Renaissance Pher?

[Hawkwind]

OK, I've been attending Faire for over eleven years, and I absolutely love it.

One thing my friends and I have often marveled over is the transformation that overcomes people at Faire. Do they pump pheremones out in to the Faire crowd? It seems that all their inhibitions get thrown to the wind as soon as they enter the gates. Is it the garb, the taking on of a new persona, the chainmail bikinis?

Now don't get me wrong, I love it, but WOW.

I've been to Scarby and the Highland Games in Atlanta and experienced the same thing, so I don't think it's just TRF.

What do y'all think?

~Hawkwind~


P.S. Just for the record, I wouldn't have it any other way!

[Cormac]

I have noticed the same thing and I would agree that I wouldn't have it any other way.  Stepping into a persona especially if it is one that has developed over time, the garb, and the atmosphere of the faire makes it easier to let go of the work a day world.  As long as it is done in a responsible way it is just good clean fun.  Like anything it can be taken to excess but I have not seen that in my relatively short experience with faires.

[LadyElizabeth]

I think that is part of what is so wonderful about faire!!  I don't want to be plain old Elizabeth R. who works for USA on the shuttle and has a masters and a house and is all responsible and stuff....  I want to be someone else for a day or a weekend.  I want to step into a role that personafies a differeent side to my personality becuase I have so many sides and most of them don't get to come out and play during my "normal" life!  Why hinder us weirdos with multiple personalities... haha!  I'm not sure there is a too far personally, unless of course you're married and you play a wench and then end up cheating or something just to stay in character.... that's too far and I truly have seen that many a time.  Actually there are rennie couples who jointly agree to allow this sort of behavior and in that case, I don't see a problem.

[Messyn McCleavage]

Aye, escaping reality and living out fantasies, hence the popularity of gaming (World of Warcraft) and adult novelty shops (props and costumes for couples.)

[Captain Cornelius Howard Duckman]

It's an environment that says "Hey, it's okay to flirt." and we love it. Great place to make friends at random, and start conversations just for the hell of it.

I think the costumes help.

[VIII]

Tights on men, tight bodices on women!

[Joyce "Delfinia DuSwallow" Howard]

Hey. . . that must be the answer, "pheremones"! We were just saying the same thing. What happens to them? But I wouldn't have it any other way, it just adds to the great day I'm already having. I sure have seen some funny stuff at faire.

[groomporter]

That's why we don't normally take on shop help who are not at least legal aged. Even some "adults" hit site and go off the deep end: "It's festival! It's festival!"

[Hawkwind]

I think it's "Fairemones" 

I must say that when designing my latest garb I considered my best "assets" and made sure the garb complented them. IF you like the way you look in your garb, you're more comfortable in it and will be more sensitive to the "fairemones".


How I do love the escape.

~Hawkwind~

[DuCoeur]

Faire is a supremely, and highly...ahem... charged atomosphere.  Leather, Hosen, kilts, bodices, cinchers, corsets...add a splash or three of ale and Voila.

I do think it is the persona one takes on in Garb.  Even in mundane life...does not your attitude, change with your "costume?"

You put on the suit for work, you act  one way.  you come home and put on you fav jeans and sweatshirt, you relax and act another way.  You dress up for a night out at the club/pub/bar...Again, another transformation.  Again, another "costume" change.

The same happens at faire.  I take complaits, and moans and whines from morons all day...When at Faire and in Garb, I am above it all.  the escape into another world, another persona takes over and I become a different person. 

Only my closests friends know who I am beneath the armour of my garb....

[Lady Renee Buchanan]

I would never, ever cheat on my husband (and vice versa, I know him well enough to answer for him), and probably 95% of the playtrons wouldn't either.  Having said that, in the "regular" world, I wouldn't flirt with a guy, nor my husband flirt with another woman.

However, at faire, if a guy flirts with me, or if my husband flirts with another woman, we know it's a joke and fooling around.  Nothing more than a wench and a rogue, good for a smile or two.  Because like in Las Vegas, what happens at faire, stays at faire.  Period. Neither one of us would ever dream of taking any flirting, hand-kissing, hugs, etc. seriously.  And we limit it to that, nothing more, and never give the impression that we would like to continue the banter past the gates.

[Captain Cornelius Howard Duckman]

Cheating doesn't generally enter into it. There tend to be a lot more people of alternative lifestyles, be it bdsm, polyamory, swinging, or even just nonhetrosexualities, that you can usually find everything you need.

[Peddlin]

When you put on garb, it changes your whole attitude. If you are living out your fantasies, why stop at the clothes. I think most people open up much more, and it is easier to justify a lot when you are playing someone else. You can go back home, and leave them responsible. But I also believe that most people keep it within reason and don't really do things that would be against the moral fiber of their true personalities. It's kind of like playing dress up, when you were little.

[Ranna]

I think it's the comfort of being surrounded by others who are as passionate about something as you are.  Just like Trekkies or Star Wars conventions command the attention of thousands - the fest is our thing.  I love my husband dearly but I was born a flirt and the fest has a habbit of bringing out the best (or worst!) in me.  I kiss strange men all the time and the husband always hugs and kisses the ladies.   It's that kind of world where nobody takes offense in the harmless, funloving play.

[will paisley]

I would never, ever cheat on my husband (and vice versa, I know him well enough to answer for him), and probably 95% of the playtrons wouldn't either.  Having said that, in the "regular" world, I wouldn't flirt with a guy, nor my husband flirt with another woman.

However, at faire, if a guy flirts with me, or if my husband flirts with another woman, we know it's a joke and fooling around.  Nothing more than a wench and a rogue, good for a smile or two.  Because like in Las Vegas, what happens at faire, stays at faire.  Period. Neither one of us would ever dream of taking any flirting, hand-kissing, hugs, etc. seriously.  And we limit it to that, nothing more, and never give the impression that we would like to continue the banter past the gates.

Thank you, Lady Renee - I was about to write something exactly like this, but you saved me the trouble.

This is at the heart of why you see such lack of inhibition at faire - because the environment is *safe*.  People know they can carry on without repercussions. Everybody interacting has a clear understanding of what's going on; if a woman covers my face in lipstick, I'm not going to follow her around faire all day trying to get her phone number, and she knows it.  I've often seen danes get confused by the display of affection, asking me things like "Doesn't your wife mind?".  At that point I usually take the opportunity to point out my wife, who more often than not is doing something like checking some guy's tights to see if they're naughty or nice.  Of course, then I have to explain that we're not swingers or in an "open relationship" (Not That There's Anything Wrong With That®).  Standards and mores at faire are different than they are in the outside world, and the regulars at faire understand and respect the difference.  Hell, there's even a few guys who greet me with a kiss on the lips at faire.  If anybody attempted such a thing outside of faire I'd call the police while running as fast as my feet could carry me.  Things like that at faire don't mean the same thing as they do  outside of faire.

[DonaCatalina]

I would never, ever cheat on my husband (and vice versa, I know him well enough to answer for him), and probably 95% of the playtrons wouldn't either.  Having said that, in the "regular" world, I wouldn't flirt with a guy, nor my husband flirt with another woman.

However, at faire, if a guy flirts with me, or if my husband flirts with another woman, we know it's a joke and fooling around.  Nothing more than a wench and a rogue, good for a smile or two.  Because like in Las Vegas, what happens at faire, stays at faire.  Period. Neither one of us would ever dream of taking any flirting, hand-kissing, hugs, etc. seriously.  And we limit it to that, nothing more, and never give the impression that we would like to continue the banter past the gates.

I have to agree with this Lady Renee 100%.
Faire is like a role-playing game. A lot of people don't 'get it' that the role is dropped as soon as you walk out the gates.
But its an understandable mistake.

[pirategurl]

There is also something to be said for the comfort factor. Me as a regular person, has self esteem issues. However, my persona is a take charge, flirty, and confident pirate captain. As soon as the garb comes off, I'm back to my timid self again.
Its a chance to be someone else-an escape from reality-to a place where you dont have to pay bills, work a job you hate, or deal with most other aspects of "life". You are only doing what you want to do at faire-and the only stress (hopefully) is only that you cant afford EVERYTHING you wanted to buy..but theres always next week, or season.

[LadyElizabeth]

It's funny cause playing a Queen, there are no limitations to my money and resources, but being the real me I obviously am limited.  However, when I take on my persona as Queen, I sometimes have a difficult time separating myself from that and also limiting my spending... 

Thankfully QE1 was single and loved to flirt and so do I.  That part really does work out well.... hehe

[Dinobabe]

The first time I took hubby to faire he refused to wear garb... until he started walking around with me in garb and seeing everyone else in garb.  He became self conscious of the fact that he was in street wear!  We went back to G&G's shop and set him up in some of Grandpa's garb.  The next year he had a kilt, breeches, shirt, doublet, hat, and shoes! 

[Tammy]

Faire is where I get to actually be ME. It's out here in this mundane world that I'm behind a mask.

[jinx]

Faire is where I get to actually be ME. It's out here in this mundane world that I'm behind a mask.

That's EXACTLY what I was thinking.  I'm more myself at Faire than anywhere else (other than with close friends).  A lot of people are surprised to find me being shy and somewhat unsure of myself, if they've met me at Faire or another setting I'm comfortable in, because that's soo not me.

[robert of armstrong]

Of course it is easy to let inhabitions slip away at Faire.

First, for many of us, the people we interact with every day aren't there - therefore, they can't judge us for what we do there, because they aren't there to witness it.  People are willing to do things, or let things happen if they know that the repercussion of being judged later is lifted.

Second, most of us don a persona at Faire that is different from our everyday.  It may still be you, only more extremely you, or it may be a different personality altogether, but when you don that persona, you will subconsciously don some of the traits you want that personality to have, even if you didn't know you wanted them.

Either way, people are at Faire to have fun.  If it weren't fun, why would you be there?  The flirting, the hungry glace across the pub, the raised eyebrow is all part of stepping back into the time of chivalry and romance.  Who doesn't want that?

[jcbanner]

Faire is definitely an environment with more flirting and open rules about whats acceptable.  But I don't really think it all ends as the gates.  I've met a higher % of swingers and people with "open relationships" at faire then I've met elsewhere.  and among the unmarried people at faire, there's often flirting that doen't stop when the faire is over.

[Nailin]

I have to agree with Armstrong - I've done things I normally would never do / have never done in the real world
Faire for me is letting go of everything and allowing myself to be free -the flirting with people you never would
, doing things you wouldn't, it's why i go to faires and am on cast, - i had the best makeout session in my life
in front of friends and family let me tell you i would never have done that off faire grounds nor at my own faire -
you just got to be careful if your like me and wear your heart on your sleeve - i love the chiverly the old school romance
the guy giving a girl a flower, the guy escorting you through the town.... i'm more confident, more outgoing, it's
like as soon as you don the garb or see your rennie friends you become a better person and for me my true self comes out
as long as you respect people's wives/husbands/girfriends/boyfriends/etc... that's all that truely matters....
you have to know the boundaries and not cross the line with people

[Jezzy MacPeaks]

Faire is where I get to actually be ME. It's out here in this mundane world that I'm behind a mask.

I totally agree!  In the "real world?", we're suppressed by the judgement of people who try to dictate that we should think and behave a certain way.  At Faire, I can be WHO I AM!  Of course, it's a bit exaggerated, of course, just for the fun of it, but I don't worry that people don't approve.  And, IF they don't, then there is a gate they may EXIT through!

My own family used to give me much grief in the early years, but since they've come to "Check it out", they're now converted and they LOVE the fact that they can just play as someone else and let loose for awhile!  I'm amazed at the transformations, both with my family, but also the patrons who visit our shop.  They come in completely intimidated and unsure of themselves.  After a fair amount of questioning, I make a suggestion of a certain type of garb.  They go into the dressing room a mundane and come out beaming, and giggling.  They go swishing their skirts down the road with their head held high.  It's a proud moment for me! 

[Lady Vana]

I had noticed the change in atmosphere at Faires as opposed to the Real World (TM), and I agree with just about everything everyone else has said. You don a different persona for Faire-- or perhaps just an exaggerated version of your real personality-- and everyone seems much more... friendly overall. I know my group of friends is "friendly", but Faire is an amazing experience for me. It really is a place to release a good chunk of your inhibitions and just be you. I still feel a little odd flirting back, mostly because I don't work at the Faires and I haven't been attending long enough to feel like I have the right to take on my own character or even behave like "one of the rennies," regardless of garb. That doesn't mean I don't love it when a little flirtation comes my way-- the flirting and the "good morrows" are how I know my Faire day has really begun! I would never cheat on my boyfriend-- also a Faire-attendee-- and I don't think I would mind him flirting at Faire either (which, considering how possessive we are of each other, is unique in and of itself), because that's just the way people behave at the Faire: all in good fun!

Fairemones are definitely to blame. The power of garb, too, cannot be denied. Being yourself is empowering, and where better to do so than with other people who feel exactly the same? I think that's why so many Faire-goers tend to be extremely outgoing, regardless of how they may act outside of Faire.

*Snickers* I took my family to the NYRF for the first time last August. You should have seen the look on my father's face when the pickel seller flirted with my mother in the first 15 minutes of us being there. Priceless. I don't think he'll ever understand Faire atmosphere, it just isn't his thing. My mother, on the other hand, I can't wait to fit into the pirate wench garb she said she'd wear.

[Jezzy MacPeaks]

Flirting and jocularity, why yes, there is a LOT of that going on, for sure.  And, yes, I find it less threatening when my beau flirts with the wenches at faire than when we're out at a club, or something.  But, I do a great bit of flirting myself, so I can't say a thing.  It's part of my job and play at faire, AND, what happens at faire, generally stays at faire!

Now, after the last cannon is fired, talk to some of these same people and you'll find almost a completely different person.  I'm often saddened after the close of faire each day, because many of the folk who were goin' about smilin' and "good morrow"-ing, huggin' and laughin', all of a sudden become sullen, quiet and trot away as quickly as their tired legs will carry them.  Understandably, everyone is tired and they don't have to put on their faire face anymore, and many are probably just as sad as I am that it's over, but still, it is sad to see.

However, go to a Chinese buffet, or the Hofbrauhaus with these same people, especially with those who chose to show up still in garb, and yollu' see the smiles come back and even some hearty "Huzzah's", people runnin' around and huggin' and, yes, even flirting again, much to the chagrin of the waitstaff and some patrons!  But, we don't care, we have a blast!

As for you not working at the faires, don't be afraid to come out and PLAY with us!  True enough, there is a particular bond between those of us who do work the faires, but I have formed just as wonderful and welcome a bond with high-spirited playtrons!  Hey!  You be a Rennie, so be proud!  Most people wouldn't know the difference anyway.  Just jump in and enjoy!  We're glad to have you with us.  The more the merrier!  Huzzah!!!!

[Lady Vana]

If I only lived a little closer to my local-esque Faires, I might even apply for a position. I think the small Faire in Ansonia is closeish, and I do know someone who works there over the summer. I'll have to see about it in 2010.

Thanks for the encouragement, Jezzy. I'll have to give it a go this August at the NYRF!

[Jezzy MacPeaks]

Oh, you're so welcome!  I wouldn't deny a single solitary person the joy and fun we have AFTER faire!  It's a total blast!  I probably shouldn't do this, but...hey, why not.  You'll never know how much fun we have if I don't share with you, right?  So, if you want, you can go to my photo album here (if you have to be a friend to see the pics, just invite me!) :

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=83628076&albumId=2804885

Now, you said, "Ansonia" and I was about to jump up and down and say, "Let's do lunch!"...*lol*, but then you said, NYRF.    I was thinking you were referring to Ansonia, OHIO.  You must be talking about, what?  Ansonia, NY?  Just throwin' that out there.  *LOL*
Who knows, maybe one day I'll be doing a faire in NY.  I was invited twice to do one there, so you never know!