What type of Faire

[Baron Dacre]

I've only been to Bristol once as a performer. (don't much go as a patron anymore).

For me it is not about the structures, it is about the cast!

RPFS is the grandmother of 'em all (48 years, 2 more until the golden!), and we really haven't had a permanent home in ages :-(.

[LadyFae]

I'm with Noble Dreg- I'm glad that I don't have to choose!  I attend MNRF with it's permanent structures and I also attend OWRF in Twig which has no permanent structures but is nestled sweetly in a little clearing surrounded by woods.  It is a space well used and that Faire is getting bigger and better every year!  =D 

[auntiegiggles]

I love both types of faires.  Although, I must agree with Lady Rebecca about the importance of "nicer" privies at the larger faires when dressed in multiple layers.   

[ItsTheBishop]

I wish BARF would get some permanent structures. It has been around long enough that permanent privies would be nice, at least.

[Leneas Distara]

I wish BARF would get some permanent structures. It has been around long enough that permanent privies would be nice, at least.

I also agree, but the tented feel of the BARF keeps it close and intimate. The pubs all have permanent structures and some vendors have permanent booths. I think a total rework of BARF with permanent structures would mean losing a lot of tree cover. From what I have seen in pictures from other faires, BARF seems to be blessed with canopy, which in Florida can mean  a great deal.

[Aiacha]

I prefer a blend of both.  All permanent structures feels bland, all tents gets kind of bland too (how much canvas can you look at before you get turned around?).  It all depends on the feel that you want your faire to portray.  Do you want a trading post/caravan feel?  More tents than permanent, but get some wood in there as well, a pub, a couple of buildings, a blacksmith.  Throw some vardos in there as well, non-permanent structures.  Don't forget horses, how did the vardos get there?  Do you want a village or town?  Equal the ratio out; people have come to settle, but there are still travelers and gypsies with things for sale.  A city?  More permanent structures; the place has had time to build up and they may still want the traveling merchants, but there may only be a few small places where they are allowed to hawk their wares.

In another way it's not about the type of structure at all, but the quality.  Cheap plywood buildings do not an atmosphere make, nor do ez-ups and carports.

The problem comes in when you try to do the wrong thing with the space you have.  Lots of land?  Don't try to do all tents or your faire will feel sparse and incomplete.  Small acreage?  All those permanent structures, one on top of another, will feel claustrophobic and make your faire feel even smaller.

Sorry about rambling, I just feel that this is an intregal part to the sucess of a faire.  The "feel" when you walk in needs to be right, and the right type of structures is a large part of it.  I mean, patrons see the structures and tents even before they know what's in them...

[Dinobabe]

I wish BARF would get some permanent structures. It has been around long enough that permanent privies would be nice, at least.

I also agree, but the tented feel of the BARF keeps it close and intimate. The pubs all have permanent structures and some vendors have permanent booths. I think a total rework of BARF with permanent structures would mean losing a lot of tree cover. From what I have seen in pictures from other faires, BARF seems to be blessed with canopy, which in Florida can mean  a great deal.

I know at Bristol they are strict about cutting trees.  My Grandma's shop had two trees thru the roof!

[Leneas Distara]

I wish BARF would get some permanent structures. It has been around long enough that permanent privies would be nice, at least.

I also agree, but the tented feel of the BARF keeps it close and intimate. The pubs all have permanent structures and some vendors have permanent booths. I think a total rework of BARF with permanent structures would mean losing a lot of tree cover. From what I have seen in pictures from other faires, BARF seems to be blessed with canopy, which in Florida can mean  a great deal.

I know at Bristol they are strict about cutting trees.  My Grandma's shop had two trees thru the roof!

Now that is awesome!

[Lady Catherine]

also, remember that structures do not mean a large faire.  Our home faire(TNRF) is not allowed to build permanent buildings, ie four walls. but, i still consider it fairly large. on the flip side, i have been to a faire that had LOTS of room, buildings galore, and no ambiance. there was not interaction between the cast and guests. i believe thats what makes a faire!!!

that being said, i LOVE the buildings!  i am so excited to be able to visit GARF and Bristol this year, so i will have my first experience at a large faire!

[robert of armstrong]

Although the cast is what puts the Faire over the top, the buildings and/or tents are like the dressed stage at the their play.

I love the village-y feeling I get from a permanent structure Faire, although a few tents here and there give it a feeling like the town is slowly growing, and the tents are more recent arrivals who haven't yet built their more permenent homes.

An all tent faire can be fun, but lacks that rooted feeling.  Plus, without permentent structures, it feels almost like the Faire could up and disappear and not be there next year.

If the buildings are there, year after year, you get to remember the times you had while there in the past as you create new memories.

[DonaCatalina]

I'd like to hear someone's take on Sherwood. I understand that its about 1/3 the size of Scarborough but its 90% permanent structures. Since it is new, all the feedback would be new.

[PollyPoPo]

About Sherwood,

I was there opening day - Sherwood is going to be one of the big ones.  Had an intimate feel but many permanent structures.  It's had on-going work for quite some time and it shows (labor of love).  Name is Sherwood Forest Faire, not RenFestival, so it's got medieval. ren, magic and all time-travelers fit in.  It's being described as magical and that's how it feels.  Right now they're using port-a-potties, some portable flushies. Hopefully it will grow enough to put in permanent fixtures in the not-too-distant future.  I've only been to TRF, Scarby and a big one about an hour from Chicago (some 30 years ago, so I don't remember the name), as well as a few small, tent-type faires.  The small ones don't seem to last long.  Texas is big enough to support several large faires thoughout the year. 

[Craigmeister]

I'm thinking that the question of permanent or temporary faire is the wrong question for me.  The question I'd like to answer is do I prefer a large, commercialized faire or a people-oriented, welcoming faire?  Sometimes, the smaller ones have permanent structures as well.

After attending the 4 Winds Faire in Texas for the 2nd time last month, I realized that I'm more attracted to a faire that doesn't treat me just like a source of income.  I'm not $20/$50/$200 walking in the gate.  I'm a person who wants to be there & wants to interact w/ the cast, crew & other fairegoers.  I felt like family at 4 Winds.  Granted, I already knew some of the performers but it was also the other fairegoers & crew that I met that made me feel welcome.

I have missed that feeling since the King Arthur Faire in Stroud, OK closed its gates in 2007.  This faire was the same way.  It wasn't commercialized & everyone was made to feel like family.

Granted, there are acts & performers you can usually see at the big, commercialized faire that you can't see at a smaller faire.  That is the advantage of the big ones.  But, the smaller, engaging faire is the type of faire I most want to attend.

[Nighthawk]

My gut reaction to that question is that it should be about the people at faire, the cast, entertainment, playtrons etc.. not the 'facilities'.

Z, you beat me to that one! That's one of the reasons I love the Celtic festival- especially the Elizabeth Celtic Festival- so much. The atmosphere is more intimate. So give me a well-made, details mobile festival any day! Although I have to also say that I love the Colorado Ren Fest...

[The Rabbi]

In my humble opinion it is those who attend both in garb and mundane the cast and performers and yes even the vendors which make a fair. I am fortunate in the fact that my site has flushies and a permanant structure for a pub but as we are an annual gathering and the keepers of magic permanent structures would be a drawback fo us. The type of buildings should be dictated by the storyline of the event and used to create the desired ambiance but are not what make a fair.