis]

Aye, the Pub Sing is a must, but I find that many people don't like to stay until close. Its a shame since IMHO the Pub Sing is the best part of the day. As for the gauntlet, I never get to see it. lol   As soon as they yell "To the Gate" I am instead on my way all the way back down the hill to undress M'Ladies (as hoops don't travel well worn in the car) and play pack mule to get all their gear back up to the lot. By the time we get out the gate, its usually quarter to 8. Makes it nice for not having to deal with traffic getting out of the lot though. 

[Lady Rebecca]

Nailin, when you say Sterling Cast Pub Sing cd, is that something that's only available to cast members? Because I would love a cd of the pub sing!

[Lady Amy of York]

Nailin, when you say Sterling Cast Pub Sing cd, is that something that's only available to cast members? Because I would love a cd of the pub sing!

A few years back, I forget when, i think it was 2005 ......  Sterling had a casette  tape  you  could  buy in the  gift shop, of the final pub  sing.  I have it and  enjoy listening  to the  songs  on it.

It would be great  if  they were  to put it out again.  A possible  idea  to run by   Doug Waterbury  some  time.

[Aaroncois]

Actually, I'm familiar with this because I just finally bought a copy this year. The CD was recorded in 1994 (I think - I don't actually have it in my hand. But it was definitely ages ago)...  oh fine, I'll go get it.

Ok, lessee here...

"Together Forever, the pubsongs of Warwickshire"

1. Morrison's Jig
2. Mayor's Address
3. All for me Grog
4. Spanish Ladies
5. High Barbary
6. The Wild Rover
7. The Keeper
8. The Maid of Amsterdam
9. Rosin, the Beau
10. Maids, when you're Young
11. Roll your Leg Over
12. The Crayfish
13. Bedlam Boys
14. Bonnie Ship, the Diamond
15. To be a Good Companion
16. Wylde Mountain Thyme
17. Queen's Farewell & Auld Lang Syne

Recorded live at SRF in 1994. Presumably across several days, because I don't ever remember the pubsing being as long as this CD.

To go along with the CD, there's also a smallish book titled something like "The History and Music of Warwick." It's like $5.00 in the gift shop and has a quick background on the Village of Warwick as it's imagined to be for the Faire (or as it was imagined to be back in the early 90s - I think some of the details and characters have changed since then. Like the Earl of Warwick being replaced with the Sheriff, I believe.), plus lyrics and guitar chords for most of the Pub Songs on the CD.

My son and I have been taking guitar lessons for about two months, and we taught ourselves to play Drunken Sailor (which is just two chords back and forth) and Wild Rover (which is harder), both of them very badly. It's a nice little booklet though, especially for a mere $5.

My only disappointment with these two items is that the faire has moved on since 94, and the Pubsing sounds quite a bit different now. Though it was nice to be reminded that they used to spend time before each song teaching at least the chorus to the audience, which they no longer seem to do. Other than that, they're nice treasures from the faire and will help make the off-season a bit less bleak.

As for what Waterbury ought to do, I'm notoriously bad at predicting what will be profitable for businesses I'm not familiar with. But with that said, it seems to me like the Remembrance Shop is pretty well-stocked, and that a simple web merchant site upgrade and a very small (probably one-person, possibly even part-time) staff could keep it open (and generating revenue) year-round. If I owned SRF I'd look into how to make money off it even when it's closed, but without more insight into what does and doesn't seem to sell historically it's hard to be sure.

[Nailin]

Thanks for the suggestions I have seen some of those acts at both Maryland & Carolina Ren Faires but, I am excited to see the other acts!
Yes, Aaroncois that's the exact CD - Together Forever - that I have

[DacianFalx]

The CD in question was recorded during mid-week sessions, between performance weekends, so as not to have recording equipment mucking up a normal pubsing and distracting patrons. It's still an excellent album for learning the songs of faire, although we haven't sung "Bonnie ship, the Diamond" in awhile, "Roll your leg over," "The Crayfish," and "Maids when you're young" didn't get a lot of play for several years under former ownership, and "Wylde Mountain Thyme" only makes it to pubsing closing day. Still, I listen to this album each spring, before auditions, to get the blood flowing and reawaken the magic of the show for me.

[Aaroncois]

Yeah, it's a nice album. I wondered how they'd managed the live recording. I just wish some of the current songs were in there. There's at least one that I don't know at all (the one that Raleigh suggests they sing to the Queen near the end. Something about ships, I dunno. Never heard it before and it doesn't seem to be in either the Warwick pubsong book or in the Cantiga book I've got).

It's probably expensive and tedious enough to produce something like this that as long as there IS one, even if it's old, I'd bet there's not too much interest in making a new one. I can still wish they would though. 

[Lord Finger]

There's at least one that I don't know at all (the one that Raleigh suggests they sing to the Queen near the end. Something about ships, I dunno.

That's The Mingulay Boat Song. I've always been partial to Barby Holder's version. I don't know if there's any audio of her online, but you can find her here: http://prweb0.voicenet.com/~gehlingw/index.html or at PARF this year. Consider this my plea to bring her back next year. 

[Aaroncois]

There's at least one that I don't know at all (the one that Raleigh suggests they sing to the Queen near the end. Something about ships, I dunno.

That's The Mingulay Boat Song. I've always been partial to Barby Holder's version. I don't know if there's any audio of her online, but you can find her here: http://prweb0.voicenet.com/~gehlingw/index.html or at PARF this year. Consider this my plea to bring her back next year. 

Hey yeah, that's the one! Thanks!!

I didn't notice Barby wasn't there this year.

[Lord Finger]

PARF, the most expensive Faire I've been to, is offering free admission this weekend if you donate blood at the mansion. Nice way to support the Red Cross.