Archive for January 25th, 2008

The 2008 Renaissance Symposium

Posted by admin at 25th January, 2008

The Symposium is heading to the Central Valley

Right-click here to download pictures. To help protect your privacy, Outlook prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.
Roundtables, Lectures, and Classes of every kind

Academics, students of theater, renaissance enthusiasts, and actors are invited to this interdisciplinary conference aimed at bringing together all those interested in learning about Renaissance era and the role of the re-enactor within the Renaissance setting. The weekend workshops will put aspiring actors in touch with the people ‘in the know’ who will provide” first-hand knowledge and an inside-the-character perspective on becoming a better renaissance performer.

This year will also feature sessions for event producers as well as entertainment and vendor coordinators, bringing a new level of communication and sharing the knowledge gained over the years of experience between the people who make it all happen. If you’re getting ready for your first time, or have produced multi-weekend events for decades, there’ll be something for everyone.

More Meeting & Greeting than ever before.
There are some events you will never want to end. This is one of them. The Symposium will open Friday with an evening reception and mixer. Saturday, there will be a full schedule of classes followed by an evening dinner/banquet reception and a lively karaoke party. A packed program of activities and classes continues on Sunday.

Guilds, Vendors, and the Public. Right-click here to download pictures. To help protect your privacy, Outlook prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.
Theatrical and Stage
Combat Lessons
This year we will have more guilds and vendors with more wares to help you get ready for the new season. Whether you are a renaissance enthusiast ready to join a guild, or an event producer looking for new groups to staff your event, come and see the plethora of re-enactment choices for your perusal.

Have something to share?
There are always more things to learn. If you have a class/session idea that you don’t see listed, and would like to suggest it, or if you’d like to volunteer to teach or chair it, please drop us a note. We’re constantly looking for new ideas…

Who Attends the Symposium?
Anyone who performs, sells, or produces Faires, as well as individuals who are interested in becoming involved for the first time. Various sessions accomodate all levels of experience from the beginner to the advanced attendee.

http://www.rensymposium.com

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So, it’s off…

Posted by admin at 25th January, 2008

Back in October at the 15th annual Folsom Faire, the group that’s produced it all this time (St. Matthews Guild) announced that it had decided that 15 years was enough and that they would be retiring after last year’s event. They’ll still be performing at Faires as a guild, but no longer producing an event. At that event, Liz Martin (the Lady who’s been the producer for the last several years), announced that she’d be continuing on with a new production team.

All good and well, then in early December, the City of Folsom (who actually owns the Faire), sent out a request for proposal outline to a handful of producers in Northern California. The deadline was today (January 25th). It’s been a hard decision all the way around, I know Liz was annoyed that anyone else going after it (telling one of the other interested producers that it was unprofessional for us to have even shown up for the informational meeting with the city), but if I were in her shoes I can’t say that I’d have been very different. I might have been less surprised, but it wouldn’t change the fact of feeling like you were stuck in the ocean with sharks in the water and a nasty cut on your leg.

Some 50 man-hours of effort later between myself, Marti, and others who all chimed in their $.02 worth, it was finally done early this weekend and we sent it off – all 68 pages of the proposal. It’s probably the most detailed Faire-related document I’ve ever been a part of, but in the end, I’m profoundly proud of it.

I don’t know if we’ll wind up winning the project, but whether we do or not, I’m really at the moment as happy with our presentation as I could be. Over the length of the document’s writing, it helped put into context how much we do across our various groups and departments, and how many things we have to offer. And also how danged good we’ve become in presenting ourselves and in crunching the numbers.

We’re very much not perfect, but I think we know more than most where our imperfections lie, and what our challenges are. At least that way we can work on them as we go.

If we get it, it’ll be posted about here and elsewhere, but for now, we wait, and I keep fingers crossed.

To the other production group pitching for it as well – all the best of wishes and luck, and whomever gets it, I hope it’s a smooth and prosperous year running up to the 16th annual Folsom Faire.