Tales from the faire
This was our third year doing the Delaware Renaissance Faire. The first two years we were at the far back of the stage and had some trouble pulling audience folks to the back to watch us. The ones who did come back there liked it and as the shows progressed we got more and more folks.
This year we look at the map and said “We’re right at the front! Wow! Everyone will see us!”
But, they moved the entrance to the opposite side. So, we’re near the street, but that’s not where folks come in.
Our first show is just after the event opens and there is another sword group doing a show in the center of the faire.
It is VERY hard to get folks to walk past one sword show to go see another. And, if we tried to pull their people, it would not be a friendly thing to do.
All the other shows were fine. Once folks were milling about the whole faire, we’d pull the folks in our section. But, that first show where folks are coming in from the opposite side, it’s hard to get them all the way back. We’re going to have to work on that next week.
Sunday the news crew from Philadelphia was there and the media person for the faire dragged them back to us and told them to start with us for their video. I suspect that was not accidental. At least faire management is trying to even things out.
This weekend had a Halloween theme and a lot of folks were there in costume. Some of them very good ones. Some were very cool to see. Sauron stood out, but you’d expect that.
We had seven performers this weekend and all pretty seasoned ones. So, the shows went well, got good feedback and no one seemed to be too overworked.
It was MUCH better than the one over Labor Day when there were only three of us.
The hotel I picked for this faire was OK. The guy who worked there was very friendly and helpful. As near as I can tell he is the only employee as he was there all hours, I saw him cleaning the rooms and delivering towels and when we checked out I ran the bell in the lobby and I clearly heard him getting out of bed in the next room to check us out.
But, he didn’t have 2 rooms that each had 2 beds. So, Robin slept on a couch and Noah on a cot that Tom had brought. That wasn’t bad compared to some places we’ve stayed, but they took the reservation for 2 rooms with 2 beds each. Not great.
It was only 15 minutes to the faire, which is the closest we’ve managed to stay for this show. The show is in a field surrounded by a swamp away from any town, so 15 minute drive is close. The next two weeks it will be more like ½ hour each way.
The faire site is basically a Vietnam veteran commune. A bunch of them bought the land and put mobile homes on it and live there. So, there is an old military helicopter and a tank at the entrance. Our tent and stage were under the helicopter.
I’m told to never disrespect the helicopter as the locals have a lot of respect for it, but it is strange to be doing a sword show under it.
Our tent was right next to the stage. Close enough our ropes overlapped. That was nice not being able to haul stuff across the faire for our shows. But, it did mean while other acts were going on we needed to be more quiet than normal.
The entertainment director schedules 45 minute blocks and is clear acts should be half an hour with the extra time being for set up, break down and asking for tips.
The juggler who shared our stage ran 43 minute shows. It was annoying as he had equipment that had to be clear afterwards too.
On Sunday I know he was spoken to about it as I was at the meeting where it happened. So, he ran 42 minute shows.
He doesn’t get a stage next week. He’s got to do it in the lanes.
I hope he doesn’t do it in front of our tent.
He’s good. His act is very good. But, it’s annoying for him not to share well. And, even when he only left us one minute to get on stage and start, he didn’t give any kind of shout out or “stay for the sword show” kind of thing. Either day. Even after we did it for his shows.
The closest to any kind of apology he gave for this was when he told our youngest performer “the crowd was into it, so I kept going”.
I get that. If the crowd is really into what you’re doing, you want to keep going.
But, you’ve got three shows a day. Tell them to come to the others and share the stage.
We’ve dealt with worse. There are folks I’ve set up and started performing behind as they just wouldn’t get off the stage. Swords and fire encourage folks to leave.
(And, just in case you’re wondering, it was the director of that event that told me to do that as they wouldn’t get off for him either.)
We had a LOT of people there who had never been to any kind of ren faire before. They seemed to enjoy themselves. It’s our third year there and I know they do a LOT of ads for it, so I’m a bit surprised it is taking so long to get the word out. But, they’re there now.
There was one group of more than forty people that was a D&D club. They had wanted to go to the bigger faire in Pennsylvania, but didn’t get their tickets in time. They were REALLY into it and asked all sorts of questions. There was a handful of them that stood at our tent for an hour or so asking very detailed questions about all of our weapons.
It’s nice when they’re into it, but as it went on several of us where thinking “there’s a whole faire here, don’t you want to see more of it?”
A bunch of patrons over both days asked such detailed questions that I gave them my card and told them to email me and I’d give an in depth answer with citations. So far, no emails.
It was a good time over all.
Two more weekends of it to go.
I should have the photos up tonight.