Cheap Advice
Whenever possible, get on site early. I’ve said this before, but this time for a diffferent reason – in this case, it will give you a chance to get at least a passing acquaintance with the vendors. Why do that? For one thing, it helps to establish you as a participant rather than a “playtron” [...]
Continue reading about Getting There Early II – It’s OK, I work here.
A stage show at Faire has to contend with a lot of distractions during the show – especially if your stage is right in the middle of everything. The biggest interruptions tend to be from parades. Ah, parades. When some group or other moves en masse from one part of Faire to another – sometimes [...]
I’m sure that everyone out there has, at one time or another, sent away for some amazing thing only to say to themselves, once the box arrives and it’s been opened… Oh, is that all? Buyer’s Remorse happens to everyone, but I suspect it happens to magicians more often than any other subculture. At least [...]
Some additional thoughts from 18 years of flailing about at Faire on “Gigging”. Learn Names (or at least nicknames) Knowing the character names of the people you’re improvising with will make gigging with them a heck of a lot easier. It also means you’re more likely to pick up on their character traits for more [...]
Some more cheap advice, in short bursts Always Take Credit – if it’s cool, maybe you did have a hand in it The Answer is “Yes And” – The key to improvisation Master Your Domain – Control or at least understand your environment Treat ‘Em Like People – your audience like to be talked to [...]
Here’s something I’ve started doing which can be used by Rennies and Magicans alike – an exercise in creativity. Pick your favorite prop – yes it can be a magic prop or it can be something you tote around with you at Faire… honestly it can be anything you like to fidget with. Now, find [...]
Sauce for the goose, gander, here’s 10 for the folks that “do” Faire… DO’s DO Pack Spares Spares of anything you find essential to keeping yourself in one piece out on site. If your Guild / Booth has a “lockup”, keep ‘em there. If you don’t… just plan on hauling a little bit more back [...]
I was thinking more about the whole “Renaissance Faire Experience” and came up with a few more bits of Cheap Advice: DO’s DO Bring Small Bills At the beginning of the day, all the vendors will have a “bank” of change to use when people pay with the $20 bills they get from Ye Olde [...]
I’m starting this one not knowing how long it’s going to run – this could turn into Rant City if I’m not careful. Having done Faire for Unintelligable years, there’s some practices I’ve fallen into which keep me – sane is probably not the right word for it. But it’s close enough. CHANGE! – Be [...]
Most of my yammering here has been from the point of view of a Renfaire participant, an actor, a performer… … in short, a ham However, there’s another side to this Renaissance Faire experience thing, and that’s the people who come out and make and vend all the stuff you see for sale! Yes, the [...]
