Faire no place for the easily offended

[Lord Figaro]

My father in law had something like that happen to him. He's not one of those out going types. So he just refuses to go to fest. But it sure hadn't stopped the rest of the family. We just leave him home. Mayhap this might be the best choice for the patron that was offended though, rather than arbitrary justice handed out. When we know darn well, we've either heard it, or been part of something just like this.

Several years ago I had a couple come to my karaoke show. I introduced myself before the show as I noticed they were new to the bar. Found out they went to, and worked when they could out at fest. At the end of the night they commented to me that I was a bit suggestive in my show. I was taken back a little when I told them I only do no more than what is said out at fest. They responded they had never heard anything remotely similar. Made me wonder if they really listened to anything out there. The nut's and bolts of it, is your going to upset someone. It's only a matter of time. We don't change the show to please a few people. Ask any advertising person and they'll tell you sex sells in many forms.

Whether it was a man or woman who was offended is really irrelevant to me. What matters is the end result. To me it sounds a bit over reactionary. That's just my opinion though.

[L Dale Walter]

Being the advocate of the devil here (or perhaps that doesn't quite fit in -this- instance) I have had quite a few people tell me that they no longer attend MiRF because they feel it is no longer family friendly. 

That is, or course, a management decision on what the target market of a show is, and I am not saying it is good or bad, just stating what quite a few people have told me.  My own opinion is irrelevant.

However, as I told one act at the faire where my opinion is very relevant when they told me they make better hat when their show is more bawdy, "You make more money doing porno than Shakespeare as well, but we each must decide how we wish to entertain..."

The bottom line is people vote with their dollars.  Remember "rennies" make up a small percentage of the total revenue of a successful faire.  Just like "High Rollers" make up a small percentage of the take of a casino.  It's the 100,000 people spending $50 each that pay the majority of the bills, not the 1000 spending $500 each.

LDW

[Captain Cornelius Howard Duckman]

 Mirf not family friendly? Really?

See, I've seen it going the other way. Becoming more tame, kid friendly.  Yeah, there are a couple bawdy shows, but those are clearly marked, and encourage kids to stay away.

Huh.

[L Dale Walter]

Much of what was mentioned to me about not being family friendly had little to do with the shows, but more to do with the acceptance of certain behaviors and costuming by patrons.  The most interesting direct quote regarded "rouged nipples" on women, something I, personally, have never seen, but it was a BIG deal with this person.  They mentioned it numerous times.

Of course there was the "Musical Men" episode a few years back that hardly screamed "Bring the kiddies!".

Others have cited the number of intoxicated people.  Now understand to the uninitiated, anyone in a costume works there, so they assume that it is cast getting hammered at the Guinness.

As for shows warning people that they are not kid friendly, much can still be heard in the lanes.  I walked past a show at Bristol that I was a good 20 feet from the pub enterance and heard a statement made onstage that I would flinch at in a nightclub in Las Vegas at midnight.  Putting an adult book store that doesn't allow minors next to a "Chuckie Cheese's" may still be a questionable idea in many people's minds.

LDW

[Captain Cornelius Howard Duckman]

Rouged nipples? Really? Wow.

Why do I always miss out on the good stuff?

And I get you on the drinkers. I guess i just don't understand the point of coming to a place, and getting so drunk you're not going to remember it the next day.  *shrugs* but drinking to excess has never been my thing.

I'd say somethign about putting up signs to let patrons know not everyone is on cast, but they wouldn't read them anyways. People love ignoring signs.

And, er, which episode of musical men was this?

[Lord Virgil]

I am a lover of the female form, and I have never seen "rouged nipples".  I'm not saying there haven't ever been any, but I think some people see what they want to see, whether it's the truth or not.


Any place that sells alcohol will have it's share of idiots.  I would be willing to bet that most of the drunks go outside the gate and slam a few of their own.  Admiral Morgan and runs a tight ship, and we at the Guiness Pub do a pretty good job of self-policing.  I have absolutely no problem with reporting a drunk to security (I'm not going to confront a drunk myself, and neither should anyone else).  I will not have some idiot ruin my or someone else's day because they don't know when to quit.

Again, a Renaissance faire is no place for the easily offended.  It's impossible to please everyone so stop trying, keep the status quo and let's have fun!!!

[Poldugarian Warrior]

Evry mornin when I go into faire, I grab a small bags of almonds from the vendor in front of the Sparrow Inn/Pub, (formerly known as Dragon's Breath Inn). And a coffee or ale. And he has his banter and there are other patrons and workers around, and I'm laughin he's laughin and evryone around is, because the innuendos are what make faire. What better and intelligent way to be dirty and funny than by camoflauging it in other words. Of course we've all been offended or embarrassed by what was said or what we were eating at the time it was said, but that's what makes us laugh, it's the knowledge that yes, we are eating foods or doing something that can always be translated by word into some sexual act, but we know that these people are not doing it out of malice, but just to have fun and hope you do to. Capt. Morgan is right. a sign reading: If you're easily offended go the F*&$ home! Should be posted above the faire gate.

[L Dale Walter]

a sign reading: If you're easily offended go the F*&$ home! Should be posted above the faire gate.

Right.  That would do it. 

Let's put up another one that says "Don't be an idiot"

::sigh::

LDW

[Celestial Melody]

I agree wholeheartedly that faire is the place to make bawdy jokes and have a good time.  To those who feel faire is not the place for ribald comedy and innuendo or that faire should be "kid" friendly (and I'm not saying it can't be or isn't), I ask:  Have they never read Chaucer's Canterbury Tales?  *grins cheekily*  There is nothing but innuendo in the Tales.

Faire is a place for people to lose their ... what's the word?  Their inhibitions about life, about society!  Our world is strange; we've become so close-minded about so many things (natural things involving anatomy, for instance) but are so open about other things.  Bah!  'Tis selective.  =/  Nevertheless, faire is supposed to be a place where people can be natural.  To fire somebody (and, yes, I realize we might not have the full tale here) over an accepted faire behavior is ... ridiculous.

People who come to faire should expect the jokes and the jibes.  Like others on here have said, that's what makes faire fun.

~Julia

P.S.  Okay, so The Canterbury Tales is not exactly Renaissance-period correct, but the idea of the Tales is definitely present in the faires of today.  ^_^

[maelstrom0370]

a sign reading: If you're easily offended go the F*&$ home! Should be posted above the faire gate.

Right.  That would do it. 

Let's put up another one that says "Don't be an idiot"

::sigh::

LDW

Wow!    That's....harsh.

[Captain Cornelius Howard Duckman]

Signs don't work, people don't read them.

Faire is a place to be friendly and open, with little suspicion. Where a guy can walk up to a woman and say "Hey, you look tense, need a massage?" And not be slapped with a  harassment lawsuit. It's where if you're wearing a  silly outfit, people are more likely to trust you then less.

As a tangent, as this comment has become, here's something to try: If you haven't been to Faire without garb in a while, try it sometime. The experience is completely different. People look at you funny when you try to help them, the lanes are more crowded, patrons are less likely to chat with you... This is how your typical patron sees the faire. They haven't lucked into the secret of it the way we have.

[Lord Virgil]

If I went without garb, I'd be harassed to death by all my friends, but I see your point.  I actually go out of my way to make sure those without garb feel welcome and have fun.  That's the whole point to garb in the first place.  It allows you to leave yourself and all your inhibitions at home, and become a character with flair and panache.  I'm not a shy person anyway, but at Faire, I can blame my misbehavings on my character, as Rich would never do such a thing,  .

[L Dale Walter]

Let's put up another one that says "Don't be an idiot"

Signs don't work, people don't read them.

That was my point.  We could put up signs saying ANYTHING and no one would read them, much less heed them.  I wasn't calling anyone an idiot.

If you haven't been to Faire without garb in a while, try it sometime.

I -never- wear garb (for me it is a costume, as I get paid to wear them) to a show that I am not getting paid to do so at.  Every day I put wear on a costume is one less day I can sell it, so I protect my stuff.

You are very right.  The "Playtron" experience is far different from the "Patron" experience.  Imagine going to someone else's class reunion, where everyone knows each other, and you know no one.  I have even heard patrons say such things when "Bring on the Starlight" was (is?) sung.

Remember, playtrons are only 5% of your gate numbers.  They may all "get it" and not be offended.  If "Mr. and Ms. America and their 2.3 children" are offended, don't come back, and tell others, there is a problem.

LDW

[nliedel]

Talking to patrons who are garbed and not is a very different experience. Many of them are dying to try it, but are scared. If someone mentions to me how much they love it, I ask about why they won't try garbing next year? Of course I always mention showing ankles. Then I show mine. I'm such a hootchie.

[nliedel]

Let's put up another one that says "Don't be an idiot"

Signs don't work, people don't read them.

That was my point.  We could put up signs saying ANYTHING and no one would read them, much less heed them.  I wasn't calling anyone an idiot.

If you haven't been to Faire without garb in a while, try it sometime.

I -never- wear garb (for me it is a costume, as I get paid to wear them) to a show that I am not getting paid to do so at.  Every day I put wear on a costume is one less day I can sell it, so I protect my stuff.

You are very right.  The "Playtron" experience is far different from the "Patron" experience.  Imagine going to someone else's class reunion, where everyone knows each other, and you know no one.  I have even heard patrons say such things when "Bring on the Starlight" was (is?) sung.

Remember, playtrons are only 5% of your gate numbers.  They may all "get it" and not be offended.  If "Mr. and Ms. America and their 2.3 children" are offended, don't come back, and tell others, there is a problem.

LDW

Honestly, I've not run across one offended patron yet. Okay, I'm dense and could have offended someone without knowing it, but the song that's most requested of Ian and I is rather bawdy and the parents seem to have no issue with the kids hearing it. I think those who are offended are very, very minor in number. I watched one woman walk around in amazement this past weekend about how much she loved it and how she was kicking herself for never going before. She's gonna be a playtron next year, you watch. She even asked about being on cast. I pointed her towards the right website. I mimed it, so I would not break character. It was a tad odd, but she got it.