Faire: Should it be BAWDY or not or a mix? Ratings Systems for Acts?

[robert of armstrong]

Although it is clear that the Faires need families attending, a little naughtiness is fun too.  I mean, the corsets and bodices typically worn at the Faire, the ladies that grace my eyes wearing them....Oh, right.  Sorry, it's a little early for that.

Families are the ones that spend the most at Faires, typically.  More meals, elephant and camel rides, rides on the Seahorse of Doom, the archery area, ect.  With the exeption of a few Playtrons who make one or two large purchases at a Faire, families are the main source of income.

I like that acts tell the audience that their act may not be for all, and not for most children.  It gives the people a head's up, and there are plenty of areas at most Faires that are clearly oriented for small children, and lots for them to see and do.  Missing one or two shows becasue they are a little young for the content should not ruin anyone's day.  The only people complaining about an act's content would be someone that did not heed the warning, and have noone to blame but themselves

[Dayna]

Christophe the Insulter performs at Bristol, and I have not seen him do a street insult, he saves his insults for the shows, which are announced as to their rating (PG-13 mostly).  Craig of Fairington also performs, again mostly PG-13 or less.  There is a separate stage for the Adult shows, which is clearly marked as Christophe NC-17 and Beautiful Bawdy Craig.  I have seen Christophe multiple times tell parents "Really, I'm not kidding, this is Not going to be family friendly, I strongly encourage you to take your children elsewhere" only to have parents sit there and stare at him as if they don't have any idea who the children belong to.

Myself, I'm not a fan of Christophe the Insulter, that's my personal opinion of the act, the man himself is quite different.  It's there for those who want it, and the only thing more hey could do to keep the kids out is to put a bar at the entrance to the tavern that says "If you can walk under this, you can't come in".

Dayna

[Once Debauched]

I think a mix is the way to go. 

I attend faire both with and without Chicklette, my 3 year old daughter, so we see a bit of everything.  We watch shows like The Limey Birds together and she adores them (Bunny especially) but she doesn't get the adult themed humor and it's not so in-your-face as to be offensive.

St. Louis started rating acts this year on their show schedule and the Limeys were PG-13.  Actually, I think they were the only show rated at all.  *chuckle*  If we did have something rated R, depending on what the material was, I'd have no problem waiting till I was minuse child to see the show.

There are shows I'm dying to see like Iris-n-Rose and Christoph and depending on how much attention Chicklette is paying I may or may not be able to to sit through a show with her.  Sometimes rocks and dirt are just WAY more important than what's on the stage and if that's the case she'll not hear what's being said.

[tigrlily64]

Christophe the Insulter performs at Bristol, and I have not seen him do a street insult, he saves his insults for the shows, which are announced as to their rating (PG-13 mostly).  Craig of Fairington also performs, again mostly PG-13 or less.  There is a separate stage for the Adult shows, which is clearly marked as Christophe NC-17 and Beautiful Bawdy Craig.  I have seen Christophe multiple times tell parents "Really, I'm not kidding, this is Not going to be family friendly, I strongly encourage you to take your children elsewhere" only to have parents sit there and stare at him as if they don't have any idea who the children belong to.

Myself, I'm not a fan of Christophe the Insulter, that's my personal opinion of the act, the man himself is quite different.  It's there for those who want it, and the only thing more hey could do to keep the kids out is to put a bar at the entrance to the tavern that says "If you can walk under this, you can't come in".

Dayna

This is exactly how I feel.  I dislike the act, but appreciate the fact that he does give a very clear warning at the beginning of his show.  It would probably be better if Bristol had him situated inside, even for his PG-13 act, but it's not like I'm going to complain.  The only reason I dislike it is because yeah, he's funny, but the same kind of "nether regions" jokes that entertaining?  for 45 minutes?

[Amyj]

I like a mix myself...with my personal preference of shows that I watch being towards the bawdy side...but as my nephews get older I'll be visiting a lot more kid-friendly shows I'm sure!  I do like the disclamer my home faire gives at the pub sing (the bawdiest part of the faire) after warning that the show WILL be dirty and NOT for children..."Hey, if your kids get the jokes, hell, it aint OUR fault!"

[Once Debauched]

"Hey, if your kids get the jokes, hell, it aint OUR fault!"

Oh yea... I forgot about that!  lol

[Captain Cornelius Howard Duckman]

"Hey, if your kids get the jokes, hell, it aint OUR fault!"

Blame dad!
Or cable.
Or public schooling.

[Count Adolfo]

The shows don't have to be too bawdy... I'm plenty bawdy for the whole Faire


Molden is plenty bawdy enough for two Faires...

[Queen Bonnie]

 I enjoy bawdy! Adults need entertaining too. I have no rennlets to worry about. I agree- Scarby and TRf have a good mix.

[Anna Iram]

I vote for bawdy!! The best kind of faire humour is the kind the adults get a laugh out of while the kids are left wondering what's so funny.

[PurpleDragon]

BAWDY.. 'nuff said.

[renren]

Bawdy!

besides, mosty, or all of the acts at MNRF announce when they are perfomring a more adult act. My kids aren't old enough to get the jokes, anyway.  If something did offend me, I'd simply leave!

[cowgrrl]

We sat at a stage today shared by a few acts including Iris & Rose, who were following the act we saw.  As we're getting up, one of them comes out from behind the stage & starts saying 'Remove your children!  You do not want them here!' (in general, not to us specifically).  I told her we knew about their act & we would be leaving with our children & she thanked us!

I wish I had thought to ask her how many parents ignore her & then do a mad dash when the first song starts!

[Lady Neysa]

I like a mix of both, gives people a good  variety of entertainment regardless of age.  I'm sure it's best  for the business end of faire too.  Maybe I've just never been in the wrong place at the wrong time, but I've never seen an act so over the top that I didn't want my kids to see it. It doesn't matter as much now that they're teens anyway. Besides, most of the stuff kids see on tv, and a lot of music lyrics-both which are meant to be shocking and in you're face, are  far worse than the fun bawdiness at faire.

[gypsylakat]

I like a mix of things, while I don't have any children of my own, I do tag around with my bf's 6 year old little sister and will likely have my own 9 year old little sister in tow sometime this season.
I wait until I don't have the little ones when i can tell it's going to be a bawdy show, of course I believe that children dont' really belong in a bar/pub anyways, so... I do get a little shocked when some people leave their kids in for some of the acts at faire, especially after the preformers give them good and proper warning.
Now I do go to some of the kids shows because there is a good bit of double entendres and other such amusement for adults, because lets face it, if barney had more stuff like that we'd be more likely to watch it, some kids movies do have such jokes, although some of them like the cat in the hat with  mike meyers took it a bit to the extreme...

But anyways, I believe that faire should be a mixture of bawdy and not so that it's inviting for the faint of heart and the young at heart (and body!) but that the older kids still have a place to play. And there are certain areas just for adults (sort of) the pubs, You don't often see too many acts geared specifically towards children in the pubs....