curious about certain rules stated on website

[John]

Well met all.

My two pence...

If you ask me, most rules are made because someone went way out of bounds.
To defend against this type of behavior a rule was put in place.  
It doesn't necessarily mean that a causal interaction is frowned upon.

[kcdcchef]

As for the arguing...how about just come out and check the faire out before getting upset?  It's a great faire and I think you will have a great time.  If not, oh well...I'm sure there are others...but I sure love it!

HEAR HEAR!!!!

[Count Adolfo]

I'm going to follow up on what TKM said.  The "not interacting on a character level" really just means, playtrons can't try to make money off other paytrons and should not represent themselves as being employed by or contracted by KCRF.  As far as playing....play away, just play nice.

As for the weapons policy...yea, bummer we can't wear our swords...but I think the staff should be ok...as long as it's not covered in metal spiky things...I've never tried though, I'll let you know for sure once I do.  However, you might try emailing the contact listed on the faire website for confirmation...

As for the arguing...how about just come out and check the faire out before getting upset?  It's a great faire and I think you will have a great time.  If not, oh well...I'm sure there are others...but I sure love it!

Wow... you know, never even in a million years entertained the idea of trying to make money off the patrons as a playtron.  I was at a convention once where I asked someone if I could have a picture taken with him and he said "for 5.00"
that wasd the last he saw of me.  afterwards, I wondered if he worked there or was just trying to make a quick buck off being there.

However, I have never seen such a thing at any Faire I've attended.  Once again, I think John is right on this... someone, somewhere, stepped way out of line somehow.
Seems that the rule is not an issue, though, as it has been removed from the website and there is no sign of it anywhere on the site now.  It only appears in the Faire Directory.
Thanks for pointing out another possible angle on this.

There are a myriad of reasons I shall not be at KCRF... not the least of which is the distance involved... and while I do travel quite some ways for certain Faires... they are just that... certain Faires.
I typically have a reason for making the journey.

I'm sure it's quite lovely there.

[Capt Spleen]

Good Master, and dearest Blakduke,
The KCRF was the very first ren faire ever I attended.
It was this very faire that so turned me on to seek out more about ren faires and interaction play. It took all of 5 minutes for this to cook in mine spirit of ren.

Opinions are just that, opinions.

If you know of me (and we did meet at TNRF a few years back) you know that I do so enjoy playing talking, interacting with paytrons, playtrons, and cast alike. I know you to be the same on a more experienced level than myself.

I do observe what I might take to a certain level, and will cease and desist if I observe my level being unwanted by any person. But it is always in fun and jocularity that do such.

I beleive that you too are the caring spirit and yet well intentioned in spirit.

Of one thing good Sir, we do have a difference of opinion on one thing, and that is a NO weapons policy.  As much as I dislike the NO weapons policy, I WILL attend such a faire.

KCRF has a NO weapons policy directed at play/paytrons in their shire.

However..........

I have interacted with royalty, acts, playtrons, paytrons, ingarbed and normal clothing persons at the KCRF faire (I have attended three times since 1994 - most recently this past year). I have never been scolded or reprimanded by any I have interacted with.

You have a sense of sensibility, good Sir.

If I may......... I would highly recommend this faire to one such as you, even with a NO weapons policy.  It is a wonderful faire, very village like, winding, and surprise upon surprise will delight with every turn, passage and interaction.

Go. See. Explore. Do. Be you. Interact. Enjoy! They will love you as I have loved what you do at faire good Sir!

CaptDungeonSpleen
AKA, Sean Daniels, Dane McPhearson, Gunnar Rennir.

[Lord Clisto of York]

Ok, this is one of the dumbest things a faire anywhere can try to enforce. I have over my 33 years doing faire had the same thing at Bristol and a few others. I go for me, and the other people as well as performers and friends. Even when I am performing on cast, it IS our job to interact with the patrons and get them involved in the faire atmosphere. How stupid is it when you do that but then tell them they can't act in a role back or about the shire on their own? I have been on both sides and frankly many years ago I have told them to shove it. There is a thing called freedom of speech no matter what. And, who is to say you arent talking to your friends. As long as people abide by the rules and do not accept money, or say they work there for one reason or another there is nothing wrong with it. I got that taken care of some years ago. I go and I interact with cast but mostly with the regular public to have fun and especially the kids. And, when asked if I work there I tell them NO, that I come dressed to have fun like they do and it is my passion and hobby, unless I do work there at the time, then it gets played off in my improve. Again, the bottom line is, dont tell the performers to "interact and get the people involved in the time period, then tell them  - but, you cant act back to us or anyone else". See how stupid that sounds? Hell, everyone that dresses up to go is thought of as "working there" without even speaking. Then if you dont say anything to people, they think you are the opposite in your insulting them. LOL..

I have been asked to take money for pictures etc and I never have. And, over the years, many people expect to see me at certain faires since I interacted with them  or their children in the past and they loved it. And, on the other end, the cast likes it when people actually "GET IT" with them. Also, they are getting a lot of FREE help in people interacting from the public. So, just go in garb if you have it, learn the language and be the persona you want to be and have fun with it with everyone. Don't look over your shoulders and worry. Cause, the day someone makes a BIG issue about this at faire and it becomes a threat, is the day there will be someone held accountable for their stupidity in stripping people of their rights. They can't have it both ways in wanting you to interact but then when you do you can't. Just dream the dream and live your fantasy to its fullest.

Lord Sir Clisto of York

[kcdcchef]

i am just happy to see this much action on any page of the kansas city renaissance festival forum. usually it is quite boring here. thank you for bringing cyber traffic to the KCRF!!! thanks guys!!! heck, even the admin is stopping by to say hi! awesome.

[Lord Clisto of York]

LOL.... Glad we can help. Just is a topic I have had personal dealings with all my faire life and had to straighten it out in the past. Just want to make clear this is a topic for all faires and not just KC.

[Count Adolfo]

Aye, I figured any attempt at enforcing such a 'rule' would really be a mistake by any Faire.
As I have said, I see they removed it from their site... and now it only remains in the Faire Directory.  Quite possibly, management already realized the error of imposing such a restriction and took it down on their own.

Thanks, so much, for the opinions and clarifications!

[Lord Clisto of York]

You have to know that many people in faire mgt look at these boards as well. I know that for a fact. LOl... They did the right thing in doing so and should be commended for it.

[Amyj]

over the years, many people expect to see me at certain faires since I interacted with them  or their children in the past and they loved it.
Lord Sir Clisto of York

Hehehe...Clisto may remember my "quivering with excitement Celebrity Sighting" of him at Bristol a few years back!  AND, I've been lucky enough to have the opportunity to have hum visit my home faire several times!  (BTW, hope to see you in St. Louis again this year!) 

Interaction is key to the enjoyment of faire...and KCRF is one that I think does a pretty good job of it. I'm convinced that they may even encourage it a wee bit with the semi-vague descriptions of people on the kids quest list...My parents were mistaken for the Lord and Lady Mayor one year when they were dressed in green.  However, after several inquiries as to whether they were in fact the Lord and Lady Mayor, Mom and Dad were using a nice little BFA and having the time of their life...and this was their FIRST FAIRE EVER!  I do like the way some/most faires use a badge or some other identifying item to differentiate cast from playtron though; I think it allows playtron interaction with some small semblance of "legal coverage" by the faire.

[kcdcchef]

over the years, many people expect to see me at certain faires since I interacted with them  or their children in the past and they loved it.
Lord Sir Clisto of York

Hehehe...Clisto may remember my "quivering with excitement Celebrity Sighting" of him at Bristol a few years back!  AND, I've been lucky enough to have the opportunity to have hum visit my home faire several times!  (BTW, hope to see you in St. Louis again this year!) 

Interaction is key to the enjoyment of faire...and KCRF is one that I think does a pretty good job of it. I'm convinced that they may even encourage it a wee bit with the semi-vague descriptions of people on the kids quest list...My parents were mistaken for the Lord and Lady Mayor one year when they were dressed in green.  However, after several inquiries as to whether they were in fact the Lord and Lady Mayor, Mom and Dad were using a nice little BFA and having the time of their life...and this was their FIRST FAIRE EVER!  I do like the way some/most faires use a badge or some other identifying item to differentiate cast from playtron though; I think it allows playtron interaction with some small semblance of "legal coverage" by the faire.

the last time i wore garb at the KCRF, i kept getting mistaken for a member of the vulgaria royalty due to how colorful i was. hehe, i thought it was funny as hell.

to all others on here, i am one of the few people that participate in rf.com that is actually a regular in kansas city, that considers kansas city its home faire. it is a shame, because it is one of the more attended faires, usually top 5-7 nationwide, and a damn nice faire at that. there are faires that have resorted to name badges and crap like that, and oh my god, are you kidding me?? i actually go to the pennsylvania renaissance faire annually, and i hate that they paved it. kcrf a few years ago paved select areas, put gravel over the pavement, then proceeded to cover it all again in fresh woodchips and dirt. they so desperately want to keep that olde feel. i love it about the place.

in closing, since this was at minimum, a pissing match early on, let me just say i was passionate about it because i first hand saw faire management enforce this rule there, and the 2 reasons why. the amount of time people in garb were engaging paid festival performers, and one other isolated time when someone was acting as an employee who wasnt. in that situation, the guest was confused, and legitimately needed assistance with their motor scooter thingie. both incidents i casually observed in the 2007 faire season while both times in mermaid commons sitting having a bite to eat. so i get it. also, the kcrf has transitioned from a money losing "just kind of there faire" to a business interest in the past 10 years. and i for one have no issues with it. some on this site do, and many that work there do. kcrf went from being a small yet well attended festival in the sticks to a medium damn well attended festival in what has accidentally become a thriving area. they had to do many things to protect their interests as a business.

anyways, great to see some life in the kcrf boards finally. i love it.

[TKM]

There have been many times i've been confused for cast at KCRF. A couple seasons ago, there was some type if event, i have no clue of the specifics, but patrons had to ask performers for these different coded stones, and i guess if they got two stones that matched or something they won something... i dunno. But my friends and I were asked for stones on several occasions. We covered it up by saying we were merely travelers, not citizens, and therefore were not taxed with the responsibility of handling the stones. But either way, i rarely spend a whole day at faire without being asked directions. One day i took up answering every question with "that way and to the left." But then I figured that was too mean and wasn't getting enough laughs, so I stopped.

But this discussion has reminded me, maybe two years ago a friend and I went in garb and brought our instruments and played music on the streets, and the only comments we got from employees was just to make sure we weren't taking money for it. Enough people thought we were employed with the faire, we had to refuse donations on several occasions, and say we were only playing o have an audience. If they aren't going to prevent playtron-paytron interaction on that level, then i think anyone is pretty much safe.

[Brother Gregory]

Amyj I agree with you totally I have attended the faire since 2006 not in costume, but have seen people who are with no problem. Having worked at a small local faire I understand KCRF's policy who would want a person off the street to do something qrong or say something wrong that could in the end give the KCFRF a bad name.

[Lady Elizabeth Howard]

Me and my friends attend in costume, simply because we like dressing up. We have gotten confussed with cast before and had to give a few directions and held a few conversations. But we have never approched a patron as of yet. Not going to say it will never happen. We mostly keep our playing between our group and have fun with it in that manner. But when speaking to any patron we always try to be respectful of the faire and not cause any problems. Or to disrecpect our school, which would get us into a whole lot of trouble.