Archived page here (in case it changes): https://web.archive.org/web/20241220141224/https://wyndonshirerenaissancefaire.com/
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Copy/paste of text:
On Event Cancellation, Rumors That This Event Was Stolen, and an apology to Faeguild Wonders
A note from Jeff Mach Events
There are two sets of very ugly rumors going around about this event, one about our personal character, one that it was “stolen” from the people who put it on last year. We address the rumors about our company on the Jeff Mach Events website, but we would like to theft issue:
Did the town steal this event?
Yes, basically. To be clear, we do NOT think the town broke any technical laws; they’re too clever. But “stole”, if not legally, certainly morally, seems very likely. We’re not accusing the town of breaking any laws; they’ll just sue us, and they have big lawyers.
But based on our experiences working with them over the past two months, and especially in the past week, we absolutely believe that, within the letter of the law, the town took advantage of the previous Renaissance Faire, saw an opportunity to make a great deal of money, and effectively worked to cut Faeguild out of the process. We sincerely believed we were putting in an honest, low-cost bid…until the town’s actions.
The town first claimed to us that they were upset about the ‘theft’ allegations to the point where they were going to issue cease and desist notices. They also asked us to suspend our own statement. Then, with no warning and no discussion then or now, they locked us out of our event access, even though we still have a contract with them. They ceased most communications with us, except to assure us multiple times that we were still working together and going forward.
The town then refused to make that statement and effectively told us that public relations were our job…even public relations purely involving them, their actions, and allegations against them which didn’t involve us in any way. When we pointed out that we needed to address the fact that the entire community clearly thinks their event has been taken from them, the town first stalled us, then offered us money to take the blame and walk away, and when we refused, the town began to threaten us with lawyers, which is where we are now.
We believe that Faeguild Wonders put their heart and soul into this event and had every reason to expect they would be hired.
The town is being disingenuous about our reputation, but it was literally the second email we sent them. They knew about our alleged dishonesty, which is not true, and we have to wonder if they considered it a feature instead of a bug. We have to wonder if the town picked us, not just because we’re mavericks, but because they thought we’d go along with what, honestly, in our opinion, looks like people making a very ugly cash grab out of what was previously a very beautiful community event.
We still have our contract. We’re still putting this event on unless we hear otherwise, and if the town wants to cancel our contract, it needs to pay us the amount in the contract.
We apologies for the actions of the town, and cannot account for why they would treat their community, and the Renaissance Faire community, this way.
Yours truly,
Jeff Mach Events
p.s. The public official who decided to attempt lawfare instead of dealing with either your community, or our company, in a fair manner, is:
Brian Croteau
Director of Public Works & Facilities
978-297-5411
BCroteau@winchendon-ma.gov
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Nothing new in the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867697607955323/
Discussion here on the event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/625241356584840/?active_tab=discussion
Some screenshots for evidence:
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