The Company of St. George

[Sir William]

I noticed on the MDRF page that they're looking for performers...any of you interested?  You get a small honorarium for appearances and rehearsal fees paid to you and you get to traipse about in period in character for whatever days you're contracted. 

Y'know...on second thought, that does sound suspiciously like a lot of work.  lol

[Sir James A]

Is it this page? http://www.rennfest.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=29

That does sound like a lot of work. I think I'd prefer to meander about in harness, but I doubt they're willing to pay anyone to do that.

[Sir Brian]

Yeah I don’t think I would want to feel the obligation of “working” the faire. I go to the faire to escape work!

Although I wish MDRF would offer some the more dedicated playtrons a quasi-cast status insofar as we get a slight reduction in the cost of our season passes; access to some secluded areas to rest/recoup and allowed to carry weapons which complement our garb. Of course I’d expect to sign and adhere to some stringent yet plausible liability clauses MDRF would most likely wish to impose but I can’t imagine they wouldn’t be anything to difficult or distasteful to endure.

[Sir William]

Sir Brian...what you just described would be PERFECT for The Order to do.  We're not cast members per se, but quasi status would work.  I think if we all arrived in our armor we'd make quite a showing, who knows, they may extend that to us as a matter of course.  Probably not, though.

[Sir Edward]

Yeah, I don't see MDRF doing this. Rennies fairly frequently come up with similar ideas, and it never happens. The faire has fairly strict policies about their cast, who gets in, and what they get paid. Sir Barchan is the only jouster that gets paid extra to walk around and interact, and most of us are out of period (early 16th century) anyway.

This sort of idea would more easily pass at some of the other faires that aren't as strict about historical accuracy and actor's remuneration and the like. For instance, some of the CA faires are pretty loose and run almost entirely by various guilds.

But this also ties back into one of my desires for the faire circuit-- I want to see more medieval faires, and less emphasis specifically on the renaissance. Most danes don't get the difference anyway, and it would be nice to see more of the relevant history portrayed as well. Most of the jousting troupes seem to do more of a 14th century look (including Medieval Times, but excluding MDRF's Freelancers), since that was the height of the color and pageantry. The unwashed masses would love medieval faires just as much.

[Sir William]

Well, I wouldn't care if I were not paid a DIME- so long as I got to walk around in my armor with my sword!  I'm going to rivet in one of my display swords into the scabbard permanently so I can do like you guys do.

I don't care much for the Renaissance period...to me, it seemed like things got too flowery, the language included.  I'd like to see a medieval faire as well!

[Sir Matthew]

I've always liked the idea of being part of a Faire, but not so much the having to stick to a show schedule like the actors do. This season I'm going to be part of the cast at PaRF without actually being part of the cast. The Trayned Band at PaRF is a reenactment unit called Beltuinn's Free Company of Foote and the management at PaRF pretty much lets them set themselves up and do what they want so long as they perform the demonstrations at the times they are scheduled (mainly the schedule is done to prevent interference with other shows and acts and to provide the masses with a specific time they can come to the camp and see a show) and they stay in character. This pretty much fits what I wanted to do since I spend about 90% of my day in the encampment anyway. While not actually doing a demo, I'd be pretty much free to wander the grounds and see shows I want, shop or just interact with the patrons. Really the only downside for me is that I probably won't get to wear my Brig, instead I'll either be in no armor as a Musketeer or in breast and back as a Pikeman.

[Sir Edward]

One of the things that I think would be cool would be to set up a knight's encampment where people could walk by, see the armor, ask questions. It could have a few scheduled demonstrations, etc. But like you, I feel like I'd want to be pretty loose about it, and except for those scheduled times, pretty much just wander around and do whatever.

But part of the problem is that several of the local faires (specifically MDRF and VARF) are set in the renaissance, and try to be very historically accurate. Knighthood wasn't the same thing in the 16th century that it had been previously. That's part of the reason I really would like to see more medieval faires and not just renaissance faires.

[Sir William]

Agreed...I don't care for tights- not seeing'm or wearing'm.  lol

A knight's encampment would be marvelous...that is one thing I'm quite sure the unwashed masses have no clues about- how the gear's stored, the setup, you could have a number of knights in various stages of getting ready...