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Post by historian on Mar 13, 2011 11:46:17 GMT
I do agree Andy, but I'm not sure that what you're suggesting will work. I think we maybe have two kinds of people here: those who want the site to promote Tetbury, and those who want to use it to share information, network, sell things, etc.
On the latter it's down to we users to post things that make people want to come back and use it, decent postings, interaction. That part is entirely in our own hands.
On the former, in all honesty, even if what you suggest was implemented it woudn't work without masses of promotion, just putting up pages and hoping people will visit doesn't work. It would be better, of course, but it wouldn't bring in masses of tourists or customers.
I'm involved in a couple of things that need me to promote internationally (not as a hi-flying as it sounds, I am currently in my vest and slippers, smoking potato peelings...) on a daily basis via the internet and it's far more compicated and less effective than you might think. Getting websites built is a step, but only the beginning of a lot of hard work after that.
I think what Tetbury suffers from is that there's nothing there to offer anyone apart from the usual. It's traded on the 'pretty historic village' for years, and yet once you get there there's nothing to show what the history is or where it is. No guides, no useful information on walls. It's full of small, interesting sites and bits of history, but the average tourist will never even know they're there, so the 'historic village' thing tends to be a misnomer. They come, have a cup of tea after finding nothing, and wonder why they bothered.
When does it light up like nobodies business? When there's something to offer, like on Woolsack day. Events are what brings people to the town. People want to see 'ye olde england' in action, to see the local colour they hope still exists. Not too hard to set up - with appropriate council help and funding, and always efective.
H
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Post by Andy on Mar 13, 2011 16:16:51 GMT
Hi H,
I see your points but the main point I had was that the site itself seems to attract visitors, after all it's been here for a number of years.
I know now why it is reduced in activity having lost the main driving force and hopefully in the near future that will change for the better.
However, you're right about the community at large needs to get behind the site and use it more and I'm sure they will.
You are also right that the Town is as sad as the site and only seems to come alive when something like the Woolsack Race happens which surely should demonstrate to the natives what is missing.
Tourists need entertaining and I'm sorry but a town full of antique shops is not my idea of a fun day out...
This was a famous market town but if you come to town on a Wednesday or Saturday.... it is pretty pathetic by any standards.
Look at Stroud on a Saturday.... Now that's a Market ! But where would we put one of those that didn't screw up the traffic ?
Sundays in Tetbury are like a Wet Wednesday... Our councillors and Traders need to take a walk around on a Sunday... people aimlessly walking around looking for something anything to relieve the boredom.
We do absolutely nothing to encourage people to come here, or to stay longer than have a cup of tea if they can find one that's open ...
Tetbury is Old England and we should capitalise on that...
The Mop fair... Ok the tradition was nothing special but what is it now ?
Half a dozen fun fair rides two days of screaming kids and a stinking little burger van !!!
Oh Yeah.... The bit about you in your Vest and Slippers.... Too much information.... It is Sunday !!!
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Post by historian on Mar 16, 2011 14:04:43 GMT
Hi Andy, I agree - but although the site does get a few visitors, it's not the numbers needed and perhaps not even the right people, I thik a lot of visitors are just folk like you and me rather than anyone looking for a holiday or a sunday destination. We need a bigger reach than that, but as we both say, I don't think we have much to offer the world, at least not in the way it's presented now. Evenon woolsack day people tend to come, then hurry away once they're done because there are no amenites and nothng else to do.
Events, run properly, are the way forward. They give people a reason to come and further reason to stay the night or buy a few gifts while they're here. But they have to be done well, and not begrudgingly for sixpence. So, ideas?
Thinking of those events that could be set up easily by just a handful of people, and even less if the council would support them. Support is the key. If we do these things by ourselves we'd be penalised and 'have you got a license for that?'-ed by them from now until the end of time. With full support we can do things like, say, close down a street for a day.
Music festivals. They don't have to be Woodstock. A music festival could cover just performers from one style of music, like folk, or choirs, and so be much smaller than you'd imagine.
Poetry/Writing Festivals. Very few chances to share work live, writers love festivals. It would need the loan of say 3 buildigs where people could read their work out, have stalls, etc.
Fairs in general. When was the last time we had a good one here? Not necessarily funfairs - record fairs, car fairs, giant car boot sales, collectors fairs, ad infinitum.
A good way of getting people anywhere is by setting up a national competition: offer a prize for say, the best dance team, the best modern poetry, the best new romantic book, the best new music, the nicest car,the biggest trout. Anything. The prize is say, £500, (which you'd get back in entry fee money) and a cup saying Tetbury & Cotswold's Best X, 2011 and a certificate.
Hundreds of drum majorettes used to flock to the Isle of Man every year to take part in the competion they set up on a whim. The majorettes got a chance to do their thing in front of people, got a reason to get better, had a chance to be the best in the Isle of Man National Competition (the place is 18 miles by 37), and everybody made money.
Lots of ways we can do it, but of course the question will be, who does it? Although this is just the kind of thing the council should do, they won't. They're in the business of making money from people, not for people. If they held an event everyone taking part would be charged in some way, they couldn't see anyone make a profit without them getting a share. We need their support, but only to a degree, this has to be privately run.
H
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Post by merlin on Mar 17, 2011 9:25:40 GMT
I agree with you both but who will be the one to get the ball rolling ?
I would like to start with replacing the Mop Fairs with something more historical and traditional like a Medieval style fair.
Half a dozen fun fair rides, two days of screaming kids and a stinking burger van is nt my idea of maintaining tradition !
But you're right as a town we need to do more... a lot more every public holiday should have something.
A decent market might help... the one here on Wednesday's and Saturdays' is old and tired and need a goodly kick in the backside.
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Post by historian on Mar 18, 2011 16:05:32 GMT
We should pool our skills/resources and see what we might be able to set up with what we have. If anyone reading has a field, an idea, a skill that could be used, maybe at a discount on their usual rate or free if they don't mind, perhaps they could say here?
I can design and print anything from business cards to posters. It's not a vast job, I'd happily do it for nothing. I have some PR experience, I can write editorial for articles and poster content, pretty easily, so same again. I'm not saying that others work for nothing though.
What are everyone's favourite ideas for an event? Forget budget and ability for now, just favourite.
I think, considering Tetbury's history, that replacing the Mop Fair with something more medieval would be a really good idea. But, rather than take away an event on the calender that already works to some extent, maybe 'we' clean that one up and add a new one? Pick a better time of year for it , even outside the usual tourist periods when there's nothing to do anywhere else. What is there to do on the average weekend outside of season? We could be the only thing in the SW if we pick well.
If we do things in the height of summer we compete with holidays away and all the other towns. What say it was an autumn or spring event? More of roasting hogs on a roaring fire and drinking mulled wine than sweating through merrie england in the raging sunshine when nobody wants to walk about. Instead of having it on a bank holiday when none of us wnats to go on the roads, how about a glum average saturday and sunday whennothing normally is on? We can't help but do well if there's enough to see.
We all want something to go to that's not just interesting to look at, but that we can have a bit of a go at too. A good Medieval fair on the Chipping, stretching out into other streets trying to bring the whole centre into things could create a good feel. I think Merlin's had a great idea. Maybe have archery, swordfighting, jousting, somebody making weapons. People dressed up in authentic kit pretending to be peasants and staying in character. Jesters, singers. A lot could be done fairly easily if we had the people. Preferably a bit more insprired than Berkeley. Not twenty insurance stalls and some overpriced chips.
We could still incorporate a fair into some form of prize giving and competition to make the event more of national interest, so it's easier to promote. Tetbury Medieval fair and National Archery competion for example, that sort of loose link to medieval times. That could be held in a field away from the fair, creating a larger venue feel. It's not as hard as it sounds, it just depends what we can bring together.
Insurance will be the big one though, public liability will be a killer, I'm sure. Anyone any ideas on that front?
Historian
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Post by historian on Mar 18, 2011 17:33:29 GMT
Sorry, I don't wan't to keep banging on and taking over the thread, but I think perhaps that a fair that's like Merlin suggests should be thought of as a promotional event for the town. This only applies to a fair, obviously, not things like boot sales. Make it a PR event rather than a 'let's a few of us make money' event - well, maybe that too, but you know what I mean... Rather than taking every opportunity to sell them things, we give as much as we can. A free glass of mulled wine to the first hundred, x. A free flower to some, given by a girl in costume who calls your wife 'M'Lady' and flirts with you, in medieval character. Reasons for them to feel good and involved by actually being spoken to and being welcomed by us, some at least in medieval character. I'm on one now, it's hard not to get carried away, sorry:) But do you knowwhat I mean? Suppose it was a day where everyone had to say hello to each other as they passed on the street and for men to doff non-existent hats when they greeted a woman? Daft, quaint things that have gone, but that we all still want to find somewhere still going on. We, for that day at least, be quaint, and the people that we'd most like to see if we went to town like ours. What more could we offer, and what could make them happier? Free displays of crafts they can attend. Readings of ancient stories, tastings, Ducking stool, with authentic near drowning before lunch, down at gumstool. A chance of a bit of a shot with a crossbow, weild a sword, dancing, kids choir. I'd like to see somebody having to wrestle a pig in mud for some reason... Things that aren't going to cost them anything, or very little, FREE entertainment. What suppose we set up a big market where no local was charged for a stall? Anyone at all could come and sell goods (such as crafts and foods) at any level. If your dad makes ships in bottles he can come and set up stall for nothing, so sell or not sell and it's not the end of the world either way, and everyone's had a look at the things he can make. If somebody wanted to show off artwork, textiles they've made, pottery, anything. We use it to show everyone what we can do and what we think about, what we do at nights. People from here then come and get involved because it's to their advantage and it's going to cost them nothing. We avoid anyone in particular cleaning up, not us nor the council, so that we keep a sense of fair play among us. It gets put on, it costs none of us anything, and we all have a good time? The Tetbury Free Market and Medieval Fair and err...National Archery Competition and probably something else too... Try things, taste things, be given things, be welcomed fed and warmed by happy locals and told the great history of the town by people who look like they were there in ancient times...I dunno, if I could go, I would.  Historian |
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Post by Andy on Mar 20, 2011 9:26:51 GMT
Hi Historian,
I don't think you're taking over the tread, there only seems to be three of us here or interested in the subject... which shouldn't come as too great a surprise.
I think we should move and start a new thread with a more appropriate title just in case we are in the wrong place.
We are in the "This Board is Lame " thread perhaps we need a new one about the "The Tetbury apaphetic Society."
We should cut and paste our comments from here into that new thread and see if that generates a response....
Perhaps we should print them out and send them to the council and feoffess asking them if they ever bother to visit this site...
Andy
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Post by JB on Mar 23, 2011 19:50:52 GMT
hello Tetbury! I'm looking for somewhere to live when I return from overseas - near enough to commute to Bristol. Is Tetbury a possibility? Actually, having a lame board is not so bad. It makes me feel that Tetbury might be fairly quiet and peaceful. However I don't want "dead" so maybe you have a point!! Answers received gratefully! (plus am adding a smiley to brighten up the lame board  ) |
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Post by merlin on Mar 23, 2011 20:57:20 GMT
I guess it depends upon your budget and your desire for a rural or town type dwelling, all are available around Tetbury. Tetbury is situated on the border of Wiltshire and Gloucestershire and is on the edge of the Cotswold Hills. It’s an old Marketing town with a great history but long since bypassed by serious business development which gives the town an old world charm. Bristol is 23 – 25 miles away depending upon which side you want, it’s a big place. Road communication is good from Tetbury to the Stroud Bath road and then the M4 M32 to Bristol. Can’t say I fancy the journey on a daily basis myself, at some times of the year commuting to Bristol is a nightmare. High levels of people commute from the outlying villages jamming even the motorways and other major roads at peak times. Add to this that the M4 and M5 Motorways cross just north of Bristol and this is the main business and tourist routes to South Wales, Devon and Cornwall in the South West of England and is a bottleneck at peak holiday times and public holidays. Tetbury is far from Dead, and is within easy distance of everything your heart could desire as far as scenic beauty is concerned. We have a wealth of places to eat and drink a good range of shops and have easy access to bigger towns. Here is a couple of links to help you see what’s available, if I could suggest you use Google Maps you can zoom in for a really good look at the area in general. www.perrybishop.co.uk/offices/tetbury.aspxthecotswoldgateway.co.uk/living-estateagents-tetbury.htmGive me a shout if you need any more info. Merlin
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Post by JB on Mar 25, 2011 4:10:42 GMT
Thanks Merlin! I need to be Tetbury side of Bristol and yes, I get what you are saying about nightmare driving. Used to live in Taunton and driving to Bristol was ridiculous. Luckily (?!)I could get the train & walk from Temple meads then. Will look at links you have given me and carry on researching. Thanks again. |
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Post by merlin on Mar 25, 2011 8:47:49 GMT
Your welcome JB,
Not wishing to chase you away from our fair town but based upon what you say you might take a look around the Yate area, it's much closer to Bristol and still this side of Bristol.
Much easier commute, but be warned many have the same idea. If you have the option of Flexi-work time.... Take It !
There are quite a few villages dotted around Yate and Yate is a bigger and better shopping location than Tetbury.
As I said previously you can have a closer and inter active look with Google Maps.
Have Fun.
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Post by cliff on Mar 26, 2011 12:11:34 GMT
Hooray,
At last a couple of interested people . Nice to see the word "apathetic". I used it some time ago on Little used. Sad to say many hits , no input. Wish you all the best of luck. Will enter in as and when.
Cliff B. Ex.pat.
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Post by merlin on Mar 26, 2011 15:01:34 GMT
You're right Cliff there are a couple of us trying to show some interest in helping anyone with questions/comments about Tetbury.
I am attempting to move them away from this Old SAD Forum Thread by creating a new " Any Question ?" Thread which I promise will be looked at and no one will be ignored.
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daxia
Full Member
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Post by daxia on Apr 16, 2011 12:48:22 GMT
This is indeed a dead board... Give me some flyers (drop them into the market house on Wednesdays (every wed from 27th April to Christmas) and I'll distribute them. I'll also make sure I make all of my Tetbury relevant postings on here and link it to the www.southwestfairs.co.uk website Dax |
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daxia
Full Member
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Post by daxia on Apr 16, 2011 12:54:40 GMT
When does it light up like nobodies business? When there's something to offer, like on Woolsack day. Events are what brings people to the town. People want to see 'ye olde england' in action, to see the local colour they hope still exists. Not too hard to set up - with appropriate council help and funding, and always efective. H I'm mid organising a Christmas Market. I'm literally just now contacting the local council, chamber of commerce, local businesses, schools etc. to set up meetings (which generally I find less useful, but as I'm new to Tetbury don't wan't to offend or tread on toes) My "vision" is a wonderful community event, aimed at providing a talking point, a visiting attraction, an influx of tourists and business into the town - as well generally celebrating Christmas and all it's twinkly wonder. Would be very happy to incorporate historical aspects and local groups - just drop me a line Dax |
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