of Rennie Fairegoers?
I am talking people who dress up in full kit and pay to attend.
30s 40s and 50s. That is the demographic I've seen.
Gina
Average? I don't think any rennies are average!
I'm 49, I know regular playtrons that range in age from teenagers to to folks in their 80s.
Im guessing 42 ish
36.7 :P
Let's see...Nim is nearly 62, and I just turned 60, and we're pretty average...so the answer must be 61!
But, not being silly, I'd guess average range is 35-45.
Hmm--that's tough. I'd probably go along with Merlin and say around 40 as an average. There are lots of 50 and 60+ playtrons at the faires I attend but also a lot around 30. Much younger than that and they tend not to have the means to foot the bill for all the costs involved!
I was thinking maybe 32-42. Money to pay for this not very cheap hobby, and the physical well being to withstand the rigors of the heat and terrain.
I'd guess 40-45, for the same reason the Bob mentioned. It's an expensive hobby, and young children take up a lot of cash.
Most of the folks that dress as nobles that I know are empty-nesters.
There is a reason that the PP and I aren't going but 2-3 times to Scarby this year. It costs to drive to faire, and eat there. That isn't even counting purchases inside. Fuzzlet takes a good chunk out of things, but wouldn't trade her for anything. Before we had her, we could afford to go every weekend, not so much anymore.
i still say the 35-50 contingent. They have kids that are teens who would like it or have their own car so they can do what they like. Then mom and dad can go to the faire and enjoy themselves.
I've been going to faire since 1997 and had a full hand made outfit by me the next year at the age of 22. If I wanted something I saved for it and purchased it. The only time my parents got me something is if they got it during the season for birthdays and holidays.
I'm 32. I've been addicted since I was 26 (27?) I KNOW that isn't very long. I have been bringing my three small children since the eldest was only 1 (she'll be 7 this Fest season.) We typically dress as nobles or Faeries. We are NOT your average Faire-going group. But that's me, rarely fitting into the demographic for my age group... LOL!
I generally see such a WIDE array of ages groups at Fest that it is pretty much impossible to determine an average. Hmm, average between 0 and 100? 50. Yep, 50 is the average. ;D
Average, probably 20-30 or so. Generally, cause teens to early thirties are when people join, and the longer you stick around,t he more people drop out for whatever reason.
I'm 21 and while I've been going religiously since I was 15, I only started dressing up in full kit for the past 2 or 3 years. My boyfriend and I try to go to every faire around us in a 6 hour drive radius from Kansas (though I fly home to Texas to go to TRF once a year)
We try to get our friends to go to faire with us, but it seems like people our age aren't all that into it. I've only met maybe 1 or 2 college students our age that say they go frequently. However, 2 of my professors (around 30-40 years old) are rennies :)
I started going at the age of 18, but my garb was more costume then garb until I was 24. Before then I had bits and pieces of halloween costume, plus bits I'd add on as purchased. A tankard hear, a chemise there...still never went in mundanes. I love any excuse to dress up-just couldn't afford to do it well then. lol
I have been attending ren fests since I was 12 (19 years ago) and have never once attended without garb. When I heard that I was going for the first time, I made my own outfit out of things I found in my closet. Granted, it was a horrible costume made from a bridesmaid dress and velvet shirt (turned into a pseudo bodice), but I was garbed nonetheless.
The first time I went, I was in `dane garb...blended right in. Don't think a single soul noticed. I was 37...1989, I think.
Though you see people from every demographic, I would have to agree with most that the 30 to 45-ers are the largest group.
I first went to the Faire when I was 21 back in 2000, but 2010 was the first time I dressed in garb. It was pretty goofily cobbled together, but I'm getting more historically accurate and looking forward to October/November at the Carolina Renaissance Festival.
Quote from: WindChime on April 03, 2012, 06:34:46 PM
I've been going to faire since 1997 and had a full hand made outfit by me the next year at the age of 22. If I wanted something I saved for it and purchased it. The only time my parents got me something is if they got it during the season for birthdays and holidays.
To save up for our first full set of garb, my husband and I did absolultely -nothing- for a month and a half. You want that coke from the gas station? Put the money in the "Royal Treasurey" jar and go drink some water. No Whataburger, no movies... It was a boring month, yes, and many hours were spent on the couch or in the park, but it was all worth it when we both got our garb in the mail. As people on the younger end of the spectrum ( I'm about to turn 24, Alex is 27) I can fully attest to the money issue. It does help that I'm leaning more towards simpler garb, and that we have a few months in between seasons to recoup our finances. But I can see where the price tag for some of the nicer, higher end garb would put off some of the younger crowd.
Tis a shame, really :(
Quote from: WindChime on April 03, 2012, 06:34:46 PM
I've been going to faire since 1997 and had a full hand made outfit by me the next year at the age of 22. If I wanted something I saved for it and purchased it. The only time my parents got me something is if they got it during the season for birthdays and holidays.
Same here. I've been going to faire since I was 13 and haven't once gone garbless. True, my 13-year-old-self had a terrible outfit, but I've had 9 years to cobble together something I'm proud of. It's a hobby just like anything else. Of course, I spend less money on faire than other hobbies or whatnot because I unfortunately only get to faire about twice a year, but I still like to get myself something pretty when I can.
That said, I agree, most of people at faire seem probably 10-20 years older than me.
Been going since I was a kid, but bought my first set of wench garb when I was 16, in 2003. Been happily pumping money into garb ever since!
I went to my first renaissance festival when I was fourteen, and have been going ever since. I have seen people of all ages at renn faires, but I think the average can range from late twenties to fourties/fifties?
we didnt start until mid-to-late thirties.
I was interested before that, but young kids take up a lot of money and time. Now that my kids are older, its more fun to go places with them...plus, my oldest ones are old enough to babysit the younger ones so we can go by ourselves sometimes.
I can't compare with anyone else bc I have no Faire friends. I actually don't know anyone else in real life who goes, or who cares about dressing if they did.
Thank you for this thread... I am 47 and started going after I was a Mom at at 29 or so. So not only is faire now the one place where I feel most socially comfortable and accepted... I come to find out it is the one place I am statistically normal and average! Tah Dah!!!!
Been going for ages. Didn't start garbing until a few years ago. When I first started going I was too poor for garb. Now I take multi day rennie vacations and go to fairs all over.
My first faire and garb purchase was MN back in 1986 at the age of 26. Really got in to it in 1990 and have going strong ever since.
No way Amy is 47 maybe one of her personas is 47, but I have seen her she is no more than 27 if she is a day.
:-* Smoochy Smoocy Kiss Kiss.... I love you Mehan!!!! :-*
Well having met lady Amy at TNRF last month I will have to attest that IMHO or IMNO or IMRO, she is no more than 30 - 35. As a professional girl/lady watcher of 29 with 41 years of experience you can bank on it. As to average age of playtrons, boy that is a hard one. Pick a number and most likely you would be right. I do admit it is getting harder and harder to do the walking. With an 'itis' of all manner in every joint I own, I think there may even be some in joints I don't own, I tend to make maybe one round around the grounds and then head for the pub where I will spend the rest of the day getting all of my joints well lubricated especially the one just below my upper lip.
I guess this corset and neck ruff hide more years than I thought! And Blakduke, this just makes you all the easier to find so that we may enjoy your company!
I guess I'll just have to change my nam to PUBDUKE