Subject: REC Performers FAQ v.1.2 (regular posting) From: Chris Laning Date: Mon, 17 Nov 1997 19:04:40 -0800 =============================================== Being a "Performer" at RPFN/S - - more information (v.1.2) =============================================== UPDATED: 1997 "Performer" in this context has a specific meaning. It's not just "someone who's performing," it means someone who has earned a gate pass from the Performing Arts Department (PAD) and made a commitment to work most (if not all) the weekends of Faire as a member of a regular guild or troupe. There are, of course, other ways to participate in the Renaissance Faire: as a tourist, as an independent "pass the hat" performer, as a worker in one of the booths, with the Education Department (LHC) or as a member of Friends of Faire. Some of this information applies to them too, but I'm writing primarily about PAD performers here because this is what I know about - - I've never been any of the others. Most of this also applies to REC's Faire in Southern California (RPFS) with a few changes in locations and dates (since that one's in the spring). There are more than a thousand performers at RPFN each year, and mostly we occupy a kind of middle ground between being volunteers and being paid. As a performer, in general you can count on having to provide (at your own expense) your own food, costume, transportation, and shelter (you may be able to camp on site for a fee). You must also pay a fee ($17-30 in 1997) to attend training workshops for about three weekends before Faire. In return, you don't (generally) get money, but if you fulfill the costume and workshop requirements set by the Performing Arts Department (PAD), and if you are accepted by a guild or troupe, you will be issued a Gate Pass - - which gets you (and only you) unlimited free admission to Faire. Many people think that's not a bad deal. In fact, *so* many that there are always more applicants than places. As a performer, you must choose to become a member of some guild or performing troupe. This is usually not difficult; many guilds and troupes welcome newcomers. There's an opportunity to visit, ask about, choose, and (when necessary) audition for, various guilds or troupes during workshop weekends. The list of guilds and troupes is always somewhat in flux. At this point, the list seems to be: Guilds: St. Alban (innkeepers), St. Cuthbert (parades and pageants), St. George (Queen's court), St. Helena (peasants), St. Michael (military), St. Patrick (Irish), St. Ives (RPFS only). Troupes: Town Criers, Sea Dogs, Puritans, Washerwomen, Mongers, Court of Misrule, Danse Macabre, and various other groups putting on stage and/or street shows. If there's a particular guild or troupe you're interested in, ask in the newsgroup for someone to e-mail you with more information. I know there are people from all or most of these groups who read this newsgroup. Each guild or troupe has its own "personality" and requirements. Some are small (10 to 25), others big (100+). Some require auditions; others will take as many as they have room for. Some require specific talents, others don't. All require that you commit to being there a certain number of days of Faire and to doing a certain amount of "work" (their definition), which can range from roaming the street engaging people in conversation, to performing in a stage show, to cooking and washing dishes. *All* of them can kick you out and take away your gate pass if you offend paying customers, get drunk when you're supposed to be performing, or don't do your share of the work. Few performers get paid, i.e. actual money. Until a few years ago, many performers got "lunch money," in the form of vouchers each day (you'll still hear veterans grumble about its abolition, but the bookkeeping for it must have been horrendous). In its place, several guilds have set up a regular free-lunch program for guild members, either on a potluck basis or with money allocated to their guild budgets. (One way or another, try to arrange to get your lunch on site; lugging food from home can save money, but it's a real pain. Good, inexpensive food *is* available if you know where to look.) Guildmasters and directors of troupes generally get paid, since they carry large responsibilities. Sometimes there will be assistant staff who will get paid something. There is also a very limited program of "honorariums," to help out folks who make substantial contributions and who couldn't afford to do Faire otherwise. In 1995 this was $15 per day and, in one guild of 100+, went to *at most* a dozen people (again, these used to be smaller amounts and more widespread). People working their first year aren't eligible for honorariums. Generally, you can't count on getting any money as a performer. Costume is likely to be your biggest hurdle at first. Many people start out as peasants, since that's the easiest costume (and the coolest). Any costume you wear as a performer must be *approved* by the Costume department (and sometimes by your guild) before you can get your gate pass. You will hear about these guidelines in detail at the Costume workshop, and after you've been at Faire a few weekends, you will learn to recognize the "look" of an approvable costume. But of course this doesn't help if you are just dying to work on your costume NOW. If you are, the first thing you should do is to watch for the "Costume FAQ" file posted periodically in this newsgroup . This contains lots of information and is very helpful. There is also a more specific "RPFN Costume FAQ" which is usually posted with this one. If you don't sew, and don't know someone who will sew for you, and if you can afford it, buying a costume may actually be a very *good* option. In that case, wait till you get to workshops. There are costume vendors at Faire, and during workshop weekends they make a point of selling "approvable" pieces. These will mainly be for peasant and lower-middle-class costumes. (The higher your social status, the more you're on your own for costumes.) (CAUTION: just because you've seen something for sale when you're at Faire as a *customer* doesn't necessarily mean you can wear it as a *performer*. The standards are different. The vendors all know the "dress code", though, and will tell you if something is "approvable" or not.) 1996 prices for basic shirts/smocks started around $35-$50 (and up, of course), breeches $30-$65, jerkins $35-$100, skirts $45 -$60 each (remember you need two of them), hats $10-$18 and bodices $55-85. Most vendors give substantial discounts off these prices (15%-20%) to performers buying during workshops. If you DO sew, and especially if you like to sew, you may be able to save yourself some money (or not, if you spend *more* money experimenting!) and you will *certainly* be able to make something you like better than the "generic" stuff. You will get a *very* basic costume flyer free at the Costume workshop. There is also a $3 costume booklet you can buy there that will give you all the basic "rules" and ideas about sewing patterns. My experience is that getting your costume ready *before* workshops start, if you can, is a real plus. Trying to sew *during* workshops and Faire is a real pain, because you are working hard all week at your day job, *and* away all weekend every weekend. The hard part is figuring out ahead of time what will "pass" Costume inspection. I'd suggest the best approach is to look for an "angel" - - someone who's been a performer for a while and is willing to help you. Then you can show them or mail them swatches of your fabrics and colors and so forth and they can tell you what they *think* is approvable and what isn't. If you get the major parts of your costume right, then even if you don't pass Costume on the first try, the modifications they ask for will probably be minor. If you've never worked RPFS/N as a performer before, generally the best move is to call the Faire office at (909) 880-6211 (after about mid- February, for RPFS) or (415) 892-0937 (after 4th of July, for RPFN). Ask for Apprentice Registration Materials and give them your name and mailing address. That will give you a LOT more information. Also, save your weekends, starting with the fourth weekend in March for RPFS, or the last weekend in July for RPFN, which is Registration Day and the beginning of workshops. You MUST register in person, at the Faire site, at the time they give you. In any case, the lines for registration and workshops (and probably for auditions...) get very long. Bring water to drink. (And don't come in costume to Registration, by the way, unless you're getting your costume approved that day; it's about as conspicuous a way of saying you're new as wearing a propeller beanie.) To register as a performer, everyone - - including children - - must have a Social Security number and a valid photo ID. A driver's license is fine. Children and others who don't drive can get a "California ID" card at the Department of Motor Vehicles, but it takes 6 to 8 weeks, so do it early. Apprentices are required to take nine (9) workshops: in one recent year it was Orientation, Meet & Greet, Guided Tour, Songs of the Times, Basic Improvisation, Elizabethan Language Intro, Costume, Who's Who, and "Why Dionysian Revels." You can also "crash" more workshops if they have room for you and you're interested. Workshop days begin at 8:30 AM with a general meeting for announcements, guild introductions, changes in workshop locations, et cetera. If you're new, *be there.* That's where you'll meet the various guild and troupe leaders and hear whether they have room for new apprentices, and where and when you can meet with them. *Do* go to guild meetings if you can. Workshops and guild meetings involve a lot of sitting around listening, some of it maybe to information you already know or have heard before, but be patient and listen. It saves innumberable questions later. Bring (quiet) craft work, if you have some, to do with your hands while you listen. One more word. Remember that the PAD and other staff people are overworked, under pressure, and have to process hundreds of people in a relatively short time. And that every year they see hordes of new faces, only *some* of whom turn out to be valuable performers who return year after year. Remember too that there are *always* more people who want to work Faire. This means that you shouldn't be surprised if you, as an individual, are treated more or less with indifference at first. You may very well *not* be greeted right away with smiles, warm welcome, or offers of help. Please don't let this turn you off. You will need to take responsibility for finding out what you're supposed to do next and doing it. If you need information, ask. There *are* lots of warm, welcoming people at Faire and you will find them after a while. If you are interested, intelligent, willing to work, and knowledgeable (or want to become so) sooner or later your worth will be recognized! Play Faire! ============================================================ NOTE: this information has been checked with informed sources and is as accurate as possible, but since it's not official, I can't guarantee its complete accuracy. *Things change.* If you need The Definitive Answer, please get it directly from Faire headquarters staff. İİİİİİİİİİİİ Copyright 1997 Chris Laning İİİİİİİİİİİİİİİ ___________________________________________________________ O "Mistress Christian," a.k.a. Chris Laning | + Davis, California ___________________________________________________________ ------------------- Headers -------------------- Path: lobby01.news.aol.com!newstf02.news.aol.com!portc03.blue.aol.com!news-out.internetmci.com!newsfeed.internetmci.com!199.0.154.56!ais.net!logbridge.uoregon.edu!su-news-hub1.bbnplanet.com!su-news-feed1.bbnplanet.com!news.bbnplanet.com!news.igc.apc.org! usenet From: Chris Laning Newsgroups: alt.fairs.renaissance Subject: REC Performers FAQ v.1.2 (regular posting) Date: Mon, 17 Nov 1997 19:04:40 -0800 Organization: Institute for Global Communications Lines: 213 Sender: claning@igc.apc.org Message-ID: <347105C4.4D69@igc.apc.org> NNTP-Posting-Host: ppp48.igc.org Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.0 (Macintosh; I; PPC)