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ANOTHER FAIRE VIRGIN SPEAKS...
by Billie McNabb, Orckes & Trolles' CD Wench

I don't know how qualified I am to review a Faire, but at Willa's request and with a little nudging from John-Paul, I am attempting my first review. Of course, my point of view will be much different from the seasoned Faire goer's. It should be noted that over ten years ago I attended the Faire in Shakopee with some friends. We had a wonderful time, kept saying we would go back soon... and never did. Then three years ago another friend desperately wanted to go to Salisbury Faire but did not want to go alone . Even though I was eighth or ninth choice on the social list, I agreed to go along. It wasn't as big as the first Faire I attended, and my friend was more into making as many purchases as possible in the shortest amount of time, passing on most other activities, so it wasn't all that exciting for me.

Turn the clock forward to 2001. Due to someone very special and an exciting set of circumstances I have tossed myself head first into the whole Ren Faire experience. I was recently asked what I liked about Ren Faires and I quickly replied, "They are all different." When I asked if I was being "interviewed," I was told I should write a "review." Well, here I go!

Salisbury 2001: many changes have come about for me, and this time I'm going to the Faire with and as an entertainer. WHOA whole new point of view! I enjoyed Salisbury immensely and will always have fond memories of it. It will always seem like my "first real faire."

Things I Liked: There were special activities for children. There was free drinking water (more on this later). The food booths close together. A wonderful array of vendors. The SCA encampment had many things going on, and welcomed one and all to join. The grounds were kept immaculate by an army of workers armed with excellently disguised equipment, and for the most part the privies received the same attention. The stages were well placed throughout the grounds (more on this later).

Things I Didn't Like: There were lots of entertainers, but I felt there could have been more that was geared to the kids. Yes, there was education day, and it was educational, but there could be so much more. I feel strongly enough about this that when I noticed there were stages with no entertainment at times that I decided to put together my own "show for kids" so... wish me luck! The youngsters hit the water pretty hard on Education Day, and late Saturday the water dispensers disappeared. I happened to, while in line for the privies, hear a woman's walkie-talkie say, "No, we are out of water; if it's empty just pick up the dispenser." So of course, feeling very wise we brought water from home. It's horribly heavy to carry around and purchasing bottled water cuts into the budget. The poor bagpipers--everyone likes the music, but no one wants to be close to them! My suggestion (at the time - and still is) let them wander, but never stay any one place too long--or, if they feel the need to be in one place, how about the middle of the jousting field? (NO, not during the joust!) Which brings me to placement of stages and scheduling. Placement was pretty good, no competing with other acts to be heard. BUT several stages had a problem competing with the joust, which was (for obvious reasons) amplified. My suggestion won't be liked by the jousters, but the joust should be one of the first activities of the day, followed by stage performances, and at the end of the day they joust again while the performers draw a deep breath before Last Huzzah! Hey, I'm new to this and that's what I think.

My next faire was Waterloo. I'm still thinking about this Faire... I hadn't been to Waterloo/Cedar Falls since I graduated from UNI. My, have things grown! Once I got over that and began to think about the Faire itself I was stopped by the thought, "My Waterloo Days is a multi-day event, yet the faire is only six hours." It is a wonderful little faire on a an excellent site. It's pretty well thought out. Again, I wanted to see more entertainment specifically for children. The stages could be moved a little further apart, there's room. Many thanks for the water in the "performer's tent." My greatest joy at this event was when Her Majesty Queen Verity helped me as I select a ring for my souvenir of this faire. I try to keep my souvenirs small and portable, so selecting the perfect ring was very important. In making that selection we probably drew seven or eight people to the vendors' tent (gee, you would have thought he would have given me a discount... ) But it was such great fun and Her Majesty's wisdom is proven by the many, many favorable comments on the ring. But my biggest comment on this particular faire is: It's so short! A six hour faire... On a Sunday... I think a longer event would attract more vendors in all categories (especially food)! It would also attract more performers, and in turn would attract more patrons, not only for the faire, but for My Waterloo Days as well. Yes, I'm new, but even I see the difficulty in attracting vendors and performers to such a short event: it's hard to justify travel and other expenses for just six hours' work! The grapevine says it's in the works to expand the event. Let's all support that endeavor.

Finally, having just returned from Council Bluffs and thinking I'm starting to get this "Faire Thing" down pat, I find myself with more questions. Being a "newbie" I'm entitled you know. This Faire was my first "overnight" experience. I haven't stayed in a dorm since college. Is it me or have the rooms gotten smaller? I know I haven't gotten any bigger! OK, I take up more space than I did in college. The rooms were comfortable enough for me. I heard some comments about the rooms, but discounted those comments as being from a grumpy camper. Besides, I didn't come to stay in my room, I came to participate in the Faire. (Side note on the dorms; the locked laundry room almost presented a problem.) Being a "newbie" I was hoping to stop by the SCA encampment and make some new friends but it must have been in the back forty because I never did find it. I was impressed by the variety and quality of food. The barbecue pork sandwich was wonderful, and if you didn't get lemon custard ice cream from Falk's you still haven't had ice cream. Now I have to wait until next year to have it again. Sigh. The variety and quality of merchants also impressed me. I am looking for things to complete my ensemble, and I gladly paid for several at this faire. I know I will be overwhelmed in KC and am holding out on some purchases until then. My comment to all clothing merchants is this: not everyone is tiny, not everyone is average, some of us haven't seen XL since high school. Many purchases are made on impulse, and I was armed with plastic and ready to be impulsive, but everything was a smidgen if not a whole lot too small. So, bring ALL your large sizes and remember: not all large people want to wear black! Some of us like bright and pretty colors and patterns and such. The kids' area was great and as I watched several entertainers there I was that much more convinced I want to put together an act. Here are my two biggest concerns about this Faire. One, mud and mud covering... the straw was very slick and soon was just as treacherous as the mud itself, and I saw several people nearly wipe out. Fortunately they were young and resilient. Not everybody is, though. Watching some folks try to make it in or out of Musica Antiqua's tent was scary. And speaking of Musica Antiqua, how about giving them a level place, so the dancers aren't dancing on a slant and in some kind of rut? They commented during the show that they were thrilled with the tent - there wasn't a pole in the middle and the dancers could actually demonstrate the dances. So, how about just moving their tent? It's an excellent presentation. Not to mention it was great to sit for a while in the shade. Which brings me to concern two: the sun and lack of shade for patrons and performers alike. Perhaps awnings could be placed over the stages that are always in the the sun. As a patron, I don't want to sit in the sun to watch a performance, and I won't. As a performer, I stand in the burning sun despite not wanting to-- but I don't expect anyone to stay to see the show. Many performers adapted their acts to put the audience in the shade. Let's face it - no shade means no audience and no tips or sales. And in the heat there needs to be lots of water available. I personally felt two dollars for bottled water was steep. I'll never complain about the price at QuikTrip again! I do have to give a thumbs up to whoever was on the ball and had water brought in when the vendors ran out. I ended up spending the last of my "fun" money on water instead of with other merchants. (Sorry guys, but water comes first.) Someone from this faire needs to talk to someone at Salisbury Faire and find out how to get water donated. Water is very important in the kind of heat we were experiencing, and needed to be readily available, especially to anyone in "garb." When I work at the Iowa State Fair, at each stage a cooler with ice and water for the performers is tucked away. Not to imply the performers were not being looked after; having the building to go into was very nice, and I particularly appreciated being able to go in and eat lunch and cool off before going back out in the afternoon, so a big huzzah for that.

All in all, in spite of the heat I had a great time, and I am looking forward to my next Faire. When Salisbury rolls around next year, it will be fun to see what my perspective is!

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Permanent festivals in our area: Kansas City Renaissance Festival, Bristol Renaissance Faire, Des Moines Renaissance Faire and Minnesota Renaissance Festival.
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