Ticket Prices

[IndeanaSunday]

There is a reason places like Costco and Sam's Club are so successful. It's because they've realized that by lowering their profit margins they increase the quantity of business and make more profit in the long run. So while Stop & Shop might make 80% profit on their bread, they only sell 100 loaves a week. Sam's club sells it for a 40% profit and sells 300 loaves.

If management hasn't realized yet that they are deterring business by constantly increasing their prices, I doubt they ever will. I love the Faire, but $25 per ticket is outrageous. For a small family to spend one day there would easily approach $200 once they bought tickets, food (also ludicrously priced), drinks, souvenirs, and paid for gas. That doesn't even include things like face painting, Queens Tea, games, or any of the other things that help make the Faire magical and memorable.

In times like this when the economy is in the dump, I think it's a very poor decision to raise prices.

Just my two cents. Any opinions?

[SterlingFan]

I love Sterling too (hence my user name  ) but I have to agree with the concern of raising ticket prices.

I remember reading somewhere about how expensive Disney World/Land has become and the question "Do you think Walt Disney intended that the average family couldn't afford to visit his parks ?".  Going there used to be part of being a kid back when I was a child.  Now, for most folks, it's simply out of the question.

I realize that prices sometimes need to go up but when the economy gets uncertain the first thing most people do is cut out all the 'extras' which for many means travel to attractions like Sterling.

I hope to never read the question "Do you think Dennis T. Ouellette intended that the average family couldn't afford to visit the Sterling Renaissance Festival ?".

*Edit - what's up with words getting all messed up on posts recently - I had to replace some words as they were all jumbled up.*

[Tygrkat]

I was shocked to see the price of season passes go up so much this year, and even single tickes are about $3 more a piece which can add up to a big dent in my budget, but there has to be some sort of middle ground, IMO.

I certainly don't want Sterling to become something that isn't affordable for average families ( we're a single-income household, personally speaking) but on the other hand if we are going to want things like bigger and more flushing privies, bleachers for the jousting field, and additions of that nature, the capital to fund those projects has to come form somwhere. Not to mention that everything is just more expensive these days, and unfortunately these expenses (like utilities, maintenance, if performers and vendors have to pay more to cover their expenses, their fees will go up, etc) need to be covered somehow as well.

We knew with gas prices being more expensive this past season going to Faire would be more expensive, so we packed a cooler instead of buying food there...that's just one way we made Faire do-able this past season. If we have to get more creative this year, we'll do it...we could concider carpooling, potluck picnic lunches, things like that... Us rennies and ren-thusiasts are a resourceful lot 


I love Sterling and want to enjoy Faire as much and as often as possible, along with my Fairemily . As much as we all love Faire for the community, artwork, and fantastic performers, we need to remember that it is also a business, and all businesses are having to restructure and re-evaluate. If I have to make some sacrifices in my budget to go to Faire it's worth it to me...even if it means a month of ramen! 

[ALS]

, so we packed a cooler instead of buying food there...that's just one way we made Faire do-able this past season

Herin lies the problem. Doug Waterberry bought a place that was closed for all intents and purposes, Jerry had run it into the ground trying to sell it and the final day last season what with Gary Izzo's "so long its been good to know ya" speech and all the place was done. Doug buys it sinks alot of cash into it fixing whats been allowed to go to crap and trying to bring the place back ( I heard and saw more advertsising this season that I have in the last 4-5 combined, The bill for that alone must have been huge. the cost to revive the BTM and bring staffing back to 2000 season numbers must also have been large), he however has the misfortune of doing all this in " the year we wouldn't drill an oil well" so gas,food you name it goes through the roof, price increases comming sometimes on literally a weekely basis. You still want to go to faire, but to save money to do it, you bring your own food and drink so you don't buy concessions ( the number two source of income for the faire, 2/3 of the food booths and all of the drink booths are rund by the faire) which leaves the new owner in the position that he didn't even break even on the investment in improvements and reviving the place, he's got a window to make the place work or he's gotta throw in the towel, and after one outting he's already in the hole.

Is this anybody but our worthless political classes fault, nope. But it is how things are, not just for faire but for most any business to some degree at this time. The bottom line is this, business's are folding left and right literally on a daily basis in this joke of an economy, if you want business's to stay open you will have to support them, if you don't then don't. It wouldn't hurt to climb up you Representative or Senators posterior with a letter thanking them getting us here but otherwise if you don't support the business's you value in these tough times they will in all likelyhood not be there for you in the longrun.

I would point out that the same applies for your faire craftsman, i'm sure there will probably be fewer this comming season becuase the summer of jacked up gas really hit them in the sales pocketbook and combined with the last few crappy seasons takes as Jerry killed the place they just can't afford to be there anymore. If there is a vendor who's goods you appreciate and value at the show, they'll need your support to continue to be there, just like you its all going to come down to dollars and cents in determining if they'll be going to the show again.

None of this is supposed to leave anyone with a warm fuzzy, it simply is the reality fo crap times we're living in.

[Lady Amy of York]

Actually  the  $25 dollars  for adult tickets  is  no higher  then  some of  the other faires.  Although i admit   at $25  it  is getting steep, and if it gets  any higher  i know  i will not be  able  to afford  to go  every weekend.  I  know    the faire needs  to make   money  to keep     running, and  i know   they have  improvements  in  mind, but i remember  hearing  patrons  complaining  last  year  about  the  tickets  prices  and how  they may  not  come  back  again,  and  now  the  prices  are higher.    I pray  this  does not  turn  people  away.
    What i think  is  a bit  ridiculous  is  the  price  for  a child's  ticket  this  year.    $14.95.  Come on !  That is  a bit  insane.    My  son  loves  going to the faire  with us, but at  that  price,  we  may  not  be  going  that often  next  year. They are deffinitely  going  to lose     patrons    on  that.
                  Overall like i already said  Sterling is  a great faire and I applaud Doug waterbury   for taking a faire  that was neraly  run into the  ground  , and  trying  to keep it  going   , and  if it means  raises  the  ticket prices  abit, well then  so be  it.   It is  better  then not  haveing Sterling  around  anymore.
   

[ALS]

They are deffinitely  going  to lose    patrons    on  that.

Then it is not a service people are willing to pay for and it will close. Of course then you can add on the cost of gas to drive across state to NYC/Sterling Forest or outta state to attend a faire if you want to go to one. Of course figure on the cost of lodgings as well as they're all definitly no one day trip distances away.

[Lady Amy of York]

They are deffinitely  going  to lose    patrons    on  that.

Then it is not a service people are willing to pay for and it will close. Of course then you can add on the cost of gas to drive across state to NYC/Sterling Forest or outta state to attend a faire if you want to go to one. Of course figure on the cost of lodgings as well as they're all definitly no one day trip distances away.

Very true indeed !   Heck, i'm not complaining ! Whatever  it takes ( within  reason )  to improve  the  faire  and  keep  it  running.  Although i   do think the  children's  ticket is  a bit  high,   but i know i will still attend, maybe  jut not every weekend.   I just mean't  i know   quite  a few  people who when   they saw  the  ticket prices   for next year, said  they  may  not attend  at all.        But  you know  there is  always  someone  who is  going to complain  no matter what  the  ticket  price  is  !    
     Overall like i already said  Sterling is  a great faire and I applaud Doug waterbury   for taking a faire  that was neraly  run into the  ground  , and  trying  to keep it  going   , and  if it means  raises  the  ticket prices  abit, well then  so be  it.   It is  better  then not  haveing Sterling  around  anymore.
   

[NicoleBridget]

I actually can see both sides to this argument, both have valid points.  I actually don't mind the daily passes going up because it doesn't seem like QUITE a big jump, and if this is what it takes for Mr Waterbury to continue improving on Sterling (or God forbid prevent its closing) I'm even more happy to pay the new ticket price.  I do think the new season pass price is pushing it.  Last time I had a season pass...maybe 4 years ago...it was around $100.  This year I won't be getting one but not because of the price, because my sister moved away and I no longer have a free place to crash...therefore I can't go as much (it's a 3.5 hour drive otherwise).  I guess this coming season will serve as a test...to see if less people came, maybe because of the ticket prices.  And then the following season maybe he will do the $18 tickets and compare attendance to the previous year.  However I guess it wouldn't be an even playing field since (dare I hope) the economy will be in better shape by the 2010 season...  If ticket prices are up it makes me think that just about everything inside will be up as well.  And of course last season had way too much rain and I'm sure that hurt.  Maybe this years prices are to recoup from last year?

[irish]

I read all the replies so far on the ticket prices. Yes it is a bit 'steep', but look at what improvements have been made or will be made, for the comfort of those going. I will still go, no matter what. I may not go as much, but I will still be there, to have fun, relax, loose myself in a little fantasy and see wonderful friends!
We always have a light lunch before entering the faire, but when the smell of the foods hit your nostrils......damn!......have to get something else! 
I applaud Sir Douglas, for taking on such a project. Face it...if he didn't buy it.....who knows what would of happened to Sterling? Maybe have a new sign..."CLOSED!"? 
Anon!
irish

[ALS]

I would say soley to recoup from last year.One must keep in mind that just like you in your dailey life have had costs and expenses on virtually everything go up so has every business there is, how do they take care of that, well eating it for as long as they can and then pass that onto you when they can't shoulder it anymore. This is how everything got more expensive. What you do is shy of having an unusually generous employer who gives monthly cost of living raises to keep up, is get a second/thrid job and cut expenses out of your budget. Things can get added to that list as costs continue to rise, if certain products or services or what have you make it on to many peoples to expensive lists they go away due to lack of income.

The logic here is that "we may lose some people due to the increased price but hopefully the increased price will bring in more money than we were making to sustain us".

[Ozium]

I also can see both sides of the coin but if anyone else attends faire as i do.
i easily spend another $50 or more a day at faire run booths every day, If
100 people decide they can not afford the admission thats a potential $5000
loss for the day, plus the $2500 admissions, you can add the two together.
I just hope i can continue to do so. He stands to loose more than just the
cost of one admission if someone decides not to attend even one day. I
personal think that lower admission prices would promote more to attend,
or at least the price they have been for the past few years. I think what
was needed or is needed is more advertising, yes it costs the faire money
but i actually know folks that thought the faire was closed after it was on
Ebay in 2004, and have been told that by others also. There was little or
no advertising being done, and you can not get people to something they
do not know about. But don't put in on those of use who know all to painfully
when faire starts and ends. Get the word out even with posters earlier in the
summer and in other area like Buffalo,Rochester,Albany,Watertown and Binghamton
so folks can make plans if they have never heard of Sterling before. Something
got alot more people to faire this past year on the dry days, and i'm almost
sure it was not to possibly get a chance to meet the new owner.

I feel better now, and sorry for the math. 

[ALS]

There was little or
no advertising being done

I can't agree with you there at least not here in the Rochester area. I have the radio on in my shoppe, 9-12 hours a day 6 days a week, read the paper and watch TV, I had not heard, seen or read and add of any sort until Jerry's desperation run in '07 ( and i felt those commercails were in poor taste and few and far between) for several years, and this past season ('08) I heard saw and read adds all the time for the faire.

Something
got alot more people to faire this past year on the dry days, and i'm almost
sure it was not to possibly get a chance to meet the new owner.

He had ticket prices that were cheaper than this upcomming season and discount tickets as well, I believe they also ran some 2 for 1 ticket deals, and I gather that those things must not have done the trick because for all the people you mentioned apparently not enough cash was generated so the increase was put in place. Again people have to make the financial decisions that make sense for thier lives, and either the faire will stay in business or it won't based on what financial decisions people make about it. There no right or wrong in it just our everyday necessity to make ends meet and whats left after that and what we're comfortable doing with it. If it closes it will just be one more casualty of this crap economy, if it stays open it will be stronger for it.

My only point in mentioning gas and lodgings is that it will be alot more expensive to go to faire if this one closes down due to poor attendance as it was going to do after last year because of how far one will have to drive to get to another one and the cost of staying over night to go to it.

[NicoleBridget]

I have to agree with ALS on the advertising.  I think Mr Waterbury did say one of the things he dumped a lot of money into right away was advertising and I certainly noticed it here in Albany.  I think that played a part in why the fest had HUGE crowds on the days that weren't rainy.  I hope he did ok last season, or that he at least has good hopes that things will pick up in the next couple of seasons.

[Sir Douglas of Waterbury]

Hello all if I could help with a little clarification. This year's price is only $1.19 more than last year's price as this year includes NYS tax and last year was $22.00 + 1.76 = $23.76 and this years total it is $24.95 including all tax. You can also buy STOCKING STUFFER or EARLYBIRD tickets for $21.95 flat as well! As many are aware we did significantly improve the property this year and we hope to make significant strides this next year as well. We also increased the advertising budget by more than 350% in 08 vs 07 and more than doubled the entertainment budget in 08 vs 07 raising the daily performance count from 66 shows per day to 144. We added picnic tables in 08 (even more coming for 09) we will be adding some seating at the joust this year and more buildings and grounds restoration and enhancements as well as a few more surprises to look forward to. We also are bringing
   back the 7Th weekend and are adding a NEW event for an 8Th a Celtic Rock Festival (plugged in) on the 3rd weekend in August. We will continually reinvest and grow the festival in the coming years. As you are also aware last years wether really challenged us as well. We at sterling very much appreciate your continued and unwavering support and will not make a regular habit out of admission price adjustments and if you check around IE: P.A. Fair as well as others and consider the quality of ours I hope we can all agree there is outstanding value at Sterling. (P.S. 1st weekend offers free admission for children) Thank you all and we will look forward to seeing all you this summer

[irish]

Thank you Sir Douglas, for the information! Sorry about the 'bit steep' in my reply. Seeing how the tax is included and it is only $1.19 more.....heck, I can give up that spud.  WHO am I kidding??....I need that spud!!! 
I know you can't please all the people all the time, but darn, you are doing a great job!
Best of luck this for this coming season.
irish