TheBanyanTree: Faire Time

[Theta Brentnall]

Some day I want to see you and other Bedlam Bards in action, Russ.  It 
always sounds like you have a great time.

Theta

On 4/27/2012 7:39 AM, Russ Doden wrote:
> I'm sitting here not so patiently waiting for the hours to go by today.
> You see, it is once again Faire time for me.  No, not Fair. FAIRE as in
> Renaissance Festival kind of faire.  The Ren Rat may be aging and not
> attend near as many events as I once did, but this is my "home" faire - the
> only one I not only attend, but am a performer at.  In a few short hours,
> I'll be loading the "Ox Cart" (that is my vehicles name during the run of
> the Oklahoma Renaissance Festival) and heading down to Muskogee.  (Yes,
> Muskogee, as Okie from)  The only reason I'm waiting for the hours to drag
> by is that a friend of mine that does spinning demonstrations (spinning
> wool on a spinning wheel) down there, and travels with me, doesn't get off
> work until 3:30.  I pity anyone foolish enough to stand in the doorway at
> her quitting time.  They would find themselves being run over in her mad
> dash for the door!
>
> I used to be like that - when I had to be at work.  So called retirement
> has its benefits.  I can take my time loading and getting ready for the
> trip through time and space!  During the following 5 weekends, I don't book
> any metaphysical training classes or sessions for Friday through Monday.
> Friday I'm getting ready and Monday I'm recovering - those are MY days.
>
> It is only a 45 minute drive in time to get to the faire site, but a
> journey from "reality" that can't be measured in miles or
> days/weeks/months/years/lifetimes.  Yeah, it is all make believe, but those
> of us (young and old) that are there in garb, we are there just to play and
> have fun (even though it is hard work).  It is such a huge break from what
> is "normal" for many of us from the rest of the year.  Somehow worries and
> challenges get left behind - and we try to get the visitors to leave their
> "reality" behind for the few hours they are there to have fun.  Those of us
> on cast (and that includes merchants and performers such as your humble
> scribe) can flirt and tease, cajole and pester, educate and entertain the
> "mundanes" (visitors in 21st century costumes, or just pieces of "real"
> attire mixed in with street clothes) with nearly total immunity!  Many is
> the time I have been flirting with some winsome lass only to have her
> significant other walk up.  Instead of telling me to get lost they will say
> something like, "do that again so I can record it" and of course I'm more
> than glad to oblige!
>
> In truth though, I don't know who has the most memories at the end of the
> day, the visitors or those of us that make up the "residents" of
> Castleton.  Many are the memories I have of things seen and done that are
> just as bright and shiny today as they were when first made!  Some of the
> memories bring tears of joy, and some simple quiet smiles.
>
> For me, it is a "once a year" time to be a real "musician" (though I call
> myself just a noise maker) playing my 12 string guitar and occasionally my
> bodhran.  At this event I'm the 3rd member of the duo "The Bedlam Bards."
> They are based in south Texas whereas I'm in Tulsa, OK.  That makes
> practices together impossible.  Our rehearsals are on stage - live - they
> are called performances.  We have played together at this event so long
> that most of the patrons think we are a trio.  I know their routine, and we
> step on each others routines all the time.  The audience thinks that me
> getting lost in the middle of a song is part of the act.  Sometimes it is
> real - especially when they throw a song at me I've never heard before -
> right in the middle of the set.  Sometimes I just get distracted by their
> antics.  We do try to mess each other up during the sets - and often meet
> with success.  I'm often the target of such antics too - after all, someone
> has to give the audience someone to identify with!  As we go through each
> set, complete with strings breaking on our instruments, lyrics forgotten or
> switched around, new verses being made up on the spot, or simply stopping
> in the middle of a song to take advantage of the opportunity to get a
> "victimteer" to participate with us, the aim is to have fun.  We entertain
> ourselves and let the audience in on it.
>
> So, here I sit, waiting for time and space to shift, waiting for my vehicle
> to turn into the "Ox Cart" to travel to a different time and place that
> never was.
>
> Your humble scribe,
> Andrus of the Bedlam Bards
>