Anyone want to be on TV (Des Moines)? -- posted by JohnPaul on Monday, July 31, 2006 3:50PM
I may be putting together as many as five TV commercials for the upcoming Des Moines Renaissance Faire. I figure this might be a chance to get some of my festival friends on television. If your ego has always desired being on TV, even if it's just a few seconds in a TV ad for, drop me a note. Most likely, we'd do this on a Tuesday evening out at Sleepy Hollow (since there's already a group of a dozen or so sword guys/gals there who may be drafted too).

At the very least will be on general "Des Moines Renaissnace Faire at Festival Park" spot, but I'd also like to do unique spots for each themed weekend:

1. Pirates
2. Celtic (kilts, etc.)
3. Romance (roses, chocolates, wines)

I'm also wanting to simulate some audience stuff, so we could even mix in folks not dressed up to play the part of patron.

As with most things, I'm starting with a "Blue Sky" plan (i.e. the sky's the limit) and it will likely turn into something much simpler (like when I shot a half hour of Halloween footage to turn into a 30 second commercial for Sleepy Hollow Scream Park last year).

Those participating will, of course, be some of the first to see Festival Park in person. We'll begin shooting in the next week or two for ads that will start in about three weeks.

Sarasota Medieval Fair (FL) announces some BIG ACTS! -- posted by JohnPaul on Saturday, July 29, 2006 11:15PM
SARASOTA MEDIEVAL FAIR - ANNOUNCEMENT
November 11-12 & 18-19, 2006

CURRENTLY ACCEPTING VENDORS & RIDES/GAMES FOR THE 2006 SEASON!

Vending is juried and after juried is based on a FIRST-COME FIRST-SERVE BASIS. Deadline is October 18, 2006. Vendor Applications can be downloaded online at: www.SarasotaMedievalFair.com under the "Shows & Shoppes" page, under "Shoppes." OR if requested, we can send you an application by mail or fax.

Sarasota Medieval Fair
November 11-12 & 18-19, 2006
Hunsader Farms; Bradenton, Florida
10am-5pm - Rain or Shine
Est. Attendance: 35000+
Toll-Free: 1-888-303-FAIR
Website: www.SarasotaMedievalFair.com

Event Details:
The 2006 festival will feature over 13 state and nationally renowned entertainment groups, 255 entertainers, exotic animal encounters such as Elephants Rides and Tiger Exhibits, 90+ themed vendors and food vendors, themed rides/games, period dancing, and so much more. Featured performances include the Full-Armored Full-Contact Jousting Tournament, the Human Combat Chess Match performance, and the all-inclusive Royal Feast.

New Featured Performances:
-Puke & Snot
-Hack and Slash
-Fushu Daiko
-Ded Bob
-Aerial Angels
-and many more...

For more information visit: www.SarasotaMedievalFair.com or if you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Director of Vendor Services, toll free at: 1-888-303-FAIR (3247) ext. 2 or Vendors@SarasotaMedievalFair.com

Des Moines Ren Faire vidcast #15 and new playlist. -- posted by JohnPaul on Saturday, July 29, 2006 12:57PM
Vidcast #15 has been posted, and I've created a new YouTube.com playlist that will always contain the most recent video first. Here's the playlist for the most recent video:

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=AF829B43F2A32B72

I think I'm going to make it contain all the videos in reverse order, so the most recent shows up first:



#15 was edited using Final Cut, where all the earlier episodes were done using iMovie. Thus, it looks a bit different. Hopefully I'll get this new program figured out.

Iowa's Festival Park update (with videos). -- posted by JohnPaul on Thursday, July 20, 2006 1:03AM
Video update #14 has just been posted to YouTube.com and also the Des Moines Ren Faire website (http://dmrenfaire.com). Also, another batch of consturction photos is now in the photo gallery of that site. Fast and furious as opening day approaches! Check it out, inline below (if your browser supports it), or visit the official website:

Off topic: Buy the Sheriff an iPod??? -- posted by JohnPaul on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 9:50AM
I met Troy Rutter a few years ago when he was helping run the Boy Scouts crossbow booth at the Iowa Renaissance Festival. He posted a bunch of photos from the event, and has posted some pics of the Pirate Comedy Show several times, so we like him. He's also getting involved with the Des Moines Renaissance Faire project. He will be potraying what is basically the Sheriff of Nottingham, though adjusted to fit the village of Merryfield. I run into him about once a week at the site when he's out for the Tuesday sword practices.

Troy also runs a few audio podcasts, including Rutter's Ramblings. http://www.ruttersramblings.com Think "guy in basement meets Jerry Doyle Show." Take a listen sometime. There's no iPod required, of course -- it's just an MP3 file and you can play it right from a web page if you want.

Well, speaking of iPods, Troy has never owned one. He's shamelessly put up a website:

http://www.troyneedsanipod.com

...and he's accepting donations to get the $400 he wants for a new iPod. He's up to $35 right now, so someone must be falling for that. (Hey, weirded things have happened on the internet!)

So, drop a few bucks his way, if you must, but remember...

http://ineedanipodmorethantroy.com

:-)

(updated) Another Ren Fest documentary... -- posted by JohnPaul on Monday, July 17, 2006 10:26PM
Well, it's been a few years since the last one, so I guess it was time for someone else to do a documentary on renaissance festivals. You can see the trailer over at Yahoo! video:

The Faire Life - SteraFilms Documentary

Looks good, just like all trailers do. Check it out!

Update: The footage in the trailer was shot at the Kentucky Renaissance Festival, a first year event (read the review in the next issue of RRR). [more...]

A request from the Southern California Renaissance Pleasure Faire. -- posted by JohnPaul on Sunday, July 16, 2006 4:09PM
The Queen wants you! Yes !!! You !!!

The Queen'sCourt portrays the lords, ladies, knights, masters, and mistresses of the Elizabethan era at the Renaissance Pleasure Faire in Southern California. Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth of England, is on spring progress in the country to meet with her people. Upon Her progress she stops at various noble houses. She currently visits the fortified castle residence of Sit Henry Stanley, 4th earl of Derby, Lathom House. The Queen's visit requires a great many persons to assist with and provide entertainment for her visit.

This is where we need you! To play as mistresses and masters of the Noble Derby House in Lathom. To be an attendant unto the prestigious Derby House is to be part of the largest house in all of England, second only to Her Majesties!

So if you want to stretch your talents and imagination in outdoor theatre, this is a place like no other to do it!!

Visit the websites below and submit a request to join. If we receive your request before then, you can come visit us at our post season cast party the 2nd half of July, where you can meet current members, and other prospective new members.

Character auditions, workshops, etc. are also planned for the October/November time frame in gearing up for next season.

We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you soon!!

Visit http://www. renfaireman.org for more information on the Queen'sCourt. Submit a request to join our group of players at :http://www.renfaireman.org/howtojoin.aspx

For more information on the Renaissance Pleasure faire, visit: http://www.renfair.com/socal/

David Wine
Guildmaster, Queen'sCourt - RPFS

Looking for Muddy Kisses in KC. -- posted by JohnPaul on Tuesday, July 11, 2006 9:16PM
If anyone out there knows "Muddy Kisses" from Kansas City, could you have him drop me a line? Thanks, much!

DMRF video journal in newspaper (sorta). -- posted by JohnPaul on Monday, July 10, 2006 5:45PM
My video podcast I've been doing about the Festival Park (where Des Moines Ren Faire will be held, among other events) got a mention in today's Des Moines Register:

Des Moines Register article

No screen shot or anything -- just a paragraph mentioning it. But hey, I'll take it.
[more...]

(update) Pirates of the Caribbean - best movie opening EVER? -- posted by JohnPaul on Monday, July 10, 2006 7:55AM
From the DizNews newsletter, it looks like the new Pirates movie set new records. The only reason I mention it here is because of the impact it's having on festivals (so many pirate festivals have popped up since Jack Sparrow made his appearance a few years ago):

DIZNEWS: It was a big weekend for Disney at the box office, as "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" had a record breaking opening. It started on Friday as the movie made $55.5 million in it's first day of release, beating the previous record of $50 million set by "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith". Additionally, Captain Jack and company earned a staggering $132 million over it's first three days of release, smashing the record "Spider-Man" set in 2002 of $115 million.

Confirmed by the Internet Movie Database. Also, an article on FoxNews.com quotes this:

"Even factoring in higher admission prices since 2002, "Dead Man's Chest" still set a record of just under 20 million tickets sold, about 200,000 more than "Spider-Man."

I'd like these "records" better if they just went by how many people saw the movie. I still wonder how this compares to older movies, when adjusted for inflation (ie, 1970s Star Wars, or older films).

Des Moines entertainment list posted. -- posted by JohnPaul on Sunday, July 9, 2006 12:49AM
About 30 of the planned acts for the Des Moines Renaissance Faire have been announced:

http://www.dmrenfaire.com/entertainment_new.shtml [more...]

Spoiler-free "review" of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest -- posted by JohnPaul on Saturday, July 8, 2006 9:19PM
Well, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest premiered in Des Moines on Friday at 12:00am (that's Thursday night at midnight). The largest non-IMAX screen in town at Merle Hay Mall (one big screen and seating for almost 800) is showing it in full THX.

Without any plot details, I'll just say this movie is way, way, way over the top with some amazingly outlandish special effect stunts, tons of near-slapstick comedy, and more special effects and action than you can shake a sword at. This may turn some folks off, so be prepared. Consider it a roller coaster movie ride and you'll probably love every minute of it.

It ends with a cliffhanger (for those who don't know they have been working on Part 2 and Part 2: World's End at the same time), and this cliffhanger is probably going to get more people going "what? when's the next one coming out? no way!" than Empire Strikes Back did while we waited years for Return of the Jedi to be done.

I personally loved it, and they slid in many new tributes to the original Pirates of the Caribbean ride (mostly the Disneyland version, since it's twice as long as the abbreviated one in Florida).

We'll be going to check it out again, and since "normal" people in line seem to be dressing up with pirate hats and T-shirts and stuff, maybe we should arrange a garbed invasion. We'll certainly do one at Billy Joe's Pitcher Show if they get it in second run...

Go see it soon, and maybe it will make more money over opening weekend than Superman Returns has made in 8 days...

Colorado Medieval/Renaissance festivals. -- posted by JohnPaul on Saturday, July 8, 2006 12:39AM
Middle Age Productions, LLC
Post Office Box 271782
Fort Collins, CO 80527

(970) 266-1333 Phone/Fax
together@medievalworld.us

July 7, 2006
AtTheFaire.com
John-Paul George
P.O. Box 22031
Des Moines, Iowa 50325-9401


RE: Colorado Renaissance Festival

To Whom It May Concern:

You might find an interesting story in the following.

WHY is the Colorado Renaissance Festival (CRF) operating as a Renaissance themed event for 30 years now attempting to become identified as a “medieval theme park”? At best CRF is only a summer themed event of the Renaissance period and in no stretch of the imagination a theme park, much less of the medieval period.

The answer might be that over the last two years, representatives of CRF have attended Colorado Medieval Festival© and have seen what this event is accomplishing and wishes to reduce the impact and unique identity of this event before it gains much further ground. Colorado Medieval Festival© is unique in the promotion of Medieval World, USA©, in (see www.medievalworld.us) a true living history site of the middle ages, a medieval theme park in every sense of the word, that would operate year around.

Should you have any questions regarding Colorado Medieval Festival© or Medieval World, USA©, you may contact me at (970) 266-1333 or email Media2007@coloradocastle.com.

Regards,

Roger Gomez
General Manager
Middle Age Productions

Ren Faire of the Midlands photos, Greater St. Louis podcast, and more. -- posted by JohnPaul on Tuesday, July 4, 2006 1:28PM
First, Happy Independence Day, America!

I was only able to attend the Renaissance Faire of the Midlands for a short time on their final day this year, but I did manage to get a few hundred photos taken. They have been (somewhat) sorted and uploaded:

http://www.atthefaire.com/photos/Iowa/FaireoftheMidlands2006/index.htm

There are also 8 video podcasts covering the construction of Festival Park in
Des Moines (where many events will be held, including the Des Moines Renaissance Faire). They have been reposted to YouTube.com now that YouTube can handle widescreen video properly.

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=43A3000964498D2A

Another Rencast podcast was posted, which is Part 2 from the Greater St. Louis Renaissance Faire, including interviews with 3 Pints Gone and Elven Drums:

http://podcastalley.com/podcast_details.php?pod_id=10623

I think that's it for now. I've been in the process of moving the past week or
so, and am 99% done. Right now almost everything is boxed up, though, so it may be some time before I am back in the swing of things.

Yet *another* renaissance event for Iowa this year? -- posted by JohnPaul on Monday, July 3, 2006 8:07AM
I know I've been out of the loop for a few years, but this is getting ridiculous. This morning I was forwarded an e-mail about another renaissance event in Iowa I'd never heard of -- in Charles City, IA. Charles City is close to Mason City, where the very first Iowa Renaissance Festival was held back in 1992.

According to the e-mail (I haven't called to verify), the event will be held August 19-20 and the deadline for contacting them was June 20th. I just got this note today, so it may be too late to get booked, but for those interested:

Attention Festies! New Festival Opportunity Knocking!!

The Charles City Renaissance Arts Festival in Iowa will be in action on the weekend of August 19th and 20th! It will be a celebration of art, music, dance, theater, and of course the Renaissance time period.

Acts of all kinds welcome to apply! A stipend could be yours, or perhaps that and passing the hat if you are an organized show -- Individual or group! Need accommodations? Give us a call and let us know what's in your show and we'll see what can be done.

Come ye jugglers, ye jesters, musicians and drummers, magicians and mimes, fire eaters and poi dancers, gypsies, fairies, and fools! Be you stage or street!

If you are interested in participating in Charles City, Iowa or would like more information, please respond by June 20th so that proper planning of events can be arranged in a timely fashion. Discussions will be made with properly timed responses and contracts will be finalized after August 1st. Please be sure to inquire about campground and other accommodation facilities in the area if you will require a place to stay.

Charles City Arts Center
641-228-6284

I don't know anything beyond this, but it easily pushes us over the "most events in one year" record (though one of the events announced for this year was already cancelled after money had been taken, so maybe we're actually just tied).

Just an FYI...

Page counter testing in progress. -- posted by JohnPaul on Sunday, July 2, 2006 5:10PM
You know those page counters you see on webpages that show how many visits the site has had? Many of them just count every page load, so if one person goes to the site and clicks Reload/Refresh in their web browser ten times, the counter goes up by ten. Smarter counters do not count reloads -- but they do count again if you load, then someone else loads, then you load again -- even if that was within 2 seconds. The "don't count reloads" counters are the most comment, and fairly accepted as honest.

At the top of each page of this site is a counter script I wrote which stores ALL the visitors for a certain amount of time, and it won't count any reloads by that visitor until the time expires. I have it set to 24 hours, so if you visit at 6pm on Monday, it won't count you again until after 6pm on Tuesday. So, if you visit once in the morning before going to work or school, then in the evening after you get home, then once again right before bedtime, you are only counted once. Many webmasters would consider this three actual visits, which sounds fair to me. So, a counter like mine could be set to a value of, say, an hour or so, then the above example would count as three visits.

The reason I mention this is to explain what is up with the top page counter. I was curious to see how it would handle *alot* of activity. During the peak times, ATF gets around 1000 unique visitors in a 24 hour period. The counter is maintaining a list of 1000 visitors, and seems to handle that just fine. But would the counter work on a site with 5000 unique visitors? To test, I turned off the "no recounting" part of the script, and now it's doing a raw "page load" counter (like the first example).

This means nothing. It's just for fun. But it's interesting to see how it works.

So, if you were curious, that's what is going on. Just a test. If you want to try this script out on your own website, you can find it at:

http://www.os9al.com/subetha/

But I will soon be posting a revised version of the script with a minor update.

Happy July 4th!

A Minstrosi-summer (Minstrosity tour schedule) -- posted by JohnPaul on Saturday, July 1, 2006 11:26AM
(This just in... well, a week or so ago. I'm about 15 days behind due to moving to a new place.)

It's summer! (Where has the time gone already?!) And here's where we're playing (so far)...

* July 8-9 Wisconsin Renaissance Faire - Chippewa Falls, WI
* July 15-16 Wisconsin Renaissance Faire - Chippewa Falls, WI
* August 4-6 Tall Ships Chicago Chicago, IL
* August 12 Bristol Renaissance Faire (Private Event) Bristol, WI
* September 2-4 Amana Colonies Renaissance Festival Amana Colonies, IA

As always, more information, including show times and specific locations, may be found on the "Upcoming Shows" page of our website.
--
Josephine Marie Thane
Minstrosity http://minstrosity.com