Crafting at Faire

[Rani Zemirah]

This season at our home Faire some friends and I have arranged to set up a Gypsy camp with a few period demos, including how to make a couple of toys for the kids. We'll be making handkerchief dolls, which are so easy it's almost funny, but even the little bitty kids can do it, and what parent will say no to something like that?

That sounds like something I'd LOVE to see!!! I've got a bit of gypsy in me blood...

The theme will be "A Day in the Life of the Gypsies", and there will be several different demos, including hand spinning with spindle, weaving on a small lap loom, quilt piecing, charms and herbals, handkerchief dolls, clothes pin toys, Tarot readings, simple kitchen spells and storytelling. It will be a come and go, with players at different stations in camp working on the demos throughout the day, available to answer questions or just interact, with two storytelling sessions scheduled during the day. It should be fun, and interesting!

[Woodland Artisan]

In my first full year as a renfaire merchant/demonstrator, the response from the faire management has been very positive; from patrons/playtrons it has been extremely positive and even a little surprised reaction; from other craftspeople it was a bit mixed and sometimes meloncholy.

As you know from my postings here (or at least in the previous iteration of this forum) and our talk at STL faire last season, jcbanner, I'm a huge advocate of demonstrations at faire (and other events as well but I'll stay on topic here) for many people involved (merchant, cast, etc.).  The more, the better ... with caveats.

Again, from my talks with other crafts people from the many faires that I did this past year and from my own experiences and talks with patrons, people want MORE traditional and period (or at least period-ish) arts, crafts and living history types of areas.  Presented well and with people that actually know what they are doing, it is something that patrons really do appreciate and talk about long after the event itself.

I have a ton of stories just from this past year alone concerning this.  From other crafts people to patrons (old and young) to faire owners/management, there is a lot that we talked about and so much that I took away from those talks about demonstrations at faire.  There are a lot of aspects to this and gets pretty involved.

I would say that the more crafting or demonstrations and living history aspects that a faire can bring into the mix, the better it is for the patrons experience at the faire.  However, just simply having someone ... anyone ... demonstrating some craft or aspect of period life isn't enough.  They don't have to have an expert in that field but having someone that knows what they are doing and (equally important) can present that to the public correctly and (dare I say?) entertainingly means more than simply throwing somebody in there just to fill a space.  Don't, for example, feel that having a person showing X craft should be in the faire and throwing somebody with no or little experience in that craft with a book on it to review before "filling a spot".  It does a disservice to the faire; to the patrons and to the craft itself (aka  "respect the craft/art/skill" a term often discussed among talks with other crafts-people).  And patrons WILL notice it.  And they WILL feel slighted.

Good luck, jcbanner, and let the forum know what you've found out and decided.

[jcbanner]

That's a good point about not "just filling a spot."  With our demonstrations, we do try and cast people that have at least some experience.  Often times though, its like myself where I know woodworking with modern tools, but my experience with traditional tools is limited.  ( I really had no idea what I was getting myself into when I started setting up my demonstrations for faire 3 years ago.)

  I still might not make anything pretty, but between the modern woodworking I know, the natural resource classes about wood properties, three years of playing with the tools trying to figure them out, and bugging people like yourself half to death as you give your own demo's, I manage to do well enough to peak the interest of a few people who might want to learn more them selves.

I can say what ever I like about wanting demos for the atmospheric affect of them at the faire, its true enough, but my own goals are to peak the interest in others to want to learn more, even if only a passive hobby.   


The basic process for selecting demonstrators is first see if their interested, then find out what interests they have, what do they know, and are they willing to learn more?  Most of the people at least have some basic skill levels that we can build off of.  ex: "You know how to use a triangle loom, would you be interested in learning how to use a floor loom?  If we could provide the loom, would you have the time to take it home and practice using it?"  (have someone interested, I have a pattern this time, now I just need approval for the material cost)

We'll be trying all scale of demonstrations this year, large stationary demos, (we have a professional brewer, we're looking into how feasable a demonstration would be) to small, carry it around in a basket tasks, like walking around with a basket of wool and working with a drop spindle

[jcbanner]

Thank you again everyone for your input. it was invaluable to me as I was making up lists and possible demonstrations ideas.

following the open house cast sign ups, we have four returning crafters:

a wool Felter and  cloth dyer, Mythrin from here on the forums,

a Basket weaver,

a Fletcher, no longer a new cast member and wanting to get more in depth this year,

myself, a woodworker,

we have three returning cast members starting demonstrations

a weaver

a Scottish scout, ok, not a tradesman, but demonstrating how Gilly suits were made.

A wood carver, not really new to demonstrating, but he's changing from being a button maker to a ship name plate carver, and this is the first year he's on the artisan's roster

And two who are new to our faire:

a young blacksmith who will be an armorer

and a brewer, or if that doesn't work out, he also knows how to make cheese.


there are also a few that have shown some interest, but are not yet on the roster.  All in all, its a good start this year and I'm looking forward to it.

If any of you visit our faire, please come take a look and see how we're doing!

[Woodland Artisan]

Here's something else to think about, jcbanner (and, of course, others wishing to develop their faires' artisan/living history aspect) ...

Every single faire spends an incredible amount of resources and time developing their cast and performers (persona's, clothing, acting, scenarios, dancing, singing and so on).  They hold meetings, try-outs, classes and have available development and support materials.  These things help to elevate the faire experience and develop the skills and performance of the people involved.

Why is not the same thing not done with the artisans or demonstrators?    Not all faires (nor would I say even "many") even have the level of organization for this type of thing that the STL Faire does.  Why not?   Cast, actors, musicians, artisans and demonstrators ... all performers at faire.  All supplying a piece of the entertainment, educational, and atmosphere experience of the faire. Each requiring some differences in pre-faire and during-faire support and resources.

Actively develop the artisans and demonstrators aspect and it'll greatly enhance your faire, everyone.

[jcbanner]

Not all faires (nor would I say even "many") even have the level of organization for this type of thing that the STL Faire does.

To give others credit where credit is due, the STL faire is still in the adolescence stages of hosting demonstrations. a few years ago, there were a few of us trying to do demos with no faire support, and we did well enough, but then two years ago, there started to be more of a push for cast members to do demonstrations but there was no support structure to organize things. Then last year with help from staff members (i was still a volunteer with no leadership title until this) and other demonstrators, we formed a new performance guild specifically for demonstrating.  this year, there is no guild, but the structure has been expanded to provide more support.  we're still playing around with things to see whats a good fit for us.

I've seen or heard of several other faires though that have well established demonstration groups.  One model that I've seen commonly is for the demonstrators to be a separate group from the faire itself and manage themselves independently. 

Every single faire spends an incredible amount of resources and time developing their cast and performers (persona's, clothing, acting, scenarios, dancing, singing and so on).  They hold meetings, try-outs, classes and have available development and support materials.  These things help to elevate the faire experience and develop the skills and performance of the people involved. 

Why is not the same thing not done with the artisans or demonstrators?

Cast, actors, musicians, artisans and demonstrators ... all performers at faire.  All supplying a piece of the entertainment, educational, and atmosphere experience of the faire. Each requiring some differences in pre-faire and during-faire support and resources.

Those are very close to some of the arguments I used to encourage development of the demonstrations.

I gotta ask, will you be retuning to STL again this year?

[Woodland Artisan]

And that's my point ... even STL faires' still early effort in developing these things is more than most faires.  There are some faires out there that merely pay lip service to it and there are those faires that are having real problems keeping their artisans and demonstrators (and even their independent groups supplying these things for the faire).

There are, of course, other faires that have no interest in that at all because that's not what they're about.  I see no problem with that, myself.  But, for those that do want a strong and serious artisan, demonstrator/living history community, really need to do more to develop it.  Some actually are actively involved in searching and recruiting ... and you know who you are.    (I'll be getting back in touch in a month or two as planned) ... but that's the rare exception right now.  Just as in your cast performances, or your performers shows ... you get what you work for in your artisans.

The artisans, demonstrators, living-history enthusiasts, and those at least interested enough to learn about it for some sort of apprenticeship program are out there ... faires just have to wake up and develop that.

Regarding returning to the STL faire in 2009 .... I'm not sure yet.  It depends on what we (myself and management) can get worked out.  Oh, by the way,  I've been meaning to get a picture to you of a hollow-form art piece I made out of one of those burls I got from you last year.  The piece is in a gallery in California right now and the picture I have of it is on a dead computer right now.  When I get it fixed, I'll dig up that picture and send it to you.  Have any more burls left? 

Keep up the good work...

[jcbanner]

I'd love to see the picture! And I'm willing to bet my dad would be excited to hear that artwork made from a burl we removed from the family ranch is on display in California!

I have several pieces remaining from last year.  Until I build a Lathe and learn how to properly use it, I can't do much with them.