Romanticizing medieval European life, particularly medieval fantasy life, has a distinctly modern allure. Americans especially have a deep affinity for medieval culture, evident not only in our media consumption but also in the widespread popularity of Renaissance faires, the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), the medieval-themed hotel in Las Vegas, and in iconic Medieval dinner theater!
If you don’t know what this absolutely amazing experience is, it’s typically a completely inaccurate medieval tournament and feast. But it’s wildly entertaining and an incredible show for all ages.
As you enter the arena, you are seated in a specific color-coded section. The reason for this will be explained to you later. A server then brings you tomato soup and bread to start, both plated with heavy metal tableware made to look like it was crafted by a blacksmith—with the company's logo etched on the side, of course (see where we're going with this?).
Crown Goblet
The queen is announced, her knight-led procession begins, and there’s some witty banter as they introduce each knight who will be competing in the tournament. This is when you discover your allegiance is tied to the section where you are sitting. For example, if you are in the blue section, your champion is the blue knight! Once this proclamation is made, spectators are given these wonderful paper crowns decorated to represent your knight. There’s a hawk demonstration, horses that prance around to fanciful music, and then begins the main event – the joust.
Jousting typically begins with a formalized sequence of events. Once the knights are announced, they will make their way to their horses. Meanwhile, your server has reappeared with a roasted half chicken and potato, corn on the cob, and some form of dessert. Once again, the plating involves heavy metal tableware sans cutlery—presumably because eating with your hands seems medieval even though cutlery did, in fact, exist in the Middle Ages.
Paper Crown
And, of course, everything is branded! From the plates and paper crowns to the flags they give the VIP attendees.
When you walk in, they take your photo with your group, and you can purchase your photo printed on a crisp – and, of course, branded – photo memento. Plus, they usually have a gift shop, which is where the promo products really shine.
The gift shop is filled with classic branded items like shirts, pennants, and shields to cheer on your knight, light-up swords, and magnets. They also have trinkets like resin and pewter fairies and dragons in statues and cups. They have plush unicorns – and if you’re over 18, you can even buy medieval weaponry!
Foam Shield
You probably already know how promotional products work – a shirt or a hat is essentially a walking billboard for your company. However, promo items are also about creating memories, lasting impressions, and building brand loyalty, and Medieval dinner theater is an excellent real-world example of this.
A kid who thoughtfully purchased a dragon statue after they experienced the show will keep that memento for years to come and remember the excitement they had ripping into historically inaccurate garlic bread while cheering on their knight in a jousting tournament every time they look at it! A child who brings home a banner, a stuffed dragon, and a paper crown from a birthday party they attended might also want to have their own birthday party at that same venue – especially if they sleep with that stuffed dragon every night.
Aidan Dragon
Memories are what make us the people we become, and with the right campaign or promotion, they can help facilitate a lifetime of brand loyalty.
So, let us help you create special memories for your customers and bring your dream promotional product project to life! Give us a call or browse our website today!