OK... I'm looking for a little feedback on something.  Frankie and I have been discussing, thinking, and planning ideas to start a renaissance/fantasy festival down here near Branson MO for a few years now, and we're actually getting closer to seeing it happen.  If we really busted butts, it would even be possible for next year... though I don't think we are necessarily planning for that, more likely it would be at least a couple years down the road.  But hey, anything's possible.  Anyway, we're trying to get some feedback ahead of time on what people think: what they'd like to see, good dates for a show, themes, etc. and if you'd actually be interested in being in it.  Our tentative plan is a first weekend in August show.  Looking at dates of other shows around the area, that seems the least busy.  And though it sometimes can be a little warm in August, at least there's no rain.  That's also the last big weekend for families taking vacations before school starts back up, and Branson is a big tourist destination, so we figured the show would capitalize somewhat on that crowd too.  Eventually, we'd like to see it develop into a huge production. rivalling Silver Dollar City, but in a ren/fantasy setting.  We've got our eyes on 170 acres of beautiful rolling hillside that we'd like to put it, complete with a cliff that overlooks the major interstate that would be perfect to put a castle, and people would see it for miles.  But, before then.... we're looking at leasing the fairgrounds where they have the county fair.  It's already got a horse arena and stables, cooking facilities, bathrooms, one large permanent stage already up, a couple other large buildings that would make great feasting halls, dungeon, or a place for some indoor booths, and the area is flat.  It also borders a river, and has camping (both tent and rv) on both sides of the fairgrounds, but shielded from view by trees on one side, and a tall hill on the other that wraps around 2 sides of the grounds.  That hill also is the main highway, so TONS of visibility, but relatively little roadnoise with it being up above probably 20-30 feet.  About the only downside we can think of is that there are very few trees on the actual grounds, and August can be warm.  But there will be lots of areas to sit, with shading of some form artificially provided, plus the indoor areas to get out of the sun.  I've got a friend on board with us who is a 15 year vet of TRF, as well as some great entertainers and street performers.  We chose a fantasy them instead of strictly renaissance to avoid conflicts with this or that not being "period".  We still want an old world flair, but anything from vikings to pirates, ogres to fairies, princes to paupers... you get the idea.  I hate seeing some catch flak or even not be able to participate because their dream of being a famous viking warrior isn't "period" for the timeframe of the show.  This is a world where fun and fantasy meet, and we want that to be apparent in every aspect of the show.  So anyway, that's a basic rundown of it, sparing the details.  We're looking at probably having vendor fees of $50 for an outside spot (provide your own tent), or $100 for an inside spot, which may (I have to check for certain) include electricity if needed, and possibly tables and/or chairs (again, not a certainty, but perhaps).  Anyway, let me know what you guys think, pass a link to this on to friends, it would be really encouraging to get messages from 200 people saying "yeah, that's an awesome idea, and we'd love to come!"... that definitely would be a spur to get it ready asap.  Thoughts, comments, ideas, its all welcome.

Yeah, almost 2 months since my opening post... well, at least I added a picture in there during that time. Had a blast at KC again this year, met some great new friends, and leaned Sphereplay, which I've really taken a knack to, and now perform in the Branson Landing as "Cannonball" James, a sphereplaying pirate.  We had a Christmas parade over the weekend, and Mel Tillis actually came up to me and told me how neat he thought it was.  That was pretty cool.  The weekend before was Northwest Arkansas ren fest, which was far better than last year, its debut.  Hopefully next year they'll have a better location though, since we do the coats of arms and name histories, we need electricity, and the inside vendor booths were rather overlooked by alot of the patrons that just went straight into the arena to watch the joust and straight back out without checking out the indoor booths, which were only half a dozen or so anyway.  But the trip was paid for at least, so that's good. And had fun, met some neat people, and got to introduce Sphereplay to Fayetteville.  We had several people tell us that we were their favorite booth because it was a lot of fun watching and playing.  All in all, its a pretty fun show.  Rather laid back and casual (perhaps a little too casual in some areas) but there's some people that really care about the show behind it, so I see it improving as it goes on.  So, if you aren't doing anything the last weekend in October, you might think about it.