Photos from the Fergus Highland Games 2009

[Canuck]

I appreciate that you have nothing but good experiences but your perspective on this is entirely different than the clan tent perspective. Clan Tents are also ran by volunteers often without any outside help. The poor lady in the Gunn Tent was stuck there for the entire day. She didn't even have someone offer to take over the tent so she could go eat. We watched the tent for her. The Murrays may not be there next year because they've been doing this for 25 years and it's been all them.

True this is one of the few games that actually provides the tent for you. That's great and all. However, it is also in Ontario one of the few games that you pay for. Which tells me that we should have been treated a whole lot better than we were. Furthermore, it also tells me that I can't be the only one with an issue on this because according to several of the existing clans they were half the size this year than they were last year.

A vendor makes money at the games. A clan tent does nothing but spend. All in all, Glen and I estimate that we spent roughly $150 for the games. If not more.

I hope you will raise your concerns and provide solutions with the organisers of the Fergus Games.
Actually the clans can raise funds from membership drives as well as sell clan memorabilia such as t-shirts badges to assist covering costs. much more than that it gets into vendor territory.
It's up to the clans to staff their booths. They receive weekend passes as part of the fee so that's out of the hands of the Games.
The space was $50 including passes ! You didn't have to set up a tent nor take it down or even purchase a tent.I'm not sure what more value in kind you can get for that fee. To attend the games for the whole weekend you would have easily spent $150
Keep in mind the Games also has to pay for the pipe bands, judges, the entertainment and prizes and a hefty insurance bill, for the participants, these are the drawing cards to attract people to come to the games and possibly reunite with their clans.
As a vendor we do not get off lightly, we pay a considerable sum of money for that 10x12' space. Plus electricity, water hook-ups. Insurance, tents, travel camping on site (It can add up to $1000 fast). I am there to make money but I have to sell a lot of product ( a few kilts, sporrans and belts before I see a profit)
Both Pete and I handle our booths alone and we rely on each other to watch over the booth whilst we escape for a bathroom break, or go for a coffee. That's our choice we have to deal with it as we could easily hire someone to work with us (there goes our profit).
Do I have issues with the Fergus games? I do have some challenges, I try and figure out how I can solve them and to what extent I will prepare for them next time.
I think you made a wise decision not to participate in the clan avenue next year and hopefully experience the pageantry, the music, the dance and the heavies the Fergus Games have to offer.
Trenton and Owen Sound have a nice set of Games and they are in the future so maybe you can catch them as well.

[Morton]

Hello, Here are a few pic taken on Saturday Aug. 8th of the opening ceremony/ massed bands. The weather was quite nice, overcast and not too hot. Please follow the link: http://picasaweb.google.com/maritime...O_Z6_6qhJj_Aw#
We had a nice visit and spent too much money.
Don

[McMurdo]

Don
Thanks for adding the link to your photos, it was great to see Jean Guy and yourself. Glad you had a good time, while you are at Caringorm with your kilt I will be at The Scottish Company with mine, as I was standing waiting for the March of the Clans someone caught me and ripped some stitches from the fell on the top of one pleat of my Isle of Skye.

[GMan]

Nice pictures.

[Hendry]

Sorry I had to miss it this year, off on holidays with the family, looks like some decent weather though, which is always nice.

Cheers
Dave

[mcpelle]

I wasn't aware that my picture was being taken by somebody banned from xmark. However it was nice meeting your wife. Would also like to apology to Robert from RKilt for not stopping by his booth. When we first passed by you were busy with customers, we were going to stop later but we got busy and then the rain started. Sorry Robert.

[Canuck]

I wasn't aware that my picture was being taken by somebody banned from xmark. However it was nice meeting your wife. Would also like to apology to Robert from RKilt for not stopping by his booth. When we first passed by you were busy with customers, we were going to stop later but we got busy and then the rain started. Sorry Robert.

Not a problem Norm, it was just grand to even wave to you in passing.

[BobsYourUncle]

Thanks for the photos! Looks like a great day, maybe with some setbacks. Regards...

[duchessofnc]

I hope you will raise your concerns and provide solutions with the organisers of the Fergus Games.
Actually the clans can raise funds from membership drives as well as sell clan memorabilia such as t-shirts badges to assist covering costs. much more than that it gets into vendor territory.
It's up to the clans to staff their booths. They receive weekend passes as part of the fee so that's out of the hands of the Games.
The space was $50 including passes ! You didn't have to set up a tent nor take it down or even purchase a tent.I'm not sure what more value in kind you can get for that fee. To attend the games for the whole weekend you would have easily spent $150
Keep in mind the Games also has to pay for the pipe bands, judges, the entertainment and prizes and a hefty insurance bill, for the participants, these are the drawing cards to attract people to come to the games and possibly reunite with their clans.
As a vendor we do not get off lightly, we pay a considerable sum of money for that 10x12' space. Plus electricity, water hook-ups. Insurance, tents, travel camping on site (It can add up to $1000 fast). I am there to make money but I have to sell a lot of product ( a few kilts, sporrans and belts before I see a profit)
Both Pete and I handle our booths alone and we rely on each other to watch over the booth whilst we escape for a bathroom break, or go for a coffee. That's our choice we have to deal with it as we could easily hire someone to work with us (there goes our profit).
Do I have issues with the Fergus games? I do have some challenges, I try and figure out how I can solve them and to what extent I will prepare for them next time.
I think you made a wise decision not to participate in the clan avenue next year and hopefully experience the pageantry, the music, the dance and the heavies the Fergus Games have to offer.
Trenton and Owen Sound have a nice set of Games and they are in the future so maybe you can catch them as well.

It is evident in your response that you have no clue what is involved in running a clan tent and how clan societies operate. I invite you to get involved in your own clan. Until you have seen it from the clan tent perspective you really have no experience to base an opinion. Oh and for the record, we were dealing with the organizers. They were not interested in fixing the problems. The end. They lost me as a clan tent for good. And because I'm not the only one who is unhappy with Fergus, I'm going to be very interested in seeing how many clans return next year. As far as I am concerned the matter is closed.

[Panache]

The dutchessofnc, Cannuck, and MacHummel have all offered their perspectives on the Fergus Highland Games.

Certainly a lot of effort goes into producing events like this and constructive feedback is useful for the event organizers. No event is perfect and there is always room for improvement.

Since the dutchessofnc considers the matter closed perhaps we can get back to more pictures from the Fergus Games!

Cheers

Jamie :ootd: