Grand Outlandish Tournament
XXXV

Grand Outlandish Tournament XXXV
Merchant Information

The list of Registered Merchants is Coming Soon!

Greetings one and all!

Grand Outlandish XXXV is rapidly approaching. We look forward to seeing many of you once again. The event should be well attended and a good time for all concerned. One change this year is that we have moved the site back to Torrance County Park. The exact location on site for Merchants Row has not yet decided, but we will keep your best interests in mind.

MERCHANT REGISTRATION:

Merchant registration must be received no later than May 15, 2008. All merchants, their family and help that are checking in, must pre-register and pay their site fees along with the merchant fees. New: One (1) paid site fee is included with each 15’ booth space. A 30’ booth space includes two (2) paid site fees. Everyone must still pre-register and all fees should be sent to the Merchant Coordinators’ address below. Make all checks payable to: “SCA- al-Barran”.

1. It is highly recommended that all merchants be SCA members. We wish to keep our members happy, keep our jobs simpler and make Grand Outlandish a pleasing event for those in attendance. Membership in the SCA can be handled via the Internet from our corporate office (https://secure.sca.org/membership/). If you use the online membership service, you will be able to print out your membership confirmation immediately. If you choose to use regular mail or FAX, the turn around time from SCA, Inc. is about 3-4 weeks, so plan accordingly. Mambership is not a requirement, but there is a non-member surcharge of $3 added to your site fee otherwise.

2. Space for merchants row is being calculated by the frontage space only. Depth is approximately 30 feet although more may be requested and used. We’d like to encourage more co-operative efforts, which seems to be quite profitable for some that have tried this in the past. Share a space and cost with a friend.

3. Limited camping behind the booth is allowed for the merchant and immediate family only (no households). It is still preferable though that your camping be as ‘periodesque’ as possible to enhance the atmosphere of the event. Extra camping is easy access to merchant’s row.

4. Having been a merchant myself in the past, I have heard disparaging remarks about merchant’s only being in it for the money. I disagree! Although making our livelihood is a nice result, our main objective should be to educate fellow SCA members to the historical significance of our wares and the appropriateness of what our goods bring to the SCA. To that end I am asking that you please take time to make your pavilion/booth as period as possible. Please no blue plastic tarps for your booth. We are attempting to transport our fellow members and newcomers to a place that rarely exists. Other events require handmade items only. We are not this rigid, but do be conscientious!

5. Merchants may drive to their booth space to unload, but you must move your cars/trucks/trailers as soon as possible before you take time to entirely set up. There will be a road from booth to booth, but it may be easy to block someone in while unloading. Courtesy pays. If you need to keep your trailer at your booth, please contact me on this ahead of time. It will need to be disguised as well as being approved by Their Excellencies of al-Barran and the Autocrat.

6. Due to lack of moisture, fire restrictions are expected. Only “on/off” cooking and lighting appliances will be allowed. You must have a fire extinguisher immediately available. Weather is not predictable at Outlandish, so be prepared for anything. Please shade any Coleman lanterns so they do not blind people walking by. Smoking is permitted on the site at this time. If you smoke, you must place ashes and butts in a container you carry away. Do not extinguish or leave butts on the ground. A public “butt bucket” for your patrons may be a welcome sight depending on the fire restrictions. Keep apprised of changes in the fire restrictions.

7. The sale of alcohol is not permitted on the site. Live steel and other items that may be dangerous should not be sold to minors. Also, all minors (any individual under 18 years of age) under your direct supervision must also follow the safety regulations for this event.

8. Any recorded music should be low enough not to be heard outside your booth and should be limited to SCA-ish music. Live musicians are warmly welcomed. Remember, courtesy pays! Animals at merchant booths are permitted as long as the animal is well behaved and leashed at all times. If there are any complaints, you may be asked to remove them at the discretion of the Autocrat.

9. There may be ant hills (past years have shown that if you feed them, the ants are very polite neighbors). Please do not use poison on their hills. There is no electricity or running water on the site. Portable toilets will be available. Bring your own water. Each person requires at least 1 gallon of water a day for drinking. Bring more for washing and other uses. We will have water only for emergency use.

10. Special needs? Handicapped? Please explain this on your registration form.

11. FOOD sales, cooking food for give away, packaged food goods: All food sales or distribution of food in Merchant’s Row will require special handling or state license. Contact the Merchant Coordinator for more information.

PLEASE NOTE:

• All merchants are required to have arrived and be set up by Thursday, May 22, 2008 Noon OR your space and fees will be forfeited.
• The event begins Wednesday. Merchants are welcome….nay, encouraged to arrive at 8am Wednesday morning.
• All merchants must pre-register and pay their site fees for the event when they send in their merchant registration. Everyone will still need to stop at the gate before proceeding to set-up their booth.
• Merchant requests MUST be received by May 15, 2008. Absolutely NO merchant sign-up after May 15th!
• For your safety and ease of mind, event security will patrol merchant’s row. Theft liability is still your own.

The Autocrat and staff for Grand Outlandish hope the event will be fun, safe, hassle free and profitable for all concerned. Please feel free to contact me by e-mail with any difficulties you encounter.

Thank you for your kind attention to these matters.