Forums > Social Chat > RennFest

Posted: 12th Nov 2001
ohh yeah.. there was this one kid there that did staff and poi, i didn't see him perform but apparently he rocked. it was funny i did my thing the first time in the big circle, got a huge response from the crowd (i was really tired so kept it simple) and when i sit down the kid is like, is that all you can do? heheheh Flaming liquid looks kewl! and i really need to work on something to do liquid with... i wrapped my chains till i was holding the swivel above the wick and did liquid, looked really kewl but gets in the way during some moves of dancing.. anyways i've got an idea that would look kinda like a halfcircle and the flat side could be held like a glowstick and the half circle would be the wick... dunno how well it will work. anyways ideas would be appreciatedwulff

wulff

Posted: 12th Nov 2001
Take a thin metal pole from the hardware store and pick up a bag of rags while your there. Then Find a desk clamp and bend one side into a handle and the other side into a very small U so it comes back at the handle. Then tie a rag up to the U and have at it. I've gotten mine very heavey and VERY short. When they get movin it almost seems as if the person's auctual hands are on fire instend of the fire hovering a few inchs away.It's taken along time to figure out the best way to wrap it but it is worth the time to use cotten instend of bending the U over some kevlar, because you can throw in some trails without missing a beat or burning yourself with these. No exposed metal is a good thing. Each grip is only about 5 or 6 inches from the end of the handle to the end of the wicking. So that would leave maybe an inch or two between the flames and your hands.Also just a warning don't put your hands down and don't stop moving them around once they are lit. You dunno how many ppl have done this even after I told them what not to do with them. Common sense ppl geash!Course to get away with flaming liquid indoors. Grab acouple zippos and make the wicks over sized :P------------------We are all in the cosmic movie. That means the day you die you watch your whole life repeating for eternity. So you'd better have some good things happen in there and have a fitting climax. --Jim MorrisonMost Memerable crowd saying "Hey look that dude's gonna set himself on fire again!"

We are all in the cosmic movie. That means the day you die you watch your whole life repeating for eternity. So you'd better have some good things happen in there and have a fitting climax. --Jim MorrisonIt's going to come from a direction you didn't predict at a moment of chaos which you didn't see coming. -- NYC

Posted: 13th Nov 2001
thanks Knagi i'll look into that.. i've got an idea thats ben floating in my head that i want to try cause it seems like it would be cheap, easy, and effective.... anywaysfor those who care i posted 18 pics of the area of RennFest where there were selling/demoing the Zuni poi. I thought it was kewl to see a bunch of kids running around twirling. A few joined the parade that day toohttps://www.nytefyre.net/rennfest.htmlThis is where i am gonna post the drum circle pictures and random fire twirling pics from that weekend if and when Sir Boob gets them to me (and he better cause what i saw looked bad@$$ hehehwulff

wulff

Posted: 14th Nov 2001
How do you find rennfests going on in your area?

We are all in the cosmic movie. That means the day you die you watch your whole life repeating for eternity. So you'd better have some good things happen in there and have a fitting climax. --Jim MorrisonIt's going to come from a direction you didn't predict at a moment of chaos which you didn't see coming. -- NYC

Posted: 14th Nov 2001
Knagi, you won't find any in this area until next year. I know, I perform at them!I have been performing at various faires since I was 18/19 (that makes ten years for those counting).Anyway....In the summer there are 3 in Ohio, one worth going to, one worth mentioning and the other is not.As far as spinning acts this is what I was told....that if you have a stage show with acting, interaction, comedy and fire...then you will make it as an act. If you only have skill you will get people to watch you once for a little while and then lose them. Fire acts are a dime a dozen on the circuit. Most faires have at least three acts that have fire in them at some point. This is dull after awhile, no matter what you are doing. A good audience act is priceless, skilled or not. At PA Ren their spinning act set themselves on fire and had no interaction. They just stood up and spun. They won't be back next year, but I will be there instead! It's the nature of the beast.I am assuming wulff is talking about TRF, since I think it is the only one in Texas right now. It is currently undergoing a change of hands and so the news on the circuit is that act house cleaning is going to be done over the next few years. Which means acts involved with the faire need to polish up and crowd please or get replaced in the future! And consequently wulff, regardless of how good the guy is, if he had've said "Is that all you can do?" to me I would've said "No, I just didn't want to make you look like an ass, you do it enough on your own." Alot of these Ren egotists need the ego check, and most of them behave rudely to make them feel better than their inferiority complex allows them too naturally. I see it all the time (especially in solo male skill acts and jousters). Ultimately it kills them in the end.For those who have no clue what we are talking about (and trust me, this is mild compared to how in depth about this I can get) you can find more information on locations athttps://renaissance-faire.com/Locations.htmhttps://www.faire.net/Scribeand if you want to know about faires check out my two part article at https://www.borderwalker.com/escapisms0107.asphttps://www.borderwalker.com/escapisms0108.aspit
comes complete with photo's of me and other acts I know, and in depth description of everything faire!This is for those in the US....Scribe may offer more information on those in the UK though I do know there is the Dunstable Tudor Festival in Dunstable, Bedfordshire on November 24...admission is Free.In Oz the Brisbane Medievel Faire won't be until June 8 and 9...however, if any of you live in that area and want to be participants I'd be happy to help you figure out how.Good Ye Den! ------------------Pele Higher, higher burning fire...making music like a choir...https://www.pyromorph.com[This message has been edited by Pele (edited 14 November 2001).]

Pele
Higher, higher burning fire...making music like a choir
"Oooh look! A pub!" -exclaimed after recovering from a stupid fall
"And for the decadence of art, nothing beats a roaring fire." -TMK

Posted: 13th Nov 2001
Just to let you know, Wulff was definitely talking about TRF. However, there is no show that is dedicated to poi or staff or anything of the such at the moment. There is a juggling show where they do some fire, but that is it. I know, I was also there this weekend. Wulff was talking about the drum circle that occured in the camping area after the fair had ended for the day. I didn't get to stay long enough on Sat. to participate, but I had earlier this season. I completely agree with his assesment of the situation. The drum circle that occurs in the campground area kicks ass. It was a totally amazing place to spin in - as long as you could manage to keep some of the drunken members of the crowd at bay. The picks he posted so far are from one of the vendors (not an act) out in the middle of the general walk way. I definitely suggest renaissance festivals as a fun place to visit for the day.

Posted: 13th Nov 2001
spritie, hey...not bad guess work for a nor-easterner, aye, to get that TRF thing???Oh, and since there are a few on teh board who have heard this...contrary to popular reports, TRF has not been bought by Disney Corp.! (Wouldn't that just suck? :: pictures Mickey walking around in tights! )The after hours parties usually are the best part of a faire for participants. It is a long day being out there selling, performing, serving, entertaining! It's nice to unwind with others...though the after hours drunkeness is a pain that is getting banned at more and more faires. I am glad to hear it wasn't an act that was so stuck up but am still sickened by the egotism abound, you know?, regardless of who it is. Ren is like a family, and should stay that way.Hey...are Doug and Jose there this year (Don Juan and Miguel)? They are great guys!!!!------------------Pele Higher, higher burning fire...making music like a choir...https://www.pyromorph.com[This message has been edited by Pele (edited 14 November 2001).]

Pele
Higher, higher burning fire...making music like a choir
"Oooh look! A pub!" -exclaimed after recovering from a stupid fall
"And for the decadence of art, nothing beats a roaring fire." -TMK

Posted: 13th Nov 2001
Pele, I was definitely impressed that you knew the Ren Fair's in the South, and the abbreviation it goes by also. What do Don Juan and Migeul do (or what show are they part of)?

Posted: 13th Nov 2001
yeah it was TRF.. yeah i heard it was changing hands too :( but as long as everything stays kewl its all good. I, unfortunately didn't get any pics of the drum circle w/ my camera but SB did, and he's supposed to send them to me. I will post them on my page. I thought the pics of all the kids twirling was kewl ;) they were so cute, and Karen (i think her name was) was kewl about helping them learn. She and I were also talking about various tricks to try. Yeah the kid that said that was like 10-13, and i have to say if i was his age and could do what i heard he could do i'da probally had an ego too heheheh. Yeah i think us twirlers oughta hookup with the fire jugglers and make a show @ TRF. ;)wulff

wulff

Posted: 13th Nov 2001
Don Juan and Miguel are a sword fighting/ whip weilding comedic duo who have performed at TRF for years.Spritie..I can actually spew off the names and relative dates of all the faires between here and Arizona. Like I said, I have been on the circuit or somehow involved for a long time!Wulff....now that you have said his age, the ego makes sense. As for starting a Ren act, if it is with established jugglers, many might look at it as coat tail riding. If it is a new show good luck.....it's harder than it sounds (take it from me)...but I wouldn't trade it for anything!Speaking of....I might be making an appearance at one of the small Key's Faires in Florida in January.------------------Pele Higher, higher burning fire...making music like a choir...https://www.pyromorph.com

Pele
Higher, higher burning fire...making music like a choir
"Oooh look! A pub!" -exclaimed after recovering from a stupid fall
"And for the decadence of art, nothing beats a roaring fire." -TMK

Posted: 14th Nov 2001
Do you need to be contracted even to do causual roaming fire shows?

We are all in the cosmic movie. That means the day you die you watch your whole life repeating for eternity. So you'd better have some good things happen in there and have a fitting climax. --Jim MorrisonIt's going to come from a direction you didn't predict at a moment of chaos which you didn't see coming. -- NYC

Posted: 14th Nov 2001
i really wanted to get up on the mound or the juggler's stage (which was right next to the zuni "booth") and light up, but i had no idea who and where to get permission from so as to not get kicked out. i can see them not having a problem if i just busted out with an unlit staff or poi (both of which i did, i just really don't like streamer poi) but for some reason lighting up just strikes me as a bad idea without permission, i don't know why *loads of sarcasm* anyways yeah...yeah riding on the coat tails is probally what that would be considered, but it might also be the easiest way to establish yourself.... but then u could always gather a troupe that does staff, juggling, poi, breathing, liquid, etc and go for your own show.... *shrug*it would definately be fun.wulff

wulff

Posted: 14th Nov 2001
Actually coat tail riders are not respected at all and don't usually do well. It seems like and easy in but it is also an easy out. Most of the acts that I know that are successful on the circuit started out as ensemble actors, then slowly were able to present a skill on stage, and then their shows took off from there. Some started as musicians. Most of the jugglers I know started in the circus. You really have to build up a reputation from nothing. It is damn hard.Knagi, at faires there is no such thing as a roaming fire act. Insurance won't allow it. WHen you get 12,000 people walking around the street in one day there is no room for something of that scale. THere are days at faire where people are shoulder to shoulder. It isn't safe to do fire that way. Let's see, to get into a faire you need to have good (meaning high amount of) insurance, usually without a claim history, a scripted stage show involving the audience, your skill and comedy. A performance portfolio geared at the Renaissance Genre. Most require some form of professional performing background and training before they will even concider you. An audition video of your Ren act being presented. THey look for audience interection, style, charisma, showmanship, safety, skill, appropriateness of your skill to the era and that particular faire. My costume, with all accessories, cost $400+, and I still need to get the leather Ren boots but that is going to run me about $200 more (and you *have* to have an appropriate costume). This is not mentioning the audition and interview process. It is not like performing anyplace else, I garuntee it.It is far harder than standard theater as there is much to remember and you have to stay in your character for up to 10 hours a day. My advice...audition for the acting troupe and see if you can get in there. Then when there see if you can spin on a side stage. I know two people who did this...they won't be back because they were bad but still...they got exposure.And....all faires that I know, if you pay to get in and then try to busk, will escort you right back out and you will be put on the banned list. I know one kid who is on the banned list for five faires, and one guy who has been put on the national list...meaning he is banned from all established Ren events.Not only that, management will take your money while they escort you out. You are distracting from the paid performers which is a professional no-no anyway (called toe stepping).------------------Pele Higher, higher burning fire...making music like a choir...https://www.pyromorph.com

Pele
Higher, higher burning fire...making music like a choir
"Oooh look! A pub!" -exclaimed after recovering from a stupid fall
"And for the decadence of art, nothing beats a roaring fire." -TMK

Posted: 14th Nov 2001
and that is why i am sticking to my job as an network tech *laf* atleast i know i am needed here and am not at the whims of weither or not i can come across as a people pleaser. More power to the people that can cause it does take a lot of work.Wulff

wulff

Posted: 14th Nov 2001
hi wulff,i was also at the ren fest last weekend. i was the guy in the camo pants breathing fire in the drum circle. but anyway, i should be getting about 50 to 70 pics of that night on thursday, so i will try to have the good ones posted by friday or saturday. by the way wulff, we are planning a show with a troup out of houston,(some of the other people spinning that night) for december 1 here in san antonio. i will keep everyone up to date on it.

Posted: 14th Nov 2001
I know this year at the Ren Fair in Houston, some guy from Zuni had a booth there. The main guy running the booth did Contact juggling and some staff. He was pretty good.Even though i hate Zuni's, they were fun to mess with while i was there."S"

Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear--not absence of fear.


- Mark Twain

Posted: 14th Nov 2001
slave502,yeah i met u that night... i didn't catch everyone name the only ones i knew were Thorn and Lobo. u 5 were great. i would have spun more but i hate intruding in other people's performance space and the crowd wasn't giving that much room for everyone to do their thing. U'd think large clouds of fire would keep people slightly at bay, but noooo.. heheheh its all fun and games till someone's hair goes up. I'd love to see the pictures you've got. I'm still waiting to recieve mine from Sir Boob, but he took lots of pictures to distribute so must be patient.l8

wulff

Posted: 14th Nov 2001
I didn't see the guy but my roommate went a few weekends ago and said he saw this one guy doing contact juggling with 4 balls, 1 large and 3 small. Apparently he was doing all kinds of mad tricks.. wish i could have seen it.. contact juggling rocks, i suck @ it but it still rocks

wulff

Posted: 16th Nov 2001
Although, I've only been doing faire for about five years now, I can tell you Pele has definitely hit the nail on the head in describing what its like on the board and in her articles. Faire is whole another world, especially if your in the inside, and not just a spectator.Its a VERY tight nit family, which is hard to be adopted into, let alone perform within.

Posted: 16th Nov 2001
Wow pele you blew me away with that. I could never get to that level of performing. I've never heard of coat tail riders. It sure explanes alot. Like when you jumped on me for wanting to come out and jam with you at one of your fairs. Do you ever just have like all night burn athons. Does it ever get to that point at the renn fairs when the ppl see fire and go oh just some more fire? At the hippyfest we normally just start around the time the bands cooling-down and just whoever goes till we fall over dead run out of fuel or the sun comes up. Does that ever happen at the renn fairs?if you can't tell I've only been to one fair.. well it was a one day medevil fair... does that even count? I'd really like to go to one sometime but I don't think i'd wanna goto one alone. To many funny old rules. [This message has been edited by Knagi (edited 17 November 2001).]

We are all in the cosmic movie. That means the day you die you watch your whole life repeating for eternity. So you'd better have some good things happen in there and have a fitting climax. --Jim MorrisonIt's going to come from a direction you didn't predict at a moment of chaos which you didn't see coming. -- NYC