What turns you away?

[Jade]

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.

[Dracconia]

So once you've had a bad experience at a particular faire is there anything that would make you try it again?

[Merlin the Elder]

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.

[Lady Renee Buchanan]

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.

[Merlin the Elder]

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.

[Lady Renee Buchanan]

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.

[Merlin the Elder]

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!

[DT_Masters]

About the only thing so far is scheduling that puts me in conflict with another faire.

[Dracconia]

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.

[Merlin the Elder]

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!    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!

[Tink]

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.

[Rowan MacD]

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.

[Merlin the Elder]

... 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.

[Rowan MacD]

... 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.   

[DonaCatalina]

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!    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.