Pirates and Renfaire - Your Thoughts.

[Don Giovanni de' Medici]

I first like to start by saying that in no way am I trying to start a thread with any intent or offending anyone or their Faire fun.

I am a performer for a few shows that each have there own respective time periods that they are representing, give or take a few exceptions.  I notice that at many of the pirate shows there is rarely anyone dressed in garb from the 16th century.  However at many Renfaires around the country from photos posted it seems that pirates in waistcoats and overcoats from the 18th century have invaded the 16th century of many shows.  Granted, while not everyone is of course, looking to be completely historically accurate for whatever reason, most of the time it being that people are just looking to dress up and have a good time, I find it perplexing that very rarely do you see people playing pirates as they were in the Elizabethan Era.   The Spanish and English most assuredly pirated each others ships giving rise to such names as Francis Drake.  Why do you suppose it is that people never attempt to play this sort of pirate at a Renfaire rather than the stereotype?  I think it would be a welcome change...thoughts?

Vincente

[Captain Cornelius Howard Duckman]

Who wants a challenge? We go to faire to have fun.

[sealion]

I think it's because 16th century seaman's clothing just doesn't scream "pirate" like the 18th century Hollywood-esque pirate garb does. And lets be honest- The majority of fairegoers is more interested in "Ooooooh! Shiney!" than historical accuracy.

[Capt Robertsgrave Thighbiter]

That be the way of it, sealion.  As performers, we gots to give the public what they wants.
Pirates in pumkin pants, tights and doublets is not what they are expecting. And your right seamens clothes of the 1500-1600 time frame def don't look like the GAoP ( 1680-1720)  pirates.  In fact historically correct seamens clothes from the GAoP doesnt really look like screen pirates stuff either.  The Brigands are at least
70% HC in our garb, but for the GAoP. 

But we work at the faires.  Patron, playtron and the like can do what ever the heck they want and the Faire pirates get pretty out there, as we all know. I says if yer having a good time, wear what you like.

But pirates, in what ever guise, are a part of Renn Faire, for what ever reason. THANK GOD!

GAoP = Golden Age of Piracy - re-enactor speak for this period.

[Captain Jack Wolfe]

Yeah, not many people would recognise someone in a short coat, knee pants, latchette shoes, and a thrum cap as a pirate.

Besides, bucket boots are so damned cool! 

[DonaCatalina]

I think it's gotten to be a little overdone. But I also thinks it's a fad that will fade in time.
The next big period action movie will probably spawn a lot of characters.
Sort of like Kingdom of Heaven did, though not on as large a scale as Pirates of the Caribbean did.
Do you remember the hordes of kilts at Faire after Braveheart?
Now the Scots barely have enough members for their pike brigade.

But there will always be affionados of the Henrician and Elizabethan periods who continue to go to Faire also. Because that's what we love and that's how we have fun.

[Monsignor de Beaumanoir]

The next big period action movie will probably spawn a lot of characters.
Sort of like Kingdom of Heaven did, though not on as large a scale as Pirates of the Caribbean did.

Hey!!!! Why did you have to go there?!

[Capt Robertsgrave Thighbiter]

Madame Catalina, I tend to respectfully disagree that pirates will fade the way of the kilted pseudoscot.
Why?  From my own experience at Faire. I first attended NYRF many years ago ( 15+), in chain mailed, mantled, helmed glory.  BUT, the pirates ( and yes pirates at faire were present even then) had much more fun. Better adult beverages.  Better songs! And bucket boots are damn cool, as we all know.

Perhaps the discussion should be instead of Pirates and Rennfaire,  Rennfaire vs Reenactment ?

Renfaire is entertainment with perhaps some education shoved in sideways

Reenactment is education with some entertainment ( though some reenactments you need to look mighty hard to see the entertainment factor).

Perhaps we can inculcate more of both into both?  I know we try to bring more historically correct music to the stage ( as much as we can get away with). 

Is there not room for both at Faire?

[Welsh Wench]

Besides, bucket boots are so damned cool! 

They certainly get my attention. Besides, I'd rather look at a pirate than a noble anyday!
Their hats are better, too! 

[Auryn]

Personally, I think it has to do with the entertainment and fun value of it.
Its the same reason you don't see many playtrons in peasant garb, its just not fun. Who wants to spend their few fun days being and feeling as "boring" as they feel they do in mundane life and work.

Granted I don't have much experience compared to most people on the board and I have only been attending faire for a few years, but it really seems that generally the people that are sticklers for historical accuracy in costume are generally playing nobles or at the very least middle class.

I hope no one takes my comments in the wrong, I am just giving air to my observations.

Personally, I plan to attend pirate faire this fall and have spent several months doing research on the type of justacorps that I will be making for myself, making sure I create something that would fit in the time frame that I want to inhabit. I'm going for mid 1600s privateer (who thinks quite highly of herself) with a few maybe captain hook style flairs , but definitely not going to hang up on being historically accurate about everything.

[Taffy Saltwater]

It's faire, not SCA.  If people are playtrons, not employees, then it's their nickle & their garb.  I get a kick out of it all, from the HA sticklers to the kilted stormtrooper.  I don't think GAoP pirates will fade from fashion - it's just too much fun.  Some Jack wannabes will fade away, but we've been promised a new POTC in, what, 2012? to repique that faction and piracy in general.  Besides, pirates is schmexy in their cool bucket boots. 

[sealion]

It's faire, not SCA. 

Sorry for straying off topic but I have to say that I've not found the SCA to be that different from faire as far as garb goes. You have a few in fabulous historically accurate garb, you have those (like me) who are trying but still have a long way to go, and you have more than you might think who are dressed in what we think of as the typical ren faire garb. The only real difference is that everyone is in some kind of garb. No one wandering about in jeans and a t-shirt. I personally feel like the SCA is sort of the middle ground between faire and the re-enactment groups where everyone is trying to recreate a specific time and place with very high standards for garb and equipment.

[Sir Sebastian Phoenix]

The cold bitter truth is Pirates = $$$  (at least by a Faire production standpoint).

It's exposing a new crowd to the Faire environment and I think that something we can all appreciate. Even if the garb isn't 100% HA, oh well no-one likes the garb Nazi.

That being said I personally enjoy the unique pirates much more than the Jack Sparrow wannabes. The true pirates will continue to garb as they please long after the luster of those movies subsides.

[Count Adolfo]

Besides, bucket boots are so damned cool! 

They certainly get my attention. Besides, I'd rather look at a pirate than a noble anyday!
Their hats are better, too! 

ahem...

[Captain Jack Wolfe]

Besides, bucket boots are so damned cool! 

They certainly get my attention. Besides, I'd rather look at a pirate than a noble anyday!
Their hats are better, too! 

ahem...

Yeah, the truth can be painful.