Hey Everybody,
I have a question.
how do you go about making new rennie friends at faire.
My bf and I have been attending in garb for a couple of seasons now and to be honest, faire is starting to become a little lackluster for us.
We walk around, eat, catch a few shows and do it all again the next weekend.
That can only take you so far in enjoyment.
I am a very social person but I still feel awkward going up to some random stranger and trying to force a conversation.
Any suggestions about how to go about making faire friends which we think would greatly increase our enjoyment of faire??
Whoa mind reading right there! I was like just now thinking about this! I am getting a feeling that a lot of the enjoyment of faire is centered around the people you meet and get to visit cause I still love faire and get excited for the new season but I also just spend my time walking, eating and watching (new shows were a god send!). Unfortunately i think i am going to have to just hold at it a few more years cause there aren't that many faire goers who are in a close age range to me.
I have no idea which Faire(s) you attend, but I've found that camping at the faire is a great way to meet new folks. Both of the primary faires that I attend provide areas for camping. Wondering around the camp grounds after faire or sitting around a camp fire in the evening is always a good way to start up a conversation with someone you've never met before.
hint hint.........look for a reason to toast something, actually anything!! ;D
Funny enough we made many of our Rennie friends by simply sitting down at a table. We went to the preview at Scarby and started talking to people. It was kind of nice. And then we heard about the meet and greets for the Ren Faire people at scarby so started going to them, which lead to Rendevous, which let to friends at other faire, which got us friends at other camps at TRF, which mean we have Rennie friends everywhere.
How I ment Ren people? Looks around. Here. I ment them here. ;D I just took the chance and said hello to the outside of cyberspace. :)
I am kind of in the same boat. Been going to faire for a few years now and this will be my first season in garb. I've met Queen Bonnie who is a wonderful person to make friends with. Just bring a marshmallow peep along with you and stomp it into the ground. The best suggestion I can give is check the forum for the faire you'd like to meet friends at and see if there are any pre cannon meet and greets.
If business ever picks up for me I plan on taking some time off in October to camp at TRF and hopefully meet some new friends. There are plenty of friendly people out there that would leap at the opportunity to abu...I mean help a new faire goer!
PS Don't drink the loki. Unless you enjoy hair on your chest.
BTW yelling out "Free food" is also a good way to meet people at TRF. We always have left overs so we like to share. We just go camp to camp carrying a ladle, bowls and plastic spoons feeding our new friends. Timeless way of making friends. Free food! ;D
Facebook is not to be underestimated. Nearly all the fairs have a page, so if you already network this way, it's just another step.
Once you start friending rennnies, just friend the friends that have the same interests (I start with the ones who use a faire pic of themselves in garb unless I know them personally)
If you are a fan of the same acts, shop at the same places; these are good places to meet up in person if you feel comfortable enough.
Thanks guys,
its nice to know we aren't alone in this boat.
Our faire is south florida, unfortunately there are only a handful of people that come to this board that attend our faire. If you take a looksie you will see that the local board for our faire is basically dead.
We would love love love to camp at faire, unfortunately both of the major faires in Florida ( FLARF and BARF) do not allow participant camping- vendor camping only.
I will definitely take all of your considerations to heart including the face book.
We are planning on trying to make it to BARF for the tailgating breakfast,hopefully we will make it and be able to meet some awesome people from this forum.
As always, thanks for sharing and commiserating ;D
Shameless plug for R/F pins here!
And even if you can't afford one or pins aren't your thing, make note of meet'n'greets happening at Faires you go to that members of this forum post! If there isn't a thread for one, start one...Most of the people here are very friendly and if you're not as outgoing as some, they'll make up the difference for you. Soon you'll be wishing you didn't know quite so many people at Faire so you could be more incognito once in a while. ::) Just kidding, the trade off is worth it!
We always get to the shows a little early to get a seat. So many of the times, we just strike up conversations with people sitting around us. If you go a lot, you get to at least recognize people, even if you've never spoken to them.
Another thing that has been great for us is the Friends of Faire garden. Most of the members stop in for a sit down now and again, and it's easy to start talking to someone who sits down next to you, even if it's a little as "nice garb," or "That's a beautiful mug, where did you get it?" Then you begin to recognize them while walking or waiting for a show, and it's easier to strike up a conversation.
I wish I had a nickel for every time I've been walking around and someone saw me and said, "Lady Renee Buchanan?" because they see the R/F pin I always wear. It would have paid many times over for the multiple pins Steve & I own! And definitely go to every meet & greet that you see posted.
Another thing it's taken me ages and ages in my lifetime to find out. Many, if not most, people are naturally shy and won't make the first move to speak to a stranger. So I decided to be the one who starts the conversation. We have made so many wonderful friends at faire this way, who have now become friends, not just faire friends, but every day, in the outside of faire world, too.
Auryn, you aren't alone. I have had the shop at MNRF for 13 years. I have met a few people from here, from time to time, but I can't go to their meet ups, because I am in my shop all day, from cannon to cannon. There have been a few that have come in to my shop, but this year, so far, only 2 have stopped to say hi. Sometimes, I have seen 6-8 of them standing out aways, talking with each other, but too far for me to run over to them. Some of the people from here, that say they are coming out, I don't see them and my shop is right up by the front gate. Maybe I was taking a break at the time?
As far as meeting people at the show, I have met some entertainers, then they moved out of the country. I have met people online, then they came to visit once and moved out of the country. One person I thought I was friends with, didn't even say hi for the past two years and I saw them out there. This year, I haven't seen them at all.
I will talk to people who come into my shop, but that's the thing, they have to come to me, because I can't go to them.
As far as camping for participants, I believe the rule here is you have to live more than 50 miles from the site and I don't. It wouldn't work for me anyway, for health reasons.
We also don't drink (medical and other reasons) and it seems that a lot of socializing happens around drinking, or meeting at pubs.
I have come to know the shopkeepers on either side of me, maybe a few others, that's about it.
So for anyone coming out the last two weekends of MNRF, please stop by and say hi. I won't try to hard sell my art to you! ;D
Quote from: Lady L on September 24, 2010, 02:10:52 AM
We also don't drink (medical and other reasons) and it seems that a lot of socializing happens around drinking, or meeting at pubs.
That seems to be what I run into. I've met people from on here before, but especially when I went to BARF this year, I felt out of place with them because I don't drink, so I sort of just drifted away.
Also, I'm bad at getting to faires by cannon, so I usually miss any tailgating that goes on.
But the RF pin definitely does help as far as running into people goes. In general, though, I just like to go a couple times to faire by myself, to check everything out, and then go with friends any other times I head to faire. It has also probably helped that I have yet to go to the same faire in more than one season, since I keep moving around.
Rebecca, if you should make another trip to BARF or another of our faires, please let me know. I have a drink now and again, but much prefer to see the shows and wander than spending time at the pub. I'd love the chance to meet up with you.
Same for you and your boyfriend Auryn. Drop a line if you plan to visit and if I,m at faire that weekend I'd love to meet you.
Quote from: Lady L on September 24, 2010, 02:10:52 AM
Auryn, you aren't alone. I have had the shop at MNRF for 13 years. I have met a few people from here, from time to time, but I can't go to their meet ups, because I am in my shop all day, from cannon to cannon. There have been a few that have come in to my shop, but this year, so far, only 2 have stopped to say hi. Sometimes, I have seen 6-8 of them standing out aways, talking with each other, but too far for me to run over to them. Some of the people from here, that say they are coming out, I don't see them and my shop is right up by the front gate. Maybe I was taking a break at the time?
I will talk to people who come into my shop, but that's the thing, they have to come to me, because I can't go to them.
We also don't drink (medical and other reasons) and it seems that a lot of socializing happens around drinking, or meeting at pubs.
So for anyone coming out the last two weekends of MNRF, please stop by and say hi. I won't try to hard sell my art to you! ;D
Hugs lady L,
I know most of the vendors at our local fairs, either personally or just a nodding acquaintance, and I try to stop to say hi and ask how business is a couple of times a day. Sometimes it's nice to have a smaller, more intimate venue.
Having booth-sat a few times so people can get food, make a privy run, or just to allow them to take in a show (hey I get to sit and rest my feet too) I know that parking in one place all day can get boring and someone stopping to say hi or just to talk can be a godsend. I hope your folks will take the time to drop by and check on you.
Quote from: GoodyTombShoes on September 24, 2010, 06:27:15 AM
I am very thankful that "Goody" is gregarious. I comment on peoples garb asking where they found it and telling them how much I like it. If I see the same people over and over I have been known to just say Hi. Sometimes I ask about where people are staying and how long it took to get to faire. I've bought beers at pubs and asked for photos with people. It's all about the approach, the honesty and the good will.
My suggestion is simple. Say hello.
I figure if both parties are in garb at a ren faire, there must be a common thread to build on.
You and I are twins! This is what I've been doing and it works!
Gina
Quote from: Anna Iram on September 24, 2010, 08:08:33 AM
Rebecca, if you should make another trip to BARF or another of our faires, please let me know. I have a drink now and again, but much prefer to see the shows and wander than spending time at the pub. I'd love the chance to meet up with you.
Same for you and your boyfriend Auryn. Drop a line if you plan to visit and if I,m at faire that weekend I'd love to meet you.
Same here! My wife and I also do not drink, and we'd be glad to spend time with you at shows and wandering about. And this coming season we expect to be at BARF a lot more, since our son is no longer playing soccer and my wife is no longer in the bagpipe band.
Its nice to hear we are not the only non-drinkers.
I agree that a lot of times it feels like if you don't drink alcohol well, then you don't really fit in- we get that a lot in the mundane world too.
Maybe we should have a iced tea rennie meet up hehe.
Anna, I will definitely be dropping you a line once we figure out what weekend we are going to BARF- similarly if you make it down here let me know and I would happily show you around.
I will look into investing into some R/F pins.
Our new apartment has put us a lot closer to faire (less than 20 min) so hopefully that means we will be going more and be able to lolligag more at faire and hopefully strike up conversations.
Quote from: Lady L on September 24, 2010, 02:10:52 AM
Auryn, you aren't alone. I have had the shop at MNRF for 13 years. I have met a few people from here, from time to time, but I can't go to their meet ups, because I am in my shop all day, from cannon to cannon. There have been a few that have come in to my shop, but this year, so far, only 2 have stopped to say hi. Sometimes, I have seen 6-8 of them standing out aways, talking with each other, but too far for me to run over to them. Some of the people from here, that say they are coming out, I don't see them and my shop is right up by the front gate. Maybe I was taking a break at the time?
As far as meeting people at the show, I have met some entertainers, then they moved out of the country. I have met people online, then they came to visit once and moved out of the country. One person I thought I was friends with, didn't even say hi for the past two years and I saw them out there. This year, I haven't seen them at all.
I will talk to people who come into my shop, but that's the thing, they have to come to me, because I can't go to them.
As far as camping for participants, I believe the rule here is you have to live more than 50 miles from the site and I don't. It wouldn't work for me anyway, for health reasons.
We also don't drink (medical and other reasons) and it seems that a lot of socializing happens around drinking, or meeting at pubs.
I have come to know the shopkeepers on either side of me, maybe a few others, that's about it.
So for anyone coming out the last two weekends of MNRF, please stop by and say hi. I won't try to hard sell my art to you! ;D
What shop - we will stop
Quote from: Auryn on September 24, 2010, 10:15:15 AM
Its nice to hear we are not the only non-drinkers.
I agree that a lot of times it feels like if you don't drink alcohol well, then you don't really fit in- we get that a lot in the mundane world too.
Maybe we should have a iced tea rennie meet up hehe.
Anna, I will definitely be dropping you a line once we figure out what weekend we are going to BARF- similarly if you make it down here let me know and I would happily show you around.
I will look into investing into some R/F pins.
Our new apartment has put us a lot closer to faire (less than 20 min) so hopefully that means we will be going more and be able to lolligag more at faire and hopefully strike up conversations.
a sweet tea rennie meet up is a good idea might should try to hold one here in Ga
Quote from: iain robb on September 24, 2010, 09:44:35 AM
Quote from: Anna Iram on September 24, 2010, 08:08:33 AM
Rebecca, if you should make another trip to BARF or another of our faires, please let me know. I have a drink now and again, but much prefer to see the shows and wander than spending time at the pub. I'd love the chance to meet up with you.
Same for you and your boyfriend Auryn. Drop a line if you plan to visit and if I,m at faire that weekend I'd love to meet you.
Same here! My wife and I also do not drink, and we'd be glad to spend time with you at shows and wandering about. And this coming season we expect to be at BARF a lot more, since our son is no longer playing soccer and my wife is no longer in the bagpipe band.
I have a show that runs through March 27, so the only weekend I think I'll be able to make it is the 1st weekend of April. And then I'm probably moving the following week. But if you all want to do a sweat tea meet up (that idea sounds delightful!) I would totally be in for that!
Anyone going to Lady of the Lakes Nov 5th?
wish i could go i'm headed out next weekend for my big trip of the year.
We're hoping to hit Lady of the Lakes. (We ought to be over our jet lag by then. We're leaving in a week for three weeks in Thailand. It's a work trip, but it should still be a lot of fun.)
Is there an iced tea tent at LotL? ;)
That seems to be what I run into. I've met people from on here before, but especially when I went to BARF this year, I felt out of place with them because I don't drink, so I sort of just drifted away.
[/quote]
I don't drink at all at faire, learned my lesson that drink + not enough food + extreme heat = face plant in the mud.
However, I was at BARF this past year, as in the past, and just about all Steve & I did was walk around and see the shows. If you were there at St. Molden's weekend, and there were so many people, I'm sorry, I can't remember everyone who was there, we actually ran into a lot of people while watching the shows, so not everybody spends all the time in the pubs!
But to reiterate what I said above, I found the easiest way to strike up a conversation is to ask about someone's garb, especially if they look like a million bucks. ;D
Just say hi. Seriously. Or random compliments. I have loads of people who make it a point to stop by and chat me up because I talked to them out of the blue.
Quote
What shop - we will stop
shop 228. Hope to see you!
Not sure about detours this weekend, due to the flooding, though.
Quote from: Rowen MacD on September 24, 2010, 09:17:42 AM
Hugs lady L,
I know most of the vendors at our local fairs, either personally or just a nodding acquaintance, and I try to stop to say hi and ask how business is a couple of times a day. Sometimes it's nice to have a smaller, more intimate venue.
Having booth-sat a few times so people can get food, make a privy run, or just to allow them to take in a show (hey I get to sit and rest my feet too) I know that parking in one place all day can get boring and someone stopping to say hi or just to talk can be a godsend. I hope your folks will take the time to drop by and check on you.
*hugs* back! Thanks Rowen. :D
I hear ya...the RPF board's rather dead too, & I'm also a bit intimidated by marching up to complete strangers & saying hello, but I think I'll work on that next yr. Lol. To anyone planning on attending faire next season, the meetup thread still applies! *hint hint* ;)
I noticed that nobody suggested doing what my daughter and I did: volunteer! Do you not use volunteers at Faires outside of California? We just looked on the Faire web pages and contacted the volunteer coordinators, offered to help, and...the rest just followed. We have run into a few volunteer coordinators who were, shall we say... not so considerate of us, but we met lots of great people. Many times we camped in actors' camp and enjoyed after hours revelry. Just last year we stumbled on Meetup.com, and joined a group of Pirates, which led to more friends!
Thank you Auryn as I too was pondering this exact question! I do see ppls from here at faires, or at least I think its them, and I too grow a little hesitant to approach, (even though I feel Im a people person myself!)! And I believe most people here would probably give a very warm welcome and acceptance to those of us wanting to meet new people even though some of us feel a little reluctant. I did meet a couple people this season and just as Lady Renee has suggested, sometimes you just have to be the one to be brave-up and introduce yourself first. I just wish I had more time to conversate during a couple of those meets. Of course there are many other good suggestions here too! This year was nearly impossible as my family and I are still new to many of the faires and we spend more time in search of garb shops it seems than any thing else. I feel next season will be better for us! We have a lot of our garb and have time to gather the little add ons over the winter months! I think the R/F pin is a great idea, if anything at all, at least you have a conversation starter, and both will have an instant thing in common.
Quote from: The Lady Mercedes on September 25, 2010, 06:41:25 AM
I hear ya...the RPF board's rather dead too, & I'm also a bit intimidated by marching up to complete strangers & saying hello, but I think I'll work on that next yr. Lol. To anyone planning on attending faire next season, the meetup thread still applies! *hint hint* ;)
Very dead lol. I am not big on going up and talking to people i am dont know either but if you ever see me feel free to stop by and say hi! I am usually in the black and gold but i've learned its a pain to manuver in and will be going a bit smaller and peasantier. Short, blonde/red hair, lost looking.
Lol I shall keep my eye out! Oh speaking of faire, I'm in the midst of finishing up my peasant outfit-alls I need is a leathery looking puch that I can loop my belt through & a tin or pewter cup w/a handle that I can also loop my belt through. I'm also thinking of getting some clog type shoes to wear. I never thought I'd ever consider wearing Crocs, however if you have the last issue of Renaissance Magazine & look at the photo in the article about shoes, there's a shoe shown that looks suspiciously familiar...lol
Hey Auryn, I understand completely. I'm sort of a "closet introvert", so although I'm actually friendly and sorta goofy once we've met, it's not always easy for me to approach someone I don't know and just start talking to them. And occasionally I've gotten the fisheye, even from one or two people on the forums. That was a little awkward... The R/F pin is helpful though, and I've met several lovely people here just by saying, "I recognize your face from the forums, but I don't always connect names and faces. I'm Tipsy Gypsy." Works well :).
My appraoch doesn't work for everyone;
but it amazes my husband, especially when we are vacationing in a different state and someone comes up and says "Did I meet you at _________Faire?"
Anyone and everyone who is some kind of garb is fair game for me, especially when waiting in line to get in. I go up, introduce myself and start asking about their garb or accesories. So from that point we go from show to show and pub to pub running into people we've already met. Then we share a table, bench and some commentary about the faire and the shows. You learn some interesting things if you are open and listen to how people respond to you.
I don't have a problem meeting people at all. It's just getting them to stand next to me for longer than 5 minutes LOLOL!
I've never met anyone from the forums, that I know of anyway.
I'm a bit standoffish, quiet and a little shy. People tend to mistake that for me being snob/jerk/ahole because I am not chatty when I meet people for the first time. Sometimes I can be the aforementioned, but the reality is it just takes me a while to warm up to people. I have never been comfortable walking up to strangers and introducing myself.
That said, if you see me running around over the next few months at TRF, feel free to say hi. I'm a decent fellow once the ice is broken.
Hey bot, come find me in Transylvania (near Pirates Cove). I'm the one with the hump LOL!
Quote from: crashbot on September 28, 2010, 10:33:05 AM
I've never met anyone from the forums, that I know of anyway.
I'm a bit standoffish, quiet and a little shy. People tend to mistake that for me being snob/jerk/ahole because I am not chatty when I meet people for the first time. Sometimes I can be the aforementioned, but the reality is it just takes me a while to warm up to people. I have never been comfortable walking up to strangers and introducing myself.
That said, if you see me running around over the next few months at TRF, feel free to say hi. I'm a decent fellow once the ice is broken.
POW... aftyer the parade... be there. :D
Yeah I'm shy when it comes to meeting people, I always think I'm going to get that... and you're talking to me why? Look. That and I'd usually rather catch the shows than sit in the pub (yes I know there are shows there too) but really, I can drink at home, I can't watch Hack and Slash at the local dive bar.
Don't worry you're not alone in the loneliness!
Do give me greeting if you see me at TRF! I LOVE meeting people from the forum! We are all friends here! Be not shy! You will get a hug and a warm welcome.
I'm only going to TRF this year for 1 weekend, and sadly it is the weekend after AHE when everyone will be recouperating, BUT i know if I show up at the POW after the parade I'm sure to find SOME ONE. Plus it's not like the pink pirate and I are not sociable. We haven't gotten to the point when we actively seek people out but we have yet to say no to a hello from other people.
I will say this the scariest thing this past season at Scarby was the first weekend, showing up at the meet and greet knowing no one but Ele. 10 minutes later we knew most people, and was being tackled by the dirt fairy. :) Then added the Rendevous to it , and now we know alot more people.
My grandfather use to say " You will never know just how cold or hot the water is by sticking a toe in. Just jump in with two feet best way to know. "
Well I took a big step towards making rennie friends today.
We have a local 16th century society- does a lot of work with the local faire- I just signed up to attend their stage combat workshop this weekend.
Hopefully I will meet some awesome like minded folk
Camping, as mentioned is a great way to meet the real rennies, but be aware that many clans have their designated areas and have had for many years. For me personally, If I see someone over and over each year, it's just a natural to strike up a conversation. If you click, then a potential friendship has started. Everyone in Valhalla met at faire and have become great friends over the past 2 decades. Maybe I should open a "Whilst Thou Be Mine Friend?" booth soon
Quote from: blue66669 on September 28, 2010, 09:50:20 AM
I don't have a problem meeting people at all. It's just getting them to stand next to me for longer than 5 minutes LOLOL!
ROFL! Blue. :P
Quote from: Fraser of Lovatt on September 28, 2010, 10:38:16 AM
Quote from: crashbot on September 28, 2010, 10:33:05 AM
I've never met anyone from the forums, that I know of anyway.
I'm a bit standoffish, quiet and a little shy. People tend to mistake that for me being snob/jerk/ahole because I am not chatty when I meet people for the first time. Sometimes I can be the aforementioned, but the reality is it just takes me a while to warm up to people. I have never been comfortable walking up to strangers and introducing myself.
That said, if you see me running around over the next few months at TRF, feel free to say hi. I'm a decent fellow once the ice is broken.
POW... aftyer the parade... be there. :D
Fraiser, I won't hold the OU thing against you
Is that an Open Inventation at the POW????