Mobile Renaissance faire, faire day 1

[fbhjr]

The hotel we were at offered breakfast, so we all met down there before heading off to the faire site.


The front counter man at the hotel seemed very excited about having renaissance costumed people in his lobby eating breakfast. He loudly greeted us as we came in, and came over and asked all sorts of questions about the faire. Some of the other folks eating breakfast asked how to get to the faire as well.
I didn’t see any of them at the show. But, that doesn’t mean they weren’t there.

Because the car hadn’t reached Mobile until sunset, we hadn’t done any site set up on Friday. We had been given a spot just inside the front gate. Our tent literally went over the ticket booth on one side.
Normally it can be difficult at these events to find the organizer. But, not this time. He was right there and sometimes popped out to tell pirate jokes. Bad, bad, pirate jokes. I know he was listening to us too as he commented on Jack Salt’s singing and some of the other things we were talking about.

And, as much as I was iffy on the faire organizer basically sharing our tent, I wasn’t very thrilled at what was on the other side either.


Being at the front gate was a strange experience for me. It was almost like we were outside looking in.


There are a lot of strange things in Mobile.
Including people who walk cats on leashes.


But, no matter the strangeness or other issues, we all got there in one piece and were ready to perform.


Our historical show was OK, but a bit rough. Many of our regulars in that show weren’t at this performance and folks with a bit less experience then I like performed. We had one point where one of the people performing turned to the person announcing and said “you didn’t teach me that one.”
And, there were a few things we just couldn’t do.
But, if we don’t let the new folks do it, they will not only not learn to do it, but have no incentive to even try.
It was the first show of the day, without a whole lot of folks. That’s a fine time for the rougher folks to cut their teeth on it.



For reasons not totally clear to me, the fair organizer had us on the schedule continuously from 10 to 12. An hour on the first stage, then an hour on the joust field.
I told him “we’ve got ½ hour acts”.
“No problem,” he said. “I just wanted something on the schedule.”
Sadly, as we were cleaning up after the historical a woman came up to me and said “doesn’t the show start here at 10:30? That’s what’s on the schedule.”
“Sorry,” I said. “We started at 10. We will be out in that field 30 minutes from now.”

Our main shows did go quite well. I think having pallid_regina announce them for us worked brilliantly. I’m not sure why she struck a chord with the audience that others announcing our shows down south didn’t, but she did strike it.



And, I’m happy about that.
I was happy to see how much the crowd seemed to like Brandon. He has gotten quite good at projecting without talking.


After that, we had to deal with the pirate melee. The faire organizer had asked us to assist as a favor to him.
I had met with the leader of the group the night before. He explained that this was basically a chance to get his people who just like to dress up some time in front of a cheering crowd. I have a lot of sympathy for that goal.
So, 6 of the 7 fighters with us joined in. 3 of us on one side. 3 on the other. We picked who was going to fight who and what they would do.
That was all before we left New England.
Their folks seemed a bit less certain of what to do. There was a fair bit or rambling in the instructions, so my wife cut to the chase and asked what we were supposed to do when, and we got to go back to the tent for half an hour.

The melee went as well as I expected. We fought our people. We ran away when the cannon fired at us.

The cannon did set the grass on fire, but that is still well within what I expected. I let one of the pirates stomp it out.

Then, on again for our second act. The folks in the afternoon didn’t seem as into it as in the morning. I’m not sure why.
I don’t think it was that they knew we were doing the same fights again, just in the reverse order.
But, who can say?
And, there was the issue with the pissy jousters.
We did the same act, in the same space, with the same fights as we had 2 hours before.
But, this time we were “interfering with their horse rides!”
Yes, they charge $5 to ride the jousting horse around the ring. Yes, it is bad to sword fight near horse rides.
We took up less than ¼ of the ring, and it had never been a problem before.
But, this time they snapped at my wife about getting too close and then they paraded the horses through our fight area with patrons on the horses’ back.

Yeah.
Not sure what that was supposed to prove.
I guess it proved we ignored wankers and went on with our show anyhow.

The nice thing is that I got knocked out ¾ through the round and could spend the end of it lying on the ground. Brandon was worried he had really kicked me and I was hurt. Instead I was using my body to hide the camera as I took photos.


Again, we were on the schedule for an hour. So at the end, we offered free sword lessons to folks who wanted them. Three whole people took us up on it.

Sadie, the woman who runs an awful lot of the faire for the organizer did come up to me and apologize for the porto-john next to us.

To make it up to us, she went to the SCA and told them they had to share their ring with us when they weren’t doing shows. Their response to this was to do continuous shows the rest of the day.
I didn’t mind as I had no interest in their ring. But, I did find it funny.

There was also another fire group there.

I had patrons coming up to me and telling me how unsafe they were compared to us.
I guess I should be happy about that as it shows we’ve got a good safety reputation. But, it still worries me to see folks walking into a crowd with big fire tricks…

Towards the end of the day we had another pirate melee to do.
This one was more of a problem. The bird guy, ran late. By late I mean he went 25 minutes long in a 30 minute act. He just wouldn’t stop.
I like the birds. They are impressive and all. But, I like the schedule too and don’t like having to sit around waiting because he is an arse.
I understand he doesn’t like the cannon. I don’t like it either.
I understand it upsets his birds.
He should understand it is part of the show and pissing everyone else off isn’t going to change that.
Nice birds.
Stupid (telling folks about the bird that came from the continent of Russia) and annoying guy.

The good news is that the joust made up the time. Scheduled for 45 minutes, they did their show in 25 to get back on schedule.
I honestly don’t like them.
But, I do admire professionals.

It was very nice that the Elliot’s, our biggest fans, were there both days. Jen went and bought a belly dancing outfit and was very excited to show it all to us.
We taught her the first lesson in such things:
Backdrop is important.

Her husband and kids are into it, but don’t seem to be as into it as she is.


Jen was very sad that her camera had run out of batteries. So, I handed her mine. Her husband, Kevin, seemed a bit taken aback I’d just hand over electronics to her that way.
“You’ve been coming to see us for years,” I said. “You’ve probably paid more in tickets than that camera costs. And, you trust us with your kids. I think I can risk the camera.”
He nodded and let his wife take pictures.

It was also very nice that Jack Salt wanted to get more involved and learn some sword moves.

Yep, that’s how it starts…

Then, the fire show.








I did worry a bit about the fire swords. Jose had never done a fight with them lit before. He had held them lit, but that was all.
But, he did fine.


Without any of our fire breathers there, we went for the big fire finale.


blue_micha hadn’t gotten to do much else in the show, so she really put it all into the finale. When her fans ran out, she took over other things and kept going.



Then all that was left was to beg for tips and head off to dinner.


Jose really loved that chocolate fountain. He kept saying “I’m drowning you in chocolate!” over and over. He got the fountain to himself…

Comments

[brickhousewench.livejournal.com]

It's one thing when performers say other fire shows are dangerous. It's an entirely different thing when it's so bad that the patrons notice it. *disapproving frown*

I always enjoy your photo posts. =)

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

I had thought it might just be our overcautious group. But, several other folks came up to me and talked about it.

[evrgreen.livejournal.com]

Kudos (as always) to you all for making the very best of any situation you find yourself put into!

I also really enjoy these photo-story posts - it is almost like being there, but without any of the unpleasant parts.

Thanks!

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

If you ever wanted to put on those tights and pick up that sword you would be welcome to experience all of it!

[palusbuteo.livejournal.com]

Yay! Photo Posts!

"Instead I was using my body to hide the camera as I took photos."

NICE! I really like the photo of Blue and Temper, very cool.


Avoiding or ignoring the Wankers...It's like a special talent. But it's why I like doing PS shows when I get the chance, it's nice to be on an even keel.

[chris-warrior.livejournal.com]

awesome pictures of stage stuff. and wonderful group shot of PS (and fans) - yay!