Scarborough could use your help

[Berit]

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

[*Teach*]

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*

[LadyStitch]

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. 

[Hercules]

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?

[Captain Teague]

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.

[Queen Bonnie]

 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!

[Merlin]

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

[raevyncait]

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!

[Merlin the Elder]

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....

[Lady Gryphon]

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.

[raevyncait]

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.

[DonaCatalina]

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.

[Al-Nimer]

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.

[spikey]

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.

[FaeGuardian]

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 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.