Renaissance Pher?

[DonaCatalina]

I would never, ever cheat on my husband (and vice versa, I know him well enough to answer for him), and probably 95% of the playtrons wouldn't either.  Having said that, in the "regular" world, I wouldn't flirt with a guy, nor my husband flirt with another woman.

However, at faire, if a guy flirts with me, or if my husband flirts with another woman, we know it's a joke and fooling around.  Nothing more than a wench and a rogue, good for a smile or two.  Because like in Las Vegas, what happens at faire, stays at faire.  Period. Neither one of us would ever dream of taking any flirting, hand-kissing, hugs, etc. seriously.  And we limit it to that, nothing more, and never give the impression that we would like to continue the banter past the gates.

I have to agree with this Lady Renee 100%.
Faire is like a role-playing game. A lot of people don't 'get it' that the role is dropped as soon as you walk out the gates.
But its an understandable mistake.

[pirategurl]

There is also something to be said for the comfort factor. Me as a regular person, has self esteem issues. However, my persona is a take charge, flirty, and confident pirate captain. As soon as the garb comes off, I'm back to my timid self again.
Its a chance to be someone else-an escape from reality-to a place where you dont have to pay bills, work a job you hate, or deal with most other aspects of "life". You are only doing what you want to do at faire-and the only stress (hopefully) is only that you cant afford EVERYTHING you wanted to buy..but theres always next week, or season.

[LadyElizabeth]

It's funny cause playing a Queen, there are no limitations to my money and resources, but being the real me I obviously am limited.  However, when I take on my persona as Queen, I sometimes have a difficult time separating myself from that and also limiting my spending... 

Thankfully QE1 was single and loved to flirt and so do I.  That part really does work out well.... hehe

[Dinobabe]

The first time I took hubby to faire he refused to wear garb... until he started walking around with me in garb and seeing everyone else in garb.  He became self conscious of the fact that he was in street wear!  We went back to G&G's shop and set him up in some of Grandpa's garb.  The next year he had a kilt, breeches, shirt, doublet, hat, and shoes! 

[Tammy]

Faire is where I get to actually be ME. It's out here in this mundane world that I'm behind a mask.

[jinx]

Faire is where I get to actually be ME. It's out here in this mundane world that I'm behind a mask.

That's EXACTLY what I was thinking.  I'm more myself at Faire than anywhere else (other than with close friends).  A lot of people are surprised to find me being shy and somewhat unsure of myself, if they've met me at Faire or another setting I'm comfortable in, because that's soo not me.

[robert of armstrong]

Of course it is easy to let inhabitions slip away at Faire.

First, for many of us, the people we interact with every day aren't there - therefore, they can't judge us for what we do there, because they aren't there to witness it.  People are willing to do things, or let things happen if they know that the repercussion of being judged later is lifted.

Second, most of us don a persona at Faire that is different from our everyday.  It may still be you, only more extremely you, or it may be a different personality altogether, but when you don that persona, you will subconsciously don some of the traits you want that personality to have, even if you didn't know you wanted them.

Either way, people are at Faire to have fun.  If it weren't fun, why would you be there?  The flirting, the hungry glace across the pub, the raised eyebrow is all part of stepping back into the time of chivalry and romance.  Who doesn't want that?

[jcbanner]

Faire is definitely an environment with more flirting and open rules about whats acceptable.  But I don't really think it all ends as the gates.  I've met a higher % of swingers and people with "open relationships" at faire then I've met elsewhere.  and among the unmarried people at faire, there's often flirting that doen't stop when the faire is over.

[Nailin]

I have to agree with Armstrong - I've done things I normally would never do / have never done in the real world
Faire for me is letting go of everything and allowing myself to be free -the flirting with people you never would
, doing things you wouldn't, it's why i go to faires and am on cast, - i had the best makeout session in my life
in front of friends and family let me tell you i would never have done that off faire grounds nor at my own faire -
you just got to be careful if your like me and wear your heart on your sleeve - i love the chiverly the old school romance
the guy giving a girl a flower, the guy escorting you through the town.... i'm more confident, more outgoing, it's
like as soon as you don the garb or see your rennie friends you become a better person and for me my true self comes out
as long as you respect people's wives/husbands/girfriends/boyfriends/etc... that's all that truely matters....
you have to know the boundaries and not cross the line with people

[Jezzy MacPeaks]

Faire is where I get to actually be ME. It's out here in this mundane world that I'm behind a mask.

I totally agree!  In the "real world?", we're suppressed by the judgement of people who try to dictate that we should think and behave a certain way.  At Faire, I can be WHO I AM!  Of course, it's a bit exaggerated, of course, just for the fun of it, but I don't worry that people don't approve.  And, IF they don't, then there is a gate they may EXIT through!

My own family used to give me much grief in the early years, but since they've come to "Check it out", they're now converted and they LOVE the fact that they can just play as someone else and let loose for awhile!  I'm amazed at the transformations, both with my family, but also the patrons who visit our shop.  They come in completely intimidated and unsure of themselves.  After a fair amount of questioning, I make a suggestion of a certain type of garb.  They go into the dressing room a mundane and come out beaming, and giggling.  They go swishing their skirts down the road with their head held high.  It's a proud moment for me! 

[Lady Vana]

I had noticed the change in atmosphere at Faires as opposed to the Real World (TM), and I agree with just about everything everyone else has said. You don a different persona for Faire-- or perhaps just an exaggerated version of your real personality-- and everyone seems much more... friendly overall. I know my group of friends is "friendly", but Faire is an amazing experience for me. It really is a place to release a good chunk of your inhibitions and just be you. I still feel a little odd flirting back, mostly because I don't work at the Faires and I haven't been attending long enough to feel like I have the right to take on my own character or even behave like "one of the rennies," regardless of garb. That doesn't mean I don't love it when a little flirtation comes my way-- the flirting and the "good morrows" are how I know my Faire day has really begun! I would never cheat on my boyfriend-- also a Faire-attendee-- and I don't think I would mind him flirting at Faire either (which, considering how possessive we are of each other, is unique in and of itself), because that's just the way people behave at the Faire: all in good fun!

Fairemones are definitely to blame. The power of garb, too, cannot be denied. Being yourself is empowering, and where better to do so than with other people who feel exactly the same? I think that's why so many Faire-goers tend to be extremely outgoing, regardless of how they may act outside of Faire.

*Snickers* I took my family to the NYRF for the first time last August. You should have seen the look on my father's face when the pickel seller flirted with my mother in the first 15 minutes of us being there. Priceless. I don't think he'll ever understand Faire atmosphere, it just isn't his thing. My mother, on the other hand, I can't wait to fit into the pirate wench garb she said she'd wear.

[Jezzy MacPeaks]

Flirting and jocularity, why yes, there is a LOT of that going on, for sure.  And, yes, I find it less threatening when my beau flirts with the wenches at faire than when we're out at a club, or something.  But, I do a great bit of flirting myself, so I can't say a thing.  It's part of my job and play at faire, AND, what happens at faire, generally stays at faire!

Now, after the last cannon is fired, talk to some of these same people and you'll find almost a completely different person.  I'm often saddened after the close of faire each day, because many of the folk who were goin' about smilin' and "good morrow"-ing, huggin' and laughin', all of a sudden become sullen, quiet and trot away as quickly as their tired legs will carry them.  Understandably, everyone is tired and they don't have to put on their faire face anymore, and many are probably just as sad as I am that it's over, but still, it is sad to see.

However, go to a Chinese buffet, or the Hofbrauhaus with these same people, especially with those who chose to show up still in garb, and yollu' see the smiles come back and even some hearty "Huzzah's", people runnin' around and huggin' and, yes, even flirting again, much to the chagrin of the waitstaff and some patrons!  But, we don't care, we have a blast!

As for you not working at the faires, don't be afraid to come out and PLAY with us!  True enough, there is a particular bond between those of us who do work the faires, but I have formed just as wonderful and welcome a bond with high-spirited playtrons!  Hey!  You be a Rennie, so be proud!  Most people wouldn't know the difference anyway.  Just jump in and enjoy!  We're glad to have you with us.  The more the merrier!  Huzzah!!!!

[Lady Vana]

If I only lived a little closer to my local-esque Faires, I might even apply for a position. I think the small Faire in Ansonia is closeish, and I do know someone who works there over the summer. I'll have to see about it in 2010.

Thanks for the encouragement, Jezzy. I'll have to give it a go this August at the NYRF!

[Jezzy MacPeaks]

Oh, you're so welcome!  I wouldn't deny a single solitary person the joy and fun we have AFTER faire!  It's a total blast!  I probably shouldn't do this, but...hey, why not.  You'll never know how much fun we have if I don't share with you, right?  So, if you want, you can go to my photo album here (if you have to be a friend to see the pics, just invite me!) :

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=83628076&albumId=2804885

Now, you said, "Ansonia" and I was about to jump up and down and say, "Let's do lunch!"...*lol*, but then you said, NYRF.    I was thinking you were referring to Ansonia, OHIO.  You must be talking about, what?  Ansonia, NY?  Just throwin' that out there.  *LOL*
Who knows, maybe one day I'll be doing a faire in NY.  I was invited twice to do one there, so you never know!