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The Great
Dickens Christmas Fair Missive
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Dickens
Christmas Fair 2009 December Missive #1
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Notes
from your Missive Maven:
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Thanks
for a great opening weekend!
From Kevin and Leslie:
Congratulations to all of us on a fabulous opening
weekend! Our attendance was so good; it broke records all three
days. This resulted in the best opening weekend of any year in
recent memory. The 31st Anniversary is off to a roaring
start! The Fair LOOKS great and the spirit in the streets, on
stages, and in the shops and parlors is delightfully high. We
expect that attendance numbers will continue to grow, as they always
do, between now and closing day.
Many thanks!
Kevin and Leslie
Please read all the information carefully and save and/or print it for
further reference.
Please remember to contact the folks referenced in each notice, rather
than hitting "reply".
Past missives can be viewed at http://www.cattaylor.com/missives.html
Thanks and see you Saturday morning!
Cat Taylor
Entertainment Director and Missive Maven
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In This Massive
Missive
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San
Francisco Traffic Alert - 19th Ave. Closed at Judah Again
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Please
Watch Your Volume Near the Stages
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SF
Chronicle: "Renaissance Faire's Free Spirit Survives
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Large
Private Party, Evening of December 12th
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"A
Christmas Carol" Manuscript Online
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Notes
on Engaging the Audience
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And
Another in Promote the Fair and Help a SchooPromote the Fair and Help a
School
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Memorial
for The Mullah (This Saturday Evening)
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Postcards
Evening Show - Just for You! (This Saturday Evening)
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Victorian
Thriller Flashmob Video!
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Dickens
Fair Commemorative Pin
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Buck
& Mug: "Traditions and Nostalgia" & "The Archive Edition"
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A
New Book From Our Own Jon DeCles
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PR/Marketing
Update from Adrienne Biggs
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Reminder:
Lost & Found
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Reminder:
No Customers in the Backstage Areas, Please
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Reminder:
Week Day Access
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Reminder:
No Smoking!!!
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Reminder:
No Pets, Please
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Reminder:
Breakfast at the Fair
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Reminder:
Participant Discounts & Offers
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San
Francisco Traffic Alert - 19th Ave. Closed at Judah Again
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Thanks to Cindy Gurtner again for letting us know that 19th Ave. will
be closed at Judah again this weekend.
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Please
Watch Your Volume Near the Stages
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Please be aware of your volume near stages and environmental areas,
lower your voices and aim your voices away from these areas. Thanks.
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SF
Chronicle: "Renaissance Faire's Free Spirit Survives"
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In case you haven't seen this great article in the San Francisco
Chronicle about The Dickens Fair and Ron Patterson, take a look.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/11/28/DDKU1AO2T9.DTL
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Large
Private Party, Evening of December 12th
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Just a heads up that we will be hosting a private party on December
12th, for about 450 folks from BPM (Burr, Pilger & Mayer), a CPA
& Financial Services company owned by Steve Mayer. Steve
helped finance the start up of Dickens over our first few years, and
this party is one way we are all able to work together to pay him
back.
The party venue area will be the far three bays (Dark
Garden-Sal's/Adventurers-Golden Square/Carousel-Legion). Hours will be
from 7:15 to 10:15. The guests will be wearing BPM name
tags. The normal Fair audience will be asked to leave right at
7:00.
If you are involved in this event, you will hearing from your director,
booth owner, etc. The whole fair area may be impacted by the
preparations, so I wanted to make sure you all know what's going on.
Thanks!
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"A
Christmas Carol" Manuscript Online
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Irina Ozernoy and Tom DiPasquale forwarded this great article about
Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" original manuscript.
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/01/a-christmas-rewrite-as-dickens-edits-dickens/
The manuscript itself can be seen here:
http://documents.nytimes.com/looking-over-the-shoulder-of-charles-dickens-the-man-who-wrote-of-a-christmas-carol#p=1
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Notes
on Engaging the Audience
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(from Therese Porter)
The audience is listening! They love to hear snippets of your
Victorian conversation as you pass them in the streets (your 21st
century conversation, perhaps not so much). When you comport
yourself and converse like a Victorian person you add to the magic of
the show; if you drop that physical and verbal illusion, you subtract a
little from our carefully crafted illusion. If you need to
communicate with someone as your 21st century self, take it backstage
(the audience is watching, too)
Be careful of touching our guests. Americans especially are
sensitive to personal space and touching, so use care and discretion
when engaging guests at close quarters.
Be aware of personal boundaries - if a guest sends clear (or even
ambivalent) signals that they are not interested in what you're doing,
let it go and move on. Be careful as well of running a bit too
long with your bits o' entertainment, especially if your chosen
audience is in line or trying to eat. We're trying to make the
experience magical, not vaguely annoying.
Project don't screech - your throat will be happier and so will the
ears of your audience
Sleep during the week is your friend - sleep early and often so you'll
have the energy to give your all during the fair (and fight the
battalions of germs making the rounds - sleep is terrific for the
immune system too)
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Promote
the Fair and Help a School
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(from Robin Edwards-Harvey)
Mt. Pleasant High School in East San Jose will be hosting a performance
by our own Martin Harris of A Christmas Carol, on Tuesday, December
15th at 7:00 p.m. We are looking for people who would be willing to
dress up and promote the fair and add color to Martin's reading. My
Drama students are also performing their adaptation of a Christmas
Carol (12/10, 12/11, 12/16, 12/17) and will be dressed in their
costumes. I am going to have them sit on the stage while the reading is
going on, if you wish to come dressed, you get in for free to see
Martin. If you are interested in coming we are charging$5.00 for the
general public (we are charging the students $3.00) and it will be used
to help fund the drama, photography, digital arts programs.
In particular we are hoping that people will come and carol before the
reading (6:00 - 6:50) to help put everyone in the holiday mood. Our own
choir will be unavailable to perform. Over the last few years we have
had to cut our annual holiday fundraiser due to lack of time and funds.
It is our hope that this will help us restore a holiday tradition.
The address is 1750 South White Road, San Jose, CA 95127. If you are
interested in helping out, please contact me at redward9236@yahoo.com
or find me on Facebook. Please help spread the word, the theater holds
400 and we would like to fill it up.
Thanks,
Robin
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Memorial
for The Mullah (This Saturday Evening)
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There will be a memorial for Don Brown at the Mullah's (Mr. Brown's
Fine Coffee and Teas ) this Saturday evening starting between 7:00 and
7:30, after security has escorted the last of our customers from that
area. If you need more information, please contact beverage@redbarnproductions.org
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Postcards
Evening Show - Just for You! (This Saturday Evening)
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(from Diana Young, Directrix)
Saturday, December 5, 2009 - 8 PM (or thereabouts)
The cast and crew of Saucy French Postcards is pleased to invite
Dickens Fair Participants to a Special Private Showing! We
realize many of our Fair family don't get the opportunity to see our
performances during the day. So, on Saturday, December 5th, after
the last of our esteemed paying patrons have been swept out the front
door on the lilt of Christmas carols - a very special performance will
take place, just for You, our hard-working and much-appreciated
colleagues! Join us at the V&A for a spicy theatrical
confection, as we present for your amusement and viewing delight "A
Visit from Willie Everard." Please remember that this is a show
designed for those over the age of 18, and by some, might even be
considered quite naughty!
Note from Cat - please remember to have your
passes with you, and remember this is a participants-only show, please
do not ask to have your non-participant friends stay after hours to see
it. Thanks.
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Victorian
Thriller Flashmob Video!
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(from Molly Burke)
I'm spearheading the creation of a Victorian Thriller flash mob video
on Sunday the 13th after closing. Rehearsals will take place this
Sat & Sun the 5th and 6th and then the next Sat & Sun the 12th
and 13th at 9AM (done by 10AM) in the open space in front of the
Odyssey Theatre venue. Participants are required to attend in order to
be put into the Thriller temporary dance corps (chosen by our dance
coach, Todi), though we will need all sorts of Victorian peeps/zombies
to fill out the scene. This will be filmed and put on YouTube. There
will also be a "Making of" video that will be filmed during rehearsals.
Thanks,
Molly
mburke@lifepurposeworks.com
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Dickens
Fair Commemorative Pin
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The Dickens Commemorative Pin is a charming 2009 collectible brass
pin. Sought after in the highest establishments and affordable to
the lowest. Available in Brass (in Sterling by order) at Heidi
B's Pale Moon Booth across from Rainbow's Box Clocks, Petrushka's
Creations, Steven Overstreet's Clothing and the Ladies' Loo -- in Mad
Sal's Bay.
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Buck
& Mug: "Traditions and Nostalgia" & "The Archival Edition"
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Have you gotten your latest Buck & Mug*? Lucky for you, we've
got them at Dickens too! The most recent editions, from Southern
and Northern faire this year, can be found at Pale Moon bone jewelry
near Mad Sal's -- one stop shopping!
"Traditions and Nostalgia" edited by Heidi B and Marni Z, featuring "I
Got Here Late", "The Cocktail Walk", "Larry the Lobster" and MORE!
"The Archival Edition" edited by Katherine the librarian, featuring all
kinds of treasures from Phyllis's archive of the faire-- really a
special edition!
Both editions of the Buck are $5, and are a wonderful trip into the
collective memory of this nifty thing called 'faire'!
*The Buck & Mug, a long-time faire institution, is a
participant-produced magazine featuring stories, artwork, poetry, and
photographs by and about faire participants. A great read!
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A
New Book From Our Own Jon DeCles
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The long-awaited sequel to "The Particolored Unicorn" is at last
in print. It's called "Storm Wars!" You can take a look, and even
read the opening, by going to the link below.
http://www.Piswyck.com
"The Particolored Unicorn" is Back In Print! You can read the opening,
and possibly purchase your own copy, by going to:
http://www.xlibris.com/TheParticoloredUnicorn.html
And now you can get it as a podcast at http://unicorn.libsyn.com
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PR/Marketing
Update from Adrienne Biggs
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Great Opening Weekend!
Notice 1: Kevin Patterson confirms we welcomed more than 10,000 guests
opening weekend, up 11% over last year's 'banner' record-breaking
season!!
Next Fezzi-Bomb Friday at Rockridge BART!
Info/RSVP: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=188454964636
Bug Dancers from OVO Cirque du Soleil
will once again be entertaining people waiting in line to enter Fair on
Sat 12/5, 11-12:30
Massage Reminder:
Jeffrey MacMullen will be providing chair massage to performers
in the Green Room this Saturday and Sunday, on a donation basis. He
will treat you very well, please tip! Www.therapeuticbodycare.com
Scrooge Events Update:
I have booked 17 public promotional appearances during the Fair run for
Scrooge (Martin Harris), some are also with Dickens (Robert Young);
coincidentally, that's precisely the same number as last year! He has
also been giving away tickets on BART (you should see all the excited
winners Tweeting about it!)
WAYS YOU CAN HELP OUR CONTINUING PR &
MARKETING EFFORTS:
Encourage people to add reviews to our Yelp page:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/dickens-fair-at-the-cow-palace-exhibition-halls-daly-city#hrid:zbghmgg82jKdmy4PHHdcwg/src:search/query:great%20dickens%20christmas%20fair
Encourage people to post their Fair photos to our Flickr Group:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/dickensfair/
Follow the latest news/tips/discounts on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/DickensFair
Friend us on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=70573503536
MEDIA PLACEMENTS:
Newspapers:
SF Chronicle feature on Ron Patterson, Fair and Faire:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/11/28/DDKU1AO2T9.DTL
SF Examiner Newspaper:
http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/Holiday-festivals-abound-76452407.html
SF Bay Guardian, featured pick, 11/25
SF Weekly, included in holiday magazine insert, 11/25
Mid-Valley Publications (8 newspapers), ticket giveaway contest, next
week
Online:
JetBlueSF featured holiday trip:
http://sanfrancisco.jetblue.com/2009/12/the-great-dickens-christmas-fair-at-the-cow-palace-exhibition-hall.html
DailyCandyKidsSF pick of the day 11/23:
http://www.dailycandy.com/kids/san-francisco/article/77425/Holiday-Card-Photo-Tips-from-Nancy-Alcott-Photography
Culture Mob:
http://culturemob.com/blog/great-dickens-christmas-fair-brings-victorian-england-to-san-francisco
FunCheapSF featured promo (8000 subscribers, 2nd of 3 free promos; next
12/8):
http://sf.funcheap.com/win-tix-31st-annual-great-dickens-christmas-fair-cow-%20palace/?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed
Examiner Western US travel editor:
http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-7284-Phoenix-Western-US-Travel-Examiner~y2009m11d30-Where-to-have-a-Dickens-Christmas
Splendora.com, popular SF style, culture and trend site, date TBD
http://www.kidmatter.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1011
Video:
VidSF opening weekend teaser (not sure where she got the Timegames
info):
http://vidsf.com/2009/nov/25/weekend-whats-up-tree-lighting-dickens-fair-and-turkey/
Radio:
KCBS, KSRO, KSVY, KALW, KUSF
ADDITIONAL MEDIA TO BE ATTENDING FAIR:
KOFY-TV/VidSF host and editor with camera 12/5
Nickelodeon¹s ParentsConnect Local/GoCityKids CITY GUIDE FOR
PARENTS attending 12/5
SF Weekly contributing editor, 12/12
SFStation staff photographer attending 12/13
Comcast/TasteTV, date TBD
SFArts Monthly, date TBD
ABC-TV View From the Bay, date TBD (visiting only, no filming)
ADDITIONAL GROUPS TO BE ATTENDING FAIR:
21 members of the St Clair Aeronauts, a for-fun steampunk performance
art troupe (12/5 Steampunk Day)
Dickens Fellowship of SF (12/13, toast with Robert at Green Man Inn
1:45)
15 of the country's best teenage filmmakers as part of SF Art &
Film for Teenagers program www.artandfilm.org
(12/19?)
15+ members of the Golden Gate Mothers Group (from Pacifica, date TBD)
50 students from the Career Academy programs coordinated by the
Community Educational Services and San Francisco Unified School
District (date TBD)
Cast from Curtain Call Performing Arts (date TBD)
15 Senior citizens from the Mountain View Senior Center (date TBD)
Employees from Copperfield's Books (various)
SF Burlesque Review (various)
NEW CROSS PROMOTIONAL PARTNERSHIPS:
Diablo Theater Company Dickens Celebration
Curtain Call Performing Arts "A Christmas Carol, the Musical", Oakland
Cable Car Caroling via the Officer's Club in the Presidio, through the
Institute on Aging in SF
Any questions, concerns, tips or suggestions are very welcome via
adrienne@biggspublicity.com
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Reminder:
Lost & Found
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ALL lost and found will be at the Merchandise Booth at the front of the
fair. An item Lost by someone is NOT your happy find to
keep. PLEASE turn in all lost items.
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Reminder:
No Customers in the Backstage Areas, Please
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Please do not bring customers in the backstage, even for the purpose of
taking them outside to inhale carcinogens. This is both for security
and insurance reasons. Thanks.
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Reminder:
Week Day Access
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Access to the venue during the week is limited. Mondays and
Fridays (NOT Monday thru Friday), between 10am and 5pm are the only
times available for access. All other times, the building is
locked down for all of our security and safety, and no one will be
allowed in without making special arrangements.
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Reminder:
No Smoking!!!!
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The Cow Palace is a No Smoking venue. That means No Smoking
Anything (pipes, cigars, etc.). We cannot afford to lose this
fabulous venue. Please respect the rules, otherwise we will ask
you to leave.
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Reminder:
No Pets, Please
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Please leave your pets at home. A very few performing animals actually
have passes, they are the only animals that participants may bring to
the venue.
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Reminder:
Breakfast at the Fair
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Mr. Brown's Coffee House
Mullah Mush, chicken apple sausage, fabulous pastries
and caffeine to warm you all the way to your toes!
Prices ranging $3 to $5.
The Tippling Toad
Patrick Morris' Amazing Breakfast Platters
Eggs, potatoes and meat in all sorts of combinations!
Prices ranging $5 to $6.
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Reminder:
Participant Discounts & Offers
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Adorn Thy Hair
Hair braiding, across from the Adventurer's Club, offers early morning
hours and participant discounts for braids before 10:59 A.M. See Brenda
or Lynn starting at 9am.
Holzer & Combe Haberdashery honors Christmas Keepers (gate pass
holders)
by offering a 10% discount on in-stock items. Show us your pass!
Thank you!
Lynn and the Madame Louise crew!
Blythe Spirits
Soaps, Lotions, Cremes & Balms
Show your Participant Pass and I will pay the sales tax on your
purchase.
God Bless Christmas Keepers!
Once again Dark Garden
...offers its famous raffle!
Tickets are available for $3 for a chance to win a
Ready-to-Wear corset and $5 for a chance to win a Custom Corset.
Tickets available at the Dark Garden booth during show hours
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Contact Information
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For
specific questions regarding performing at the Fair or to submit a show
proposal please email Cat Taylor
If your group would like to perform at the Fair for just one day
(school caroling groups, etc., please email Robert
Young
For specific questions regarding vending at the Fair please email Vendors
For specific questions the beverage department please email Beverage
To learn what you can do to help save the Cow Palace, please visit
http://www.savethecowpalace.com
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