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Post by Sir Black Fox on Oct 20, 2009 22:49:09 GMT -5
Most of the MDRF mgmt and a lot of the powers that be at the festival visit this site to gather information and get our input as to the operation of the faire. We're the first interactive website for The Maryland Renaissance Festival and we give everyone a chance to show their love/hate/indifference to everything MDRF.
In the spirit of input. . . . I've been asked to put forth a question to ye all. . . . what did you think of the big change in this year's program? (i.e. the big, pull-apart one-sheet vs. the usual booklet given out in the past).
As for me, I thought it was too heavy on the vendors and not on what folks come to the faire for (no, not beer and boobs). . .. the shows. The program showed where all the shopping was. . .but that single black column with 8pt. white type to give the (very confusing) show information really sucked.
The wife told me that the one day she dressed up in her Royals, at two different times, several mundanes mistook her for "cast" and complained about how difficult the program was to figure out. . . and how awkward it was to unfold the whole thing just to find out where they were!
Opinions?
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Post by willpaisley on Oct 21, 2009 9:27:19 GMT -5
I've refrained from complaining too much about the program, as I wasn't sure that my problems with it were associated with the fact that I react to change at faire like Rainman with OCD. To tell the truth, I haven't bothered with that schedule since the first day. I make it a habit to stop by the info booth and pick up one of the daily schedules with the old spreadsheet format. Another issue that I suspect the cast will bring up is that it's harder to tell if a patron is looking at the map or at the schedule. People looking at the map probably need directions; people looking at the schedule tend to get irritated if you interrupt them to offer directions.
On the plus side, I found that people were finding their way around slightly easier. The larger map seemed a bit easier to read by the patrons. OTOH, at least half of the patrons don't seem to know how to orient and read a map. On the third hand, it did seem a bit easier to teach people to read the bigger map - once you point to a) where you are and b) the path they're going to take to get where they're going (both on the map and physically out in the faire), people will often orient the map correctly.
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Post by Ana on Oct 21, 2009 14:50:48 GMT -5
I didn't particularly care for it. Sure, the fact it was in color and all was cool. But I hate highway driving maps precisely because of the whole fold out-fold in thing. I don't want to have to hold my hands way----out----here to be able to look at the map (not that I really need the map by this point). I also know it was pretty difficult to actually find out when/where shows were. In at least one case, when someone asked me to help them find a time for a show, I couldn't find it anywhere on the program. That's a BIG PROBLEM.
All I really want to see out of the program is the map (so I can direct people to stuff they want to find) and a nice, easy to read (spreadsheet format?) schedule of shows and events.
Like Will, I made it a habit to stop by the info booth and pick up a daily schedule. I didn't use the new program at all.
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Post by Mathemactor on Oct 22, 2009 10:22:16 GMT -5
I didn't particularly care for it. Sure, the fact it was in color and all was cool. But I hate highway driving maps precisely because of the whole fold out-fold in thing. I don't want to have to hold my hands way----out----here to be able to look at the map (not that I really need the map by this point). I also know it was pretty difficult to actually find out when/where shows were. In at least one case, when someone asked me to help them find a time for a show, I couldn't find it anywhere on the program. That's a BIG PROBLEM. All I really want to see out of the program is the map (so I can direct people to stuff they want to find) and a nice, easy to read (spreadsheet format?) schedule of shows and events. Like Will, I made it a habit to stop by the info booth and pick up a daily schedule. I didn't use the new program at all. And, of course, the program should continue to have a cast list, perhaps with headshots and biographies. That would be nice. And a list of the staff, techies, and stage managers that make it all possible.
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Post by TheLadyRavenwolves on Oct 26, 2009 10:02:07 GMT -5
On the first day I was all "oooh look it's pretty." It was only after Pyrates that I realized it didn't have a grid. Which pretty much caused numerous not so fun moments for the Clan RW as we tried to figure out what time to do what and which stages... We did get accustomed to getting the grid from the customer service desk but it just didn't fell very helpful - the new shiny program with the cool map. I prefer the grid for deciding our plan of action - show schedule. I like to see the shows in reference to each other... i.e. We can do the H&S show at 1245 and then pop up to the Royal Stage to see London Broil. I need reference to get two kids and a Cravan from show to show.
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