The Year in Review 2011

[C Dragonworks]

HMMM At TRF that would be a couple of great things...one was winning with the new Barbarian Garb.... and two bringing out VIRGINS to play and getting them HOOKED!

At Sherwood....Not one thing just all of it... such a fun faire to just hang out at... Dancing with Circa Paleo(at both) and Wino Vino... Those are FUN times!!!!!

[Capt Robertsgrave Thighbiter]

2011 was The Brigands best year to date , and our 10th anniversary.

Highlights

1) Started doing hoity toity gigs in Mnhattan - one was a book signing for a writer who wrote a book on rum punches ( and had a great sampling of his recipes!).

2) July 4th at Sleepy Hollow Ny, home of the Headless Horseman. THose folk really know how to put on a Pirate Fistival. Sold out every day and 2012 will likely be a full week of events for us.

3) Hampton Blackbeard Festival - our 10th year there!  Blackbeard is home ground for so many pirate crews it is just silly.

4) St Augustine Pirate Festival - our second year there, the promoters, patrons and even vendors just loved us, and we sold out of CDs on the first day!

Low points

1) Away gigs where we have to fly. We need to pare down our equipment, the airlines KILL us with excess baggage fees! And 2012 looks like a record number of these , too.

2) Again, no pirate festivals in New England.  You'd think NE never heard of pirates up there.  Seems like a good opportunity for some promoter to make a mark!!

[Bob of the Lake]

2011 was The Brigands best year to date , and our 10th anniversary.

Highlights

2) July 4th at Sleepy Hollow Ny, home of the Headless Horseman. THose folk really know how to put on a Pirate Fistival. Sold out every day and 2012 will likely be a full week of events for us.

Glad you had a good year, Cap'n. Yeah, the Sleepy Hollow Pirate Festival was great event. Really enjoyed catching you guys and the Crimson Pirates there! Are they going to hold it again in 2012?

[Out_of_the_Ashes]

2011 marked the first year in several that the only faire I was planning on going to was Hoggetowne, since we'd be moving soon after and finances were limited. But, after I moved back to Massachusetts I got a call from a friend saying that he'd see me sooner than I thought since his friend, who was opening up a new faire in Western MA, had asked him to perform there. So, I guess there IS merit in "once a Rennie, always a Rennie" since the fates saw fit to drop such an opportunity that I couldn't possibly pass up in my lap. Now, after saying farewell to everyone at Hoggetowne and thinking I'd never see them again since I was taking a break from faire for a while, I've had several people express interest in this year's Mutton and Mead, which will likely bring many of my Florida faire friends north.  It's not everyday that you get to have your cake and eat it, too!

[scarletnyx]

Highlights of RenYear 2011-

1. First year of garbing! Kinda had to get into the swing of it, and over some personal security issues, but after I finally felt comfortable in my own skin and in the setting I had the best time ever.

2. Garbing with my husband. This year wouldn't have been the same without him in many aspects.

3. Did an ( almost ) full weekend at fair at TRF! We were in the parking lot every day either right at cannon or a little bit after, and we usually left at first sign of dusk. Every other time, we would get there later and leave earlier. I loved seeing how the day unwound for patrons, playtrons, and vendors alike!

Downsides of RenYear 2011 -

1. Stumbled over my way of acting at the Sherwood Celtic festival. It was our first time in garb, and I didn't really have a "handle" on how to act and speak yet, or rather what I felt comfortable, so kinda the entire day I felt awkward. This corrected itself by TRF though - I was just over thinking.

2. Husband broke a really awesome pipe bending over at TRF to get something he had placed on the ground. This kinda rattled him for awhile, but after a few shops and browsing he was better.

3. Didn't interact as much as I would have liked with people - part of this is just how TRF is I think. It's just a crush of people, and after I threw a little fit for a few days I kinda realized that if you weren't with a huge group, you could easily get lost in the crowds even if you were in garb.

Other than those small things, and all of them were moreso internal, we had an awesome year and I know 2012 will top it!

[PollyPoPo]

Highlights of RenYear 2011-

...

3. Didn't interact as much as I would have liked with people - part of this is just how TRF is I think. It's just a crush of people, and after I threw a little fit for a few days I kinda realized that if you weren't with a huge group, you could easily get lost in the crowds even if you were in garb.

...

Sweet Druid, I believe you will find Sherwood is a whole different experience. 

Particularly on opening weekend if you are in parking lot before cannon, you may recognize several people from their RF photos.  Once inside the village, find a comfortable spot to settle down a while and people watch.  Druids often pay respects to the Seven Sisters.  Pirates join crusaders at the Jerusalem Pub over a pint.  Nearby is a place for coffee and chai to take the chill off the morning.

If you spot me across the green, wave wildly and I will join you.  I look forward to seeing you again. 

[Merlin the Elder]

I certainly hope there's a chill in the morning this season.  Last season, opening day was actually hot, to me anyway. It was more comfortable on Sunday.

[scarletnyx]

I certainly hope there's a chill in the morning this season.  Last season, opening day was actually hot, to me anyway. It was more comfortable on Sunday.

I am finding that i like it a little bit on the cooler side if we are going to put in a full day at faire. Thats another thing I didn't like about this year - the weekend we went to the Sherwood Celtic festival was just plain -hot-. My husbands garb is barely there ( really thing linen with a thin tunic underneath, and linen pants ) and even he was sweating. However, when we went to TRF, it was very manageable. something to keep in mind this year to be sure!

Highlights of RenYear 2011-

...

3. Didn't interact as much as I would have liked with people - part of this is just how TRF is I think. It's just a crush of people, and after I threw a little fit for a few days I kinda realized that if you weren't with a huge group, you could easily get lost in the crowds even if you were in garb.

...

...

If you spot me across the green, wave wildly and I will join you.  I look forward to seeing you again. 

I will most definitely grab your attention Polly. Hopefully there will be a group of us RF folk just running about the village at any point during the day!