Ren-Faires: what 's that all about?

Subject: RE: Ren-Faires: what 's that all about?
From: Tootler
Date: 30 Oct 09 - 04:33 PM

IIRC "Dumplings Boiling Over" was a line from a Benny Hill song.

Subject: RE: Ren-Faires: what 's that all about?
From: Hollowfox
Date: 04 Nov 09 - 03:12 PM

Well, as a member of the SCA for (ahem) baout thirty years, I can say that it is at it's best when somebody's thoughts tun something like this: Hey, that's interesting! How'd they do that? I bet I/we could do it...let's give it a try.
I like the SCA because it does not focus on military history, so as a woman, I am not limited to cross-dressing or just being a camp follower. If I want to dress up funny and cook over a fire, I can do that without paying for the privilege. It also covers about a thousand years, so there's a lot to play with. Since I am needle-impared, my clothing is either purchased, or not all that great, but that is not held against me.
Admittedly, I am not that active, but I go to the Pennsic War (probably their largest event) to see friends, to shop for stuff I couldn't get anywhere else (at least not easily), and for the classes. I've tried out everything from Mongolian cooking to cracking a bullwhip. Not everything in the SCA is the quintessence of academic research, but a lot can be, and it's nice to sample a bit of something without having to spend hundreds to satisfy your curiosity.

I've been to a couple of renfaires, but I didn't find much to do there besides eat, see a couple of decent demonstrations and shows (falconry, plays, etc), and look at a lot of vendors' booths. Pretty, but a bit expensive for me. (remember, speaking just for myself here.)

Subject: RE: Ren-Faires: what 's that all about?
From: Ron Davies
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 10:20 PM

It's entirely possible that Jan got "dumplings boiling over " from Benny Hill. She's from Bradford-on-Avon.

By the way, is it true that self-styled feminists hounded Benny Hill?

Subject: RE: Ren-Faires: what 's that all about?
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 01:46 AM

You're all welcome to my Authentic Rennaissance Faire. Just make sure you haven't bathed in a month or two. Also, those with massive goiters will be admitted free. We'll live on the site for a month or two before we open up for the public, just so the premises can attain an authentic level of mud, dung, and contagious disease. Don't miss the Flagellants Parade at dusk! Visit the Leper Colony in our South quadrant and take home authentic leper-made souveniers! Kids of all ages will enjoy the Bear-baiting! Or visit our concessions stands for some Rancid Meat-on-a-stick!

Give me a break with the non-authentic American Ren-Faire crap.

Subject: RE: Ren-Faires: what 's that all about?
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 09:41 AM

Right you are, L-EJ.
No one in their right mind would go to that place and think of it as entertainment...accurate as hell, but not entertaining.
The whole point of fair is that it's an escape from reality.
Previous posters had remarked about the broad range of time-lines, authenticity, modernity at various fairs.
I have worked at the Maryland fair for over 20 years. My Pyrates Royale Band freely admit that we are 300 years out of step with the Henry VIII theme of the fair. If we were totally honest, we would also have to admit that our charming, handsome, personable Henry is nothing like the self-centered, infected, nearly-infertile, wife-murdering, Catholic-persecuting, land-grabbing king with his retinue of social climbers and back-stabbers.
If a commoner (read:YOU) were to approach the real Henry to ask the time of day, they wouldn't be knighted, they would likely be stabbed by the king's guard tossed into a stinking prison until you died.
This season we had more than 300,000 paying patrons over the nine week run. I attribute this number to the fact that our king's guards don't stab that many patrons during the season.
The wares sold at fairs also vary greatly. At MDRF the vendors sell what they make, and most items are true examples of the artisan's craft. I've also seen fairs where the cardboard boxes of ale mugs from China are barely hidden from view, but the vendor claims that "It's all hand made by me".
Our Jousters also really joust. If a rider is knocked off, he didn't take a dive. Shattered lances have really shattered. Not gimmicked. This is not always so.
If you go to fairs like Maryland, Georgia, Carolina, Texas, the two NEW York fairs (Howdy MMario)and don't find something to make you smile, then you are probably trying to have a bad time. Drink more.
So it's not for everybody. But it's no more silly than many other pastimes...like folk music. Teehee.

Subject: RE: Ren-Faires: what 's that all about?
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 09:43 AM

Sorry, "Guest" above was me, Skivee, logging in from a friend's computer