Opening day observations

[*Teach*]

(I am removeing my postes because people are making this an argument. I said nothing about cast taking pictures, and nothing about unwanted attention. Only that when i have to be somewhere, I dont like to be stopped. Just as a person in general, Not even at Fair.) Sorry for the arguments

We all, actors, attendees, vendor personnel. are busy, have things to do, places to be, and sometimes we just have to accept that there are going to be obstacles to us getting where we need to go and getting done what we need to get done.  We have a saying in the Performance Company;  "We are like reeds.  We bend in the wind."

and when you don't bend you call for a BROADSIDE..... and he will clear a path. This is why i love being a PIRATE.... The Flying V works well to move people from you path....

P.O.B.

And toss my name along side Broadsides, I doubt very many people would stand in the way of two *ahem* gentlemen our size barrelling towards them.
Yep, being a pirate does kinda rock.

*another effective path clearer would be to toss out a bottle of rum and tell me I can have it if I catch it.... and watch the mundanes fly like bowling pins out of my way*

[Element of Air]

*another effective path clearer would be to toss out a bottle of rum and tell me I can have it if I catch it.... and watch the mundanes fly like bowling pins out of my way*

Bwahahaha! I just had the BEST mental Image EVAR!

[Tudor-Diva]

Hey PyroMaster, what was up with us getting shorted that last *BANG* at closing cannon???

ONLY TWO NOW??

Oh. Um. You noticed that, then?  ...  Yes, we are doing 2 booms now. 2 are as good as 3, right?  And besides, these are LOUD booms! We set off a chariot alarm for the first time in years on Sunday 

Think you could squeeze off 3 good booms for me next Saturday? I promise, I'll leave you alone for the rest of the season...

Ohgoodlord if he does that then we're not going to know when the heck we're supposed to go out onto the dais to sing when they are over.  We had a huge Mac Truck moment there on Saturday with the two at the end and not realizing for about 30 seconds they were over, until of course we realized they were over.  O_o

[JackGonzo, MD]

Just a random thought, but it appeared to me that there were a lot of first time tourists on Saturday. With that I wonder how many of thought that any fancy dressed person must be a part of the ensemble and as such they think they can treat them like garbage. Which sadly is sort of the world we live in with the feeling of entitlement you see, where folks think it's ok to say or do something merely because they purchased a ticket.

I saw QueenE through our window when she walked by and MacLauren hollared at her to say hi. You looked absolutely stunning and may have been easily the greatest outfit I've ever seen at a Faire.

The bottom line is this weekend did see a lot of (colorful metaphor) at Faire, thankfully at the same time saw a lot of great folks as well.

[Blue66669]

Ohgoodlord if he does that then we're not going to know when the heck we're supposed to go out onto the dais to sing when they are over.  We had a huge Mac Truck moment there on Saturday with the two at the end and not realizing for about 30 seconds they were over, until of course we realized they were over.  O_o

Hell, we sat around in our shop for 5 minutes waiting for the last one LOL!

[MadamNina]

Just a little FYI when discussing the people who pay money to enter the gates and choose not to dress up. 

We refer to them as patrons or visitors to our village.  We simply never refer to them as 'mundanes'. 

All cast members, vendors and participants to this faire work very hard to maintain the illusion of a historic village.  Do we always succeed?  No.  But do we give it our best?  You bet.

So would any person, of any rank, social standing or nationality refer to the local villagers as 'mundane'?  Our King and Queen would refer to each person coming through that gate as 'Welcomed Guests and Visitors'. 

The 'mundanes' are the reason many of us are in business.  80% of the people walking into the gates are so called 'mundane'.  These are the 80% that the cast interact with, the 80% that the vendors sell too and 80% of the reason why the festival is open.  The 80% are the reason the remaining 20% can play in fabulous outfits and earn a living.

Referring to them as 'mundane' simply sounds elitist and downright rude. 

I, for one, will continue to refer to them simply as guests, valued customers and new friends.

[KiltedPrivateer]

Just a little FYI when discussing the people who pay money to enter the gates and choose not to dress up. 
...
I, for one, will continue to refer to them simply as guests, valued customers and new friends.

Excellent point and very enlightening.  Sometimes we get so caught up in our own little world that we forget that its those regular off the street folk who keep TRF open.

[*Teach*]

Just a little FYI when discussing the people who pay money to enter the gates and choose not to dress up. 
...
I, for one, will continue to refer to them simply as guests, valued customers and new friends.

Excellent point and very enlightening.  Sometimes we get so caught up in our own little world that we forget that its those regular off the street folk who keep TRF open.

Of course one should not look down upon others, however calling someone a mundane is not derogatory at all to me
A mundane is simply a person who doesn't wear garb for whatever reason
I myself go occasion in mundanes and see no problem calling myself such. It's the same thing as saying you're going naked to faire... doesn't mean you're actually naked (generally at least).
Words are just words... it's the feeling behind them that makes them harmful or not. I could call someone a patron while sneering and then patron would be a bad word.
I will never moderate my language on the off chance that someone *might* get offended. If I did that then I would never be able to speak at all and Lord knows that ain't happening.

*I often get called "that rum guy"... doesn't mean I do nothing but drink rum... wait... yeah.. it does, but it's ok. I likes me rum.*

[Lord Duelist]

Just a little FYI when discussing the people who pay money to enter the gates and choose not to dress up. 

We refer to them as patrons or visitors to our village.  We simply never refer to them as 'mundanes'. 

...

Referring to them as 'mundane' simply sounds elitist and downright rude. 

I personally don't consider the term "mundane" elitist. And technically, since I don't yet have garb, I still qualify as a "mundane", even though I'm on this forum and into the renfaire scene.

If for some reason the consensus shifts that "mundane" is now considered derogatory, elitist, or ambiguous, we still need agreed neutral terms for someone not in garb and/or something less clumsy than "non-rennie" that means, well, non-rennie. In fact, the only issue I see with "mundane" is one of possible ambiguity.

Now prefacing "mundane" with a profanity... that would be elitist.

[MadamNina]

I've just found over the years that the more and more I've heard 'mundane' being said, it is said with a HIGHLY derogatory tone.  So when I see it typed, especially as was stated previously in this forum towards those that would dare to bother someone wearing a costume, I take high offense to it.

[Lord Duelist]

I've just found over the years that the more and more I've heard 'mundane' being said, it is said with a HIGHLY derogatory tone.  So when I see it typed, especially as was stated previously in this forum towards those that would dare to bother someone wearing a costume, I take high offense to it.

I'm curious, what would you suggest as a non-derogatory, unambiguous replacement?

Also, do you think we need a separate term for relatively new rennies that just haven't acquired garb yet, versus those that are happy as tourists wearing 21CSC (21st century street clothes)?

[SirRichardBear]

We're all patrons of the faire I don't think I've used the term mundane  in a derogatory tone just as short hand for someone not in grab just as playtron is one not only in grab but also playing with cast, maundanes and other playtrons. 

I heard someone on the radio say you don't give offensive someone takes offensive.  One has to work at giving offensive but taking offensive is easy.  just my 2p

[eloquentXI]

All a matter of perspective. If I'm not wearing garb to faire, I say that I'm wearing my mundanes or civies, you know? Never been used as an insult, as it's something that I would call myself at times. My 'mundane' life, or talk about someone's 'mundane' job, referring to outside of faire.

[ScoutColt]

If i'm not in garb at faire I say I'm nekkid....

But yah. "Dane" has never been anymore derogatory than most other tag titles. It's kinda like when parents go "Ugh... Children"... or when you women folk go "UGH, MEN!" etc etc... It's all in how you use it, and at faire, mundanes are kinda like children in soem of the things they do... it makes perfect sense to them, but we look at them like they are crazy!

But remember, we men think all you women are the sun and that you are ALWAYS right, in every single circumstance and instance... we just sometimes forget is all.

[KeeperoftheBar]

I have used "mundane" in a derogatory fashion, but only when speaking about my brother.  I have been trying to get him to attend in garb for years but he refuses.  I almost have his wife convinced to try garb but she won't unless he does.  It is embarrassing to be seen with him.  Just call it sibling rivalry.
Otherwise "mundane" is just a title to describe other people who glory in the magnificence of Faire but haven't gone all the way.