SCs of the Renaissiance

[wheeitsme]

My husband and I met while working ren-faires.

If I remember correctly, if you had a patron that would not stop bothering you and started to get out of hand you were instructed to yell out "Help, I'm being bothered by this Spaniard!" and that was the code for folks to come to the rescue.

We worked an archery booth, though, so not a lot of guys would try to get hands-on. The funny part was the fellows who wanted to impress and couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. Especially funny was when the girl they were trying to impress shot better than them. Even funnier was where she sometimes continually hit on the painted human targets.

The really stupid and obnoxious ones were the ones who would step over the ropes and try to sit/picnic/rest behind the range. If they didn't move when asked, we started shooting arrows over their heads (not anywhere near them, but well beyond where they were sitting) "You see how far that arrow went? Not everybody can shoot that far". Only once did I have to full-on channel my mother. I was halfway to them, telling them that they had better MOVE YOUR BUTTS BEFORE I MOVE THEM FOR YOU before they scooted out of there.

Sigh. I miss Faire, sometimes.

[AccountingDrone]

I grew up a Rennie - I tell people I'm a Ren-Kid.... I started going to Faire(s) when I was 11 years old.

My mother makes garb.
She makes all of MY garb.
Momma has RULES



before PICs! get demanded

Smart Mom =)

Lovely dress, though I don't do renn faires, I have *issues* with renn faire clothing in general - I make the real mccoy for people who are able to spend up to thousands of dollars for hand crafted researched italian rennaissance, tudor or elizabethan clothing [note, clothing not costuming] or various amounts for different eras of clothing. [I do Imperial Roman, 12th through 14th century Persian, and dabble in various eras upon request. Currently working on a replication of the Blue Tunicella for hubby. I have the pearls, but the enamelwork medallions are needing to be created [I have the kiln, but the metal stock is problematic] and the bullion is expensive and neither of us is working at this time. [we purchased the fabric from Dharma Trading, and I traded for the murex dye, and the woad. I decided not to process the woad in the pasture as I don't want to deal with the stench at this time. One of our neighbors is trying to sell his deceased parents house and I don't want to drive off any possible customers.]

[and I am being nice and not telling you what all is totally historically inaccurate.]

[Dentarthurdent]

Who may or may not have been the one laying some thing on a seated woman's shoulder, asking "Whadya think of that?"


"Looks like a man's p****, only smaller."

I heard a story about him getting in an elevator with a woman at a con and asking "Would you like a little fuck?" As she got off the elevator, she said "Goodbye, little fuck!"

[Kereminde]

On the topic of corsets, my mother muttered something to me which made me laugh:

- "Sure, it's fun and games to show all that off but what about the sunburn later?"

On the topic of rabble at the Ren Faires:

- These places have professional rabble, they don't need amateur help.

On the topic of costumes:

- Never again after my feet hurt from close-to-period shoes. Two words - Arch support.

[AccountingDrone]

- Never again after my feet hurt from close-to-period shoes. Two words - Arch support.

The problem with moderns and period shoes - we are [normally] not accustomed to the slings and arrows of rough terraine. I actually spent much of my childhood and adult life barefoot unless I absolutely needed shoes and could walk on recycled cinders barefoot. The medievaloid shoes based on fake indian moc kits were just fine for me. Most americans are accustomed to padded foot beds and padded soles.

[cinders were from the leftovers in coal burning trains and heating systems and originally recycled by using them as fill in dirt driveways and such in the early part of the last century. Some campgrounds used by the scouts still had cinder driveways and pathways in the 70s in Western NY.]

[downforit2008]

I've never been to one of those Renaissance Fairs. They sound pretty interesting to visit, and I guarantee the writer of this post something: If your fair ever comes to my home town, I'll be on my BEST and most RESPECTFUL behavior when I come to visit. If 4 years of Retail has taught me anything for the future, it is to treat fellow employees of customer-related businesses with the respect that they deserve!

I told the manager at an Arby's yesterday that she is to personally thank the cooks who made my food for a great job well done. I heard the kitchen area go into an uproar when the manager did so and one cook exclaiming, "Wow, a COMPLIMENT! That made MY week!"

I walked out feeling very good and with a huge grin on my face. Now if only a lot of people can read my comments and "pay it forward"!

[thansal]

The really stupid and obnoxious ones were the ones who would step over the ropes and try to sit/picnic/rest behind the range. If they didn't move when asked, we started shooting arrows over their heads (not anywhere near them, but well beyond where they were sitting) "You see how far that arrow went? Not everybody can shoot that far". Only once did I have to full-on channel my mother. I was halfway to them, telling them that they had better MOVE YOUR BUTTS BEFORE I MOVE THEM FOR YOU before they scooted out of there.

Ye gods!

As a former archer, I have had a few serious issues like that at camp. Ranging from people retrieving arrows from behind the safety net, to people wandering around the woods behind the range when people were at the line shooting. I started demonstrating that it was possible to put an arrow through the target (cheap, over used foam) and the 'safety' net in one shot.

I understand common place stupidity, but I will never get the willfully suicidal.


Man, I need to go to more ren fairs, and I really need to get more/better garb...

[mikoyan29]

I'm gonna try and make ours this year. I want jousting pics.

[Stormraven]

I haven't been to Ren (Northern California) for a while. The drive is brutal, and it's usually way too hot, and I never stay long enough to make it worth the effort, but I did like going.

On the subject of swords, I have a Two Handed Sword (Claymore type) that weighs just about six pounds. Not much to lift, but when the six pounds is stretched over almost five feet, it feels a lot heavier.

[wolfie]

Though last year we did have an adult male creep sneak in and harrass the younger women and girls. He started to make the Archery Booth Daughter/Sometimes Forge Apprentice (12 years at that time) really uncomfortable and thankfully for him her parents went to the owner who threw him out and banned him.

We worked an archery booth, though, so not a lot of guys would try to get hands-on. The funny part was the fellows who wanted to impress and couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. Especially funny was when the girl they were trying to impress shot better than them. Even funnier was where she sometimes continually hit on the painted human targets.

Getting grabby at the archery booth (especially with the operator's underage daughter) is a Darwin award waiting to happen - don't piss off people who are packing Yew. To quote (IIRC - saw it years ago) a Bugs Bunny spoof of Robin Hood, the term "Clothyard shaft through the wishbone" springs to mind. Don't even need knights to protect a lady's honour - a peasant with a quarterstaff (actually, it's a buck-and-a-quarter quarterstaff, but don't tell anyone) can do the job.

[ApolloSZ]

To quote (IIRC - saw it years ago) a Bugs Bunny spoof of Robin Hood, the term "Clothyard shaft through the wishbone" springs to mind. Don't even need knights to protect a lady's honour - a peasant with a quarterstaff (actually, it's a buck-and-a-quarter quarterstaff, but don't tell anyone) can do the job.

YOIKS! AND AWAY *SMASH*

Quarter staff is fun. I should get back into that.

Stormraven - I fight with a German Longsword. It too is fairly light. But when your swinging that, AND steel Gauntlets (they are my hand protection. I have no furniture only a ring and cross guard) then it can get heavy, like you say

[fireheart]

YOIKS! AND AWAY *SMASH*

Quarter staff is fun. I should get back into that.

Stormraven - I fight with a German Longsword. It too is fairly light. But when your swinging that, AND steel Gauntlets (they are my hand protection. I have no furniture only a ring and cross guard) then it can get heavy, like you say

Ho, haha, guard, turn, parry, dodge, spin, ha, thrust! *bo-oi-oi-ng*



Whaaaat?

[lobo94]

Got seriously letched by him at a Star Trek convention many years ago. Man can write, no argument, but geez what a sleeze . . .

You are not the first person to make the latter assessment. There's a tale out there about his first and last day working for a rodent...

[wolfie]

And if anyone ever hears that full suit(of any armour)weighed over 100+ lbs, please hit them because they are idiots and are in need of being beaten.

Tournament armour maybe, but not armour intended for battle. With tournament armour, the only attack which is expected is a lance thrust while jousting, so it can be made extra-thick - after all, the wearer won't have to swing a sword and dodge blows.

[Redbeard]

Okay, had to add a bit of RenFaire non suck to the thread. the Knights of Mayhem were jousting at the Utah Faire last month when the wife and I were out there visiting, and Charlie was awesome. He was all smiles and handshakes for fans of the show, thanked people for the attention and was more than happy to get pics and sign pieces of lance (I promised Mrs redbeard that I'd beat down an 8 year old next year if I have to for here. Kids SWARMED the jousting field for those pieces of wood after the joust)