Freaking the mundanes

[scarletnyx]

I don't know how much I am allowed to say, but a certain foreign visitor I know loves to stand outside shops at faire while I peruse and "stare down" the Danes in the lanes. He's actually smiling, but his eyes lie. Apparently he gets some reactions out of people, just on his eyes alone. I personally haven't freaked out any Danes.... YET.

I said no-TING! no-TING! /Hogan's Heroes

[Nidhoggr]

There is an event around here locally known as Goth Night at a bar every week.  I attended a "Pirate Party" they held several weeks ago and went in garb as did many other people. It was at a local bar.  Me and several friends were sitting around outside having a cigarette and drinks and just having good conversation.  Three would-be tough guys decided they were going to be "badarse" and began poking fun at us.  Well I myself am not easily riled up but there if is one thing that annoys me it's repetition in peoples jokes. 

After about minute 30 of "Butt pirate hehehehe" like The Three Stooges vs Beavis And Butthead personality clash of the ages, I was getting annoyed as was the Jack Sparrow cosplayer next to me.  They then decided to say "I think it would be funny to beat their a**".  Jack stated "They are asking for trouble if they keep it up" and that was retorted with a few slurs our way.  That was my breaking point.  I walked over to them as did Cap'n Jack and said "Do you think I don't know what I am wearing? I'm aware of the fact that I am  dressed like a pirate.  If you're gonna make fun of people for looking like we do, at least be original.  Like that I look like Andre the Giant or something.  Also keep in mind the fact that we are willing to go out in public dressed in this probably should indicate to you that we are comfortable and can probably handle ourselves.  Not to mention there are about 40 of us and three of you.  So, perhaps you should take your bigotry elsewhere."

They left.  Security thanked me.

[LadyFae]

Last Sunday was closing day for MNRF and after my girls and I left we ended up stopping by Fleet Farm for a few items.  WELL we of course were in our fairy garb, minus the wings.  We had SOOOOO many people stopping to look at us as we walked all aroudnd the store looking for what we needed and we just ignored it.  WELL standing at the checkout line a lady chose to come up behind us just to chat.  She wanted to know if we were fairies and I said, "OH how could you tell! I thought we were disguised by hiding our wings!"  She laughed and talked to the girls about their fairy names and our "talents."  She ended our talk by telling me what a great mom I am (I don't think she heard the part about us having been out at Fest and she must have thought that I just dress us up for random days because I'm just that cool.  LOL!)  I love that SOMEONE wasn't scared to talk to us there!

[Lady Gregory]

I wish I'd made the pub crawl, but while it was happening I was freaking the citizens at the Galleria ice rink;



I was helping out at a promotion for the upcoming Space City Con called 'Heroes on Ice', and I was far from the most interesting thing there!


A man in a kilt and on skates.  Oh, be still my beating heart...
http://www.spacecitycon.com/guests.html

[Lady Gregory]

Last weekemd we had a pub crawl in Surgarland, Texas.  The looks we got from the 'danes as we went from pub to pub.  There were about 30-40 of us, mostly in garb.  I had several people stop me and StudMuffin to inquire what was going on.  I played it straight and told them it was a Texas Rennaisance Festival promotion.  If I had been thinking, I would have told them it was a church group, that the people in armor were deacons and the minister was the woman in the pirate hat and bustier.

I did tell one hostess that the rest of her evening would seem dull after we left.

Now that sounds like fun.  I need to move to Texas.

[Lady Gregory]

My son is mortified that I dress for faire.  He doesn't go all that often, but when he does go, I do appease him and dress in mundanes.

I keep threatening him that I am going to be chaperone at his Halloween dance dressed in garb.  Let's just say he's been a very good boy lately. I need to think of something else to use on him once Halloween is over.

[uncletimcobleigh]

When my kids were younger, I would put on my garb on Halloween to escort them as they went trick or treating. The usual response was, "Here, Dad deserves a piece of candy, too. Give him this." I have also been asked if I was Henry VIII (no, you'd about two and half of me for that).

My favorite was a group of teenagers:
"Dude, are you a hobbit?"
(No, I don't have an instrument with me, but I'm a Renaissance minstrel)
"A renna-what?!?"
(Yeah, I'm a hobbit)

[Lady Gregory]

When my kids were younger, I would put on my garb on Halloween to escort them as they went trick or treating. The usual response was, "Here, Dad deserves a piece of candy, too. Give him this." I have also been asked if I was Henry VIII (no, you'd about two and half of me for that).

My favorite was a group of teenagers:
"Dude, are you a hobbit?"
(No, I don't have an instrument with me, but I'm a Renaissance minstrel)
"A renna-what?!?"
(Yeah, I'm a hobbit)

Well, I do wear my cloak on Halloween, but I dress as a witch.  For years my kids thought I was truly a witch.

Lol over the hobit.  They must have recently watched LOTR's.

[Morgan Dreadlocke]

This blogger writes about being freaked from something 2 decades ago- http://azwreshistory.blogspot.com/2011/03/death-dealer.html
  Laughing heartily, I know this Morgan character, very well

[Rosie Nell]

Not faire related, but its similair.
        Armand Bayou has an event called "Down on the Farm" where they have re-enactments of a turn of the century Texas farm, costumes included. My family and I were spinners. My mother, brother  and I were on our way to this event one year, but had to stop at a kroger to withdraw some cash. The clerk looked very confused, and finally at the end of the transaction asked..."Whats with the getup?"
   My brother,(who was about ten at the time) without missing a beat, looked at the clerk with his big innocent green eyes and replied, "We are Amish." We left stifling laughter without bothering to correct the poor sop.

  Another one occured a few years later after a TRF trip. It was just my mother, myself, two of my friends, my brothers, and two other friends all ranging in age from 9-15. On the way back I had an asthma attack, so we had to pull over at a fairly fancy hotel. My friends rushed me inside (garb and all) to the bathroom. We got some odd looks then. But better when my friend cut off my bodice (jack sparrow style) so I could breathe. It was not one of my better moments.

[Keno]

On a side related note:
  I am curious to know if anyone has been told or heard that wearing garb outside of faire is considered 'unprofessional'?  The reason I ask is in the following story and I am assuming this applies only to folks who work at faire for a living:
  A few years back an individual (who also happens to be a member of a well known comedy act, and so will remain unnamed here) was overheard sneering at another performer behind his back, who was departing the grounds still in costume after faire closed for the day.
  The object of his scorn lived in the immediate area so it made sense to me that he not bother to change, but apparently, wearing a costume outside of 'work' is a sure sign of being an 'amateur' and to be avoided at all costs.   I have read related comments in at least one other forum or website, though it has been so long ago, I don't remember where.  A google search does not turn up anything mentioning this supposed 'taboo'.
   Are there any performers who can verify this, or is this a prejudice that has run it's course, is regional or perhaps was just a personal peeve for that performer?
  Just curious. 

I have been made fun of by other rennies, called unprofessional and such for coming and going in my clothing.  I never had the heart to tell then I'm like this 24/7/365  I only wear mundane clothes when I have a mundane job or going to a mundane event. 

[jackrocks]

When you are making a new bodice and go to the hardware store for duct ties.
The young, male clerk questions why in the world anyone would need that many duct ties, what on earth am I using them for?
And you smile and say, "I need them for boning."
And then you don't understand why the clerk is suddenly blushing and stuttering.

[Rowan MacD]

  I just sprayed coffee on my monitor.  LMAO.
   I have also asked for the 'biggest ones you got!'  I never thought about mentioning boning in there....

[scarletnyx]

Apparently humming the " Sugar Rush " theme from "Wreck-It Ralph " while standing in a Wal-Mart at a Redbox trying to rent said movie -while- wearing your Templar tabard is not normal. Who knew?

[Keno]

I freaked a few people out yesterday at lowes.  I brought in a skull I'm using for faire as a shoplifter sign and halloween as a candy holder.  For some odd reason they thought it was real cause of the hair.  And the guy helping me with the jaw was giddy with delight.  I might be seeing him at faire this year.   Just another note.. I'm very proud of bones on his first day in a store.