Nor Cal Highland Games Cancelled

[Semiomniscient]

The two biggest Nor Cal Games....Woodland and Pleasanton, are still "on" and I'm sure they will not fold any time soon. They will certainly gather crowds in the tens of thousands.

Funny, but both of them have living history areas with those icky "re-enactors in kilts".

Tartan Day in Ardenwood is "on", and at most a dozen clans attend, if that. It's thick with those horrible Pan-Celtic types and re-enactors in kilts, putting on fake swordplay. No pipe bands come out, not ONE. Last year there were no dance groups, I hear that this year there might be a school or two. The local Athletic group is busy, 500 miles south in Bakersfield, and so the only Athletics are what I bring along. The number of vendors is about a dozen. Much of the music is provided by volunteer groups, or the local harpers hall. Only two "name bands" make it to Tartan Day.

And yet Tartan Day at Ardenwood is still a going concern. Son of a gun. Of course, this is California...you know, the land of the uneducated and generally unwashed masses who don't know any better.

You can have all of that you want and it can be successful. But obviously, the type of "muddying the waters" of having the SCA and other non-Scottish, Ren Faire type entertainment leads to a degeneration of the games into something non-Scottish. You can't simply "slap tartan on it" and poof! it's Scottish! Most Scottish societies have the objective and mission to preserve their culture and heritage. Creating false ideas about what is "Scottish" is counter to that goal. I think bringing it back to its roots is admirable and true to the goal of Scottish societies. You needn't be Scottish to be interested in attending games. But you might ought to be actually interested in the games themselves or something that is being offered. Maybe trying to make the Games into festivals is the whole problem. Perhaps there should be more focus on the GAMES over all the other stuff that goes on. Perhaps the Clan Societies and Scottish Societies should seek to work out some historical reinactment, weapons demonstrations, etc. instead of relying on others to do so in a way that is counter to their mission. Part of the problem is not just the lack of interest of the public, it's the lack of willingness to participate in the Scottish Societies that "sponsor" the events. It all falls on so few and those active few are getting older and older and the younger ones joining up are fewer still.

[Smayniac]

I've said before, I'm not even of Scottish extraction. I went to my first games because I had friends who were competing, I found that Scooby and I enjoyed the athletics as much as anything else, although everything is a shopportunity for him.

That first year we went to two games, last year we went to two games again, although one was a different one(I'll miss Dunsmuir). Monterey is on my list because I have friends there and the weather is agreeable. I'll probably make the trek to Woodland this April and to Tartan Days at Ardenwood as well. Pleasanton is not a must go for me, I'll go if nothing else comes up, although I hear the weather was nicer last year than usual.

Alot of it for me is seeing my friends and being able to enjoy the competition.

Bob

[Alan H]

You can have all of that you want and it can be successful. But obviously, the type of "muddying the waters" of having the SCA and other non-Scottish, Ren Faire type entertainment leads to a degeneration of the games into something non-Scottish. You can't simply "slap tartan on it" and poof! it's Scottish! Most Scottish societies have the objective and mission to preserve their culture and heritage. Creating false ideas about what is "Scottish" is counter to that goal. I think bringing it back to its roots is admirable and true to the goal of Scottish societies.

It can be as true to the Societies goals as anybody could want, but if nobody pays to walk in the front gate, then the vendors don't come because they don't sell anything. If the people don't walk in the front gate, then there's no money to pay the professional athletes to show up to throw and there goes the GAMES part of it. In fact, here, locally, if there's no money involved, the local Athletics Association won't show up AT ALL...even for the local athletes, because it costs them money to fire up the truck and spend the day running the Athletics, and they have insurance bills to pay, you know?

Our local Athletics Group has a million dollar liability policy. They HAVE to have such a thing, or the guys on the board risk their homes and businesses in court if someone gets hurt when a hammer goes astray, God Forbid. Well, how do they pay the insurance bill? Who puts gas in the truck that schlepps all the gear to the site? How about the car insurance on the truck? How about when it needed new brakes last year?

The Athletes go through this over and over...about how we're representing our culture and so on. Funny, though...one of the Top Athletes is Mike Pockoski, and his heritage is from Poland. Funny how Kevin Wong and Alfonso Martinez throw with us locally, here. Funny how perhaps the finest Scottish Heavy Athletics athlete that the USA has ever produced is Ryan Viera, and his heritage is Hispanic.

Many of us do in fact feel a connection to our Heritage as we throw. However, it's made very plain that IN FACT to many of the participants, including at least a few organizing committee's, we are *entertainment*.

I don't have a problem with being *entertainment*, but I know full well that my results are not going to make it into the sports section of the newspaper, you know?

You needn't be Scottish to be interested in attending games. But you might ought to be actually interested in the games themselves or something that is being offered. Maybe trying to make the Games into festivals is the whole problem. Perhaps there should be more focus on the GAMES over all the other stuff that goes on.

In fact, I can tell you for a drop-dead certain fact that the focus of most of the local Games Organizing Committees here in Nor Cal is the Pipe Bands first, Clans second, Dancing third, and Athletics, 'way down the list. They'd prefer it if vendors didn't show up at all, but unfortunately vendors pay the bills through their fees for sales space.

Perhaps the Clan Societies and Scottish Societies should seek to work out some historical reinactment, weapons demonstrations, etc. instead of relying on others to do so in a way that is counter to their mission.

Who says that the Guilds goals are counter to the Clan Society goals? For one thing, the local Clan organiziers that I know of have absolutely no interest, whatsoever in anything to do with re-enactment. In fact, as you walk through the Nor Cal Clan tent area, you will notice something. The MacFarlanes and the Campbells stand out like a sore thumb. Why is that? Because the people manning the tent at those two clans are in their 30's and 40's. All the other clan tents are staffed by retired couples in their 60's, 70's and 80's.

They could give a rip about putting on a demonstration of a Jacobite campsite.

a Part of the problem is not just the lack of interest of the public, it's the lack of willingness to participate in the Scottish Societies that "sponsor" the events. It all falls on so few and those active few are getting older and older and the younger ones joining up are fewer still.

On this point, I agree with you 100%.

The bottom line is, however, that unless people walk in the gate and pay the admission fee and buy stuff from the vendors, the Games will shut down. This is what has happened at all three of the Games I originally listed,and all those Games did NOT have a focus on feelie-good pan-celtic whatever. They were Highland Games with all the stuff that you guys want to see....dancing, clans, athletics, pipe bands, Scottish music and so on.. Attendance plummeted, the organizing bodies lost big money, and they shut down.

Why? Personally I think it's because the Scottish Heritage market of people just got saturated. There were too many Games in the Bay Area. I doubt that Pleasanton's attendance will be that far down, as that the GranDaddy of them all.

On the flip side, since people have to have a draw at the Gate for the event to continue on, there's a REASON why the Ardenwood Tartan Day...with no bands and no dancers but lots of Ren Faire re-enators......and the Santa Cruz Scottish Renaissance Fair are doing well.

Why?

Because people pay money to go to them.

....and from a cold, hard cash point of view, that trumps all the notions of Scottish Heritage Societies and their visions.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

With all due respect to MoR, I suspect that a great many smaller Highland Games will cease and more "Celtic Festivals" or Renaissance Faire events will take their place.


Cheers

Jamie :ootd:

Jamie,

I agree, and I think you are dead right about events that may be more broadly based than Highland Games replacing what might be characterized as "marginal" games. I doubt that anyone would argue that more people are interested going to big costume events like RenFaires than in attending traditional Highland Games, anymore than they would argue about theme parks out-drawing circuses. In other words "Tartan Carnivals" will always have a broader base to draw from as they are less "Scottish" than traditional Highland games.

As the Deputy Director of one of the more recent-- and successful-- traditional Highland Games in North America I probably have a tad more insight to what works, and what doesn't work, as far as attracting the crowds necessary to create a sustainable and financially successful games. Obviously regional preference, and prejudice, do play a large role in determining audience expectation. What we have found is that the vast majority of attendees don't go to Highland Games to talk like a pirate, or to be distracted by non-Scottish happenings. Entrance and exit surveys of attendees measure what they expect to experience and what they feel could be added (or dropped) to improve on the quality of their day at the games.

As far as reenactors are concerned the Games encourages the attendance of historically accurate groups that represent the uniformed Scottish regiments of the period 1715-1939. 2010 will see the launch of "Canteen Row", with the expectation that it will expand in the years to come as more authentically uniformed groups decide to take part.

The focus of the Games is, always has been, and will continue to be, on Scottish culture and heritage to the exclusion of anything that takes away from that goal. By adhering to this simple concept attendance has increased each year. Obviously, we are doing something right.

I believe that most games fail for two reasons: First and foremost, they fail to deliver the experience that the attendee expects. Those looking for a carnival, want a carnival; those who want a traditional day at the games don't want the distractions of "non-Scottish" activites. It's that simple.

The second cause of failure is a lack of good financial management. While volunteers are definitely an asset to any games, the financial management and year long promotion of the games is a full time job for at least two people. In the instance of the games I am involved with the Director and CFO are full-time professionals who are in the position of being able to work without financial compensation. Without this kind of expertise and dedication it is unlikely that any games will ultimately be successful.

[Semiomniscient]

In fact, I can tell you for a drop-dead certain fact that the focus of most of the local Games Organizing Committees here in Nor Cal is the Pipe Bands first, Clans second, Dancing third, and Athletics, 'way down the list. They'd prefer it if vendors didn't show up at all, but unfortunately vendors pay the bills through their fees for sales space.

Oh, I'm well aware. I'm much more interested in Scottish Country Dancing (like the open dancing stage they have at Stone Mountain). I usually do that most of the day at Stone Mountain--it's what I love. I also enjoy watching the pipe band competition, especially when our Baton Rouge Caledonian pipers perform. I'm not one who actually sits and watches the Games because there are other things to do which I enjoy more. I know basically what's going on, but I don't tend to enjoy sports unless I really REALLY understand it. There are not a lot of Highland Games around where I live. Getting to more than one in an entire year is a rarity. My dad likes the vendors because it's the only time he can buy something Scottish having seen it in person typically... otherwise it's taking a risk over the Internet.

Who says that the Guilds goals are counter to the Clan Society goals? For one thing, the local Clan organiziers that I know of have absolutely no interest, whatsoever in anything to do with re-enactment. In fact, as you walk through the Nor Cal Clan tent area, you will notice something. The MacFarlanes and the Campbells stand out like a sore thumb. Why is that? Because the people manning the tent at those two clans are in their 30's and 40's. All the other clan tents are staffed by retired couples in their 60's, 70's and 80's.

They could give a rip about putting on a demonstration of a Jacobite campsite.

Historical re-enactment is one thing. Fantastical medieval re-enactment is another. When so-called re-enactors are focused on almost solely entertainment and shock-value over true historical education, it's a problem and is counter to the aims of Clan and Caledonian Societies that generally seek to EDUCATE about Scottish culture and history instead of giving a false idea about it.
When I was in Franklin, NC on my honeymoon the Taste of Scotland festival was going on and after leaving the Scottish Tartans Museum, I saw the SCA putting on a sword fight... very entertaining, perhaps a little cheesy at times, and in the tents--there were of course anachronisms portrayed with kilts, etc. But hey, at least anachronism is in the name. Later, I saw a re-enactor who was dressed up in true historical garb of the Blackwatch. It was an appropriately worn kilt with appropriate accoutrements, etc. I was impressed and was glad to see something a bit more historical.
I agree, most Clan Societies don't want anything to do with either. I think however, that clan tents and society tents need to offer SOMEthing at a festival or games that is worth visiting.
The Clan Campbell tent when set up in our region is usually run by a couple in their 70's but they help people with their geneology as they are actually very knowledgeable about how to go about the research. It's a service they're offering. I know some clans do this, but most that I've seen will help you by checking to see if the name is a sept of a clan and send you about your way--if they even do that. I've also seen some that have had weapons displays and someone talking about each one. That was nice too. But most of the time, they really just sit back in the tents and let you look through the books and try to get you to join. I've honestly never understood the point... and my dad has been a regent in our area for Clan Buchanan...
Long story short, they need to offer something interesting at their tents: whether it be geneology help, history discussion, weapons, dancing, music/instrument demos, highland attire explanation, tartan research... something! I know some do have these things... and they are great examples. Anyway...

Why? Personally I think it's because the Scottish Heritage market of people just got saturated. There were too many Games in the Bay Area. I doubt that Pleasanton's attendance will be that far down, as that the GranDaddy of them all.

On the flip side, since people have to have a draw at the Gate for the event to continue on, there's a REASON why the Ardenwood Tartan Day...with no bands and no dancers but lots of Ren Faire re-enators......and the Santa Cruz Scottish Renaissance Fair are doing well.

Why?

Because people pay money to go to them.

....and from a cold, hard cash point of view, that trumps all the notions of Scottish Heritage Societies and their visions.

You have a point. I think someone mentioned used to being able to attend games once a month! That sounds like insanity to me... We have too many festivals in Louisiana as is. But we can't seem to get one Highland Games in South Louisiana to be financially sustainable. Can't get the interest. It is of course all about the money. But I'm going to be an idealist on this and stick to my guns. I don't give a care if the Ren Faire acts bring people in. We have a GREAT Ren Faire that grows every year and goes on for a month and a few weeks more. I want a true blue Scottish Highland Games that can actually BE what it historically has been. We don't have the problem of over-saturation. We have lack of interest because of lack of knowledge.

I apologize for the length of the reply and anything that may not be clear. I'm not able now to go through and rewrite anything.

[cessna152towser]

Sad to hear that games in the USA are also struggling to survive, this is also the case with the smaller games here in Scotland, quite a few have gone in recent years.
There have been a few successes though. North Berwick Games only started around fifteen years ago and have quickly grown to become a big international event - but their venue is just 20 miles along the coast from Edinburgh and their games are held during Edinburgh festival time when there are loads of tourists around, plus their date is the week before the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, so bands from Canada, USA, Austalia, New Zealand etc. all compete at North Berwick against local bands as a warm up for the big competition the following week.
Some games, such as Bathgate and Bridge of Allan have survived by becoming a big market and funfair with the actual games as a minor part of the event.
Others such as our own Hawick games struggle on. We need to pay good prize money to attract Heavy events competitors and highland dancers. The RSPB's levies for a pipe band competition are prohibitive so we hold a pipe band demonstration rather than a competition but we do still need to pay the bands' expenses. We simply could not do it if the rugby club were no longer willing to make their stadium available free of charge for the day, if we did not run a fund raising raffle, and if we did not obtain community grant aid. To make the games financially viable, we would need many more retailers willing to pay for stalls. But the retailers won't come unless lots more public come through the gates and do we really want to turn our games into another market?

[Jack Daw]

Strangely enough, the Campbell Highland Games is toast, and two years of steady fundraising through whisky tastings, concerts and so on hasn't covered the shortfall.....

....but the Santa Cruz Scottish Renaissance Festival has expanded from one day to two, on the same date that the Campbell Games used to occupy and only about forty miles away.

Highland Games are suffering, but the local professionally-run Renaissance Faire runs to overflow crowds for six-seven weeks every summer hereabouts. They had to move a couple of years ago because the previous venue couldn't handle the throngs. They make so much money at Faire that they actually hire professional actors, bands and so on to staff much of the place. There are literally hundreds of employees....not volunteers, EMPLOYEES....at the Northern California Renaissance Faire.

Meanwhile, the Games which celebrate Scottish Culture with Bands, Dancers, Athletics and Clans, take a huge hit. The Campbell Games have been in decline for 2-3 years and that has never been a Games with a lot of those useless, clueless, inaccurate Ren Faire type re-enactors that you so obviously detest. Livermore has had it's share of re-enactors, but the bands, dancers, athletics and vendors have always been much more prominent. In fact, for square footage of space used up, the Athletics has always been the biggest thing going at Livermore. Yet the Livermore Games has been in decline for two years as well, and last yearon Sunday when I threw on the field in 105 degree heat, it was really sad to see the vendors. Many of them didn't even make back their participation/booth rent.

At the Santa Cruz Games last October, I talked to two or three of the vendors, including Mrs. Farlanders friend. She didn't make back her fee for renting the space, and one other, much larger vendor was barely going to break even. And yet at that Games, there was only one re-enactment Guild present and they were shoved off in a corner. It was all about the Clans.... that's all they had room for. Our throwing area was tiny, and the main music stage was way down by the Clan glen. The smaller music stage was up by us throwers, and they didn't have much audience all day long.

Shockingly, the Guilds are a significant draw for the Dunsmuir Games. The past two years, a survey has been put around on the grounds of the Games. Amazing, but at least at this Games, the re-enactor camps scored near the top of what the people attending enjoyed most. Clan attendance at Dunsmuir is always quite small.

So much for your theory.

It takes a lot of dough to sponsor WUSPBA- or EUSPBA-sanctioned piping and drumming competitions; and, a lot of Highland games associations just don't have the gate or moneybag-supporters for what it takes.

[St. Amish]

Wow. Posts got really long quickly.

We'll be heading up to Woodland and Pleasanton this year.

Though we live in Bakersfield now, I don't think we'll be attending those games. We're not very impressed with the Scottish society down here. The events that they sponsor seem gimmicky and forced, and cost way too much. I can't see spending $25 for a one day event, when I can attend Woodland BOTH days for $15.50.

[Monkey@Arms]

On the local front, I do think weather plays a part in the decline of some games. As an example Livermore gets too damn hot, and there is next to no public shade. Pleasanton can be just as hot, but the organizers at least understand the need to provide shelter.

Best regards,

Jake

[Jack Daw]

On the local front, I do think weather plays a part in the decline of some games. As an example Livermore gets too damn hot, and there is next to no public shade. Pleasanton can be just as hot, but the organizers at least understand the need to provide shelter.

Best regards,

Jake

I hear you. I went to the games in Pleasanton in 2007 to compete in piping. It's hot in Houston, but I'm not used to playing the pipes outdoors in 100F+ temps. I practiced in the shade at 2 the day prior to acclimate. Thankfully though, my comps did not go beyond noon.