New York Renaissance Faire
Last weekend I performed a guest weekend at NYRF, to excellent effect. I had a fantastic time and felt warmly appreciated by audience and participants alike. Most surprisingly, a number of people recognized me from the Stockwood Renaissance Faire, nearby but almost ten years gone. Considering I was younger, heavier, and with flowing hair down my back the last time I was performing in the area I'm doubly impressed. And to think I'd been nervous about cutting my hair because of marketing interests.
Lars Lunde was a particularly fond surprise, considering he saw me in glasses as he was driving past and still recognized me. Lars was the promoter, director, heart, and soul behind Stockwood, and one if those folks you meet who are, quite simply, Good People. Losing the opportunity to work with him was one of my greatest regrets from the closing of the Stockwood show, and it was a pleasure to be able to spend a little time catching up.
My good friend Stacy Sioux was also a highlight visit, a flash from the old Ontario Renaissance Festival and also Good People. Besides these were numerous others, from many festivals across the country and the past fifteen years. One of the joys of the circuit is that I could walk onto a faire site for the first time and still be surrounded by friends.
I also felt a pull of memory playing the old stamping grounds of Ken Paulson, who passes away in 2001. A brilliant dulcimer player and fellow Stockwood performer, he gave me advice after my first six months of playing that took me to a whole new level. "That was very good, now try *this*". I still think of him when I play certain tunes.
I'm now back in Onset, Massachusetts for King Richard's Faire, and while a number of close friends are no longer performing here I'm making new ones and treasuring those I have left. The forecast for the weekend is encouraging, and I'm eager to get back at it!
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