I want one.
Where can I get one?
I’ve personally witnessed Klingons crashing Northern* on more than one occasion.
They we’re acting like they were on an away mission and all involved (the Ren folks, too) stayed in character.
My favorite barker line: “Who wants to fondle my pewter!”
*: I’ll be at The Northern California Renaissance Pleasure Faire at least a weekend or two this year with my new hat. And, yes, there are still a few who still like a reasonable degree of historical accuracy, just not the mud, grime, plague, lack-of-plumbing, etc.
http://michrenfest.com/main.htm
“Midwest” is rather vague, so I don’t know how close you are to Michigan. Our Ren Fest is tons of fun, although the tickets have gone up a bit in the past decade (I know, shock horror! But when it’s a once a year thing, you tend to notice jumps in ticket prices).
What I like about ours (dunno about other places and their fests) is that each weekend is a theme weekend. http://www.michrenfest.com/weekends.htm The general weeks haven’t changed in theme for awhile, but if you can only go one time, then you can pick a different them each year. There are specific games and routines that stick to the theme.
Naturally, it’s not historically accurate at all, but tons of fun. 
If you go the same weekend as me, you’d see me in a historically inaccurate* barmaid-wenchy type thing, with boobs a popping.
- inaccurate because a bunch of it is black, and there ain’t no way that anyone other than royalty could afford black fabric. And the fact it’s probaby part polyester, whatever.
I’m about 10 miles or so from the Michigan RenFen when it occurs.
My only thoughts as a non-geek of anything is that it is a lot of fun if you are into that kinda thing, but I’ve never grasped the concept of wearing velvet in August. (yeesh!)
Oh, and men with swords is equal to women and cleavagey bosoms.
Either you’ve got a spooky ability to string words together by coincidence, or you really know our history. Many years ago, NCRF* was produced under the auspices of a group called the Living History Center. To this day, a lot of our stuff has LHC stenciled on it somewhere.
Yes. Years back, it was called King Richard’s Faire, but got bought out by a corporation called Renaissance Entertainment Corporation, or REC. Same company bought NCRF a few years ago and mis-managed it into the ground. They bailed and sold it to us for a buck.
Actually, we’re not trying to sound English. Primarily, we be attempting to sound rather different than the speaking thou hearest normally, but still such that you may understand us. You may have noticed that grammar be changed around enough just that you think not that this be what you speak at home, and the pro-nun-see-ay-see-un is done so that words seem longer. We will also use more words - why use but two when five will do better?
I can’t convey pronunciation too well here, but the language we speak is one called BFA, or Basic Faire Accent.
- Northern California Renaissance Faire. What started out as a school project 35 or so years ago evolved into a faire held for many years at Novato on a piece of land known as Black Point that engendered countless fond memories for countless people, then had a brief relocation to Vacaville (not so fondly referred to now as Vacahell) and is currently in Hollister/Gilroy at Casa de Fruta. The Novato site was razed and turned into a golf course, and the Vacaville location was only temporary and loved by nobody.
Not true, actually.
Zweisamkeit:
I meant to say, the inaccurate part isn’t the color (dyeing fabric black wasn’t that expensive or difficult). The inaccurate part (I’m guessing from your description) might be the way you’re wearing your bodice. A properly-fitted bodice doesn’t overly restrict breathing, but does hold one’s breasts in place (and provide cleavage, if one is wearing a shift or chemise with a low neckline). What I fear (but with the hope I’m wrong) is that you’re talking about what costumers refer to as “tits on a tray” – that is, having the breasts rest atop the bodice, rather than being contained within it. The proper style is far more attractive, and sexier.
If I’m mistaken about what you’re describing, my apologies.
No, I’m talking about having G cup boobs on a smaller (36 is my band size) ribcage. I either get a bodice that fits my ribcage, or get one that “fits” over my boobs. Even when I stuff my boobs into the bodice, they’re still a poppin’ out because of their freakin’ size.
And as for black, I thought that (at some vague time period ‘back then’) black was more for wealthy people because of the amount of dye needed, etc. If I’m wrong, well, cool, ignorance fought.
I wanted to specify here that “fits” would mean that I wouldn’t pop out everywhere on top, but the rest of it would be far too big and look like a potato sack on me. That’s why shirts are a bitch for me; I can either get them way too big, or too tight in the boob area while fitting everywhere else. Misses shirts are too small in the boobs but then the smallest women’s size swims on me everywhere but the boobs. :: sigh ::
I’m thinkin’ that you’re thinkin’ of purple. The color of royalty, traditionally, due to the great expense inherent in squeezing the purple dye out of millions of tiny little shellfish.
Heh, I have a friend up north in Ohio who shares your predicament. Just a few weeks ago she was singing praise about a shirt she found that fit her properly. Apparantly this was the first time she had encountered such a garment since she was in junior high.
Of course, most times I see her, she seems to sidestep this problem by wearing a chainmail bikini. 
Actually, it’s red that was derived from the cochineal beetle. Hugely labor-intensive and hugely expensive to find, collect and process the bugs.
Purple is “off limits” as the color of royalty for a few reasons, the main one being that royalty said “You can’t wear purple” Simple as that.
Sumptuary tax made it so that black was left to people that could afford it.
Well, you’ve still got a Queen, then, don’t you? Not quite necessary in that case…
I used to go to the Northern faire in California about 20 years ago; back then, the only blatantly non-period booths were the drinks vendor and the tobacconist’s booth, and those only existed because they knew they’d make a killing. I think the people running those fairs would have a heart attack if they saw the stuff being sold at the Minnesota faire…
We probably would.
I forget the exact term (juried?) but our vendors have to go through an approval process - it’s not just a matter of saying “I want to sell stuff” and paying for the space.
Although, yes, we do have a section of vendors from the Indias, and they have a few digeridoos and henna tattoos. Not sure about the digeridoos, (wouldn’t hurt my feeling if they weren’t there) but the henna booth seems constantly busy, so the historically accurate does need to be balanced against financially viable.
Renaissance Festivals (Faires) are entertainment events–something to do on the weekend. People wear anything from “regular” clothes to painstakingly authentic period costume. Most of us fall in the middle. Long skirts for the ladies? Loud Aloha shirts for the gentlemen? Be creative & festive!
The Texas Renaissance Festival is a fine way to enjoy the return of cool weather–at least for some of the weekends. (Heavy velvet and/or chain mail are only for the dedicated.) http://www.texrenfest.com/
This RenFest has permanent buildings & fine gardens. Stuff to eat & drink! Entertainment–from elegant to silly. And shopping. Of course, it’s easy to buy clothing & jewelry that looks its best at RenFest–hence, return visits.
Some of the participants are serious students of the past–notably, the SCA & other craftsmen demonstrating their arts. Falconry? Of course. Jousting! By real Texas cowboys (in costume, of course.)
I think the original “period” was supposed to be Medieval thru the Renaissance, but non-purists aboud. A “Themed Weekend” devoted to Pirates? Why not?
Yeah, the pirate-themed shop is/was on a short leash. The guy there knew history, though, he was impressed when I inquired about a replica matchlock firearm. (Alas, he had none, and was also sold his only wheellock.)
I used to love going to these things. Even worked at one once (Bristol), doing… Shakespeare, of all things. Developed my love for acting Shakespeare there, consequently. Also got my first kiss… Things I’ll not soon forget.
Sadly, I’m no longer in the sort of physical shape that lends itself to walking around for long periods of time in hot weather. This thread, however, has made me consider going back to Bristol, if for just a day. Hopefully the temps will drop in the near future.
Because Jousting and Archery were not done during the renaissance? Both of these activities were done well into the 16th century.
My dear, you need someone to make you a bodice. I’m not volunteering, but I’m sure you could ask around at your local Faire and get a custom bodice that will fit you properly.
Because udders are not attractive.
To get back the OP, and since I just came back from SLO Faire (God save the peasants!) well…
You get to dress funny. Admittedly it’s hot and gets uncomfortable, but it’s still fun.
You get to carry sharp pointy things. I had to buy another knife because it ended up I had left all my other blades at home. Ok, that wasn’t the only reason.
You get to flirt outrageously and no one expects you to follow up on it.
Socialization with other strange people.
You get to tease the customers.
Singing. Maybe it only happens with a guild. But there’s nothing quite as amusing as lurching drunkenly down a crowded street while singing bawdy songs that you don’t really know.
After hours. Watching people get more and more drunk and telling stories and making lewd comments. That seems to be a theme, doesn’t it?
I worked at one for one summer. I was a ‘player’. We did about 3 or 4 shows a day, between shows we’d wander and interact and do bits. Its exceptionally nerdy but fun.
Isn’t it just cool to see sword fights and jousts?