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The Squire's Tavern => Squire's Tavern => Topic started by: Charlotte Rowan on July 14, 2008, 10:02:51 AM

Title: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Charlotte Rowan on July 14, 2008, 10:02:51 AM
I'm taking a class right now called Living Myths of Modern Society. The class focuses on the phenomenon of myth as a story/belief that helps us explain our worldview - defined as "a traditional, typically ancient story dealing with supernatural beings, ancestors, or heroes that serves as a fundamental type in the worldview of a people, as by explaining aspects of the natural world or delineating the psychology, customs, or ideals of society."

This got me thinking - we as Rennies definitely have our own culture - do we have our own myth related to Fest? I don't mean myth as in "misconception" (for example, "all Rennies are hippies" or "Ren Fests are all about orgies and drinking"). I mean what stories/beliefs do we have that define our worldview as Rennies?
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Master James on July 14, 2008, 10:33:25 AM
Well I'm not sure if this one qualifies or not but the color purple being reserved for royalty only and nobody else at faire should wear it is a well known myth.  This may hold true for cast but certainly NOT playtrons.  Yet every year I hear tales of somebody being accosted for wearing purple as "that is only for royalty and you shouldn't be wearing it!"
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Joyce "Delfinia DuSwallow" Howard on July 14, 2008, 11:40:03 AM
Well i seen one time on ebay in someones store that makes renn clothes that purple was a color of witches and ones who cast spells but, i also have heard that purple was for royalty. Go figure! I don't know????
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Charlotte Rowan on July 14, 2008, 12:02:28 PM
The color purple thing is another example of what I would call a "misconception." Yes, it is a myth in the sense that it is something that people think but that actually isn't true. I'm looking for more along the lines of shared history... for example, the myth surrounding the Bear at MNRF.
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: maelstrom0370 on July 14, 2008, 12:26:09 PM
Not exactly sure if this what you're looking for but I shared this story on the old board in a similar thread....

A woman was on her way to a Faire (I heard it was in New York) and was taking a short cut through (Central) park.  She was wearing a cloak which covered her neck to feet and a man attempted to mug her at knife point (must be an old story).  ANYway, as the story goes, she drops the cloak revealing that she's wearing a full suit of chain mail and draws her sword, says something along the lines of "I see your 6 inches and raise you 36".  The man runs off and she continues her way to Faire.

More of an Urban Legend (of which I'm a HUGE fan) than a myth I suppose.
Hope it helps.
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: RumbaRue on July 14, 2008, 01:35:28 PM
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y287/RumbaRue/Tinkerbell.gif)
The color purple bit has come from the original Renaissance Pleasure Faire (that started in Aguora north of Los Angeles).

The color purple was reserved for the Nobles for the simple reason it would let the 'guests' know who was royalty and not. Yes they know that purple in the real Renaissance was used by all who fancied it.
It's clear that other faires have picked up on this and use it as a way to let the public know who is who.

Yes it is a stupid thing as I believe anyone should have the right to wear the colors they want so long as it's not neon, checkered, or some other material that is unsuitable.

Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Monsignor de Beaumanoir on July 14, 2008, 01:42:17 PM
The dye was very hard to make in ancient times,so only the wealthy could afford it:

"History, Shellfish, Royalty, and the Color Purple
Jul 1, 2002 12:00 PM, Dr. Richard M. Podhajny, Ph.D. Contributing Editor



Understanding color is one of the keys to success in the printing industry. It also can be very interesting history.

A dictionary defines purple as "any of a group of colors with a hue between that of violet and red" and as a "symbol of royalty or high office." Historically, the color purple has been associated with royalty and power, but the secret of its power lies in the glands of tiny shellfish creatures.

The earliest archaeological evidence for the origins of purple dyes points to the Minoan civilization in Crete, about 1900 B.C. The ancient land of Canaan (its corresponding Greek name was Phoenicia, which means "land of the purple") was the center of the ancient purple dye industry.

"Tyrian Purple," the purple dye of the ancients mentioned in texts dating back to about 1600 B.C., was produced from the mucus of the hypobranchial gland of various species of marine mollusks, notably Murex. It took some 12,000 shellfish to extract 1.5 grams of the pure dye. Legend credits its discovery to Herakles, or rather to his dog, whose mouth was stained purple from chewing on snails along the Levantine coast. King Phoenix received a purple-dyed robe from Herakles and decreed the rulers of Phoenicia should wear this color as a royal symbol.

Although originating in Tyre (hence the name), man's first dye chemical industry spread throughout the world.

Rome, Egypt, and Persia all used purple as the imperial standard. Purple dyes were rare and expensive; only the rich had access to them. The purple colorants used came from different sources, most from the dye extraction from fish or insects.

The imperial purple of Rome was based on mollusk from which purpura comes. Emperor Aurelian refused to let his wife buy a purpura-dyed silk garment, as it cost its weight in gold!

Insect and snail animal-based colors were mentioned in the Bible for use in textile furnishings of the Tabernacle and for the sacred vestments for the High Priest Aaron, and they also were used in King Solomon's and King Herod's temples in Jerusalem.

With the decline of the Roman Empire, the use of "Tyrian Purple" also declined, and large-scale production ceased with the fall of Constantinople in 1453 A.D. It was replaced by cheaper dyes such as lichen purple and madder.

Pope Paul II in 1464 introduced the so-called "Cardinal's Purple," which was really scarlet extracted from the Kermes insect. This became the first luxury dye of the Middle Ages.

Dyes were exported extensively from Central and South America during Spain's exploration of North and South America. Among these were Cochineal from Mexico and Peru.

The chemical birth of the synthetic dye industry can be traced to the discovery of an aniline-based purple dye, mauveine, by William H. Perkin in 1856, who accomplished this while searching for a cure for malaria. Perkin was an English chemist who changed the world of his time by making this purple color available to the masses. It became quite fashionable to wear clothing dyed with "mauve," and Mr. Perkin became a very wealthy man.

Today, genuine "Tyrian Purple" remains the domain of the rich and famous. However, synthetic dyes and pigments that meet various purple color requirements have removed the mystique of the color purple."
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: SirBlackFox on July 14, 2008, 01:58:08 PM
Quote from: Charlotte Rowan on July 14, 2008, 10:02:51 AM
"Ren Fests are all about orgies and drinking"

Can we get back to this idea and can I get a list of where this is happening?  ::)
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Just Randall on July 14, 2008, 02:22:22 PM
color purple, historical fact, do your research, not just take word of mouth as gospel.
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Valiss on July 14, 2008, 02:23:46 PM
Quote from: SirBlackFox on July 14, 2008, 01:58:08 PM
Quote from: Charlotte Rowan on July 14, 2008, 10:02:51 AM
"Ren Fests are all about orgies and drinking"

Can we get back to this idea and can I get a list of where this is happening?  ::)

Yes, I too, will have to be involved in conducting first hand research on this topic.
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: PurpleDragon on July 14, 2008, 02:27:20 PM
Quote from: captfletcher on July 14, 2008, 02:22:22 PM
color purple, historical fact, do your research, not just take word of mouth as gospel.

Leave it to Cap'n to start something like this.

From what I have been told and schooled on, the true color of royalty is Black and was changed to Purple by King Louis of France (the really flamboyant one).  (That's my story and I'm sticking to it... besides, all my garb is or contains purple so there, and I am no where near being a King.. I have been accused of being a QUEEN, but that's another thread entirely.
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Blue66669 on July 14, 2008, 02:39:46 PM
Why are we still going on about purple???

I actually heard a very interesting myth about my own home faire this weekend. One of the participants of KYHRF stated that there was an Inn at TRF *in grounds* that patrons could stay at during the faire. Of course, it's not true. Not saying that it isn't a pretty good freakin idea...
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Valiss on July 14, 2008, 02:41:42 PM
Quote from: blue66669 on July 14, 2008, 02:39:46 PM
Why are we still going on about purple???

I actually heard a very interesting myth about my own home faire this weekend. One of the participants of KYHRF stated that there was an Inn at TRF *in grounds* that patrons could stay at during the faire. Of course, it's not true. Not saying that it isn't a pretty good freakin idea...

Oh we have that at most of our faires, but we call it "camping".  :D
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: PurpleDragon on July 14, 2008, 02:45:51 PM
Oh, and since you brought up TRF.. Why not the one that has been going on for YEARS.. It goes a little something like this; 

"Disney has bought the faire and is going to close it to rebuild another theme park in Texas"
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Valiss on July 14, 2008, 02:52:14 PM
A disney theme park in Texas would be hilarious.  "Free rifle with ticket!"  hehehe

Most of the faire myths I hear are the generic ones that most have stated like "drugs and origies" and "hippies and freaks".
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: PurpleDragon on July 14, 2008, 02:54:21 PM
And we cannot forget the ever popular "Renaissance Faires are only for Pagans and Gamers".
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Valiss on July 14, 2008, 02:57:04 PM
good point Purple

"So do you guys play DnD or what? Who is the elf?"
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: PurpleDragon on July 14, 2008, 03:02:09 PM
Quote from: Valiss on July 14, 2008, 02:57:04 PM
good point Purple

"So do you guys play DnD or what? Who is the elf?"

Nope.. I'm a Seventy-Fourth Level Warlock in the Church of Buffy The Vampire Slayer.
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: groomporter on July 14, 2008, 05:50:34 PM
Quote from: Charlotte Rowan on July 14, 2008, 12:02:28 PM
the myth surrounding the Bear at MNRF.

What myth surrounding the Bear?
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: groomporter on July 14, 2008, 05:58:18 PM
I think it's more of a west coast thing, but what about Privie monster? Although it might fit under the title of "urban legend"

...Also known as "Harvey." (Watch the "Flukeman" episode of The X-files.) A story behind the term Once upon a time, at the old Southern Faire in Agoura, there were reports of a "privy monster" lurking in the dark depths of the pit toilets. After a few days of the unrest, an individual was finally arrested, armed with a wetsuit, mask, snorkel, and camera, for depositing himself in the sludge, and taking photos for posterior's... er... uh... posterity's sake, to fulfill his personal fetish.

-quoted from my tongue in cheek "Glossary of Terms for Historical Hobbyists"
http://www.historicgames.com/glossary.html
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: maelstrom0370 on July 14, 2008, 10:34:33 PM
Quote from: groomporter on July 14, 2008, 05:58:18 PM
I think it's more of a west coast thing, but what about Privie monster? Although it might fit under the title of "urban legend"

...Also known as "Harvey." (Watch the "Flukeman" episode of The X-files.) A story behind the term Once upon a time, at the old Southern Faire in Agoura, there were reports of a "privy monster" lurking in the dark depths of the pit toilets. After a few days of the unrest, an individual was finally arrested, armed with a wetsuit, mask, snorkel, and camera, for depositing himself in the sludge, and taking photos for posterior's... er... uh... posterity's sake, to fulfill his personal fetish.

-quoted from my tongue in cheek "Glossary of Terms for Historical Hobbyists"
http://www.historicgames.com/glossary.html

Actually, that one pops up connected to most events that use porta-pottys
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Charlotte Rowan on July 15, 2008, 08:38:43 AM
Quote from: groomporter on July 14, 2008, 05:50:34 PM
Quote from: Charlotte Rowan on July 14, 2008, 12:02:28 PM
the myth surrounding the Bear at MNRF.

What myth surrounding the Bear?

Not myth as in "story people tell or thing they say that isn't true." The color purple, TRF being bought by Disney - these are all what I mean by "misconceptions."

By the myth surrounding the Bear, I mean what it means to people, what it symbolizes. It was constructed, became a symbol of Faire for many people, so much so that it's still called the Bear Stage even though the Bear is gone, and that last year (or 2 years ago? I forget) there was a Teddy-Bear tribute with a sign saying "We miss you Papa Bear." And now the Bear is gone. This is the stuff of legend. Not fake, made-up legend, but real-life legend. The true story is becoming a myth - a story that helps us define who we are and understand our culture - before our very eyes. I am sure there are such stories out there from years, even generations, ago as well. That's the kind of stuff I'm interested in.

So please!! No more discussion about the color purple!!  ;)
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: groomporter on July 15, 2008, 09:06:36 AM
Perhaps "icons" of fair, or "mythic symbols" would be better terms for what you're looking for?

-Like Carr Hagerman's "Ratcatcher" character might be another one for MNRF?

Or MNRF's old "BLT" Blue Lion Tavern that was torn down and replaced with the "Big Lousy Tent"

Twig the Faerie has certainly become a prominent photographic symbol for all the fairs she appears at.

Of course then there's Puke & Snot, or Zilch the Torey Steller...
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Blue66669 on July 15, 2008, 09:11:26 AM
There are all kinds of myths concerning the proper way to make loki.....

..... none of which I can discuss here though. You know, top secret...
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: groomporter on July 15, 2008, 09:22:01 AM
Another one especially for participants at MNRF would be the late H. "Mac" McMillen and his booth Thistle Leather. He was the original maker of leather drinking mugs or "jacks" at MNRF.

(http://mrffriends.tripod.com/images/snipshot/mcmillen_mac.jpg)

HE started at MNRF as a performer - (brought out the Royal Scottish Dancers) - Fourteen years as Piper and leader of the daily parade. He introduced the Water Tight Leather Drinking Mug to the Renaissance Festivals in 1977 and performed MNRF weddings for about ten years. At the end of his career with the MNRF, he was a Shop Keeper producing leather mugs, pouches, personal wear items, and other custom leather work.
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Charlotte Rowan on July 15, 2008, 09:40:01 AM
Quote from: groomporter on July 15, 2008, 09:06:36 AM
Perhaps "icons" of fair, or "mythic symbols" would be better terms for what you're looking for?

-Like Carr Hagerman's "Ratcatcher" character might be another one for MNRF?

Or MNRF's old "BLT" Blue Lion Tavern that was torn down and replaced with the "Big Lousy Tent"

Twig the Faerie has certainly become a prominent photographic symbol for all the fairs she appears at.

Of course then there's Puke & Snot, or Zilch the Torey Steller...


Yes, exactly. In class we call it myth, but certainly "mythic icons" works too. And YES, BLT is a perfect example. And the fire at MNRF. And yes, Thistle Leather as well. Thanks!

Loki's a good one, too, Blue - the fact that it's top secret is part of the myth! :)
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Valiss on July 15, 2008, 10:06:12 AM
Quote from: Charlotte Rowan on July 15, 2008, 09:40:01 AM
Loki's a good one, too, Blue - the fact that it's top secret is part of the myth! :)

Indeed, the recipe being "top secrect" is the myth.  :) 
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Count Adolfo on July 15, 2008, 02:11:59 PM
Well, I believe the atmosphere itself... the chivalry, the grace... the way in which we carry ourselves at Faire... all part of the 'myth'.
Same with the anachronisms of Elizabethan pirates wandering amongst medieval knights and renaissance courtesans.

But as for specific myths... relating to a single Faire... I have not really seen them so much here myself but I know certain cast members become somewhat legendary... and that I have seen.

Bill Tuttle
King Henry VIII, MDRF and FlaRF

He is sorely missed.
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Valiss on July 15, 2008, 02:15:09 PM
Quote from: Count Adolfo on July 15, 2008, 02:11:59 PM
Well, I believe the atmosphere itself... the chivalry, the grace... the way in which we carry ourselves at Faire... all part of the 'myth'.

You know that is an interesting point Adolfo.  I have often wondered if someone I met at faire who was nice would be the same way if I met them outside of faire, like at thier job.  Probably not.  I think we are more... what are the words....  into the spirit at when at faire.  The courtesy or extent to which we will offer is probably magnified at an event where we feel comfortable and with like-minded folks.
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Count Adolfo on July 15, 2008, 02:24:54 PM
Quote from: Valiss on July 15, 2008, 02:15:09 PM
Quote from: Count Adolfo on July 15, 2008, 02:11:59 PM
Well, I believe the atmosphere itself... the chivalry, the grace... the way in which we carry ourselves at Faire... all part of the 'myth'.

You know that is an interesting point Adolfo.  I have often wondered if someone I met at faire who was nice would be the same way if I met them outside of faire, like at thier job.  Probably not.  I think we are more... what are the words....  into the spirit at when at faire.  The courtesy or extent to which we will offer is probably magnified at an event where we feel comfortable and with like-minded folks.

Well, I can tell you on no uncertain terms that Count Adolfo is a different person than Bryan is... and many playtrons are in character there so yes, you're going to see that the way you're treated is different.
Molden said it best when he said that his persona is him with the volume turned all the way up.  This applies, I believe, to many of us.  The persona is an amplification so if you met me in person, I'm not as brash or as romantic or as arrogant as Adolfo.
I am all of these things... just not as much.

So Adolfo... is a myth... an exaggeration...
we are all myths.
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: analise on July 15, 2008, 02:52:31 PM
It occurs to me with all of the jokes in the past couple of years dealing with "we can't do fire anymore!" at MDRF (after an unfortunate incident involving fire a few years ago, though no one was actually injured, IIRC), that might be on its way to going for mythic status. Or maybe I just saw too many "Fight School" jokes involving "mime fire". :)
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Capt Gabriela Fullpepper on July 15, 2008, 04:47:24 PM
Many years ago at CoRF we were allowed to carry none bound steel. One year when you showed up you could not have steel of any type peace bound or not. Myht has it that a couple of drunk SCA members pulled steel and started to have a fight chasing people around the fair. No steel on playtons lasted a couple of years and then when they did allow it all weapons had to be peace bound from then on.

I hope this is what you are looking for that maybe the myth behind peace bound weapons was caused from drunk playtons trying to put on their own act.
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: groomporter on July 15, 2008, 06:03:08 PM
Quote from: Charlotte Rowan on July 15, 2008, 09:40:01 AM
Yes, exactly. In class we call it myth, but certainly "mythic icons" works too. And YES, BLT is a perfect example. And the fire at MNRF. And yes, Thistle Leather as well. Thanks!

It harder to come up with significant universal mythic icons for fairs. Twig the faerie is getting close since she does so many fairs and has appeared several times in Renaissance Magazine either in photo spreads, or adverts for various Renfairs.

Other well-known traveling acts like the Tortuga Twins, might be icons for people at several fairs on the circuit of shows they do. The concepts of Henry VIII or Elizabeth I would fit as universal symbols.
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Blue66669 on July 15, 2008, 07:16:03 PM
*waves hand in front of everyone*

I am not the Rennie you're looking for.....
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Count Adolfo on July 16, 2008, 08:56:46 AM
Quote from: blue66669 on July 15, 2008, 07:16:03 PM
*waves hand in front of everyone*

I am not the Rennie you're looking for.....

Is that Blue speaking?  ...or Babylon?
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Charlotte Rowan on July 16, 2008, 09:26:51 AM
Quote from: Lady de Laney on July 15, 2008, 04:47:24 PM
Many years ago at CoRF we were allowed to carry none bound steel. One year when you showed up you could not have steel of any type peace bound or not. Myht has it that a couple of drunk SCA members pulled steel and started to have a fight chasing people around the fair. No steel on playtons lasted a couple of years and then when they did allow it all weapons had to be peace bound from then on.

I hope this is what you are looking for that maybe the myth behind peace bound weapons was caused from drunk playtons trying to put on their own act.

Yes, good one, thank you!

I think there was a similar story posted on the old forums in which a bunch of Scots had their swords stuck in the ground and were relaxing nearby... when a bunch of non-Rennie teenagers came by and tried to steal one?? And then the Scots all grabbed their swords and scared the bejeezus out of the hooligans. :) Anyone recall the exact details of that story?
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Valiss on July 16, 2008, 10:56:31 AM
Quote from: Charlotte Rowan on July 16, 2008, 09:26:51 AM
I think there was a similar story posted on the old forums in which a bunch of Scots had their swords stuck in the ground and were relaxing nearby... when a bunch of non-Rennie teenagers came by and tried to steal one?? And then the Scots all grabbed their swords and scared the bejeezus out of the hooligans. :) Anyone recall the exact details of that story?

Oh lol that was me, I almost forgot about that.  Let's see if I can remember the tale.....

It was probably 15 years ago at Fresno's faire, maybe more.  It was after hours in the evening and all the guilds were at their encampments, gathered around their fires eating, drinking, singing, dancing and all that.  Now I have come to understand that some of you guys don't have guilds at your faires, but it is common for guilds/actors in our area to stay at the faire after hours and then sleep in their encampments/shops. Many people who work at faire typically stay after hours for the fun and then camp on site.

Well like the rest, the Scots were in front of their encampment sitting around the firepit.  Many people at the time stored their blades/polearms stuck into the ground, usually in front of, or just to the side of the encampment (remember this was a while ago and rules were more relaxed). The faire itself was at a park on the edge of town as I recall, and it was mainly a grass field with some trees and the whole park was surrounded by a chain link fence.

Being that this is in the Fresno area, there are some gangs/hoodlum kids in the general area (the kind with saggy pants and pocket knifes).  Anyway, as the Scots were wining and dining, one or two of the punk kids hopped over the fence and began to sneak behind, and to the side of the encampment.  Seeing the shiny blades stuck in the ground, one of them decided to steal it.  Just as he began to pull the short sword from the ground, one of the Scots noticed and sprang from his seat - the rest of the clan immediately followed.  Seeing this, the kid took the short sword and hopped over the fence and took off running.

The next thing anyone saw was a kid running down the street, sword in hand, followed a couple of seconds later by a dozen or so Scots, armed to the teeth, screaming as loud as they could, chasing this punk down.  As I hear it, they caught up to the kid, relieved him of weapon (peacefully), escorted him back to the security booth and gave him a 20 minute lecture while they waited for the cops to arrive (remember no cell phones back then).  Those that were there said it was truly a hilarious sight to see the look on this kids face when he suddenly realized that he has pissed off many large folks in kilts who took their weapons serious and could probably wield it with surprising effectiveness.  Lesson learned!
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Charlotte Rowan on July 16, 2008, 11:43:06 AM
HA. Yes. Fabulous. Thanks for retelling!
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Valiss on July 16, 2008, 05:51:22 PM
Not sure if this counts.  Supposedly there have been rumors for yeas that the dress that the Queen wears at faire is 40 or 50lbs. Anyway, I found this on another forum:


Quote from: Pasha
The Mythical 50 pound Dress

At a guess, this is apocrypha that comes from the early days of Agoura. I first heard it cited as "fact" when the Guard told me how much the chair and queen weighed. An estimate of 300 pounds for the chair, maybe (depending on the woman) 125 -175 for the queen herself, and that mythical 50 pound gown.

Yeah, cited as fact. (This was the early 90s.) Without any backup, we simply repeated the stat to new people. I'll bet there's guys right now in Guard who believe they're hauling around a 50 pound gown.

That's why I wanted to do the bathroom scale thing. I wanted to a) weight the queen sans dress b) with dress c) put 6 scales on the ground and weigh each chair carrier, then have them pick up the chair, and check that weight. That'd give you an accurate figure of weight of queen, dress, chair, and also an idea of where the weight is distributed on the chair, which has always been an interesting subjective exercise-- sometimes everyone reports the chair feels light, and sometimes they all say it's heavy. Since the weight is mostly the same, save for atmospheric conditions and a few pounds here and there for fluctuation in the actress, is that caused by how the actress leans in the chair and by the height/stature of the carriers? This, of course, is the physics of fulcrums and levers, which I never took in school. Oh look, a real life application! Quick, someone use your physics knowledge.

But the 50 pound thing seems to come from costumers talking (out of their @#53) about how the gowns "back then" were 50 pounds.

Hope that helps!
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: GirlChris on July 17, 2008, 11:04:57 AM
Quote from: Count Adolfo on July 15, 2008, 02:11:59 PM
But as for specific myths... relating to a single Faire... I have not really seen them so much here myself but I know certain cast members become somewhat legendary... and that I have seen.

Bill Tuttle
King Henry VIII, MDRF and FlaRF

He is sorely missed.

Um... it was actually Huttel. He was also Henry at the Ontario Renaissance Festival up here in Canada until he passed away. The man is a legend in two countries- not many ren faire performers can say that.
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Lady Neysa on July 17, 2008, 12:15:56 PM
Quote from: analise on July 15, 2008, 02:52:31 PM
It occurs to me with all of the jokes in the past couple of years dealing with "we can't do fire anymore!" at MDRF (after an unfortunate incident involving fire a few years ago, though no one was actually injured, IIRC), that might be on its way to going for mythic status. Or maybe I just saw too many "Fight School" jokes involving "mime fire". :)

Haha-mime fire  ;D. Not long now before we'll see "the boys" again! Yep, I agree, that one's right up there with the no weapons policy for becoming mythical status. 
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: RumbaRue on July 17, 2008, 12:37:53 PM
Quote from: Valiss on July 16, 2008, 05:51:22 PM
Not sure if this counts.  Supposedly there have been rumors for yeas that the dress that the Queen wears at faire is 40 or 50lbs. Anyway, I found this on another forum:


Quote from: Pasha
The Mythical 50 pound Dress

At a guess, this is apocrypha that comes from the early days of Agoura. I first heard it cited as "fact" when the Guard told me how much the chair and queen weighed. An estimate of 300 pounds for the chair, maybe (depending on the woman) 125 -175 for the queen herself, and that mythical 50 pound gown.

Yeah, cited as fact. (This was the early 90s.) Without any backup, we simply repeated the stat to new people. I'll bet there's guys right now in Guard who believe they're hauling around a 50 pound gown.

That's why I wanted to do the bathroom scale thing. I wanted to a) weight the queen sans dress b) with dress c) put 6 scales on the ground and weigh each chair carrier, then have them pick up the chair, and check that weight. That'd give you an accurate figure of weight of queen, dress, chair, and also an idea of where the weight is distributed on the chair, which has always been an interesting subjective exercise-- sometimes everyone reports the chair feels light, and sometimes they all say it's heavy. Since the weight is mostly the same, save for atmospheric conditions and a few pounds here and there for fluctuation in the actress, is that caused by how the actress leans in the chair and by the height/stature of the carriers? This, of course, is the physics of fulcrums and levers, which I never took in school. Oh look, a real life application! Quick, someone use your physics knowledge.

But the 50 pound thing seems to come from costumers talking (out of their @#53) about how the gowns "back then" were 50 pounds.

Hope that helps!

I happen to know the person who does the costuming for the current Southern Ren-faire at the Santa Fe Dam here in Calif., and yes those damn dresses weigh a lot!

When the faire was still in San Bernadino, I use to go to the person's home and she would bring home the Queen's dress, hang it on the back chain link fence and turn the hose on it to clean it. That's because of so many seed beads on the thing it couldn't be taken to be dry cleaned because the chemicals used take the color out of the beads....My ex was one of the Queen's Guard who had to carry the chair, the guys were totally wiped out by the end of the Queen's Parade.
I remember one year when the faire was looking for a new Queen, and a very large woman applied for the position. All the Queen's Guard guys put their feet down and refused to carry such a person. Nowadays there's a weight limit to who can be Queen.

Gee at the Escondido, and Ojai faires the Queen walks around under a canopy the Guards carry. Huzzah for her!
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Valiss on July 17, 2008, 12:53:47 PM
Quote from: RumbaRue on July 17, 2008, 12:37:53 PM
Quote from: Valiss on July 16, 2008, 05:51:22 PM
Not sure if this counts.  Supposedly there have been rumors for yeas that the dress that the Queen wears at faire is 40 or 50lbs. Anyway, I found this on another forum:


Quote from: Pasha
The Mythical 50 pound Dress

At a guess, this is apocrypha that comes from the early days of Agoura. I first heard it cited as "fact" when the Guard told me how much the chair and queen weighed. An estimate of 300 pounds for the chair, maybe (depending on the woman) 125 -175 for the queen herself, and that mythical 50 pound gown.

Yeah, cited as fact. (This was the early 90s.) Without any backup, we simply repeated the stat to new people. I'll bet there's guys right now in Guard who believe they're hauling around a 50 pound gown.

That's why I wanted to do the bathroom scale thing. I wanted to a) weight the queen sans dress b) with dress c) put 6 scales on the ground and weigh each chair carrier, then have them pick up the chair, and check that weight. That'd give you an accurate figure of weight of queen, dress, chair, and also an idea of where the weight is distributed on the chair, which has always been an interesting subjective exercise-- sometimes everyone reports the chair feels light, and sometimes they all say it's heavy. Since the weight is mostly the same, save for atmospheric conditions and a few pounds here and there for fluctuation in the actress, is that caused by how the actress leans in the chair and by the height/stature of the carriers? This, of course, is the physics of fulcrums and levers, which I never took in school. Oh look, a real life application! Quick, someone use your physics knowledge.

But the 50 pound thing seems to come from costumers talking (out of their @#53) about how the gowns "back then" were 50 pounds.

Hope that helps!

I happen to know the person who does the costuming for the current Southern Ren-faire at the Santa Fe Dam here in Calif., and yes those damn dresses weigh a lot!

When the faire was still in San Bernadino, I use to go to the person's home and she would bring home the Queen's dress, hang it on the back chain link fence and turn the hose on it to clean it. That's because of so many seed beads on the thing it couldn't be taken to be dry cleaned because the chemicals used take the color out of the beads....My ex was one of the Queen's Guard who had to carry the chair, the guys were totally wiped out by the end of the Queen's Parade.
I remember one year when the faire was looking for a new Queen, and a very large woman applied for the position. All the Queen's Guard guys put their feet down and refused to carry such a person. Nowadays there's a weight limit to who can be Queen.

Gee at the Escondido, and Ojai faires the Queen walks around under a canopy the Guards carry. Huzzah for her!


I certainly don't doubt that the Queen's dress is heavy.  But I would implore anyone who thinks it 50lbs to weight it and come back here to tell us.  An easy way for someone with the dress to weigh it would be to stand on a scale and weigh yourself. Then pick up the dress and stand back on the scale and subtract the difference. While I had never heard of this myth before, I tend to agree that the dress itself probably isn't a full 50lbs, but that's just a hunch.

Ojai is a great faire, btw. In terms of setting, it is only rivaled by Valhalla faire.


Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Lady Gwyndolyn on July 17, 2008, 01:22:21 PM
It would depend on how decorated the gown is.  I have several myself and I weighed the outer skirt for the one that is most decorated. By itself the outer skirt weighed 6 pounds, but it is beaded all over.  I hope that this information helps.
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: GirlChris on July 18, 2008, 12:09:05 PM
Well, it would all depend on the materials as well, wouldn't it?

I know that my governor's daughter outfit weighs in at 10 lbs. But it has plastic boning, no corset, no stuffed sleeves or shoulder rolls, no chemise, no beading and no hoops or padding. It's made of cotton and linen. And that's what it weighs without accessories and jewelery.  Not even shoes.

Now, imagine with a steel boned corset, steel hoops, lots of beading and trim, puffed sleeves, a bumroll, made from velvet, and jewelery everywhere.

Maybe not 50 lbs, but it could definetly get up there.
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Lady Neysa on July 18, 2008, 01:25:59 PM
I don't doubt that those gowns are very heavy and bulky, but does one realize just how heavy 50 lbs. feels?  We just got back from our vacation, and I was worried our suitcases would be over the 50lb weight limit where you have to pay for anything over 50. I thought for sure we were over, because my suitcase was very heavy and hard to lift  with a weeks worth of clothes,shoes, toiletries, and several big hardcover novels.  Now maybe I'm just a weakling, but my suitcase was only around  30 pounds with all that. 
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: analise on July 18, 2008, 01:39:51 PM
I think it's different when you're trying to carry a heavy load in your hands, where all the weight is concentrated on your fingers and wearing the weight distributed around you (so that some of it's on the arms, hips, shoulders, etc). Still heavy, but not so much.

It's sort of like the difference in stomping on somebody's foot with a stiletto heel and with a tennis shoe.
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Capt Gabriela Fullpepper on July 18, 2008, 03:47:36 PM
Carring an item inhand compared to on your body is a much different case.

Having spend time in the army carring around a full pack all day long that was easily 50 pounds, you do not notice it. Carring around an M-16 all day, my arms grew very tired.

My new dress I wear is OK on my back, but my arms sure feel all that fur.

So when it's carried onthe shoulders, it's not bad, Onthe arms or inhand, it 5 pounds turns into feeling like 100 in moments.

Hold a broom out with both arms, you will feel it. Carry that broom on your back, you won't hardly notice it.
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: ladyecho on July 18, 2008, 10:03:45 PM
     Not sure wether or not this fits here but here goes. What about how a person is dressed or the certain item they wear "telling" something about them. Like a woman who wears her chemise off her shoulders leaving them bare is considered a 'wench' or 'doxie'. Or about wearing a flower in her bosom. If anyone knows the true reasons behind this I would like to know. Also ( and this isn't very popular) that if you wear a Disney costume to a ren-faire costume contest that you automatically lose.  O.K. last one! I heard that a man (at faire) who wears more than one ring on their fingers is no gentleman. Any truth behind this?
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Yrose on July 19, 2008, 06:19:29 AM
Quote from: Valiss on July 16, 2008, 10:56:31 AM
Quote from: Charlotte Rowan on July 16, 2008, 09:26:51 AM
I think there was a similar story posted on the old forums in which a bunch of Scots had their swords stuck in the ground and were relaxing nearby... when a bunch of non-Rennie teenagers came by and tried to steal one?? And then the Scots all grabbed their swords and scared the bejeezus out of the hooligans. :) Anyone recall the exact details of that story?

Oh lol that was me, I almost forgot about that.  Let's see if I can remember the tale.....

It was probably 15 years ago at Fresno's faire, maybe more.  It was after hours in the evening and all the guilds were at their encampments, gathered around their fires eating, drinking, singing, dancing and all that.  Now I have come to understand that some of you guys don't have guilds at your faires, but it is common for guilds/actors in our area to stay at the faire after hours and then sleep in their encampments/shops. Many people who work at faire typically stay after hours for the fun and then camp on site.

Well like the rest, the Scots were in front of their encampment sitting around the firepit.  Many people at the time stored their blades/polearms stuck into the ground, usually in front of, or just to the side of the encampment (remember this was a while ago and rules were more relaxed). The faire itself was at a park on the edge of town as I recall, and it was mainly a grass field with some trees and the whole park was surrounded by a chain link fence.

Being that this is in the Fresno area, there are some gangs/hoodlum kids in the general area (the kind with saggy pants and pocket knifes).  Anyway, as the Scots were wining and dining, one or two of the punk kids hopped over the fence and began to sneak behind, and to the side of the encampment.  Seeing the shiny blades stuck in the ground, one of them decided to steal it.  Just as he began to pull the short sword from the ground, one of the Scots noticed and sprang from his seat - the rest of the clan immediately followed.  Seeing this, the kid took the short sword and hopped over the fence and took off running.

The next thing anyone saw was a kid running down the street, sword in hand, followed a couple of seconds later by a dozen or so Scots, armed to the teeth, screaming as loud as they could, chasing this punk down.  As I hear it, they caught up to the kid, relieved him of weapon (peacefully), escorted him back to the security booth and gave him a 20 minute lecture while they waited for the cops to arrive (remember no cell phones back then).  Those that were there said it was truly a hilarious sight to see the look on this kids face when he suddenly realized that he has pissed off many large folks in kilts who took their weapons serious and could probably wield it with surprising effectiveness.  Lesson learned!

This has definitely turned into a myth as I remember this being on the TRF Forum on the old board and it being a clan camp the kid tried to steal the sword from!
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Lady Neysa on July 19, 2008, 10:10:38 AM
Yes, I see what you mean now about the weight of the dress being distributed around your body, I guess that would make a difference.  I've never worn anything that heavy.
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: RumbaRue on July 19, 2008, 12:06:04 PM
I have worn a very heavy 50 pound costume (in a sci-fi masquerade and won Best of Show) and it's not easy.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y287/RumbaRue/Peacock%20Ball/6976.jpg (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y287/RumbaRue/Peacock%20Ball/6976.jpg)
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y287/RumbaRue/Peacock%20Ball/2361.jpg (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y287/RumbaRue/Peacock%20Ball/2361.jpg)
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y287/RumbaRue/Peacock%20Ball/78ab.jpg (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y287/RumbaRue/Peacock%20Ball/78ab.jpg)

Bet you didn't know that most of those beaded dresses the actresses on TV/Movies wear down the red carpet for awards weight up to 30 pounds! They are very, very heavy. I know, I've hemmed up a few of them.
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Lady Neysa on July 20, 2008, 08:39:03 AM
Wow, that dress is amazing!
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Wolfram_Stout on July 21, 2008, 10:59:28 AM
Hi,
   This topic is very interesting and a bit surprising. I was a street actor at the Tenn. Ren Fair back in the mid-late 90s.  And I don't have anything but personal stories.
  I was barely in the SCA, never got serious, very in and out.  But I know a dozen stories that involve persons of legend (most notably Sir John the Bearkiller).
  With all of the traveling acts and merchants, I wonder why there is not a bigger body of Myth-like stories.

Wolfrum.
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Valiss on July 21, 2008, 11:02:34 AM
Well, then perhaps you could share some of your dozen of stories with us!  Those are always the most interesting.

  :)
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth--ThreadJack
Post by: Wolfram_Stout on July 21, 2008, 11:28:48 AM
Quote from: Valiss on July 21, 2008, 11:02:34 AM
Well, then perhaps you could share some of your dozen of stories with us!  Those are always the most interesting.

  :)

Just one here, since I don't want to over threadjack.  And King Al (known here I believe as Blakduke) can back me up on this one.

My first year as a street actor.  I am playing Father Pious the good priest playing against Cardinal Paine (the obviously evil priest).  We do tons of bits together through out the day and we go separate ways as well.
We are walking together doing some bits, and we walk past a trio of Scots (playtrons).  As we walk by, he lets out with a "Baaaaa" and we keep walking, then I notice he is not with me.  Being an idiot I keep walking thinking he has peeled off.
A couple hours later, I learn that the Scots had turned around and pull a knife on him (the girl scot actually held it to his throat). 

Scary, but not the worst.  The worst was, Faire Management decided that he had provoked them, so while they made the trio take all of there weapons back to their car, they were allowed to stay at the faire.

Wolfram
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Adriana Rose on July 21, 2008, 06:33:26 PM
There is one that I have heard about a woman who had a metal bodice chiller in and she had managed to get second degree burns on her cleavage and then she managed to get frost bite between the girls.


As for the blade stealing thing I have seen that happen not to that level but I have seen it happen.

It was the first year that I was working at fair and it was right after a drencher of a rain storm and the streets were empty and there was a pair of teenagers that thought that it would be a good idea to steal some blades from a sword shop, What I saw was two scrawny boys booking it down the hill then there were guys jumping the counters of the food booths and the guys from the sword boothrunning after them.
The next time I saw the pair they were in hand cuffs being led out by state troopers.
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: teener on July 21, 2008, 07:30:27 PM
Myth or legend, King Richard's has its share -

After our dearest King, Ray Nelson, passed away, it became a well-known fact that he joins us every year embodied in the dragonflies that are prevalent in the fall in New England.  Whenever a dragonfly lands on your costume, you're supposed to greet it as "your majesty".

We also have a patron (not even a playtron - just a lady in civvies) who joins us EVERY DAY, and has for over 25 years....and it is often said that if "Loretta" isn't there, we can't do the show.

And...no.  Contrary to popular opinion, the faire owner is NOT Beelezbub.  Altho I have heard she holds him under contract...
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Charlotte Rowan on July 22, 2008, 09:44:22 AM
Quote from: teener on July 21, 2008, 07:30:27 PM
Myth or legend, King Richard's has its share -

After our dearest King, Ray Nelson, passed away, it became a well-known fact that he joins us every year embodied in the dragonflies that are prevalent in the fall in New England.  Whenever a dragonfly lands on your costume, you're supposed to greet it as "your majesty".

Teener - thank you, I LOVE this!! perfect.

I just thought of another one. The church of the rubber duck - I don't know much about it. How did it start? What does it mean? :)
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Lady Toadflinger on July 22, 2008, 02:56:33 PM
I don't know if this fits in here, but I recently read a fantasy anthology of stories set at Ren Faires. (Renaissance Faire, edited by Andre Norton and Jean Rabe) While it is, overall, a good read, it had a good few stories where the Queen at Faire seemed to have real power over the other actors.  She had the power to sentence them to terms in the stocks or the ducking stool, and demote actors and actresses form their roles. Huh?  ???
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: VIII on July 23, 2008, 07:20:28 PM
Quote from: GirlChris on July 17, 2008, 11:04:57 AM
Quote from: Count Adolfo on July 15, 2008, 02:11:59 PMBill Tuttle
King Henry VIII, MDRF and FlaRF
He is sorely missed.
Um... it was actually Huttel. He was also Henry at the Ontario Renaissance Festival up here in Canada until he passed away. The man is a legend in two countries- not many ren faire performers can say that.
Thank you for fielding this one, GirlChris.  Yes, Bill Huttel was a giant of a man, in more ways than just size.  I have a great 'behind-the-scenes' photo of he and me at the Ontario Faire.  My wife, Susan, and Bill were the two American performers hired for the Performing Company at Ontario.  You could say Bill helped to introduce us.

Thank you, Bill, you are missed.
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: DonaCatalina on May 18, 2010, 03:19:33 PM
Someone recently brought up one I hadn't heard in awahile (Lyss maybe?)

If you know the right people you can get invited to the wild sex parties after hours

ROFL
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Merlin the Elder on May 18, 2010, 04:13:39 PM
My lady and I actually heard something to this effect from a vendor at Scarby a few years back. She wouldn't let me hang around after evening cannon...  ;)
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Blue66669 on May 18, 2010, 04:52:31 PM
*whistles innocently*
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Tammy on May 20, 2010, 11:29:33 AM
Quote from: PurpleDragon on July 14, 2008, 02:54:21 PM
And we cannot forget the ever popular "Renaissance Faires are only for Pagans and Gamers".

You mean, that isn't true??  :'(

:D ;)
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: groomporter on May 20, 2010, 07:29:02 PM
Quote from: DonaCatalina on May 18, 2010, 03:19:33 PM
Someone recently brought up one I hadn't heard in awahile (Lyss maybe?)

If you know the right people you can get invited to the wild sex parties after hours

ROFL

Reminds me of a line from one of our friends. "It's not who you sleep with at fair, but who you say NO to that says more about you."

After 20 years at MNRF I still haven't gotten an invite to the orgy  ::)
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Queen Margaret on May 20, 2010, 09:37:47 PM
Quote from: groomporter on May 20, 2010, 07:29:02 PM
"It's not who you sleep with at fair, but who you say NO to that says more about you."

That is VERY true.

So many people think poorly of the festivals because of the myth about wild, crazy debauchery. Truth is, there are many fine faire folks with high personal sexual integrity. Sometimes the legend is more tawdry than the reality.
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Noble Dreg on May 21, 2010, 06:39:18 AM
Seems to me I've heard the same myth about college campuses and outdoor music festivals.

I am shocked, shocked I tell you that wherever men and women gather in large groups to play that it invariably leads to procreative activities!  It's like it was part of human nature or something!

Perhaps we should get the guy's over at "Myth Busters" to do a story on it...I can here the end of the program now..."Sorry Adam, even the kissing wench booth told me to pound sand, myth definitely busted.  That's right Jamie, I couldn't even get a FOP to look twice at me in a kilt"!
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Leyla on May 21, 2010, 11:20:43 AM
Oh Dreg, I so needed that laugh right now!
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Charlotte Rowan on May 21, 2010, 12:08:31 PM
Yes, Dreg, delightfully funny as always!!
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Blue66669 on May 21, 2010, 01:45:32 PM
Well, tell them to stay away from my camp LOLOLOL!
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Tammy on May 21, 2010, 03:04:31 PM
*makes a point to find Blue's camp*  =D
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: jcbanner on May 26, 2010, 11:28:44 AM
Not really all to sure about myths, renfaires are not all that old after all.  Still living memory and what not.  But we do have a good mix of stories, tall tales, urban legends and superstitions.

At GSLRF, we have a few superstitions about the weather, such as never say outloud types of bad weather.  If you hear one of us say something about "that F word" we're talking about water flowing out of the out of the creek and across the grounds.
and wearing blue underwear keeps "that R word" from happening.  we don't like wet stuff falling from the sky and don't want to tempt it.

We also have several stories we tell about things that have happened at faire. 

Never tease the med staff at the faire, and here's why.  A few years ago a cast member was teasing the head of the safety/med staff and started acting like he was having a heart attack.  Playing along, the staff member grabbed up an AED, pinned the cast member to the ground and proceeded to read aloud the instructions.  Step one: Shave chest...  He stopped short of connecting the cables. but some razor burn to remember
the next year the same cast member was in a scripted duel with someone and the last day of faire, instead of pulling a dagger at the end, his opponent pulled out a razor.

Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: DonaCatalina on October 01, 2010, 09:07:04 AM
One renfaire myth that crops up a lot is that only peasants wore brown.
Judging by several paintings (http://www.renaissancefestival.com/forums/index.php?topic=6448.new#new), I believe that may not be true.

It may be something faires started to differentiate between classes for their cast.
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: LadyStitch on October 01, 2010, 01:00:59 PM
Our clan has the "Grizwald legend".

Every year we don't want rain at TRF.  Our good luck charm are the Grizwalds, yes we camp with the Grizwalds.  ::)
As long as they are at camp with us, we will not get rain, but soon as they leave, buckets will fall from the sky.  I kid you not they weren't there for set up last year, until late.  I rained until they got there, then it stopped.  Each night they would go to stay at their hotel, it would start raining.  One year  gorgious weather all weekend.  Then they leave, and 3 super cell thunderstorms roll in.
We have gone so far as to rent a travel trailer in order to get them to come to faire.  We will not go to TRF without them!

I'm not sure if this is us being nice, or just tradition.  Every year we feed the beggars.  Basically we usually will invite over a bunch of stupid drunk guys that only have booze in their cooller. -"Who needs to actually eat when you have jack daniels?" -  The reason being 1) we usually have WAY too much food, 2)  When our monarch was 17 he WAS one of those stupid drunk guys. A group of fellow rennie campers invted him into their camp for dinner and and breakfast. They wanted to make sure he got something to eat. 
Since then our monarch wants to make sure 'stupid people' like him are taken care of, all he asks is that they pay it forward to someone else someday.
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Shandi on October 01, 2010, 01:02:34 PM
Quote from: maelstrom0370 on July 14, 2008, 12:26:09 PM
Not exactly sure if this what you're looking for but I shared this story on the old board in a similar thread....

A woman was on her way to a Faire (I heard it was in New York) and was taking a short cut through (Central) park.  She was wearing a cloak which covered her neck to feet and a man attempted to mug her at knife point (must be an old story).  ANYway, as the story goes, she drops the cloak revealing that she's wearing a full suit of chain mail and draws her sword, says something along the lines of "I see your 6 inches and raise you 36".  The man runs off and she continues her way to Faire.

More of an Urban Legend (of which I'm a HUGE fan) than a myth I suppose.
Hope it helps.


HAHAHA!!
a guy in the SCA in Austin swears this happened to him on 6th street! I knew he was full of it!
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: DonaCatalina on October 01, 2010, 01:10:35 PM
There is a story recounted in "Knights Next Door" about the SCA group in New York. Someone was coming back from fighter practice and decided to wear his chainmail and armor under his coat rather than try to carry it on the subway. Someone tried to mug him and decided that he wasn't being cooperative enough and stabbed at him. They were quite surprised when their cheap stainless blade broke in half. He filed a police report and the photo of his leather armor with the gash and the nicked chainmail apparently made the newspaper.
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Capt. Morgan on October 01, 2010, 02:04:23 PM
The Trustee's and some residents of the township where our Faire is held (Great Lakes Medieval Faire in NE Ohio) are notorious for trying to shut the Faire down and have come up with some real doozie of complaints which I think might qualify as "myth". Everything from...the pounding hooves of the joust horses are responsible for windows breaking up to a mile away to arrows from the Archery Range miraculously flying through several hundred yards of dense forest and embedding in peoples lawns to residents being kept up at night from the lights on the "Tilt-A-Whirl" (yes, I kid you not...a Tilt-A-Whirl at a Medieval Faire). Needless to say....this is all BS...but those lovely narrow minded folks keep plugging trying to find some way to shut our Faire down.
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Merlin the Elder on October 02, 2010, 08:46:31 AM
You gotta watch those ICBA's (Intercontinental Ballistic Arrows), Captain, they tend to get away from you!

It would seem to me that the township would be glad to have the boost in their economy, especially these days. And I thought the folks in my state were screwed up...
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Celtic_Fae on October 02, 2010, 01:25:43 PM
Quote from: Merlin the Elder on October 02, 2010, 08:46:31 AM
You gotta watch those ICBA's (Intercontinental Ballistic Arrows), Captain, they tend to get away from you!

It would seem to me that the township would be glad to have the boost in their economy, especially these days. And I thought the folks in my state were screwed up...

The county where I was trying to bring a faire has the highest unemployment rate in the state. You'd think they would have welcomed the additional tourism and money brought in, too...
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Athena on October 02, 2010, 01:46:56 PM
Quote from: Merlin the Elder on October 02, 2010, 08:46:31 AM
You gotta watch those ICBA's (Intercontinental Ballistic Arrows), Captain, they tend to get away from you!

It would seem to me that the township would be glad to have the boost in their economy, especially these days. And I thought the folks in my state were screwed up...

Oh, believe me, that argument has been made countless times but they don't care. They're hell bent on shutting the faire down, and nothing will persuade them otherwise.

Another myth they like to perpetuate is that traffic from the faire is horrendous, a noisy nuisance and safety hazard for the township. In all my years attending I've NEVER seen anything close to what they claim. The arrow myth seems to be their favorite, though. Someone supposedly found one on their property again this year.  ::)
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Merlin the Elder on October 02, 2010, 04:17:03 PM
Does anyone have the slightest clue what the real issue is? Was someone on the township council slighted in the past? What you describe sounds like some sort of payback to me.
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Terry Griffith on October 03, 2010, 02:24:31 PM
Quote from: Merlin the Elder on October 02, 2010, 04:17:03 PM
Does anyone have the slightest clue what the real issue is? Was someone on the township council slighted in the past? What you describe sounds like some sort of payback to me.
Indeed, the situation has reached mythical proportions.  There are so many stories as to the initial cause of the battle that all that remains certain is that the Township Trustees have spent thousands of pounds in lawsuits in an attempt to close the Great Lakes Medieval Faire.  I have told the story in song on Youtube, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YSfPamQn8o (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YSfPamQn8o) just to bring awareness.  There are also links on that channel to media coverage of the affair.
The only other thing that remains constant is the sincerity of the owner and the unwavering support of faire goers behind him.
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Capt. Morgan on October 04, 2010, 01:40:12 PM
Quote from: Merlin the Elder on October 02, 2010, 08:46:31 AM
You gotta watch those ICBA's (Intercontinental Ballistic Arrows), Captain, they tend to get away from you!

It would seem to me that the township would be glad to have the boost in their economy, especially these days. And I thought the folks in my state were screwed up...

My Lord Merlin, one could raise an eyebrow at such miracle arrows as you point out but we all know, having done archery at Faires, that most (not all) but most arrows used are askew and usually have only one (plastic) fletching...hardly the type of ammo Henry the V would prefer at Agincourt and certainly not of the caliber to make it through dense forest and end up in someone's yard...unless the curvature of said arrow permits the navigation around trees and if such is the case...mayhaps we have solved that mystery! LOL!

Smaller than the township (which has no traffic light or store that I can think of)...are the minds of the Trustee's. First it was the Transient Vendors license which was illegal, next they wanted the profits from the sale of ale which normally goes to charities...that bug-a-boo resulted in no ale sales at Faire this year and no donation to charities (tho a very liberal BYOB existed). The only thing that is more aggravating than Faire Myth is Faire Drama...
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Blue66669 on October 04, 2010, 02:50:19 PM
I know that the traffic from TRF has been known to cause back ups for 3 hours or more! I can understand the traffic, but the regular revenue being pumped into the town from gas stations, eateries, and random traffic citations from Magnolia PD LOLOL!
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Capt. Morgan on October 04, 2010, 02:59:49 PM
Unfortunately, the township where the Faire is situation has none of that...gas stations, eateries or even a frickin' traffic light that I can remember seeing...you want a "one horse town"? Trumbull Township is just that. Now...the counties and towns around the Faire do profit from the Faire and they love it!

Want to talk about an agonizing wait to leave a Faire? Maryland! UGH! And THAT is no myth! LOL! But...still love you guys!  ;)
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: SirRichardBear on October 04, 2010, 03:15:41 PM
I grew up in Fayette township which is just like Trumbull Township it was good enough for great great grand pa so its good enough for us. 
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: analise on October 04, 2010, 04:02:10 PM
Quote from: Capt. Morgan on October 04, 2010, 02:59:49 PM
Unfortunately, the township where the Faire is situation has none of that...gas stations, eateries or even a frickin' traffic light that I can remember seeing...you want a "one horse town"? Trumbull Township is just that. Now...the counties and towns around the Faire do profit from the Faire and they love it!

Want to talk about an agonizing wait to leave a Faire? Maryland! UGH! And THAT is no myth! LOL! But...still love you guys!  ;)

That's why you make friends with boothies and hang out with them till 7:30 or 8:00 PM before you try to leave. ;)

(though actually this year I've been leaving by 6:00 or 6:30 to avoid the rush)
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Becky10 on October 04, 2010, 09:19:49 PM
Quote from: Capt. Morgan on October 04, 2010, 01:40:12 PM
Quote from: Merlin the Elder on October 02, 2010, 08:46:31 AM
You gotta watch those ICBA's (Intercontinental Ballistic Arrows), Captain, they tend to get away from you!

It would seem to me that the township would be glad to have the boost in their economy, especially these days. And I thought the folks in my state were screwed up...

My Lord Merlin, one could raise an eyebrow at such miracle arrows as you point out but we all know, having done archery at Faires, that most (not all) but most arrows used are askew and usually have only one (plastic) fletching...hardly the type of ammo Henry the V would prefer at Agincourt and certainly not of the caliber to make it through dense forest and end up in someone's yard...unless the curvature of said arrow permits the navigation around trees and if such is the case...mayhaps we have solved that mystery! LOL!

Smaller than the township (which has no traffic light or store that I can think of)...are the minds of the Trustee's. First it was the Transient Vendors license which was illegal, next they wanted the profits from the sale of ale which normally goes to charities...that bug-a-boo resulted in no ale sales at Faire this year and no donation to charities (tho a very liberal BYOB existed). The only thing that is more aggravating than Faire Myth is Faire Drama...


You mean like this?
::)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzJd5GVDVDY
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Merlin the Elder on October 04, 2010, 09:54:00 PM
HAHHAHHAH!!! I can't believe you brought that movie up tonight, Becky! Some friends and I were talking about that very movie less than an hour ago. May the gods bless Mel Brooks, comicus genius!
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: LadyFae on October 04, 2010, 10:03:39 PM
Yes Becky, EXACTLY like that!  =D  LOL!  I love that movie...
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Capt. Morgan on October 05, 2010, 08:08:05 AM
QuoteYou mean like this?
::)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzJd5GVDVDY


ZOUNDS! Me thinks the mystery is solved! LOL!
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Sir Ironhead on October 05, 2010, 05:51:08 PM
Does that count as a bullseye?
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Athena on October 05, 2010, 08:20:53 PM
Quote from: Becky10 on October 04, 2010, 09:19:49 PM
You mean like this?
::)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzJd5GVDVDY

LOL!!!! The Great Lakes Patriot Arrow. Finds its mark every time.  ::)

I love that movie! I have a sudden urge to start singing "We're men, we're men in tights....."  ;D
Title: Re: Ren Faire Myth
Post by: Becky10 on October 06, 2010, 10:14:52 PM
Lol, all time favorite movie! Anytime i see a robin hood at faire it pops into my head