Review: Ramona Bowl Renaissance Faire, weekend 1
By Mary Miller | September 7th, 2009 | Category: Articles, News, Reviews | 2 commentsIt was the heart that kicked the ass out of Saturday of the inaugural weekend of this new faire. Always a challenge to any event (even more than rain in many cases), high heat combined with opening on a holiday weekend where people already had many events to choose from came together to cause painfully small attendence.
Producers are still intent on continuing to expand marketing efforts to reach out both locally as well as to the wider region. The next few weekends will tell if this will pick up traction and expand to a successful new event that’ll take it’s place on the annual calendar, or will fade away similar to the failed California Renaissance Faire (also an out of the gate attempt at a multi-weekend event in SoCal).
Gaps were still evident where vendors should have been, but a common theme was that some were still yet to come in the next few weeks and would be filling out the layout which should lend towards giving this event more of a feeling of “completeness” than there was this first weekend. The street performers were also thin and somewhat far between – though as already noted, once it gets to a certain level of hot, it gets hard for even the most stalwart of performers to keep it going. But then they weren’t exactly seen as “going” when the day first started either.
Stages were largely abandoned (since they were largely without shade of any kind), and performances were moved to alestands and under whatever trees could be found. It was a good example of trying to deal with uncomfortable circumstances to make it as positive as possible for the audience. Though things like shade and stage placement might have been considered a smidge during layout.
This production team has a number of experienced (and skilled) people working hard to make it a success, so it has every reason to be one – but with the weather, the economy, and the myriad other factors that always come together to make or break so many faires.
Worst event ever. Too much money, too small, some performers were OK, The Knights on Horse were the best. Other Faire people seem like low life drunks and addicts.
Don’t waste your money on this
Ramona Bowl Ren Faire
Being a booth manager I think for a first year fair this went great. I have been to a lot of events and most of them did not have the publicity that this one did. But as with all faires there is always bugs to work out and I hope this review gets read and taken into consideration.
I think every one agreed on the heat was a killer:
it was hard for performers to act in the streets, stage acts even had to move there acts into shady spots instead of designated stages. I know for a fact my sales were hindered due to this heat. No one wants to stand around browsing when it is 100+ outside.
I know you can not control the weather but if the faire was moved to November it would be a lot cooler and have more people wanting to come out and walk around. We all want a bigger gate count. And SHADE, I am glad we did get some trees weekend #2 but we need some trees growing in the off season or put up some sale cloth.
Size Vs. Vendor count:
I have 2 opinions on this one being from a vendor stand point and that’s I love when I don’t have competition. But the more vendors there are the more there is to do for patrons and the longer they are at the faire the better it is for every one. Now I heard a lot of talk of more vendors next year I think this is a must. I know this year had to be hurt being I didn’t hear about this until about 5 or 6 months before the event and for a 4 weekend faire most vendors plan a year ahead of time. Things like a sword booth, juggling school, dunk tank, any thing that gets people in a great joyful mood causes them to spend more money. Also more guilds through out the faire, im not a guild person my self but they add more to the “feel” of a faire then anything else. The look of the tents and fences as you walk down the isles just makes you feel like you are in the renaissance .
Shows and show schedules:
The faire had some of the best A+ acts and they where always going on. The knights always put on a great show. As well as some great singing groups. It would be nice though to have some time in between the shows for patrons to have time to browse the vendors. As well as I had a lot of patrons asking me about show schedules I would think posting them at ale stands as well as maybe some information boards.
I know we had some costume approval as well as booth approval but I think it could be a little stricter I don’t mind being product juried or have my clothing gone over but with keeping to a constant theme that we are building a port town.
With all that pointed out the great thing was the amount of effort put out by the staff of the faire, a few people in particular really helped with making us all feel welcome at this new event listening and doing the best they could to resolve any issues, from getting us the trees we needed, wood chips on the ground and making sure the ale stands where up and running. Thanks oops for doing a great job even being understaffed with only 3 of you. the little get together that was thrown for us was great.
Also the administration who ever handed out all those coupons they defiantly had an impact on the gate especially the last 2 weekends and night faires were great even if I had to work even harder.
I have no doubt in my mind I will be back next year and cant wait to see who else helps to step this event up after seeing what the castle food booth did I think I may need to do some modifications to my booth may sound like a little competition.
As we always hear of certain faires being talked about as the “big faire” Ramona bowl will be one of them the way it is looking.