A behind the scenes look at Renaissance Festivals and the colorful nomadic people who make them their lives. Crystal Stix Productions Host: Bill Vestal Director and Editor: Charley Brown
As a retired rennie (who then went on to become a cop...and later a disabled mom)- being a Rennie was the best seven years of my life. I opened a shop right out of high school with my bf who made chain maille...I squired for my friend before Hannon-Lees split and left PA, I remember all my friends from back then and many of us are still close (one of my best faire friends, Hippie, is now in IT) I agree 100% about everyone helping everyone... I almost starved for months at shows in Florida, but someone ALWAYS invited me in and offered me food and asked NOTHING, I hung out with pirates, push monkeys, traveled with Empty Hats to five shows...I rat pucked my way into a crimson and an Agusta green (that's right, I'm a master pucker!) - I've worked at shows in PA,NY, Vermont, FL,Md, Arizona, and Kansas City! I lived in a van, camped in tents, turned 21 at Fort Meyers faire.... It was amazing, that one shop I opened with my high school be turned into my turned into traveling the country. I've worked twelve faires, attended sixteen, I am delighted to see so many of my good friends made it into the movie, which I heard about. I wish it could have included more faires, more performers, as it did seem most of the footage was done in one weekend, or at least, at one Faire, and there is SO MUCH more than just one or two shows.... I still attend, in garb, with my service dog and kid and husband.... I miss it. A LOT. There's something to be said for traveling the country, I wish I could just pick up and go like I did back then. I loved it, I would love to get my son involved and work at the faires again. For now, I can say I've been to dozens of faires... It's amazing. Tent living was interesting... I met a lot of people.... I really do miss it. GREAT and very solid documentary, and very true. I wish that I could raise my son on the circut,,, and I truely treasured my Rennie friends, and although it's nice to have walls and a shower.... I'd go back to traveling if I could. (Also, you don't know a rain day until you've worked lousy-Anna or mount hopeless on a kids day...those two faires...and there's nothing quite like the extremes of a season that runs from 110 degrees to snow.... I'm looking at you, PARF... With your August to October silliness!)
My Dad took my sisters and I to Carolina Ren Fest about 20-23years ago. I go twice a year when it comes to town. Some of the best memories were made there. RIP Doug!
These guys are living my dream! After going to MY state's Ren Faire since 2004, I've long wanted to work as a performer there. I'd even be satisfied just greeting passersby as they walk about my location. The Ren Faire is the only place where my people can thrive; eccentrics, artists, passionate actors, lovers of the period and aspiring heroes. Anywhere else, I'd just feel like even more of a weirdo than I already am (in the eyes of the "normal" people of the world)
Wow. What memories. ded bob, don jusn and miguel! I did punch and judy puppet show there, played harp and mandolin,, stilt walker, worked the coin both, helped build the front gate , lived in a gypsy wagon. The face painter lady used to baby sit my kid, Willy, I worked the CA shows, GA, Colorado and NY for many years. I was blazing bill the fire eaters good friend and his accident was a deep loss for me. I miss it and my family that was there. I live deep in the Appalachians now. Almost just as good but quieter. Good to see things are still rolling. Thanks Bill.
Janet and Bill, this was a wonderful and beautiful documentary. Thank you for showing us the other side of how this is all put together, the love and unity of these talented, gifted and Blessed performers, workers and down to earth people. Stay Blessed. ;)
Hey Bill! Werent you the green man? I grew up going to Glen Helen, this video gives me such nostalgia. Everything REP has done over the years has taken away what a wonderful and magical place it use to be and had turned it into a fantasy themed farmers market. I miss this version of fair.
I'ma kid who didn't go to college and I'm on the road now seeing all these older people who I talk to now looking so young is strange but I have to say Tortuga twins haven't changed at all
Describing any individual Faire/Festival is like the blind men describing an elephant. Even for the cast, each performer will have his or her own perception (or more) of what it is about. Now multiply that by the many RenFaires around the county, and through the decades, and you realize what an impossible task it is to describe the milieu.
The Parody songs, they call that "Filk" or "Filking" in the Sci Fi community and are often performed by attendees at sci fi conventions. The name came from a typo in the convention program decades ago. That group you filmed thinks that there are no other groups that do what they do, but they're wrong. There was once a group called "The Boogie Knights" and they were fabulous in their day.
The guys at the 5:20 mark are still juggling. Though I think the one on the far left is not the same as the 3rd one they have now. I saw them perform yesterday at the AZ ren fair. They're the London Broil jugglars.
Hello Bill and Janet !Great documentary I have yet to experience Your Arizona festival ..I have heard great things about your festival.I plan on traveling this summer ..I am a Henna and Indigo artist .I would be very grateful if you could offer me where I might find a good gig doing henna this summer ..I also do a gypsy act I do palmistry and read tea leaves .Do I need to fill out a vendor application in Tuxedo I just had to rent a vendor booth but I know it is different with every festival ..I live on the east coast I have my own class b camper so I am not going to need lodging.I have much experience doing henna and fantasy facepainting at festivals I can send you references as well as photos of my work.Thanks so much!
Didn't even know about it Lori (Simi Valley), I'll have to check it out. Yeah honestly Lori I went in 1975 in Agoura, as a child, and even accounting for rose colored glasses of childhood, it was way better. The current one is theme parkish. I'm trying Koronaberg this year for the first time since a contact of mine took it over (and I know the Baron, Chuck Spitzer, vicariously or at least we chat now and then). The Irwindale one became kind of what they felt it "had to" in order to work financially, whether that is true or not is another story. It's a badly diluted Ren Faire, but a not bad Cosplay event, basically. Notice I'm answering two years later -- I've come to realize Irwindale is basically a Cosplay thing.
