Do Faires need Rennies?

[Rowan MacD]

  Thank you Dinobabe,
   I freely provide information to Patrons when ever they ask about our 'costumes'.  I tell them that the faire experience is very much enhanced should they decide to attend in garb, and they are most welcome to browse the shoppes for gowns and garb and to wear them right then and there! 

[raevyncait]

As far as purchasing garb at faire goes, I think that in some cases, it IS the Playtron who does just that, especially things like quality corsets and bodices. When I was a once or twice a season attendee, in my 'danes, I looked at various garb vendors and didn't buy anything because "I can make it for much less, no way am I going to spend that much money for that corset/bodice/whatever". Now, well, a simple chemise, sure I can make it for a whole lot less than what Moresca wants me to pay for it.  Having made several chemises, skirts, and even a corset, I am here to tell you that I will gladly shell out that $$ for a Silver Squirrel patchwork skirt (27 feet around the hemline), and most certainly for a properly fitting bodice or corset.  Do I think some things are overpriced? Sure they are, but knowing how much time & effort goes into even a basic skirt, if it's got anything other than a basic line & straight hem, I am willing to pay for THEM to take the time to get it even or whatever, so that I don't have to fuss with it. 
Corsets & bodices are, at least for me, a HUGE undertaking, and, for example, the one I've been working on off and on since, around Christmas, I've got probably 15 hours into it, and another 10 to get it finished, including grommets. That's 25 hours. Even at minimum wage, I've got $180 just in labor, plus my materials, which are another probably $50 (using only duck and twill, since it's an undercorset only and doesn't have to look pretty, all of which I managed to get as clearance remnant pieces), so that $250 corset is starting to look more and more like a bargain to me!

I appreciate the presence of the Playtrons at festivals I visit other than the ones I frequent, simply because I already know the magic of faire, and I like to let the actual cast focus their attentions on bringing that magic to the visitors who don't.

Do I think as a Playtron I should be entitled to any sort of special privileges? Nope, simply the respect due anyone else who has paid their way into the festival. I've worked part-time, selling CDs at various events, and in all honesty, I don't want to do more than that, because I like my freedom to roam.  Even when I have been selling, I have no desire to go into the "keep", as I feel like that's more for the cast & performers to have their downtime. I do not need to be in the back of shoppes, and I never have been without express permission from the shoppe owner. I do sometimes wish management would keep in mind that as we are garbed, the average, non-playtron attendee presumes us to be cast, we do add local color, and that in and of itself makes us "part of the magic".  I do, also, however, belief that by virtue of the fact that we are presumed by the public to be part of the magic, we have a responsibility to conduct ourselves in a manner that will not bring disgrace or negative comments about the festival.

[Eric the Ugly]

This is only an observation:

Several times the purchasing of garb has been mentioned.  Even someone stopping to ask where a particular items was purchased.  Why do mundanes purchase garb?  If there weren't "rennies" wearing "costumes" (whether they made or purchased it) would mundanes be less likely to purchase clothing?  I think rennies encourage action; whether spending money, interacting with cast, returning the next year or even the next weekend.  This doesn't mean the faire would close down without rennies, just that we are a valuable and important part of the faire experience making each moment that much more magical by just being there!

Agreed. I think we seem to be more 'approachable' than the cast, etc.
I've been photographed quite a bit over the years, however I've been asked about my garb and accessories (my weapons more often in that regard) more times than I could ever hope to count.
I think I scared one guy last year who seemed very interested to become more involved and dress up and so on. At one point in the conversation he came right out and said: "All right. So...all told...everything you're wearing now. Total price."
So I told him.
He was...surprised. I quickly added that it took me quite a while to amass exactly what I was wearing (despite having much more at home), and that I also could have saved money if I knew then that I should have spent more on quality thereby deleting the need to repeatedly spend money on lesser quality (like footwear for example. I'd have saved almost a thousand bucks if I'd just bought my Son of Sandlers to begin with).

But do faires 'need' us?
No.
Money-wise, we're certainly the minority.

Do patrons 'need' us?
Maybe.

Do patron benefit from us?
I'd say so.
The thing I recall the most from the first time I went to a ren fest (GARF) when I was 12 were all the people milling about in garb and speaking in period style and so on. It was so damned atmospheric to me. I could not have cared less about things like the musicians and the joust. To me it was the feeling of that...other place.
Hopefully, for others out there, we add to that.

[Once Debauched]

After reading the original post for this thread I did quite a bit of thinking on the subject.  The thought of whether or not my faire *needed* me in any fashion never crossed my mind.

The St. Louis Ren Faire and Pirate Fest are pretty small compared to many other faires.  If you don't stop and look at things starting when you walk in the gates you can walk the entire circuit in less than an hour.  That being said, there's tons of things packed into our little space and because it's located in a wooded and hilly area it lends an unbelievable amount of atmosphere.

There were times at faire when playtrons seemed to outnumber patrons and I found it astounding at how much a step out of the mundane it really was, and not just for me, but for everyone.

The larger faires I have no doubt depend heavily on the mundane dollar, as I'm sure my faire does also,  but in bad weather (which there's usually at least one weekend with rain and all around crappy weather in the 4 weekend run) it's us died hard nut cases that are still out there spending money and trekking through the mud (2+ inches up muh skirt!).  *chuckle*  AmyJ and Bob are damn near fixtures they spend so much time there.

The NonProfit that hosts Ren Faire also does the smaller Pirate Fest (held on the same grounds) and other smaller regional, yet still historical, events throughout the year and tend to pull from a core group of peoples - playtrons. 

The first year of Pirate Fest (it's only been running 5) playtrons were damn near the only people who showed up.  We absorb the more risque jokes at performances because we don't get offended and are willing to play along, help performers hawk their wares, "You've got CD's?!", are willing to try darn near anything if we get to wear garb, but more importantly we look cool.  *snarky giggle*

Would the faire cease to exist if playtrons just one day disappeared?  Probably not.  Would it cause a financial strain? I'm not sure, it could. Would there be a tremendous loss of "feel" to the faire?  YES!

[Amyj]

*chuckle*  AmyJ and Bob are damn near fixtures they spend so much time there.

Heh, yea...we are!   Although in our defense...this IS our only "vacation" each year.  We can't afford to go anywhere else! LOL!

As for faires "needing" playtrons?  I would say quite simply, yes.  Almost every one of us was first brought by a friend, and we now bring friends, who in turn will bring more friends... Each and every one of who will spend at least $20 a day.  Plus, we playtrons take a certain "ownership" of "our" faires and do what we can to help them grow...by money, work or donations (stupid refridgerator worked for 5 years in my basement...dunno why it died after one week at faire!)

I guess to me the question is like asking, do professional sports NEED the fans?

[The Rabbi]

Does a Bear ...... well you know the rest. I do not hide the fact that I own a soft site festival so as an owner If it were not for Rennies why would I own a fair. Myself The Cast The Vendors and Entertainers are but the humble servent of You the Rennie. All to often it is easy to get involved in the money side of the business and forget what is truely important(been there done that) and that is our guest be they the paytron or the playtron that are the reason we even exist. Rennies are the heart and soul that create a great fest and the overall ambiance even for the mundanes. Do we need Rennies? Hmmmm let me think about this........YESSSSSSS!!!!!!!!

[PollyPoPo]

Assuming that Rennie in this thread means a paying customer who dresses in garb and goes to faire routinely (or as often as finances allow) ... maybe the owners don't "need" us, but any shop selling garb (be it clothing, belts, boots, mugs, etc. anything that constitutes the entire look of the Rennie) -- yeah, those shops probably need us for them to stay in business. 

After all, how many mundanes (i.e. non-dressing up customers) actually buy $300 corsets, good $25-$100 wooden mugs, $800 eight button boots, staves, hand-constructed art pieces, etc., unless they plan to come to faire in garb thus becoming Rennies?  Even if the customer is dressed in mundanes, if he lays down $100 for a pair of men's wrap pants or a half-cape, I'm pretty sure it's a Rennie in disguise.

I've heard too many comments of horror when a vendor tells someone a corset is going to be more than $100 or that one-of-a-kind chain-mail headpiece starts at $150 and goes up depending on how many inches of length are added.  And, of course, there's always "I can make it at home for pennies." 

Yes, I believe the faires need us as much as we need them. 
 

[Once Debauched]

Each and every one of who will spend at least $20 a day.

I can't imagine any of us spending anything close to $20.00 at faire.  I know in food and drink alone I spend no less than  *starts counting fingers... now toes*  well... more than I'd like to admit!  lol

[Merlin the Elder]

$20?? Lord, I spent that on salsa today at Lady McArthurs. Can you really go to a faire and only spend that much?  

[Once Debauched]

$20?? Lord, I spent that on salsa today at Lady McArthurs. Can you really go to a faire and only spend that much? 

I can't... and I'm pretty sure AmyJ can't either!  LOL

[Amyj]

LOL...heeeeeyyyyyy, I said at LEAST $20!!!  That would be walking in the gates and MAYBE buying one beverage!  That just shows that if that was the ONLY money the people we bring in spent...the faire would be doing pretty well right there!  Hell, I think I drink spend $20 just getting to faire!  


(note to self...after doing this years taxes...MUST find a way to make playtron faire expenses deductible....)

[PollyPoPo]

Self of Amyj,

If you find a credit on any IRS forms that let us deduct or take a full credit for playtron expenses, you just gotta share it with the rest of us.   

[Merlin the Elder]

Yeah... the line that says "Dependents" ... but don't put "Iris & Rose" or "Don Juan & Miguel." I've already claimed them....

[Lady Kett]

Yeah... the line that says "Dependents" ... but don't put "Iris & Rose" or "Don Juan & Miguel." I've already claimed them....

No fair(e)! We were going to claim Iris & Rose this year! Dadgummit! 

[Lady Rebecca]

(note to self...after doing this years taxes...MUST find a way to make playtron faire expenses deductible....)

My parents said I should write off all of my 2011 faire expenses as "costume research" for my business.