If you really want to get in on the fun of MDRF, here's some "unwritten rules" and guidelines that should help. While MDRF is a recreation of mid 1500s England, what's here is well suited to just about any renaissance event that you'd want to visit.
Blending In.
• Do your homework. What we mean by that is you don't go to a 1500's faire dressed as a Cruisader from the 10th century. By the same token, don't dress in a black robe and claim to be a Fransiscan monk (or brown claiming to be Bendictine). . . . and the biggest "No-No" of all is to come dressed as a royal member already part of faire (i.e. don't come to MDRF as King Henry VIII or the "real" King Henry will have you in irons as an imposter!)
• Dress appropriately for the season. A lot of costumed patrons show up at renaissance faires wearing a cloak. In August, it's looks ridiculous. Of course the weather in Maryland is often unpredictible. In 2000 it was very chilly by the first of October, in 2003 it was close to 80 degrees. (We plan to have a weather forcast at the wedding site as we get closer to the event date).
• If you're not going to dress from head to foot, don't dress up. Don't wear tennis shoes with your costume (called "garb"). Performers and seasoned playtrons (patrons who dress accurately) can spot a novice costumed patron 95 times out of a hundred, and most of the time the giveaway is the shoes. Glasses run a close second. There are several fine renaissance shoe shops at the festival, but we recommend Medieval Moccasins. . . they're just about the only ren-shoes we buy and they're the most comfortable of any shoes we own. . period!
• Accessories? Remember, the average street performer that you'll run into at the festival is carrying his or her entire inventory on his or her person. That means desired accessories to your garb would include a belt (tied belt through a D ring. . . not a belt with a tine) to hang things from and pouches to hang from the belt. Besides pouches, the most-popular item hanging from one's belt is a hand-crafted cup, whether wood, ceramic, protected glass, leather, non-leaded pewter, or an actual treated drinking horn. You might also bring something to eat with and out of. Eating and drinking out of paper marks you as just a paytron instead of a seasoned playtron.
Interaction.
• No B.S. Faire performers are, by and large, the most giving people you'll ever meet, but they have a very low tolerance for condescending idiots. What this means in practical terms is: if you want to talk to a street performer, dispense with the "What ho! cousin! Prithee, tellst thou me how fairs thy day in this, the grandest of all shires." Unless you know what you're doing in what playtrons call "Basic Ren Speak (BRS). Instead, try normal, everyday English, and speak formally and respectfully. You'll be guided where to go from there by the reponse of the faire-person you've approached. Even seasoned playtrons get annoyed by those who don't enjoy the atmosphere of the festival and seek to ruin everyone's time.
• Don't Interrupt. Make sure the performer isn't already in an interaction with another patron or performer. Interrupting is impolite anyway - you compound the crime if the performer is busy doing his job. There are several performers at MDRF who will point you out as such and go out of their way to continue to point you out all day long when they see you. Courtesy and respect is the biggest unwritten rule of Revel Grove (if not all Rennaissance Faires).
• Keep your interactions brief and polite. There's good reason for this: many performers are trained to do what they do and they get to do it every weekend, so they're fresh and well practiced. That makes it a little like challenging Wyatt Earp to a shootout; you may make it out alive, but you'll be full of holes. Also take into account that the performer (whether street performer or Royal) is probably on their way soon to the next scheduled program in their day and that there's probably others standing around you waiting their turn. Be brief, enthusiastic, and courteous . . . . your interaction will be most rewarding.
• Don't be a Jerk. Here's another reason to stay respectful: if you're a jerk, most performers won't even bother with you or worse, again they'll point you out. . . possibly all day long. The goal is to have fun, and that means fun for all people involved.
• This isn't your show. As a paytron, there was a paid admission to come into the festival. Leave the performing to the performers. (There are some faires that will escort you from the premises if you get caught forgetting this rule.)
Alcohol, Weapons, and Security.
• Ale, Wine, Meade, & Hard Cider. The Maryland Renaissance Festival has several major pubs and many drink booths to purchase alcoholic drinks. Unfortunately, some folks take too much advantage of the inexpensive spirits (domestic beer is only $2 a mug) and intoxication results. Now we're not ones to thumb our noses at having a "good buzz" at the festival. . . heck it's part of the good time. What is frowned upon are those that go over the edge and exhibit behavior that is inappropriate for the family venue which is MDRF. Our advice is to remember to eat something, pace yourself when drinking, and do a lot of walking to burn it off. Besides, you don't want to miss the spectacle of other folks who drink too much. Last season, my brother Thom and I got an eyeful when a bunch of inebriated female paytrons decided to line up and lift their shirts and bras for a few photos. . . I remember it being cold that day for some reason.
• Weapons. MDRF is a weapons-free faire. There are some faires in the country that allow weapons-wearing, as long as the weapons are peace-tied (Both NY and PA faires are peace-tied festivals). If you purchase a weapon, MDRF suggests that you take it out to your vehicle as soon as possible. Carrying it around all day is not only cumbersome but may cause you to be periodically stopped by the staff security to be reminded to take the weapon from the festival grounds. In the past there have been issues with armed, intoxicated playtrons who decided to fight in public to the hazard of others. MDRF is very, very serious about both intoxication and weapons.
• Security. In this day and age (since 9//11/01) security measures are always in force. Over and beyond the banning of weapons and public intoxication, MDRF security keeps their eye out for any sign of trouble. Security staff have radios and many of the stages are in communication with festival management. Should any sort of trouble break out, security is almost immediately on the scene to deal with it. I've only ever seen one fight break out at the faire and it was taken outside of the gates in less than 30 seconds from when it commenced. MDRF is the safest renaissance faire we've been to.
*Note: These tips are adapted from tips at Seam Lyne (re)productions (Sir William Morris is he who manufactured the handsome doublet that Black Fox wore to his wedding. . . we recommend him highly). . . . By the way, most of these rules are just common sense.
