Pranks and the show...

Well crap . . .

*takes off teddy bear outfit*

I'm sorry, I know many people love the mardi gras feeling of the final grand ringout with gory costumes and the like, and I have participated in it, but to tell you the truth, I'm not convinced it's the best thing for faire either.

Agree about Grand Ring Out. It shouldn't be a popularity / theme contest. It does detract...

I think there are also ways that it can be done to show (group) individuality but still keep in character and keep the show what it is supposed to be. The example that comes to my mind is a few years back (I think it was the first year in Irwindale) when the military guys stayed in full costume but instead of carrying their regular steel weapons they carried plastic inflatable neon swords. I thought that was pretty clever. But I also remember a discussion of them dressing in more modern military attire for Grand Ringout... still keeping with military but different era. Don't know if that one actually happned but I would tend to be less inclined to consider that clever and keeping with the show.

Most of my friends and family will not come to faire on the last weekend any more - let alone the last day.

They pay full price to get in, and for some strange reason they expect to get the same show that they would get any other faire day. But after being disappointed a few years in a row by faire-wide inside jokes all day, lack of merchandise in the stores, ale stands running out of beer, and a largely anachronistic closing parade, they're done.

Can't say I blame them.

I am torn on three fronts when it comes to the Grand Ringout (Robert, I am sorry but it seems as though this thread has gotten away from your original request to not mess with the final parade so I am going that direction)…

Grand Ringout… the end of faire… the way for the participants to let loose and sing the proverbial “no more teachers no more books “ song. A way to finally let loose all the tension and celebrate the end of a great season. Yay… it is good.

The customers… the ones who have only come out on the last day of faire. They pay to come in and see the Renaissance Pleasure Faire in all it’s Glory. What do Zombies have to do with the faire?

The customers.. who come to the faire.. all the time.. who know what to expect…. And who look forward to seeing how the crazy people get even crazier that one last time.

I believe it is a management decision. What do they want to accomplish with Grand Ringout… and who are they REALLY doing it for.

Hi, comin in late (duh..)

I think everyone has valid points. My take on it is kind of 2 fold as is many (well, except Greg...cause now I can't campaign for Fozzy bear).

I was at Agoura 1988 and you can't honestly compare any other ring out to that day. That day was then end of a very long era in many people's lives. And lets be fair, J Paul to my knowledge was dressed in a Tux and arrived in a limo with Jan Todd. So, to say everyone was in costume isn't accurate. As well, there was a huge rally after the ring out where people dressed as wizards and other characters not associated to faire lead a rally to save the very land the faire was on. Sort of a big hippy love in. It was a big experience, but it was also very personal to those who work the faire. Not all the audience knew of it's significance. So I can't possibly compare the two.

Which brings me to my point. Everyone has worked very hard and given a tremenous amount to the show. The grand ring out is (like in Agoura) their goodbye. Like the last day of school, you may or may not see these people again for 9 months +. It's a time to be silly, and a time to let your hair down. The harm isn't that great if it's done at the end of the night, and done not in malice to your fellow actors. It's not like interupting a stage show, or creating hazards for those doing their daily routine.

Grand Ring out is a chance for a Grand Shout out...a breath of releaf and joy at the closing of a good season. In theater, film and other theatrical arenas there is often a "Wrap Party" a "Break rehearsal" and in the case of Agoura a Night Show. We have none of these things...so everyone seems to blow their load in the parade.

I say, no harm, no foul. If a customer doesn't return because they witnessed grand ring out but enjoied the rest of the faire...well, they came for the wrong reasons. We take our lives and our surroundings too seriously at times, that's why Disney changed Pirates...because a few people were offended.

That's just my opinion.