FriendsOfMDRF.org - THE BLOG!

For years now at MDRF, since I voiced my unpopular opinions in 2002, there have been those that "don't appreciate" my sardonic wit and very dark humours. Many of the folks who populate faires are of a tender and sensitive nature. . . . most of those can't take a joke.

Because folks consider Faire a serious hobby, one that makes them pine for it in the off-season, wishing away much of "real life" to get back to Revel Grove. Some make it their sole reason for living and MDRF and those who enjoy its fruits, the only people they consider friends. It's a bit sad in my opinion.

It is those type of folks who vandalized The Pyrates Way truck last weekend, giving a rotten end to an almost perfect day. If making me miserable in the short term was their goal then they won. If they think such actions would deter or even bother me long term then they're very sadly mistaken. Worst part of the situation is that m'luv Cynthia owns said vehicle and regardless of what anyone thinks of me. . . . why would they go out of their way to injure my wife in such a way?

Anyway it wasn't a lot of vandalizm. . . . just ripping apart one of the Pyrates Way logo magnets that I sported on each forward doors of the vehicle. Just enough damage to scratch a bit of paint and piss me off a bit. . . nothing more.

It does suck though that there are people who revel in such juvenile and criminal actions. Most humans interact when they have a problem with another. . . criminal cowards however, take a different path because deep down they know they're both wrong and a scared of facing me. No biggie. . . life goes on. . . but as I said. . .it DOES suck.

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By TISHA THOMPSON

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - From battle axes to busty corsets, there are plenty of things you can always count on at the Maryland Renaissance Festival. But between the rotten weather and this year’s economic downturn, you might think even the hardiest of ye olde faithful might think twice about that $18 admission ticket.

“Wild horse couldn’t keep me away from this place,” says Mary-Claude Tomlin, who goes by the moniker “Thistle Silverleaf” while at the fair. Garbed in a heavy woolen cloak while showing off the jewel-encrusted dragons crawling along her earlobes, Tomlin says she’s driven from her home in New Jersey four times already this fall to partake in the revelry.

Artisans here say loyal “Rennies” like Tomlin help them juggle tough times.

“I’m having a pretty good year,” says Bill Jezzard. He makes elaborate hair pieces out of bronze and sells them for roughly $100. He says many women come back again and again, owning more than 20 of his pieces.

Instead of hurting the Festival, Jezzard says the bad economy actually helped the Festival out this year. “I think people are having staycations and not going to the Bahamas."

Mark “Coop” Cooper carves complicated Celtic knots and other symbols out of Western red cedar. He says the Festival literally saved his business. "Across America I do shows all year and every show I did all year long was down 40-50%. It was tough; we were one rain storm away from disaster."

But Maryland’s prices are lower, he says. Food, admission, even the price he pays for his booth.

Plus, Cooper says, Maryland’s version has one major distinction. “As you walk through the show, all you see in the booth are genuine works of art created by the people selling it to you. Most other fairs have gone the way of Chinese imports."

Cooper says he’s now going to have the best year of his career.

The Festival’s art director, Carolyn Spedden, says the weather actually hurts them more than a bad economy. Rain and ankle-deep mud reduced this weekend’s “Scottish Games” from an estimated crowd of 20,000 down to about 3,000 brawny souls.

“We’re what we call diehard Rennies,” says Miriam Steiner. “We come rain or shine. We were here for Hurricane Katrina. We’re diehards."

And those die-hards are helping the Festival have a booming year, says Spedden. “We’re gearing up for if not the best, one of the absolute best years. We've been doing astoundingly well."

pulled from: http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/local/101909_maryland_resnaissance_festival

Three Towson students spend their weekends working in the 16th century
By Lauren Slavin

For most Towson students, the weekend is a time of relaxation after a long week at school.

Sleeping, studying and the occasional party keep many students occupied on Saturday and Sunday.

But for three Towson students, the weekend is spent working nine hours a day in the 16th century.

These students are employed by the Maryland Renaissance Festival, an outdoor entertainment venue in Annapolis.

“I’m a normal person Monday through Friday,” junior theatre major Alex Li said.

“But Saturday morning I have to get up at seven o’clock in the morning, bright and early; I have to get dressed because we can’t wear normal clothes obviously working at the Renn Faire, we have to wear costumes; and we have to be out of the house by eight o’clock.”

Employees arrive at the fairgrounds around 9 a.m., many still in clothes from the 21st century.

But once the cannon goes off and the festival opens at 10 a.m., modern clothes and slang are replaced with old English and period costumes.

Li works at the Fantasy Guilde Studios where he sells clay nymph and satyr horns that are best sellers throughout the festival.

“Working [at the Renaissance Festival] is different, it’s not like any other job,” Li said.

“It’s a different environment. You don’t have an actual store front, you’re more like just little booths, and you don’t have a cash register or all the different things of modern stores.”

This is Li’s first year working at the Renaissance Festival, but he already benefits from several perks of employment.

“When you get off of work you can enjoy your rest of your day at the faire,” Li said.

“Technically, you’re just getting in for free; granted you work, but you’re also enjoying yourself, which is something I don’t think a lot of other [work] places do.”

The relationships that come from working at the festival are another great part about the job, according to Li.

“I’ve made a lot of friends since working there,” he said. “All the different vendors there are like a really close group, they’re like a family. Every year this is what they do.”

Senior biology major Allison Allen has been a part of this family since her childhood.

Her mother owned a booth at the Renaissance Festival when she was younger, and she started working at the battle axe throwing game when she was 15 years old.

At age 21, she is now the assistant manager.

“The job isn’t very easy; you have to be pretty bulked up to work there,” she said.

“You carry 50 pounds of axes back and forth every 40 seconds to two minutes.”

She works with senior digital art and design major Michael Vares. Because of the heavy lifting, the workers at the battle axe game are predominantly male. But that hasn’t stopped Allen from climbing to the top of the ladder.

“I get to make the men look really silly cause I’m better at it then they are,” Allen joked.

Both Allen and Vares have worked retail jobs, which lack in comparison to working at the Renaissance Festival.

“I was working at Michael’s the past few years. I’d probably get the same amount I get working one weekend [at the festival] over the two week cycle [at Michael’s],” Vares said. “I was only part time [at Michael’s], but still.”

Apart from the pay, there’s also the factor of gratitude from costomers and employers.

“People actually will appreciate you for the things that you do,” Vares said.

“We have some people who are like ‘I can’t believe you do this, this is the hardest job at the faire.’ When I’m at Michael’s I’m picking up crap that people leave all over the place all day, and that’s expected of you.”

Li sees the Renaissance Festival as a more ideal place for someone with his talents to work.

“I think for someone who makes costumes and does theatre it’s more or less a fitting place,” Li said.

The one downside to the job all three students could agree on: the commitment to give up their weekend.

“You are giving up a big chunk of your time to this. I haven’t had a free weekend since the last weekend of August,” Li said.

“But I think what you get out of it in return is really worth it.”

Pulled From: http://www.thetowerlight.com/arts/a-job-for-the-ages-1.2025974

By BOBBY MCMAHON Capital News Service

The economy is in shambles. A new and terrifying disease is spreading throughout the area. People are making the most of tough times.

Welcome to England, circa 1543.

Now in its final two weekends of this season, the Maryland Renaissance Festival in Crownsville is bringing people from across the area together for some good very, very old-fashioned fun.

Despite the down economy, attendance is on par with past years, with about 14,000 people coming through the gates each day. Many visitors, including Annapolis resident Erin Higgins, consider the festival comparatively inexpensive.

"It's a cheap thrill," Higgins said, dressed for the occasion in a black corset and appropriately antiquated pants. "It's eight bucks more than a movie ticket (for admission to the festival) and you're here all day. And the people-watching is great."

The festival is a time warp back to the days of King Henry VIII, offering all manner of escapes from normal life. Wandering through the 27 acres of woodlands, visitors clap along with fiddlers and other traditional musicians, laugh as jesters in big floppy hats perform, and catch passing glances of men dressed as knights and women in bust-heaving dresses.

Tyler Petrini, a 23-year-old teacher from Catonsville, enjoys the unique experience of the festival, particularly the food.

"There's nothing like holding a turkey leg and drinking mead," Petrini said. "You can't do that anywhere else."

Jules Smith Jr., the general manager of the festival, said turkey legs are one of the most popular food items. To feed the turkey-leg-starved masses, he orders about 58 tons of the popular item in early spring.

The festival also offers a multitude of stick-mounted foods - macaroni and cheese on a stick, steak on a "stake" and chocolate covered cheesecake on a stick. All this food on a stick apparently makes people thirsty, as guests consume 250,000 glasses each of beer and soft drinks, as well as 200,000 bottles of water during a season.

Unusual food is not the only draw for visitors, as actors, acrobats and magicians perform at stages and in open areas throughout the venue. Many shows require a great deal of audience participation, and Carolyn Spedden, the artistic director of the festival for more than 20 years, thinks this full-on experience is what sets it apart from other forms of entertainment.

"We're trying to involve all the senses (with guests), instead of just sitting and visually watching TV or a movie," Spedden said. "I think that is what makes it a little unique."

Also special to the festival, Spedden said, is how visitors develop relationships with performers, as many have been taking the stage for a number of years.

"The closest relationship I can link it to is the way some people feel about their favorite characters on long-term TV sitcoms," Spedden said, comparing fan favorites like "O" and "The Renaissance Man" to characters on "Cheers" and "Friends."

Many of these performers - as well as the artists and craftsmen who make the festival run - travel a circuit of renaissance festivals throughout the country, starting in Arizona in February and ending their season in November. Smith said it's the creativity and outdoor environment that draws performers to this lifestyle.

"I know the sword swallower has told me he could be performing in a nightclub, but he'd only see klieg lights," Smith said. "Here, in daylight, in the woods, he gets to see people respond to every nuance he does. Not everybody will catch everything, but he knows the people who are appreciating what he does."

Smith also noted how those who work the festival appreciate the sense of community, a sentiment echoed by Kunji Rey, a henna tattoo artist at the festival and a trained massage therapist based in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Rey grew up in the circuit, selling jewelry and making garlands since she was little, and appreciates how she can travel to any festival and find someone she knows.

Rey also said that, for all the uncertainty in the economy and trouble throughout the world, people still need a good time.

"People are eager to be entertained, looking for a diversion, and that's why our theme this year is 'Escape to the Maryland Renaissance Festival,' " Smith said.

Roy William Cox - aka Sir William Westmoreland - a jouster who has been performing for more than 30 years, said that it's very important to put on a good show for an audience in need of escape, particularly when times are worse than they are now.

"When 9/11 happened they thought about closing the fair down, but then the powers that be decided 'No, we're going to go ahead and do it because people are going to want to get away,' " Cox said. "And it was one of best weekends ever … People want to escape, they want to get away from that. And even in this economy, people save for the year just to come here."

Pulled From: http://www.hometownglenburnie.com/news/Entertainment/2009/10/17-17/Renaissance+Festival+holds+steady+during+recession%0A.html