It's quiet in here...

[Craigmeister]

I have noticed over the last 8 months that the boards in the South and Midwest are less populated.  I was just telling a vendor about this forum over the weekend so she can keep up with what is going on in the region.  Facebook can be good for a single faire but only these forums can give a good picture for numerous faires in nearby states.

I met my 28 year old nephew and his family at the Norman Medfaire last month.  They instantly fell in love with it.  Maybe it's just a thing in and around Oklahoma but it seems like there are lots of kids, teens and 20 somethings at the faires around here, both working and attending.

[DonaCatalina]

This is true, our regular Scarby group has a private Facebook page to keep up with week to week stuff during faire. But for other parts of the country, the forum is best for getting info.

[Rowan MacD]

I have noticed over the last 8 months that the boards in the South and Midwest are less populated.  I was just telling a vendor about this forum over the weekend so she can keep up with what is going on in the region.  Facebook can be good for a single faire but only these forums can give a good picture for numerous faires in nearby states..

Sadly, we don't have all that many faires in the upper Midwest, and only 2-3 larger ones in the entire region.  Some of it has to do with the weather and population densities, since Texas, California and the east coast seem to have the most faires per capita. 
  To a lesser extent,  I think it has a bit to do with the 'bible belt' mentality and the large pockets of conservative Christians we have here.  Most of those wouldn't be caught dead at what they mistakenly regard as a 'pagan' event;  and I have it on pretty good authority, that faire is being actively discouraged in the local churches here.
    It's hard to get a new faire started, much less grow.

[Craigmeister]

I married into a family that is a lot more Conservative Christian than I am.  They thought there was much ado about fortune telling and cult stuff.  When I took my wife to her first faire, she saw that wasn't the case.  She has been to several faires with me now and her family doesn't think it's a big deal.  Her brother's wife even made a lot of my Robin Hoodesque garb.  One of her cousins wanted to go to KCRF with me last year too.

As far as churches around Tulsa, Oklahoma, Renfaires don't seem to even be on their radars to preach for or against.

[Rowan MacD]

I married into a family that is a lot more Conservative Christian than I am.  They thought there was much ado about fortune telling and cult stuff.  When I took my wife to her first faire, she saw that wasn't the case.  She has been to several faires with me now and her family doesn't think it's a big deal.  Her brother's wife even made a lot of my Robin Hoodesque garb.  One of her cousins wanted to go to KCRF with me last year too.

As far as churches around Tulsa, Oklahoma, Renfaires don't seem to even be on their radars to preach for or against.

   I think the mainstream congregations are pretty indifferent; but I have some neighbors who belong to a church here in town, located in an old movie theater.  They think we are some sort of Wiccan convention, but at least they don't picket or otherwise protest our presence.   
   However, I think the biggest challenge we have around here is the perception that Renfairs in general are not family friendly.  Unlike some of the huge festivals we don't have a large, dedicated adult following,  so we have to build a more wholesome reputation to attract family groups.
   Sometimes, this is at odds with the overall expectations some folks have of what a renaissance festival is or should be; particularly if they have attended some of the larger venues.  By necessity, we have to tone down the 'wenches and booze', and emphasize the 'history and spectacle' aspects to fit in with the community a bit better, and compete with the zoo for the family entertainment buck.     
   Reputation building takes time,and we realize this will alienate a few hard core rennies, but we have to go with who spends the most money there; and families win, hands down. 
   

[Nidhoggr]

My home faire (KY Highland Renaissance Festival) actually has a good teen crowd. They as of this season have a new cast division called the Minions d Mischief which is an all-teen cast.  Got to see them do some stuff with some mundanes at a preview/ local business showcase at the faire site this past weekend and they seems very good. The problem is it seems one of the cast falls into the "too cool" clique.

Our resident pirates had to call him out during the family pub sing for sitting there not singing anything with the "this is stupid" look on his face. Not sure of it was supposed to be his character but he was like that anytime the girls were around.   Another interesting thing is the mix is about 65% girls. Perhaps the reason is as above: teen boys consider it "geeky" or "uncool"? 

But either way: rennies will breed more rennies and they in turn will breed more rennies. I myself am a first generation playtron so fear not that new people find faires as well.

[LadyAsh]

Count me in as one of the young adults that attend faire. For me, it is kind of hard at the moment to attend a lot of faires, because I do not have a car (or license, for that matter) and because I have a job that requires me to work most weekends. I try to attend faire for at least one weekend, but it is quite hard... I still live with my parents, so I usually have to convince one of them to either drive me to faire, or to come along with me (my dad doesn't mind going to faire, and my younger brother loves faire, but my mother could not care less.)

I am also saving money for another trip to England to visit my husband in August, so I have to limit my spending (luckily I have my garb all set for now!)

It is quite hard to find young people that share the same love for faire that I do, at least ones that live locally. I only have  two other friends who share my love of faire, but one moved to PA and the other is in the same debacle that I am in (no license or car.)

My coworkers do not mind me talking about faire, and I know one is at least interested in attending one with me, which is a good thing! I believe there is another coworker who has a somewhat of a faire knowledge (I believe she said she attended NYRF at one point.)

My husband sometimes teases me about faire, and calls it my nerdy hobby. He has not attended faire yet, and I want to take him to his first Ren Faire, but the him living in England thing is a bit complicated. xD

[Gauwyn of Bracknell]

LadyAsh - there are faires in England

[Rowan MacD]

Our resident pirates had to call him out during the family pub sing for sitting there not singing anything with the "this is stupid" look on his face. Not sure of it was supposed to be his character but he was like that anytime the girls were around.   Another interesting thing is the mix is about 65% girls. Perhaps the reason is as above: teen boys consider it "geeky" or "uncool"? 

Yeah , having raised a young man I can say with with 98% certainty, it comes under the 'too cool to do this', mask they pull down when they are unsure of themselves, usually around girls they don't know.    Being an actor is a calling, and it doesn't come easily to many people.
    Too bad, though.  The aura of self confidence that a professional actor exudes is extremely attractive to girls.   
 

[Nidhoggr]

Our resident pirates had to call him out during the family pub sing for sitting there not singing anything with the "this is stupid" look on his face. Not sure of it was supposed to be his character but he was like that anytime the girls were around.   Another interesting thing is the mix is about 65% girls. Perhaps the reason is as above: teen boys consider it "geeky" or "uncool"? 

Yeah , having raised a young man I can say with with 98% certainty, it comes under the 'too cool to do this', mask they pull down when they are unsure of themselves, usually around girls they don't know.    Being an actor is a calling, and it doesn't come easily to many people.
    Too bad, though.  The aura of self confidence that a professional actor exudes is extremely attractive to girls.   

Oh yeah.  It's the same as ANY sort of confidence though.  I am a larger dude (5'9", 315 - down from 360 huzzah!)  and I STILL get hit on and flirted with in or out of faire setting.  Why?  I don't care that I am large.  I know I am and I don't act shy.  Granted that is a trait that is learned somewhat, but you have to be confident in everything you do or you're gonna look silly. 

It makes me sad though that cast members in the teen unit succumb to that.  That should be a BRAGGING right (First year cast of teens, working at a renfaire, etc) and should pump up his ego not shoot it down.  I dunno...  Call me crazy, but at his age I'd have been flippin stoked!

[LadyAsh]

LadyAsh - there are faires in England

Thanks for the info, Gauwyn.
I know there are faires in England, it is just a matter of finding one that is going on while I visit him there, so that maybe we can both attend. The only one that I have found so far takes place on the 24, 25, and 26th of August. My plane arrives on the morning of the 24th, so maybe I can convince him for us to either attend on the 25th or 26th. If not, then there is always next time.

[Merlin the Elder]

there are quite a few ren groups.  One nice thing about the forum here is that it is all in one place.  For those of us that travel to several faires a year, it is easy to find info.  With all the groups on facebook, it is a little more difficult.

This was where I spent all my extra time, but with everyone sharing their pictures on the Book of Faces, I finally had to break down and get a page.  I don't spend AS much time here, but I usually check in daily.

I get overload from the Book of Faces. This is a better pace for me, AND it has everything in one place.

[Rowan MacD]

 For all things Ren (except photos) this is the place to be.
   If I didn't have to host everything on Photobucket first, then here, I would post more pics.