Chess Match

[MissBubu]

A post from the Dueling Grounds looking for extra pieces on the board, anyone with a hard pass is welcome to participate. - NOTE: alcohol use will not be permitted by participants until after the chess game is over. The current time slated for the show is 3:00.

"Hello my festival family, well here we are again a two months or so from opening day of festival. 
Did you know the Dueling Grounds is putting on a human combat chess match this year?

Well we are, and we will need some help, we need reasonably warm bodies (No ZOMBIES) to stand on our board, and help to fill it out,  thats where you come in, in a few weeks we will be doing our large group rehersals hopefully on the actual board, but most likely on the grass in a rough approximation of the board.  When we start this we would like to have all of our squares filled so we can move peopel around and get a feel for timing.

if you are interested or have questions please email Mike Heck at XXX@XXX.XXX or Chris Olsen at XXX@XXX.XXX and we will get a list together (PM me for the email addresses),

Because we know this will mean a great deal of standing around for you most likely in the heat we will sweeten the deal for you on two levels, we will bring refreshments (ok bottles of water and maybe something resembling food)  and we will put on a basic quarter staff clinic for you (please if you have one bring a stick, a wooden clothing rod works fine so long as it's 5 or 6 feet in length)
Due to the nature of this show, we must have individuals who are contracted with the 2012 Minnesota Renaissance Festival, if you are a craft employee please be aware the performance of this show will require roughluy an hour of your time with pre-show and post show, and we do not have a set time for the performance at this moment.

Thank You for you your time

Chris Olsen
Mike Heck,
Directors of the Dueling Grounds LLC"

[MissBubu]

As of this week, Chess Match has been postponed until the 4th weekend. Management is still looking for our chess board.

[Ms Trish]

As of this week, Chess Match has been postponed until the 4th weekend. Management is still looking for our chess board.

Looking for? I would think a human sized chess board would be a little difficult to misplace!

[MissBubu]

Well, I guess they've been "looking for it" since June.

[Gauwyn of Bracknell]

Oh, now I guess we will have to come back

[Prof. John Bull]

As of this week, Chess Match has been postponed until the 4th weekend. Management is still looking for our chess board.

Looking for? I would think a human sized chess board would be a little difficult to misplace!

Well, in all fairness, it hasn't been used for many years, and the site is a big place with lots of nooks and crannies where things like that can end up. 

[Random Girl]

Prof Bull-

The old chess floor was not dismantled.  It was destroyed to put in that stupid weed puller dungeon.

The new chess floor is a large piece of canvas with painted squares on it.....that they've "misplaced" and apparently can't/won't rustle up a new piece of canvas to repaint.

[escherblacksmith]

Is that a new one or the old-old one, prior to the stage one that was built?

Frankly I would be amazed they sprang for a new canvas at all . . .

[Prof. John Bull]

My confused mind was imagining something involving the smaller but still human-scale chess board near Mac's.

Now that you mention it I remember, long long ago, the stage that has chessboard squares painted on it, that was used for a Royal Chess game.  Most of the pieces were assigned to patrons and the King and Queen would call out opposing moves.  As the game progressed and it became clear that the Queen would lose, she would shout, "Charge!" and chaos would ensue.  I think I was one of the pieces once or twice.

Perhaps that was where the "Dungeon" is now located.  

[MissBubu]

Chess Match history: Originally done on a canvas board in front of Bad Manor, it was moved to the old Falconers Stage in 2002. In 2003 a new, solid construction wood board was made by members of Cappa Ferro. This was used through 2005, at which time Cappa Ferro decided not to continue offering a chess match to management. The original canvas board had been stored near Bad Manor and was later tossed in a dumpster because it was in such bad shape. A new canvas board, or a canvas board from one of the other festivals was promised to the Dueling Grounds. They've been trying to procure said board since June.

The chess board near Mac's is too small and too dangerous to do fights on, besides, it's already in use by another group, and doesn't belong to Mid-America Festivals.

I think patron chess was way before my time, I have never known any fight group that has allowed patrons to participate in a chess match. Insurance won't cover it.

[Prof. John Bull]

It would have been in the early 1980s.  There were no weapons used, and nothing more than incidental contact.  Not saying it was necessarily a good idea, safety wise.

[escherblacksmith]

I was going to say . . . I know it was set up and manned, as it were, by the balloon fencing bunch for a while in the mid-90s, others did the combat.

good times . . .

[MissBubu]

Latest news:

"Due to technical problems, the Human Combat Chess Match will not be performed at the 2012 Minnesota Renaissance Festival. If you have any questions, please contact the office at Mid-America Festivals, 1244 Canterbury Road S, Shakopee, MN 55379, (952) 445-7361, info@renaissancefest.com."

[Kiss-me-Kate]

That is too bad, I know a lot of people were looking forward to this.

[Charlotte Rowan]

Bummer

[William_MacKean]

This proves that performers will do all the hard work, meet their obligations, and Fest STILL breaks the contract.  Pathetic.  Meh.  It'll all be done in 5 more years, anyhow.

[privater pach]

thats sad i really missed this i remember when i was young this was my favorite thing to go see

[MissBubu]

MAF is promising to get a contract done for next year, and have it to Dueling Grounds by the end of this season. If you really, really want to see the Chess Match come back, write a letter to Mid-America Festivals, 1244 Canterbury Road S, Shakopee, MN 55379, (952) 445-7361, info@renaissancefest.com. They usually listen to the patrons.