I am horrible with titles...

[saphire_glade]

So a lot of you aren't actors, but some of you work in a pub and others in shops, and well I am sure everyone has seen them...

Those that get not just drunk, but drunker than a skunk drunk.

Now if that is what they came to do that is fine with me, except for the fact that I seem to be fair game for them and I was hoping someone would have tips for how to get them to LEAVE ME ALONE!

This all stems from Saturday or Sunday night. I was outside the front gate sitting in fairy entertaining position *ie on my knees and tops of my feet*. I was with a group of 4-6 kids. Suddenly this 40-50 year old woman smelling horribly of alcohol came and basically laid down in my lap. Yep... there I sat, kids all around and a drunk woman on my lap. Not only was she on my lap, but she was there putting her hand in my bubble solution and attempting to "help" show a little girl how to make bubbles. If anyone has seen me on the street, you know I protect that pitcher of solution like it is gold. Too many hands absolutely run the bubbles. I move the pitcher and attempted to slide out from under this drunk... but of course all she did was fall further over onto my lap. I couldn't really stand up, as she did have my legs pinned and it was the end of a long day, but of course the kids are there and I was outside the gate so no security to call for.

So do any of you have tips for removing the overly drunk from ones personal space without being too obvious? I would appreciate the tips on this. At least this time this drunk wasn't trying to physically drag me into their car to I could go home with them *sighs*

[Lady Kett]

I'm afraid I'd consider the jug of bubble solution as the ultimate weapon in that case and have a small (or large...) spillage! Or find yourself a big burly guardian.

We saw you this weekend in action, Saphire. We did not interrupt you to introduce ourselves because you were mostly surrounded but wanted to let you know we think you're wonderful with the wee ones and one fine fairy!

[saphire_glade]

I'm afraid I'd consider the jug of bubble solution as the ultimate weapon in that case and have a small (or large...) spillage! Or find yourself a big burly guardian.

We saw you this weekend in action, Saphire. We did not interrupt you to introduce ourselves because you were mostly surrounded but wanted to let you know we think you're wonderful with the wee ones and one fine fairy!

I love that first idea... I am sure that will go over well.. right in the lap just to make sure it is in the most uncomfortable location *not like anything in them is dangerous unless you bath in it for 3 days*.

Thank you so much. I try my best. I know I am no famous fairy like Twig, but I do my best to make at least some magic in the festival for the large and small that come through the gates by tossing a bubble or two their way. I am just never sure that I am making any difference and it makes me happy to see that it might be doing just that.

[Lady Nicolette]

Famous or not, you deserve respect.  If there were any sober adults about, you might have asked them for assistance from an authority figure very subtly, if there were kids there, you should at least have one available. 

[Ferret]

So do any of you have tips for removing the overly drunk from ones personal space without being too obvious? I would appreciate the tips on this. At least this time this drunk wasn't trying to physically drag me into their car to I could go home with them *sighs*

Has this become a problem, or a once in a million year problem ?

The reason I ask is if it is becoming a problem, you may have to alter what you do.

Don't be in a position that provides a lap. If you are at kid level, have an out to shove off someone 2 or 3 times your weight. Kneeling or squatting can be tough, but it leaves you an out.

If you and other performers are seeing an increase, then security, other performers, and friends must be more alert to watching you and stepping in to help if need be.

Not necessarily to defend you, but get you out of a situation. No situation is better than a bad one.
Ferret

[saphire_glade]

Ferret:

It happens about every other weekend that I am somehow a drunks favorite target. And it has ranged from just using me as a leaning post *which is quickly solved by taking a quick step to the side and watching them fall down* to grabbing my butt *don't know how you find it through all those wings* to taking me home to laying on me.

More often than not they actually do not make it to me if I have a group of kids about, somehow kids seem to scare off the drunks. This was a more unique situation in that she actually plowed through a bunch of kids to get to where she was. And there were other performers and I tried to get their attention and they saw, but did nothing to help. Which is why I ask what I can do by myself.

If there are no kids normally I am standing and can simply hop out of their way. But are drunk people just attracted to shiny people? Twig tells me this never happens to her, so now I need to figure out what makes me fair game and her not.

[William_MacKean]

You have the right to protect yourself.  Ask them politely to get up or to wait until you are done with the kids.  After that, be a little rude and curt, while asking one of the kids' parents for a little help.  After that, physically remove this person from your space with a loud verbal report and a good shove.

You are important to the faire.  Your health and safety is much more important than 'not breaking character.'

Character thing:
Every creature has a defensive squeal.  Maybe your fairy has a tendency to squeal directly into the ear of any drunk adult that bothers you?

Ferret is right, tho.  You might have to alter your position, performance, or location to protect yourself.  Maybe even find another performer to say their goodbyes near to you for an additional body?

PLEASE take care of yourself!  Nothing is worth risking your safety.

[escherblacksmith]

Drunks are basically stupid children.  Rude ones at that.  Your best bet is to have a watcher about when you can, if it is frequent enough to cause an issue.  Kind of a pain, but there you are.

The one drunk I dealt with over the years (that needed dealing with) was pretty easy to redirect and change focus until safety services arrived. 

You might also consider a small disguised cattleprod . . . ;-)}

[Zardoz]

You might also consider a small disguised cattleprod . . . ;-)}

They're making tazers pretty small these days...

And there's always  "sorry, this outfit has a lot of pins in it"

[Lady Nicolette]

And don't worry about what the children might think of you telling someone to stop touching you, leaning on you, etc...It's an important lesson that they can learn, too!

[MissBubu]

And don't worry about what the children might think of you telling someone to stop touching you, leaning on you, etc...It's an important lesson that they can learn, too!

Oooh, good idea! Turn it into a lesson for the kids. Teach them that it's okay to stop an adult from doing something. Too many children become victims because they don't know how to say "NO!".

[Ferret]

Ferret:

It happens about every other weekend that I am somehow a drunks favorite target. And it has ranged from just using me as a leaning post *which is quickly solved by taking a quick step to the side and watching them fall down* to grabbing my butt *don't know how you find it through all those wings* to taking me home to laying on me.

More often than not they actually do not make it to me if I have a group of kids about, somehow kids seem to scare off the drunks. This was a more unique situation in that she actually plowed through a bunch of kids to get to where she was. And there were other performers and I tried to get their attention and they saw, but did nothing to help. Which is why I ask what I can do by myself.

If there are no kids normally I am standing and can simply hop out of their way. But are drunk people just attracted to shiny people? Twig tells me this never happens to her, so now I need to figure out what makes me fair game and her not.

Well the grabbing part is way out of line.

Since Twig doesn't seem to attract the bad attention. I would try and get a video of her walking, and you walking. Compare them.
Have other people watch them. See if you can pick up any subtle differences. This is a simple test used to determine why some people get mugged and others left alone.

Look for how you walk, carry yourself, make up, maybe it is the shiny. There is a difference there. If you can figure it out, you can make changes to lessen bad attraction to you.
Ferret

[TheFerret]

Also remember that personal space is okay to have at fest. Having had people try to find the free soap in my cleavage, I've learned how to hold myself a little way aways from them to keep them from grabbing. Drunks always think they are funnier than they really are. Maybe you need a handler?

[Stolenhalo6]

I spent many years as the sober babysitter for my friends during our (their) younger drinking years...  And there is one thing I've figured out, the more uncomfortable drunken fools make you, the more attracted they are to you.  It's like a magnetic or something.

One thing I would recommend, if you want to stay down at ground level but need to be able to move quickly, try sitting with just one leg tucked under and the other knee up.  Watch the kids, they do this position all the time.  It's really easy to stand quickly from this position and you have good leverage for shoving people away.  Just make sure your skirts are long/big enough to keep everything covered.

[Random Girl]

Since Twig doesn't seem to attract the bad attention.

You are joking right?  That poor woman gets more mouth breathing stalkers that one person can deal with.