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Performers => Performer Topics => Topic started by: Finnian on February 09, 2010, 10:22:12 PM

Title: Bumping into people you know...
Post by: Finnian on February 09, 2010, 10:22:12 PM
Ok so I already know how I'm going to handle this, but I just like to see other peoples' opinions/outlooks on things.

I have a ground of acquaintances/friends from college who aren't rennies, but have a planned group trip to the faire this year for the pirate themed weekend. As far as I know, it's about 20-30 of them. Some of them sort of dress up, but I don't think most do. I'm not buddy buddy with most of them, but they know me, and therefore when they see me around they make sure to say hey and vice versa, and start conversation.

None of them aside maybe 3 of them know I do garb in character as a male fae character, as I've never run into them before while performing. I know once they see me they will try to get me to break character, and I've already got my loopholes, but how do you all put up with people who TRY to get you to break character? Even if you don't work FOR the faire, but are just a playtron or something like that?

For example, my faun character doesn't speak, so obviously I don't plan on talking to these people, but I would sort of play the "who's that" mime game if they call me by my "real" name, or try to get me to answer to it. My character is also big on trying to mimic humans to learn more about them, so I also intend to use that against my friends also. (Note: My friends, I would never do something in character to offend or piss off someone I didn't personally know, or know their limits. )

Title: Re: Bumping into people you know...
Post by: Carl Heinz on February 10, 2010, 12:26:08 AM
Generally, I act as though I don't understand.  A year or two ago, a young lady dressed as Pipi Longstocking was a bit upset that I didn't recognize her costume.  If what you encounter is outside of what your character would know, it's perfectly ok to have the other person explain it to you and for you to ask them questions.  It's also ok to appear to be a bit incredulous.  She rewarded me with a chocolate coin.

This doesn't precisely respond to your question, but it could be modified to work with your situation.  You could also take them aside and talk normally to them.  Most of our non-faire friends are comfortable with encountering us away from the rest of the audience.

Another bit that isn't directly responsive is when someone asks how to become a participant.  I've started carrying cards with that information and I just give them one.  I've also got cards explaining how Lightning Scooter-Horse was created.
Title: Re: Bumping into people you know...
Post by: Finnian on February 10, 2010, 07:12:25 AM
Pippi? That's cool! :)

As for these people I'll be dealing with...they are a bit...ermm...ill behaved as a group...loud, wild, confrontational. >> I just am hoping they won't take the route of pestering me and making a game out of who can get me to break character first, lol.
Title: Re: Bumping into people you know...
Post by: Dinobabe on February 10, 2010, 01:11:03 PM
Since a couple in the group know what you do maybe enlist them to help you out if the situation goes too far.  The other option is to explain to the entire group ahead of time.  Otherwise, I would say just stick to your guns! 8)
Title: Re: Bumping into people you know...
Post by: will paisley on February 19, 2010, 10:19:53 AM
Quote from: Finnian on February 10, 2010, 07:12:25 AM
As for these people I'll be dealing with...they are a bit...ermm...ill behaved as a group...loud, wild, confrontational. >> I just am hoping they won't take the route of pestering me and making a game out of who can get me to break character first, lol.

To me, that's the biggest challenge at faire - dealing with a group of teenagers or near-teenagers, especially males.  I've encountered far too many groups like this who are all "too cool" to do anything but make fun of the whole faire experience and are only interested in their friends or people of the opposite sex their own age.  I usually try to engage with someone else and let the short attention span thing work in my favor.  Failing that, the best strategy I've seen employed is to divide and conquer; usually one person of the group will take the lead in ridicule, and if you can embarrass that person enough (by being over the top, not malicious or mean), the group starts to target him instead of you, and that person is highly motivated to break off the encounter.  I saw our "town idiot" character handle such a group of people masterfully during Romance Weekend, when the ticket booth issues pieces of ribbon to patrons as "favors", which they are to give to the person (presumably of the opposite sex) who can "woo" it away from them.  The town idiot character ended up screaming "WOOO!!! WOOOO!!!!! GIVE ME YOUR FAVOR OR I'LL KEEP WOOING YOU!!!!!!!!" at the ringleader of such a group.  The guy ended up running away from him as fast as he could, with the rest of his group trying to keep from falling over from laughing so hard.

For actual friends who encounter me at faire, I'll break character in a heartbeat (discreetly, of course) to let them know I'm working and not to take offense if I don't talk to them about the outside world.  This is much quicker and far less disruptive to the faire than me pretending I'm somebody they've never met before and expecting them to figure out what's going on. 

Title: Re: Bumping into people you know...
Post by: Niennis on February 20, 2010, 11:11:53 AM
Most of the time I'm very hard to recognize because I'm wearing something like in my icon (though the lead faerie at TNRF knew who I was immediately, I was impressed.) But, for the most part, when some one who I know sees me I just give them a wink and a smile then say something completely in character to let them know that I recognized them. For example:

Friend: *waves* "Hey, Kathryn!"
Me: *wave, smile* "Whoever this 'Kathryn' is, I am sure she will be delighted to see you, what fine friends to seek someone out on such a hot day!"

Or, when I'm in a nonverbal character:

Me: *wide-eyes, wave, hands flower, walks away*

Usually they get it :D
Title: Re: Bumping into people you know...
Post by: McGuinness on February 20, 2010, 06:53:04 PM
Like Dinobabe mentioned too, I try to let people who I know are coming that I can't break character but will talk with them as long as they respect that. For chance encounters, it depends on the person and situation. Last season, my nephews (ages 3 and 5) came to the faire and saw me perform. For them, I broke character discretely and explained that I was pretending to be someone else and made sure to spend a little time with them being "normal" in between performing bits.

I've had plenty of people too that try asking questions like "How long have you done this?", "How do you do that accent?", "Do they pay you for this?". I try to stay in character and hint at answers if they are sincere about the questions (hey, its their choice to break the fantasy at some point), but if its people who don't understand that, just want to be obnoxious, or just don't get the hint when you try to be subtle about it.....just walk away. I know our grounds at PaRF may make it easier than some other faires, but I don't think any fairegrounds are too small that you can't find somewhere else to do your thing to people who appreciate it instead of try to be stupid about it.

For friends, I think subtley acknowledging the friends like Niennis and Will mentioned usually works. If it doesn't, just get outta Dodge!