answering a question

[acroyear]

I was asked yesterday if faireraven and I "have" to dress up for pub sing the way we do.  This is probably in reaction to seeing others on cast who are definitely part of pub sing changing costume and character from their normal street and stage characters elsewhere in the festival during the day.  Short answer is no, we don't have to.  We are not contracted to be at pub sing at all - we do what we do because we love doing it and we like that it's appreciated.

The answer specifically for ME is that, like say the chess match people and some of the stage acts, I'm one of the more "active" people on site (doing between 8 and 12 dances during the day) and end up one sweaty mess by the end.  Changing into cleaner garb for pub sing is one way I make myself feel better: a dry shirt or dry socks can do wonders for one's morale.

It also helps patrons have a more pleasant experience by not smelling ME instead of their beer (or in some cases, their own stinky selves ;-) ).

The other answer is that I have a ton of nice stuff that I like wearing but can't morris dance in due to economic station, contemporary placement (some of my Elizabethan/Stewart kits or saturday's 18th-century pirate) or physical weight.  Pub sing alternative garb gives me the opportunity to wear the nicer stuff that would otherwise be a major hindrence to my street performance.

Comments

[dawntreader]

meanwhile, i go to pubsing because i love it. have to stay in character as Mistress Joan even though it means i'm probably ALSO very sweaty, and taking up benchspace with a hoopskirt. ;)

i tried adopting my pole to lean on, but there have been people there. so i move around to different locales wherever there's a spot open. and howcome so many people stand up in the back to watch pubsing instead of taking benches? sometimes i think there's so many people standing, other people assume there ARE no benches.

well, all sorts of ideas, but no survey yet

[acroyear70.livejournal.com]

howcome so many people stand up in the back to watch pubsing instead of taking benches? sometimes i think there's so many people standing, other people assume there ARE no benches.

1) the benches are new
2) some people who are "trendy" regulars (the kind that hang out between the pub and pilands most of the day) sometimes think sitting down for something is "uncool" ;-)
3) some people won't "commit" - they feel as though if they sit down for a show, they have to sit through the whole thing. now granted, some performers would prefer that they do, even without having a hat-passing moment that people "escape" from at other faires
4) like the privys (which now seem to not be a problem in this regard) people assume if there are standing people or a line, it's because there's no place to sit. some people are very "sheepish" in that regard and merely assume rather than actually look. i could get annoyingly political on that and how it renders itself in other places, but i'll pass.

[blueeowyn.livejournal.com]

As we get busier, finding a place to sit will become more challenging (it is already challenging enough for some of us ... I am 'supposed' to be able to set at the end of the staff table when my feet give out but that seat is usually unavailable by the time I need it. It will get worse, even with the benches.

I have found that if there are people on the benches with room for one or two between them, they will sometimes put drink/program/whatever down and others view it is holding a seat for someone (which it sometimes is). Also, even without that, there are some who don't feel comfortable asking if that seat is taken. I'm wondering (as we start getting really busy), how to ask benches if there is room for more without losing sight of the other things that I need/want to do.

Some stand in the back so that if they want to chat about the day, the court; the weather; football; whatever they don't disturb the people around them who are trying to hear what is going on on-stage (and I bless them for it; it is really annoying to have a discussion (either both people or a cell phone) about the *#*T&# Deadskins so that you can't hear the punchline to a joke or the words of the chorus of a new song.

Some people prefer to stand because sitting hurts after awhile, some feel 'trapped' when sitting; some want to be able to be seen by people looking for them; some need/want to scout out the territory.

[mizjawnson.livejournal.com]

I do it for a couple reasons:

1. I can breathe on the outside. Like on Saturday, when Don and I walked more towards Pyrate Camp simply so I could breathe and cool down.
2. I can talk and not feel guilty. I can't hear anything anyways that far back, so we can carry on conversations at a nice normal level (read: not drunken yelling) without ruining it for people paying attention. With the exception of "The Boatman" and then you all best be quiet. :-D
3. If I want to leave before the masses, then it's easier for me to do so. It's not just leaving in the middle of a show; it's being able to physically get out of the pub.

[dawntreader]

It's not just leaving in the middle of a show; it's being able to physically get out of the pub.

THAT makes a lot of sense. there are only so many "edge" seats to go around. *grin*

[kitteblue.livejournal.com]

i ususaly don't have the option of staying for the whole show. So we end up sitting behind the court most of the time.

[blueeowyn.livejournal.com]

You don't have to change clothes for pub sing, but you do have to dress for it.



Preferably in garb.



Grin