Patron or Playtron?

[Tamtaro]

I'm a Patron.  My jeans, tshirt & silly hat "garb" makes me happiest.  It seems so magical that way, like I've travelled to a different time!  My Chicago sister has several outfits - she looks FABULOUS (sing it!) like cake with frosting!  My (other) Baby sister is a norse goddess - all "love me and despair!" when she dresses.  They are amazing ladies!!  My brother even dresses - he's the coolest guy I know.  I'm the scatterbrained-rainbow (as opposed to black)-sheep of the family.
My Columbia buddies are dressing up this year, so I am busily finishing a peasanty-wenchy skirt (I got a cheapy-bodice in St. Louis this year).  My goal is balance...maybe I'll wear tennis shoes with it - hehe   Orthopaedic wench! LOLz!
So how about you?  Do you dress up?  Do you spend gobs of coinage?  Do you accent your jeans & tshirt?  Historically accurate?  Room for interpretation?  Do you think dressing up messes up or adds to the magic?

[Merlin the Elder]

Well, I've not met you as yet, Tamtaro, but looking at your avatar, I must say that you really should cheer up... 

In answer to your question, it's really whatever floats your boat as far as your own personal enjoyment of faire. However, I would say that most of us here are into the garb, and it can get expensive—very easily—but for someone with a vision and creativity (which leaves me out) it can be done on a shoestring, but it would depend on the character or persona you choose.

The first few times we went to faire, we went as muggles, but had a good time. Then we started doing the garb. It added to my enjoyment primarily because of the little ones, which hit its peak when a 3-year-old girl walked up and tugged on my cape and looked up at me and asked, "Are you a wizard?" [yes] "I want to be a wizard when I grow up. Is it hard to be a wizard?"

I had always worn a beard, and my wife had dubbed me "Merlin" back in the 80s because of my computer expertise. The progression to my current persona was natural. I added "the Elder" since there was already a young Merlin on this board, who is great fun, by the way. We have the same home faire (Scarby) and have become friends.

I'm not sure that a wizard such as I portray would be considered historically accurate. For me, it really does add to the magic.

[Butch]

I dress out for the faire.  I dress as a simple mariner from that time period, complete with a blue thrum cap (quite common for English sailors of the period).  But, I'm not a garb-nazi, I'm just there to have a good time, and will treat all that I meet with happy courtesy!

[Bob of the Lake]

I attended faire for years as a patron in mundane clothing and had a grand time each day I went. There are definite positives to mundane clothing--it's easy to adjust for the weather, it's a lot cheaper, much easier to use the port-a-potties, etc.  If you enjoy faire as an un-garbed patron, go for it! In my view, faire is what you make of it and whatever makes you happy (providing of course, that you're not infringing on other people's enjoyment) is what you should do.

As for me, I now go garbed (well-heeled peasant, if that's possible  ) and I still have a grand time! I think, for me, I enjoy it more now because other playtrons, cast members, vendors, and performers relate to me a little differently. Once I switched to garb, I felt more accepted and found it easier to strike up conversations and make friends with fellow faire-goers. That's enhanced my enjoyment of faire.

That said, I agree with Merlin--it's whatever floats your boat. Everyone is different and the important thing is for you to enjoy the faire experience.

Oh, and to answer your other questions--yes, garb is expensive; no, when I was going "mundane," I didn't accessorize; my current garb is not really historically accurate (and I don't care!); and I definitely think interpretation is a good thing! 

[Tamtaro]

Well, I've not met you as yet, Tamtaro, but looking at your avatar, I must say that you really should cheer up... 

Ha!  It was a nice day & we were heading for the crepes!  It was a nightmare.  Hence the grimace.

I'm not a garb-nazi, I'm just there to have a good time, and will treat all that I meet with happy courtesy!

Garb-nazi!

easier to use the port-a-potties

I forgot about the port-a-privies!!  Good point Bob!  Have you heard 3 Pints Gone sing about not lingering in the outhouse?  Good advice there.

[Gauwyn of Bracknell]

playtron.  Started with basic garb and have moved to noble 9by some friends encouragement )  On the really hot days, would like to dress back down to simple garb.  We have dressed for the last 3 years and went as mundanes once last year due to the heat and it just did not feel right for us.  I agree with all, as I do not care what others wear, mundanes with their shorts and tanks or even the non-historical (the nazis can kiss my non-HA doublet's backside )

Hope to meet you this fall, we will be at your shire on the 24/25 of September (being escorted by the navy man in the Blue thrum (Butch))

A line I used once on someone who said I was not HA was, "hey, I am actually a pirate and I stole all this stuff, sorry it doesn't match, and your garb does not interest me in the least"

[Tamtaro]

Ha!  Great line!  I'm a pirate!!  I wish there was a pirate "smiley"...how about this:  P-(  ARRR!
Did you have to spend a lot of money or do you/and yours have mad sewing skilz?

[Aniroaldawen]

I too was a non-garbed patron for many many years. I got my first garb in '09 and since then have amassed about three outfits (though they're all basically peasant/wench/pirate-peasant-wench).  This year I'm going as a performer for two of the faire weekends (and one day), as well as doing a not-officially-scheduled gig with a friend in the mornings, so I don't really have a choice whether I garb or not. I don't mind though; I looove being a pirate wench and really feel more a part of the action when I'm dressed up.

[Gauwyn of Bracknell]

Ha!  Great line!  I'm a pirate!!  I wish there was a pirate "smiley"...how about this:  P-(  ARRR!
Did you have to spend a lot of money or do you/and yours have mad sewing skilz?

The noble garb was made by M'Lady's seamstress, although M'Lady does a lot of 'embellishment' after.  She is a decent sewer (so-er ), but me, no.

[Delireus]

After almost a decade of dreaming and saving, I have not 1, but 3 of my dream outfits! My first time at TRF (my home faire) my friend and I did not dress up, and we felt so out of place. From that day on, my 2 friends and I would meet at each others houses the night before faire and pull every long skirt, flowy top, and scarf we had to make our own outfits. Looking back, I can't help but laugh because we looked so ridiculous!

So, I've been attempting to dress up for every faire aside from my very first one for about 10 years now. But, about 4 years ago, I convinced my parents to buy me a real bonafide bodice from Damsel in this Dress. Oh, i love that thing. From then on, I have been getting a skirt here and a chemise there for every birthday and Christmas. I now have my dream pirate garb set! I just got a hat last time I was down in Texas for TRF and visiting family, so I can say my pirate outfit is 'done' as far as big items go, though you know you can never stop adding accessories.

I've also being working on my steampunk garb. I just can't seem to find a good skirt I like, but I'm just about there. My boyfriend bought me a pair of iridescent fairy wings for Christmas last year and so I have my perfect fairy outfit as well! While this can be expensive, like I said, I've added a little bit each year and finally got to where I love every outfit.

Speaking of my boyfriend, we just got him his first garb set and I fear I may have created a monster. He refuses to go to any faire or con without it. He won't let me go to the coronation of the KCRF royalty because our outfits are back at college and not with us in KC We've also got a small party to go to that day, but still! But, it's always fun finding the perfect piece to add to your garb, so I'm sure once the novelty wears off, he will settle down 

[DonaCatalina]

Ha!  Great line!  I'm a pirate!!  I wish there was a pirate "smiley"...how about this:  P-(  ARRR!
Did you have to spend a lot of money or do you/and yours have mad sewing skilz?

I wear my noble garb to fair. But I'm not bothered by what anyone else wears unless they are deliberately trying to ruin the faire atmosphere.

[Tamtaro]

I too was a non-garbed patron for many many years. I got my first garb in '09 and since then have amassed about three outfits (though they're all basically peasant/wench/pirate-peasant-wench).  This year I'm going as a performer for two of the faire weekends (and one day), as well as doing a not-officially-scheduled gig with a friend in the mornings, so I don't really have a choice whether I garb or not. I don't mind though; I looove being a pirate wench and really feel more a part of the action when I'm dressed up.

I'm going to be looking for you performing in the lanes, if for nothing else, to find out how to pronounce "Aniroaldawen!"  I look forward to hearing you play!  I love music in the lanes <3

[Rowan MacD]

 Playtron.  My garb varies with the theme of the weekend; I have noble, Celtic, pirate and all purpose peasant wench outfits.
   I love that I have enough pieces to mix and match so no  outfit is exactly the same twice in a season (unless I want it to be).
   I prefer to either volunteer or pay to get in, then I don't have to stay if the weather gets to be too much.   

[Tamtaro]

I like what DonaCatalina said about attitude/atmosphere (and great pirate-smiley too!)  The garb is really secondary to the spirit!  P.S. - love the garb in your avatar pic - that blue is definitely your color!

For playtrons - Do you ever get mistaken for an employee?  Tee hee!  That seems pixie-funny to me.

Comfy shoes???  Are you guys gellin' with Magellan?  My playtron shoes are very flat & thin.  I am a little whiny & am wondering if you have found super comfy shoes or trickery to make them more comfy?

[Merlin the Elder]

For playtrons - Do you ever get mistaken for an employee?  Tee hee!  That seems pixie-funny to me.

Actually, I think I was mistaken for cast BY a cast member at Scarby. I can't swear to that, but I got pulled into the pre-cannon play by one of the newer cast. They will often draw un-garbed patrons into the play, but I can't remember them pulling a garbed playtron in.  I almost called for a copy of the script as things progressed (which I found out later, they don't have because opening is total improv)  I played along as best as an untrained non-actor could until someone realized what had happened and sheep-crooked me off the "stage." 

What I thought was funny—and scary—was that the crowd was cheering for me to do battle with the gypsy king or pirate captain or somesuch, and they were supposed to be cheering the cast member who is trained in such things. Everything worked out and no one was turned into a toad or anything...