hurricane

I agree Diosa, I love both of them for entirely different reasons. And whether we like it or not, there are two different festivals and have been for some time, right down to how you register for them as a vendor or participant. And there's nothing wrong with it. I think Hawkyns did a good job at outlining the differences in philosophy of each. I made it a point to come over to the forts to get a littler period time in. I particularly enjoyed Mission's presentation on period surgery. Wow! Equally, I loved the musical the kids did, coloring with Don Maitz, being smacked by the kid with the pinatas, the costume contest with the little pirates and the Tall Tales contest. There's nothing wrong with going to just one or going to both - it's a big pirate world. But they have separate names and we should get used to them. Certainly, as a FTPI vendor I would want people to know I am at FTPI, not PiP, otherwise they may end up at the Annex and wonder where I was. Same as an entertainer. It only serves to create more visibility and clarity for everyone involved.

Actually, PiP is the Cultural, Arts and Entertainment side of everything. It's mission is to celebrate Key West's Rich & Colorful Maritime Heritage, which extends to the Navy presence, the Conch Armed Forces, the historic ships docked at the Annex, the local museums and the artists and performers. The Fort Taylor Pyrate Invasion are those activities geared to re-enactors and history buffs who want to deliver an authentic representation of the times, from Buccaneer to Wrecker. I would assume the Friends of the Fort would like to get more value out of their branding so they can draw more people to the fort. Using the Pirates in Paradise name only increases the visibility of the events held around town and at the annex. It doesn't promote the event at the fort at all. But that's each person's choice.

It's really just fundamental Marketing 101. Dilution doesn't benefit any brand... that's why we still have PCs and Macs. They are aimed at different audiences. They have different features. No different here. These events have always had different audiences and offerings in addition to different organizers/owners. So what's wrong with educating everyone so they can make an informed decision about what they want to attend and to use the proper brand name for it? And as for the rumors about the 2004 move - nothing could be further from the truth. I was involved in the decision to move it to the fort beach that year (as was Diosa). We could have stayed at the seaport but the event was pretty spaced out and there was no synergy with the merchants and entertainment, who were spread out. Harry offered to move it to the beach so we had a single space. No big secret there. It would have just stayed at the seaport otherwise, or we would have moved it elsewhere. It had five different homes over the years before the fort took it in in '04.

It's pretty basic, really. The fort events were taken over by the Friends of the Fort in 2005. It was Harry and a full time employee then. In 2007 the Bone Island Buccaneers took it over on behalf of Friends of the Fort. The two groups worked together on it. It was originally called the Fort Taylor Pirate Fest. This is when the two events actually separated and become their own entities. When BiB terminated its contract with the fort, Fayma and her team gracefully stepped in and saved the fort event, i.e., what is now known as the Fort Taylor Pyrate Invasion. Pirates in Paradise is everything that is off-site, including the Pirate Village, Thieve's Market, all the in town events, the Walk the Plank Championships and everything you see on the PiP site this year. It is run by Julie and Finbar, supported by volunteers. It is not associated with the fort or the Friends of the Fort. I think that should clear it up. I had to edit this a bit to get the sequence of events correct after speaking with the people in the know. Oh, and that posting is incorrect. There was no camping allowed in 2004. Only two people stayed there for security, Olaf and Sulley. Everyone else was in hotels.

A great idea. I think the more us 'old timers' and newer folk can talk about the two events and how they came to be and what makes them unique and different, the better. It will help others understand and decide how they want to participate in the years to come. I think I actually started working with Julie in 2001 on the website. I still have a copy of it for nostalgia sake, but didn't make it down until 2003. Here's a Time Tunnel look at the original site: http://web.archive.org/web/20011225164007/http://www.piratesinparadise.com/index.html The Entertainment roster and the Schedule are kind of fun to look at. 2003 Here's Diosa's and my first year at PiP. The festival was based at the Historic Seaport then. http://web.archive.org/web/20031202170415/piratesinparadise.com/schedule/index.html 2004 The first year we were at the fort - the 1st Walk the Plank was on Sunday that year. http://web.archive.org/web/20041207223544/piratesinparadise.com/schedule/index.html 2005 http://web.archive.org/web/20051127040450/www.piratesinparadise.com/schedule/index.html 2006 http://web.archive.org/web/20061112223347/www.piratesinparadise.com/schedule/index.html

Yes, we were in Port Royal that year (2005), the first year it was held in the fort. And Raven returned that year to reprise her role, or so it shows in my photos from that year, the few that I scarfed from others. And Diosa, you never did get an alimony from that lout, did you? Scurrilous rogue that he is.

You talked to some reporter, eh? I'm not surprised, you seem the type of braggart a reporter would find easy pickings...but did you talk about the fest or just yourself? (now you have me wondering if I actually still have any of that audio around.... hmmm....) Yeah, I handed her some line that she didn't fall for. I can't remember a word I said that day, I was swooning, I think. And yes, I'm sure the audio is around somewhere... reporters like to keep those things around, I hear.

Raven had all the signs in her room. When we kicked her out (I can't exactly recall why) she took them with her. One of the sponsors had all these nice banners made - when you look at the photos from that year, they weren't supposed to be sailcloth. Ah, the wonders of improvisation. All I recall is I was volunteered to be the muscle at the kickout, like I'm a muscle kind of guy. We were at the Southernmost.

I believe it was Marathon. It was there one weekend and Key West the next. Cascabel would be one of the experts on that - it was what, 20 years ago now? It's been Key West exclusive 11 years, going on 12. I've been since 2002, so even I'm a relative newcomer, eh Cascabel? I remember when the encampments (the few there were) and the vendors were in the parking lot near the Schooner Bar and behind it on the road. That year Jimmy Buffett was recording License to Chill, Carleton, his bodyguard motioned us to come in (our band was near the big compass near Shrimpboat) but some vendor thought they wanted him so we didn't get to go in. But he did invite us to the impromptu concert at Margaritaville the next night as a makeup. I was so jealous that Sloe Gin from our group got to escort Buffett to the sword seller there that year. He was buying a sword for Cameron, his son. There was no Walk the Plank yet, the festival moved each night to different venues - Banana Bay was a great stop, so was Kelly's when Kelly McGillis still owned it. The evening parties were in the Custom's House and Mel Fishers among other really nice places. Then the festival moved to the fort where there was no camping allowed. We were on the beach that year... a couple years before the encampments were there. That was a great year. No one was in the fort -- all the vendors, fighting, etc. was in the wooded area just beyond the snack bar. The battle took place on the beach that overlooks the breakwater side. Raven got fired as Mary Read that year and took all the signs for the festival, so our crewe had to hurriedly paint new ones on sail cloth the morning the festival was to begin. That's when Diosa stepped into the role if I recall. Still have photos of us all spread out on the walkways of the Southernmost. Ah, good times. Oh, and then there's the time I met up with a reporter outside the Blockbuster for the Pirates of the Caribbean DVD release event... hhm, now what was her name? Sorry, was there mention of a book?

Very well said. Perhaps we can create a new thread and pin with with an explanation of what's what for the new folks as well as the old timers. It may help keep the air clear going forward. A brief explanation of the two and how the fit together but are separate. I will unselfishly volunteer Diosa to write it.

I know that to some the distinction is small, but there are actually two different festivals going on at the same time. And the constant melding of the two is inaccurate and a bit disrespectful to those who work so hard to put these two events on. To thank Finbar and Blossom for the great Pyrate Invasion would get an immediate outcry from those here who know they had nothing to do with its planning. Conversely, thanking others for Pirates in Paradise causes the same hurt feelings. And yet, you see it throughout the posts. And you wonder why someone's ire is raised. They are very different events targeted to entirely different people. Different people work on them. They receive their support from different sources. And frankly, saying that you went to PiP without attending the actual Pirate in Paradise events is akin to saying you went to Puerto Rico but never stepped off the cruise ship. You really didn't go to PiP, you went to the Fort Taylor Pyrate Invasion instead. I know some people will never get it... but those of us in marketing persist. For what reason, I often ask why?

As a clarification, there is no such thing as a PiP pirate invasion. That is the Fort Taylor Pyrate Invasion. Pirates in Paradise does not currently have an invasion. I believe that is part of the problem here. Many people want to think the fort event is Pirates in Paradise, when it is not. It is the Fort Taylor Pyrate Invasion. It is merely a small subset of a much larger 10 day festival throughout the community. And the constant confusion only makes the people who actually run PiP, i.e. the Admiral, Blossom and countless others in the Key West community, more angry.

So true, so true. It is Key West, after all.

I think that's the beauty of the whole thing - something for everyone at Pirates in Paradise. It has always been a place where everyone can be who they want to be, from fantasy and hysterical to hard core.

Good to hear. The Thieve's Market went well. We had good crowds all day long. The pub traffic was brisk and I got to sample my very first Pumpkin Ale, a precursor to next year's Brew Off. The Walk The Plank Championship had quite a few civilians this year, which was what it was originally intended for, so that was nice to see, but of course, Klaus prevailed as King Neptune. Lots of gun and cannon fire, the stage entertainment was great, and the 1st ever Tall Tales turned into quite the donnybrook. But the Young Whalers musical stole the show, as did Harry, our first "Best Little Pirate" Costume Contest winner. Next year, the vendors will be double to triple what they were and we'll be adding even more competitions and events to the Waterfront Annex.

As I eat a cookie as I type, I have to say the highlight of the event was the presentation by the Montessori Charter school of "The Young Wreckers". Written and produced by the teacher, it had everything you wanted -- pirates, wreckers, native residents.... you name it. Most important, it showed that some kids get to experience an education where the arts are important. The kids were amazing as performers. And they left us all with a lesson, not only about the wreckers, but about ourselves and the arts as a whole.

The National Walk the Plank Championships had to be moved today - the wind and cold made it unsafe to do. So, it's now on Saturday at noon instead. Ah, the wonders of wind and weather, a boat, a plank and unwilling victims, uh, contestants. Only going to get up to 69 today. Egad!

The vendors over at the Pirate Village are well worth the visit. Lots of great stuff that hasn't been at PiP before, including lots of leather belts, tankard holders, socks and provisions. The stage entertainment was terrific there - Mike Emerson's big band had everyone dancing. Great times... everyone a little slow to move this morning. Can't understand why. Since I don't have to man a camp (love the Doubletree here, by the way - warm cookies when you check in), I can finally go to the Buxom Wench and Bad Ass Pirate contest. Looking forward to it. I have a feeling that it's going to be a real donnybrook this year with Rebecca making her way to the event. Can't wait to see the show. Getting ready for the Walk the Plank Championships tomorrow. Should be a great event and I know several have quite a show planned for the competition. It will be great walking them off the plank this year, our sixth now.

I'd rather be a pirate than a member of the King's Navy any day. The Neapolitan Pirates - or a Michael Sandwich.

Attended the History of Grog presentation last night - it was terrific. Learned the fascinating history of grog then descended into the depths of the La Concha to sample one of our crewe's homemade grog. Two bottles went away in a flash, thanks to help from Cyren, ArtzyGirl, Reuben, Michael and Jamaica Rose, Caribbean Pearl, Powderkeg, Klaus and Deadly Aim. Didn't know so many people could fit in those rooms. Lots of hilarious photos to follow, including the Neapolitan Pirates - a classic. Ran into Drop Dead and Great Scott on Duval (well, Wendy's actually). Good to see the kids. And the price of beer at Captain Tony's is down this year. Oh, and I saw that the t-shirt that we left back in 1992 is still on the ceiling - go to the end of the bar toward the bathrooms, look up and you'll see the Northwest Pirates of the Coast shirt, still looking good after almost 20 years. Off at 11 to set up the stage for the End of Hurricane Season party and get a last minute rehearsal before our show there tonight. It's lovely here so far - 80 degrees today, no rain in sight.

He wouldn't make it through "On the"...

It's not a carol but I penned "How the Grinch Stole PiP-Mas" this morning, an ode to PiPs past for my crewe. Thanks Animal and Cyren for the fodder for this.

And who should show up in my email yesterday, promoting the event. Scroll below the fair and you'll see. http://www.whofish.org/Default.aspx?tabid=46&modid=380&itemid=7491&rCode=18&action=detail&iv=ext&cid=5418&cuid=82907347&ems=FL11222010uw