The King’s Taxes part 1

So you want to be an artist at the renaissance festival? What a great way to express your inner soul! Freedom to draw, to sculpt, to perform and let out that hidden child! And to get paid for it! You pour your heart and soul into your creations. And the people flock to see you… Continue reading The King’s Taxes part 1

You need to know about Fresh Rag

I’ve promised to share the tools and tidbits of a successful life at festivals. Al Craig has had some great advice for crafters when at festivals, but we haven’t delivered a lot of info for Makers that applies outside our world. My own art form is management (although I admit to being better-than-passable at building… Continue reading You need to know about Fresh Rag

Things to think about before launch

Everywhere I’ve gone this month, the conversation seems to be about the intersection of Entertainment and Commerce in the Festival or Theme Park world. Permanent parks and themed environments are not entry-level venues, whether speaking of crafts, services, or food & beverage sales. Too often participants leap into an investment in a park or festival… Continue reading Things to think about before launch

Mimicry and Innovation in the Festival Industry

In a clearly defined business category, it is easy to watch your competitors and see which of their ideas work, and which fail. You can watch the most successful team, and mimic their attempts within your own budgets of time and money. However, those of us that straddle more than one category have to keep… Continue reading Mimicry and Innovation in the Festival Industry

Playing by the Numbers, part 1, Patron/Vendor Ratio

Editor’s note: This is the first installment in Al’s series that uses metrics to determine the financial relationship between vendors and festivals.Following articles will end up with internal links here (Part 2). It’s high-season in the outdoor festival business, but we’ll get them to you eventually. I love to play poker.  When I was a… Continue reading Playing by the Numbers, part 1, Patron/Vendor Ratio

The Velvet Cage

Editor’s note: This week we have a post by our friend John Davis. He’s one of many friends who have utilized their festival experience to build other exciting careers. His motivational speeches are highly sought after in the corporate world, and we are very happy to have him as part of the Festival Prose team.… Continue reading The Velvet Cage

Summer Job Lady

This post originally appeared on my personal blog, but just this week I was having a conversation with a Crafter about hiring good help, and the choice to become a mentor. Many many people have their first job experience at an outdoor festival or theme park. It is something we need to remember as the… Continue reading Summer Job Lady

So You Want to Work at a Renaissance Festival, part two

So you want to work at the Renaissance Festival?   This column is the finale of a two part series on the wonderful world of Renaissance Festival Employment. The first installment described the stalwart staff of the Crafts, Foodservice, and Gaming divisions. Today we take on the Prima Donnas; The Entertainers.   Are you a show-off? Do you like playing dress-up? Are… Continue reading So You Want to Work at a Renaissance Festival, part two

So You Want to Work at a Renaissance Festival, part one

For my second outing as guest writer for the amazing Rhonni D’s blog, I thought I’d answer yet another question that I hear frequently in my life as a touring Renaissance Festival professional  People often ask me how they should go about “running away and joining the circus” that is the Renaissance Festival. I am… Continue reading So You Want to Work at a Renaissance Festival, part one