If an SCA or Guild member were to tell you...

[Lord Figaro]

At a meeting last night to talk about next years Ren fest and what things we should try to avoid or what we would like to see added, a guild member said to me (because I reference renaissance festivals that I have been to for points of view on things)

Well Renaissance festival performers and Merchants aren't like us (guild members) because we "LIVE" the life and they don't.

What would you say to them?

The context of the conversation was that we had a guild perform some sword fighting for us, since we could not afford performers to do it.

[Grov]

Ask him when the last time he went a year without plumbing was.  No one lives that life anymore that doesn't have to. 

Faire is about fun.  Everyone has their own ways of enjoying it.  Hopefully without having to belittle others in the process.  Down with faire nazis and elitist morons!!

[Lord Figaro]

I feel the same way Grov. I'm trying to come up with a diplomatic way of telling these guild members that this is a Renaissance festival and not a guild run event. Hell the head planner has told them repeatedly, but they won't seem to let it sink in.

I joked with these local TV morning show guys on how some members of these groups can be Garb Nazi's and I think the whole group just discards anything I say with relation to them now.

[Gauwyn of Bracknell]

Thank goodness that Renaissance merchants and performers are NOT like them

[temper]

Some people, whether they are rennies, merchants, SCA, WMA are like this:
http://www.bodhipaksa.com/images/larson.jpg

Say your piece and understand that some people are right all the time-even though it is a statistical impossibility.

[Lord Figaro]

That was one of the things that bothered me, out of all the vendors and merchants that were there. The ONLY one's to close up early were those representing a guild. All of the seasoned Renaissance merchants stayed until there just wasn't any point. To me, the guilds ruined the last day by leaving when they did.

[renren]

I would probably sound like their mother and say, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all!"

[will paisley]

This is why I have absolutely no interest in SCA.  I've heard about this attitude time and time again, and I've experienced it firsthand.  My wife and I stumbled upon an SCA event when we happened to be in garb.  When they first saw us, they asked us to sign in and asked us which barony we were with.  We said none, whereupon they asked us about our clothing.  When we said we had gotten it at a Renaissance faire, it was like we said we were cannibalistic necrophiliacs.  All of a sudden we were told about all the inaccuracies in our garb, by someone wearing tennis shoes with theirs.  We got to hear all the comments about how some of them go to the local Renaissance faire (MDRF) every five or six years, just to remind themselves "how bad it is". The most frequent comment about faire was "Can you IMAGINE? They do it for PAY!"  They then proceeded to virtually beg us to join SCA.

Sorry, no help in coming up with a reply, at least not on the board. None of my suggestions would make it through the profanity filter.

[Lord Figaro]

The oddest part with it renren, is that they didn't see that they said anything bad or insulting! They though I was being insulting to them. Heck there was one guild that had 91 people that got in for free and they were getting very upset that I implied that there was no way that all 91 people "worked" to earn their way in. I was asking for "some" of their guild to work as street, and not one of them offered to do it. They acted as if I insulted them.

LOL Will I had heard and dealt with this type of problem from a lot of others before too Will. My fear is that they are going to try and succeed in taking over the city event and the head planner is going to let them, because she thinks we can't do it without them.

Now that I think of it, I don't think this would be a bad idea. If any more of you would like to share your experiences with this type of people, please feel free to share them.

[renren]

Hmmm, perhaps a statement on how the mission of the faire is to "capture the spirit " of the ren period, and concentrate on having fun?

[Lord Figaro]

We're hoping that by bringing the head planner to the AZRF, that she'll see a true ren fest and realize you don't need a guilds help to make the event work.

[Grov]

I don't know what faire or event this involves but I would say to hell with them.  They won't do anything but bring the fun level down.  Do it without them, happily.

[Lord Figaro]

This was the first year of our event in Needles CA called Kingdom by the River, I ended up being the entertainment coordinator for it. The head planner feels we need to try and let some things slide a little till we make a name for ourselves. She feels if we irritate them to much they may pull out on us before that and with the experience they have learned from us, go ahead and run a better event for themselves.  I don't see that as even being possible with their attitudes, but she calls the shots.

[RumbaRue]

This is why I have absolutely no interest in SCA.  I've heard about this attitude time and time again, and I've experienced it firsthand.  My wife and I stumbled upon an SCA event when we happened to be in garb.  When they first saw us, they asked us to sign in and asked us which barony we were with.  We said none, whereupon they asked us about our clothing.  When we said we had gotten it at a Renaissance faire, it was like we said we were cannibalistic necrophiliacs.  All of a sudden we were told about all the inaccuracies in our garb, by someone wearing tennis shoes with theirs.  We got to hear all the comments about how some of them go to the local Renaissance faire (MDRF) every five or six years, just to remind themselves "how bad it is". The most frequent comment about faire was "Can you IMAGINE? They do it for PAY!"  They then proceeded to virtually beg us to join SCA.

I've had the same situation here on the west coast. SCA - excuse my words - Stupid Crazy weed kickers.
For them to criticize anyone's choice of clothing for events, is ridiculous! I've seen everything from gingham check to gold lamae' for costumes on those people. Yes they have their heads up their you know whats!
For the longest time the SCA refused to allow any kind of pirate persona as they didn't think it fit their medieval theme. I know it took YEARS to finally get those people to admit there were pirates at the time.
Geesh, with the exception of the knights whacking the hell out of each other, the women haven't got a clue on what Medieval dress is. I see lots of Renaissance outfits among them...talk about a time-line issue....

[Carl Heinz]

I'm not sure what "guilds" you're talking about, but Cuthies don't live it.

Also, we're sufficiently organized that you'd better believe that we work at fulfilling event requirements.  Those who don't care to aren't accepted back.

We have real lives outside of faire.  

But we do look forward to faire and come out and play.

Most members must accomplish at least four events a day but many do more.  In my case, I pretty much have one event that lasts most of the day.  Events include such things as participating in parades. street interaction, performing in street pageants, front gate meet and greet, and, if the guild is part of a show, participating in it.  A number of members have ongoing "events" in the yard.  These include things ranging from meal preparation to giving crafts demonstrations.

I think we also try to keep the tradition of providing historical education going.  This latter may or may not be supported by the event, itself.  However, costume approval and training workshops are still mostly the function of the vent.  Some guilds such as Court have additional requirements of their own.  We have no part in establishing event standards and we'd better not get involved in criticizing the efforts of others.  This discourages visitors from attending.  As I've said repeatedly in other threads, those who pay at the gate can wear what they want as long as they won't get arrested for it.  Internally, the event sets the standards.  As long as your costume meets the requirements of the Costume Dept, that's all that's required.  Personally, if someone asks me for assistance, I'll generally refer them to someone who could provide the appropriate help.

Event staff sets the standards for participants.  I don't nor is it my place to try to enforce them.

I think it's interesting that some of the potential new members who attend the guild kick off meeting aren't seen again when they come to understand what will be required.

It's a lot more than got a costume so here's your gate pass.

I can't speak for SCA members since I've never been one.  However, I have several friends who are or have been members.  I get the impression that they prefer faire because they encounter less  in the way of internal politics.