File puptcrit/puptcrit.0508, message 488


Date: Tue, 30 Aug 2005 14:27:18 +0200
From: "Doug Price" <dprice-AT-shoprite.co.za>
To: <puptcrit-driftline.org-AT-lists.driftline.org>
Subject: [Puptcrit] P of A Festivals





Hi All,

I know this subject is a contentious one for the simple fact that every two years the National moves like a "circus" from city to city, hence every time the Festival is planned all the actions that need to be put into place have got to start from scratch, this gives to the problem that the national is currently not run by the Puppetry Board. The National is also starting to become one of the most expensive Festivals to attend.

The Board needs to look at one spot or venue for each National. Doing this, this way makes the Festival more accessible to all puppeteers, as well as the venue is known to all as to what to expect with accommodation and ablutions, not as it is at present where each time you go to a festival you have no idea what the accommodation is like, no idea what the bathroom facilities are like.

In my time I have been to two Festivals, each one was in a different town and venue, in the 2003 I had a complaint and that was the bathrooms left a lot to be desired, but the food was excellent. In 2005 because I asked for a bathroom attached between two rooms( which in a mail I was told about), I was put into a room with a bathroom on suite, it was clean and what luxury I thought until I found the down side was there were FOUR people sharing the one room. The food unfortunately was very bland with no choice, but be that as it may, I complained got nowhere so shut up and enjoyed the rest of the Festival.

In 2003 I attended two Festival these being

P of A in Talaqa, then for $  450.00 price not bad, food was good.

I Fest in Chicago, here I found the food to be excellent ( the canteen fed 950 delegates in one hour) and you lacked for nothing. The accommodation in the Res was excellent, and all this for a mere $ 350.00 all inclusive.( One Way Street has been using this venue for the last ten years)

In 2005 I attended three Festival these being

Venthaven held in a Motel, everything was excellent and the total cost all inclusive was $ 545.00.

Fellowship of Christian Magicians and other Performing Arts held at the Wesleyan University Campus in Indianapolis. The accommodation in the Res was very good, bathroom between two rooms shared, the food was also canteen service and fed 450 delegates, and excellent. ( FCM have been using the same venue for the last nine years)   The fee for the week was $ 320.00 includes one night extra accommodation.

P of A was held in St Paul's Minneapolis, the fees I paid with an extra two nights accommodation was $ 750.00, hence the most expensive conference, which I am sad to say also left a bad taste in my mouth, but be this as it may, looking at the above shows that a regular venue for the P of A National is what we need, to keep the price down which also makes it affordable to all members, even if the extra has to be spent in the travel to the National.

I must say that the Punch and Judy Master Class and the constant visits in the Puppetry Store were the highlights of this Festival for me.

One does appreciate all the hard work that the different Festival Committee's go to, and I applaud their sterling efforts, but I for one, had I been living in the USA I would offer my services to assist with a Festival but only if this were nailed down to one city. Also looking at the pricing of the above this goes to show me that left in one venue the costs will reduce and become more affordable to the average festival goer. When we left the National the 2007 location had still not been determined..........need I say more.

I certainly hope the P of A Board will make the right decision. I would like to hear other peoples comments or am I just a storm in a tea cup.

Regards,

Doug. =0D
  =0D


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