We have been having reports this year of a few people behaving very boorishly. We could use the help of the RF.com group in attempting to educate these poor benighted types who apparently have to be the center of attention. The email below should give you a good idea of the type of behavior that I am talking about. We received it yesterday afternoon.
"This year was a great dissapointment to me. I am not a prude by any means but, some of the actors went to far. One of them asked me if I had ever mixed corn starch and water together and I said no. He proceeded to put his hands down the front of his pants and said, "let me see what I have cooking down here". Then he rubbed his hands all over my back. Another actor called my sons teenage girlfriend a Harlot, and said if you don't know what that means, it means you are a trollope or slut. Also another actor walked up to a boy and ripped his program in half. The boy said I had all the entertainers sign it. He walked back and tore it again. It looked like one of the actors tried to do damage control and appease the boy, giving him another program. Those were just a few examples.
I have to say I always bring my family at least twice a season, but I think this will have to be our last visit if this is the vulgarity you promote."
Needless to say we don't want to lose any guests over a few loose cannons. If you see anyone behaving badly, please let us know so that we can take corrective action. We would really appreciate it. Thanks.
Berit of Miller
You got it. Although there is always a chance I might have a talk with said actor first. With the patron still present so they know that Scarby does not act that way as a whole.
*Or maybe not... if the rum fairy has been visiting me I may just tell management and leave it at that lol*
There were reports of a 'gang' of trouble makers that were making the rounds of the faire on Saturday. From what the skuttlebutt has said, they were caught a few times trying to pick pocket, shoplift, and torment mundanes. Security was alerted to them, but not sure what came of it.
If we see or hear of anything we will let you know. :-[ It saddens me that someone would ruin someones fun by being jerks. :'(
If we witness something like this is there a number we should call? Notify one of the vendors? Look for a particular colored shirt?
Come to think of it...I haven't seen any roving L.E.O.s at Scarborough this year. Are they out there?
I would certainly not be shy in reprimands either, right in front of the offended parties so as Teach has said that they would know that is not accepted behavior at all. And the offenders better hope that there is security nearby.
It may be our first visit to this particular faire, but we well know that from the sound of it, NONE of any others would tolerate this kind of behavior either. Looks as if what I call "Dane Trolls" have learned a new trick, and that's to dress up to further their idiocy and perhaps put a bad light on the whole of the faire itself.
Yes it would be nice to have a contact number for security or something of that nature. Hopefully they got nailed by security. Because if not, they will likely try again since it's the last weekend and will likely be busier still.
People like that have nothing to do with Scarby. That is just horrible. We promote the fun and magick of faire- and that sure is not. I hope I never see behavior that vulgar or rude at any faire. I carry a big wand and also would not hesitate to call security! That is so wrong!
As a proud member of the Queens Own Highlanders, I can say that this type of behavior would not go unnoticed nor would I ignore it. I'm hoping... and I feel fairly certain... that the person who authored that email may have at least one of those incidents confused as being performed by an "actor" and may have actually been just someone in costume. I HOPE that was the case.
In any case..I will certainly keep a sharp eye peeled and will notify staff ASAP if I notice any of this.
I'm pretty certain I know exactly who did the first one with the hands in the pants thing...almost positive as I've witnessed this person being a bit crude at times.
It has never bothered me...but I'm a grown man... some of the things this person says could be offensive to females of any age but certainly anyone with young ears.
I'm sure Scarborough staff wants this snuffed immediately.... a pleased customer will tell 2 friends but a displeased customer will tell 12 people they've never met before.
Thanks for the heads up... we will be in touch.
Merlin
This saddens me because I do not believe for a minute that it was cast, vendors or any other "official" representative of Scarby that did these things. Rather it was someone, not unlike most of us who go on a regular basis, buy our tickets, wear our garb, and are presumed to be part of the show. What they seem to have forgotten is that because we are presumed to be PART of the show, as opposed to guests, our behavior IS a reflection on the festival. I hope that whoever the perpetrators are, will think twice before they act rudely again, and I hope that if any of us see something happen that is going to reflect poorly, we will AT LEAST address the victim(s) and try to let them know that we don't all act like that, and that someone acting like that does NOT represent the festival! Also let the yellow shirts (Security) know, for sure!
I think you can count on any of us, Berit. I learned from a mistake years ago to make no assumptions when something seems out of the ordinary. Consequently, I now tend to err on the side of being overly "sensitive" to situations, and I do not feel the least bit self-conscious about bringing things to the attention of authorities, and just let them sort out the good guys from the bad guys.
I think we all know to check for the Scarby cast badge, when in doubt, and those of us who consider it our home faire, we would be quite protective of it in such situations. I do hope you were able to resolve the issue with the patron to their satisfaction. If only we wizards didn't have to peace-tie our spells....
Who says we can't turn them into toad? I have no problem doing such a thing. LOL.
Good fun does not have to come at the cost of good taste. Bawdy is one thing, But I think those acts were stepping over the line, and if he said it to me I would have slapped his face. If he called my son girlfriend a Harlot in front of him, he would have been picking himself up off the ground after he woke up. And he his a 6'4 280+ Scotsman who can and does swing a full claymore with one handed.
My eyes and ears will be watching, and those who need notified will be if anything is amiss. Thank you for the heads up.
Lady G.
I haven't posted the full email on Facebook, but I did post a reminder that all of us in garb do, in fact, represent the festival, whether we intend to or not, especially to the average patron who only comes in once or twice a year and doesn't realize how many of us pay our way in, even though we are costumed and look as if we are part of the show. I have also posted to the TXIWG and our Clan yahoo groups, the same reminder. Hopefully it was an isolated incident.
Quote from: Hercules on May 25, 2011, 05:10:31 PM
If we witness something like this is there a number we should call? Notify one of the vendors? Look for a particular colored shirt?
Come to think of it...I haven't seen any roving L.E.O.s at Scarborough this year. Are they out there?
Berit, I hate to imagine who could behave like that. But you can certainly count on us to keep a sharper eye out for such things.
Hercules- Security wears bright yellow t-shirts and there is someone in the back of the pubs or food boths who has a radio to contact them.
I'll be on the lookout for such bad behaviour. I'll be mostly in the Pecan Grove Sat/Sun near the Gypsy Stage and the Belly Dance Treasures boothe. I know they have a radio (or some other way to call) there as well.
Our pirate flag was stolen off a 22 ft flag pole at the end of Pirate weekend Saturday in the parking lot of Scarby. I really no not believe those causing problems are Rennies, but rather occasional faire customers in costume. No one who knows me or my crew would dare take our flag. The trouble makers must be strangers to the faire or just @ssholes.
All of the actions described in the quoted message that Berit posted were actions of various cast members portraying pirates in the minutes leading up to the chess match. I assume it was meant to establish their characters as the "bad guys". I witnessed all of the described actions and comments on both Saturday and Sunday.
The patron whose signed program was ripped was sitting next to "Joan Humble" before Saturday's match. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31234012&l=0d417ba97a&id=1540226832 (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31234012&l=0d417ba97a&id=1540226832) The ripping "bit" was repeated several times on both days and minutes after each bit "Emma Dare" would give a replacement program to the patron which the cast member had bought in advance for the bit.
I do not recall which pirate made the cornstarch joke, but I heard it more than once and thought it was a little too crude for Scarborough. Likewise the "harlot" comments. But seeing the reactions to these bit's I'm sure the performers will work to refine their bits and make them less offensive while still demonstrating the "darkness" of their characters.
Perhaps I misspeak myself being new to here and to Scarby.
But I am beyond some words as to this (and far too respectful to this or any open forum for certain words ).
I was fully feeling it was some worthless dane troll, I would not in a million years think it of any cast anywhere or anyplace. "Destruction" whether implied or real should always be restricted between cast members or it is FAR too easy to find willing informed participants beforehand, never to an unknowing patron of any sort of event. I would hope that the parties involved would be umm...."invited" to trouble themselves to go round and get the kid a new program all resigned with all the performers autographs and that mailed to him with one long apology. Fortunately he is somewhat older than I had envisioned him ( I had grade school in mind ), but that does not excuse such actions in the least.
And as for the "hands in the pants" issue...from the sound of it alone, that would by far be enough to get them tossed out of pretty much any BAR I hang at, on their.....ear. And I hang at a lot of biker bars. Let alone a public, family oriented venue that already has enough issues with stereotype and other implied "reps" from terribly misinformed danes. "What the Hades were they thinking?" does not come close to covering it.
And as the other reports of a different "gang" shoplifting, etc...those just need to go to jail, plain and simple. I despise thieves.
Just my personal opinion. Sorry if I stepped on toes.
Lord Dragon, I saw nothing in your post that would be construed as stepping on toes. If they indeed were cast members, I should hope that they are new cast members that are still learning, and not any of the veterans. There are frequently crowds that a performer could get a bit "rowdier" with, but the trick is, you have to know the crowd, or know how to read the crowd before you launch into something that could get yourself coldcocked, and always remember: location, location, location! There are stages where bawdy is expected.
The only bad mistake is one you don't learn from. A cast member pulling this stunt needs to be educated. Apologies should be given, admonishments provided, and the rule book edited for subsequent years. It that doesn't work, cram him into the cannon, and shoot him into the parking lot.
It seems, good Berit, that the ball may be back in your court.
Quote from: FaeGuardian on May 26, 2011, 09:42:00 AM
The ripping "bit" was repeated several times on both days and minutes after each bit "Emma Dare" would give a replacement program to the patron which the cast member had bought in advance for the bit.
IF this was a cast member (and it sounds like the faire and a few other people know EXACTLY who this was, actor or otherwise), that is culpability on the part of the faire. If they were cast, I think the faire should make amends to the patron, and it should START with reimbursement for the autographs... say $50 per autograph? Then for damage control, add a season pass. And to make the parents more amenable to Scarby, deal with it so it doesn't happen again. Ban the actors? Maybe, but it may have been a newbie. Ream the director (all the bits have to pass the director, don't they?), absolutely, if it was an approved bit. If that had happened to me, I would start with security and end with Coy, as this young one and parents should have done. You NEVER touch a patron's property.. PERIOD.
Stalk well...
Well Fae, we learned just moments ago to our sorrow, that it was indeed cast members at the Chess Match. They will be talked to so that they can understand where the bounds of good taste are. I apologize for mistakenly believing that it couldn't possibly be a cast member. Sometimes it is "your own kids" who are screwing up. Sigh!
Berit of Miller
Sorry that you have to deal with it, Berit. Good luck resolving everything...
Quote from: Berit on May 26, 2011, 02:33:03 PM
Well Fae, we learned just moments ago to our sorrow, that it was indeed cast members at the Chess Match. They will be talked to so that they can understand where the bounds of good taste are. I apologize for mistakenly believing that it couldn't possibly be a cast member. Sometimes it is "your own kids" who are screwing up. Sigh!
Berit of Miller
I find that very startling and am pretty disappointed that it turned out to be a cast member. Knowing the cast as a whole, I have no doubt that it will be taken care of quickly and thoroughly. I hope that people do not let this one incident ruin their view of an otherwise extremely professional and talented performing company.
I doubt that any of us would make that generalization, Lys. But it would truly make sense to handle this quickly with the patron who was involved. Good news travels at a comfortable trot, but bad news travels at the speed of light. A personal call from the man at the top might go a very long way to resolving the issue and placating the patron...and what's a FoF pass among friends?
I've spoken with Berit on a couple of occasions, and emailed him on others, and have always found him to be a genuine sort of chap, who cares a lot about Scarborough. I know this must be hard on him, and I feel for him.
Tell whomever they are EXTREMELY lucky for their employer. If that had happened where I worked there would be no "talking to". They would have been escorted to the door and told to never return.
This same thing (ripping of program) happened to my friend a few weeks ago. And to top it off, we're friends of faire, there pretty much everyday, and chess match is one of our regular stops. The incident ended up making her cry(we've both been going through emotional stuff anyway, but this just topped it off). I was there too when they ripped up the program last week. I felt really bad for the person and had hoped they wouldn't do that bit again after my friend. As for the cornstarch stuff- ew. That's way over the line.
um... I feel really stupid right about now, but I dont get the corn starch thing... can someone explain it to me? ::)
Don't feel bad, Tink. It's got me scratching my head, too...of course, in my case, it might be fleas...
Well ummm...in the best Politically correct way I can...
What ELSE might perhaps look like cornstarch and water and would result from a MALE putting his hands down his pants FRONT (vigorously ) ?
eeeewwwwwww
Quote from: lys1022 on May 26, 2011, 03:52:45 PM
Quote from: Berit on May 26, 2011, 02:33:03 PM
Well Fae, we learned just moments ago to our sorrow, that it was indeed cast members at the Chess Match. They will be talked to so that they can understand where the bounds of good taste are. I apologize for mistakenly believing that it couldn't possibly be a cast member. Sometimes it is "your own kids" who are screwing up. Sigh!
Berit of Miller
I find that very startling and am pretty disappointed that it turned out to be a cast member. Knowing the cast as a whole, I have no doubt that it will be taken care of quickly and thoroughly. I hope that people do not let this one incident ruin their view of an otherwise extremely professional and talented performing company.
I too, am surprised and saddened that this turned out to be SAPA cast. The 4 or so times we've seen the chess match this year, I don't ever remember seeing behaviour
this bad. We always take our guests to see the match because it's always been a family friendly show. Although this year the language from the pirates/privateers seemed a bit on the crude side, I don't remember anything worse than "trollop" being used to describe which section patrons were sitting in. (After all, I do expect a certain degree of crudeness from pirates.) Also, I never did witness destruction of a patron's program, but I agree with the others that have said this is going too far.
Quote from: Lord Dragon on May 26, 2011, 09:34:21 PM
Well ummm...in the best Politically correct way I can...
What ELSE might perhaps look like cornstarch and water and would result from a MALE putting his hands down his pants FRONT (vigorously ) ?
I can be somewhat crude myself in certain circumstances, places, and crowds, but that would have pushed even
me over the edge. That's something that would work on Iris and Rose's stage, but nowhere else in the shire.
I saw the chess match for the first time this year (on the third weekend) and didn't witness what is being talked about. I vaguely remember the harlot bit but not the language that was mentioned and definitely don't remember the program bit.
I do agree that if it happened as said though it is certainly over the top for what is a family show.
I do remember a mundane constantly chastising another mundane for language in the front row and thinking they were really annoying, the person they were scolding was a teenage boy (I think) who was laughing his head off at the whole thing and let the "s" word slip a couple of times.
*Granted there was rum involved in my watching so I may have missed something*
Since we didn't hear anything like this early;
I can't help but wonder if someone decided to 'amp up' their pirate bit late in the season.
Dona, you hit the nail on the head. That is exactly what happened. They decided that they needed to be nastier and made some bad choices. There will be a serious meeting this Saturday Morning.
Berit while I have not had the pleasure of attending Scarby I feel the need to Thank you for the courage, and strength to come forward in the forum and address this situation. As merlin said bad news travels at the speed of light and in this case I think that we should do our best to see that your actions to correct the problem stay one step ahead. You have earned my respect by not hiding this issue but placing it in the light for all to see. Huzzah and well done
I agree, Rabbi... My only complaint with Scarborough is that they don't turn the thermostat down far enough for my liking... :)
I hope you all get this straightened out. It is a shame, there are a few who take it to the extreme and it can always become unsettling.
All I can say is, if it is your faire, keep an ear and eye out for such things and report ASAP! You wouldn't want a guest to your home to be treated in such a manner.
Best! :)
How ironic that someone who was being a pirate ended up exhibiting some foul behavior not mentioned in this thread that bothered several others and I myself who saw witness to it.
I will be contacting someone privately about this though as so many people on SAPA are friends of mine...
Another one applauding your honesty & taking care of business. I do want to make 1 comment that I hope will not be seen as piling on but a personal opinion statement:
Having been at faire several times (pass holders) over the past 5 years I am pretty much immune to the 'over the heads' crudeness that runs through. I gladly bring my kids & while we've had to have a few talks with my kids it's never been too much. This year I'm hearing the word 'Harlot' a lot where I would have heard 'Trollop' in the past. The latter I am OK with; the former (to me) has much more serious connotations & I do not like hearing it said towards patrons.
Again, I love the faire & will be there as often as I can. I believe there is always room for constructive criticism.
I'm not a prude, and most people that know me well, know I can have a foul mouth, but I'm extremely aware of decorum, and sailor-speak is for when I'm with sailors. I think you're very right, Cowgrrl.
Although trollop and harlot are synonymous, the connotation of the latter seems far more offensive, I should think primarily because it is the more commonly used. "Harlot" was what we read in the Bible and leaves little wiggle room. Trollop, to me, has somewhat of a humourous feel to it, and would be easier to talk your way out of with a youngster... Just my two pence worth...
If you are going to push boundaries, as I said before, you'd better know your audience, nearly in the Biblical sense.
I'm a little surprised that no one here understood the cornstarch reference. Cornstarch is used like baby powder to keep one's "nether" regions dry. My sister used it in all of her babies' diapers after changing them in order to prevent heat rash.
That part, Fae, I don't think was in question...used it myself, and that was the first thing to come to mind. It was the description that Lord Dragon provided that some of us were missing... Sans that, I wouldn't have considered any crude reference to cornstarch.