Tales from the faire
This weekend was #2 of 3 for the Delaware Renaissance Faire. It was the same crew of folks we had last weekend, and it is our best folks. Next weekend, we’ll see. I know Robin isn’t going to go. We’ll see about the others.
This weekend we stayed in the chain hotel (Ramada) ½ hour from the faire as opposed to the small family owned one ¼ hour from the faire. But, it did have two beds per room, which the other promised but did not deliver.
It’s also on the home side of the faire, so we got there before 11 Friday driving down, as opposed to the other one which was 3/4 an hour farther.
It’s been very dry down there. The ground is as hard as asphalt. IT is very dusty. Doing sword fights raises a lot of dust. Lots of us had difficulty breathing in that.
It is supposed to rain down there this week. Hopefully it will end by the weekend and be better. We’ll see.
I did comment to the entertainment director that having two sword groups perform at the start of the day with one at the far end of the faire and one half way through made it hard for the one at the end of the faire (us) to get much of a crowd.
And it is hard to say “don’t go to that sword show, come to ours. You only have to walk twice as far…”
But, none of our shows was empty. We felt bad for the story teller who did have that problem once. I went and sat through one of his shows just to make sure someone was there.
I was bad and bought two more swords. They were a good price and a very good match for the blades in the illustrations for one of the manuals we use from the 1470’s. They were being sold as “viking swords”, but the are dead ringers for German messers from 500 years later.
My wife reminded me we’re going to a sales event for reenactors in less than two weeks now. But, I wasn’t planning on swords then. As me in two weeks how my plans went…
The guy who dressed as Sauron before was there as the Witch King of Angmar. Again, a very cool costume and I was glad I saw it.
Our shows generally went well and got a good audience reaction. During one on Saturday when I was doing longsword with Ian, my sword went through the tapestry at the end of the stage and I cut it in half.
After the show I went to the organizers and apologized for it. Two said “no problem”. One said “That’s metal as hell! I love it!” So, I guess it is OK.
We put up one of our own at the back of the stage for the Sunday shows.
(Previous days it had just been hanging from the back. If my sword hit it, it just moved out of the way. But, Saturday someone tied it at the bottom, so when my sword hit it, it couldn’t move and got cut…)
Saturday night we stayed for the potluck dinner. Afterwards we took out my lightsaber collection and goofed around in the dark. Several other folks joined us.
One kid who lived near the faire wanted to join. I told him he needed parental permission. He called his dad who was “you want to do what?”
I explained we had light up plastic lightsabers and were hitting each other with it and was he ok with his son joining in.
“Why do I care? Go ahead,” he said and hung up.
The kid had a good time. My wife was worried he might run off with a lightsaber, but he didn’t go far with it.
All the other acts that use the same stage as us rotate around to others. We’re the only act where all of our shows are at the far end from the entrance.
But, we do pull a crowd in each time. Even past the other sword group. And, our tent is next to the stage, so it is very easy to get set up.
It does mean we have to be quiet during other people’s shows. But, this means we can say “Tom, stop cracking that whip” and he does without complaint. Normally it’s “I need to practice” or “I’m getting a crowd to come over”. But, saying “Krystal the Indestructible Lady is on stage and you don’t want to make her mad” seems quite effective.
And, who would want to anger a woman who hammers nails up her nose as part of her act?
Being at the far end of the faire where all of our shows are next to the tent gives an offset view of the faire. No one, other than folks who work there, goes past our tent to get anywhere else. They go there and then head back. Maybe watch us for a show. But, you don’t pass us to get to anything.
When they reach us they have a “we’ve see everything here now” kind of view. Maybe that means they’re willing to stop by and watch things. Maybe not. But, they’re at the end and won’t say “what’s that down there?” only “let’s go back to see that thing”.
Likewise, we don’t need to go anywhere. Our shows are all right there. We can just sit there all day, walk to the other side of the tent, do a show, then go sit back down. Not much incentive for us to walk around either. Not much chance to see something, hear another act, or such unless we decide to go look for one. Or, pass it on the way to the bathroom…
We’re the Patagonia of the faire. Not everyone gets there. The folks who do seem to like it and seem to tell good stories about it, but lots of folks say “that’s too far off, let’s go somewhere closer.”
It’s a good faire. There is a good size audience. They really seem to like our material.
But, the drive is killer. It’s just over 500km each way. The speed limit is 105km/hr for 95% of that drive, so it should no more than 5 hours.
But, driving by New York City is always a problem. Doesn’t matter if you’re doing north or south. I’ve just given up on the way that is shortest as it always, always, always has bad traffic. (Over the George Washington bridge.)
The next bridge up is 50/50, but we’ve been doing it more.
Friday when I checked the traffic report it suggested going more than 100km out of the way, which is said would only add 5 minutes more than the time of going the shortest way.
We didn’t go that far out, but didn’t try the shorted distance way either.
If the plan holds, this coming weekend will be the last show of the year. It will be nice to have some down time after that.
Of course, we have to get through this last weekend. Ian wasn’t feeling well Sunday and I guess he’s now sick. So, his whole family is staying home. That’s 3-4 people out. Liz wants to come, but doesn’t have a car that can make it that distance reliably. And, Monday is a holiday that not many folks get. Liz does not. We were going to have her ride home Sunday night with CJ, Ian’s wife, but with that whole family not going, Liz has no ride.
Robin is in the same boat, unreliable car, has to work Monday no one riding back.
I looked into trains and such, but at $220 a person one way, that’s out of my price range. I’d spend what we’re being paid for a day on getting two folks home.
So, we’ll be short of people. Again.
At least this time they’ll be 4 of us instead of just 3.
But, it will me Monday afternoon when we have to pack up it will be a lot of work.
And, Sunday it might rain. Hopefully everything won’t be wet when we put it away for the winter.
I guess we’ll see…