Fourth Renfest entry

[valis2]

First Renfest entry
Second Renfest entry
Third Renfest entry (from last weekend)

General Observations


• To the guy who was (bravely/stupidly) wearing a black sleeveless shirt, black tapered-leg pants that (on a woman) would have been labeled "capris", and a bizarre, too short, strangely collared polyester micro-cape: Next time, fight the urge to wrap a dragon around your midsection. It looks like you're ready for the pool. And bob_the_mighty suggests that you get a tail extension for the dragon, as it is no match for your spare tire.



• I'm very sorry, but your "elf" staff looks like it has an icy blue sno-cone on the top. Not a cluster of gems. Really. Bob was thinking that if you plugged it into the wall it would perfume the whole house due to its uncanny resemblence to a Glade air freshener.



• Yes, you do have a rather impressive bosom. However, the impact is lessened tremendously when your bodice is lopsided. In fact, the effect is more comical than impressive. I thought you'd like to know.



• I know that you have such a burning desire to purchase faux "gypsy"/"bellydancer" costume elements that it's hard to think straight, but you might want to not stop performers who are hurrying on their way to the parade and ask them "Where do you get x?" Yes, performers are nice, and will try to answer your question, but it's even less polite to grab the item so that the bellydancer nearly folds herself in half backwards so as not to have said item torn accidentally from her body. They're limber, but not that limber.



• If you are employed in a booth that sells garb, and you are working the booth, and interacting with customers, then, for pity's sake, you shouldn't wear ill-fitting garb. And it might be nice if you wore garb that they actually sell in the booth. Radical, I know.



• Sir: Tights are not always a good look for men. Some men can wear them; some men shouldn't. Silver lamé tights should never even be attempted. Not even by Brad Pitt. Not even by Jason Isaacs. No, seriously. Please burn them. Now. For the greater good of humanity.



• Attention wood chips used as ground cover: If there is any wood chip that has not somehow made it into my sandal during the day I would like to speak with you. Oh, just the one? That's what I thought.



• If your skirt is made of lace, and only lace, then it behooves you to wear something underneath. If you are a big girl, then I wouldn't recommend a tiny ill-fitting skirt that rides up. Just saying.



• To eat kettle corn: Open bag. Eat first handful. Eat second handful. Continue until you have eaten all kettle corn. Do not eat bag. Brought to you by the letter K and Bob.



• Elvis, we must stop meeting like this. Wait, are you taller this time?



• No, toothless man, Sarah O'Dell and her friend are not here today. Probably to their immense relief.

Other observations

There is a Barrel Ride near Bob's booth, and it's pretty funny to watch the two guys who run the ride. It's a large "barrel" that you sit in, and it's suspended from a post and lintel frame by a rope. The barrel guy rocks the barrel back and forth like a swing, and then spins it. The two guys alternate; one will work most of the day, the other spells him for a break or two. Regular Barrel Guy is the one who covers it for breaks, I think. He dresses normally, drinks water to hydrate himself, sometimes wears a hat for sun protection, sits down, and speaks in a regular tone of voice. The other guy is Xxxtreme Barrel Guy. He does none of the above. "Let me hear you scream!" he shouts regularly at his barrel passengers. He wears no shirt or hat. Water is for sissies! He's also pretty haphazard about the barrel-spinning, and had to be sent home for serious wrist trouble a few weekends ago. He must get commission, because I can't imagine any other reason for his obscene enthusiasm.

Either I'm just getting pickier, or the garb is getting worse. Look, I'm a big girl. I really do understand the special challenges of trying to dress and look attractive by society's standards. Festival is a great place, because a lot of garb is meant for large bosoms and large posteriors, and some of it is quite flattering, but some of it is not if not worn properly. I cannot believe how much ill-fitting garb I saw this weekend on big girls. So many of them had purchased an incorrect size or shape bodice. If you're tall and big, and not really short-waisted, you need a longer bodice. End of story. The ultra-short bodices can be unattractive on a big girl. Also unattractive? The "under the bosom" style is not flattering if you have a large bosom and you just let them all hang out. You think you're showing everybody the power of the Big Girl with her Big Bosom, but really, it looks sloppy. See! That's the term I'm looking for. Don't dress sloppy! If you're purchasing garb, do an Action Test. Don't just stand in front of the mirror! Touch your toes, sit down for a few moments, swivel back and forth. Many bodices can't handle it! The boning freaks out, or the material rides up, or the laces gap. That's why I spent a lot of time searching for the right bodice. I bought a suede one with a leather lace, which doesn't slip as much as a shoe string. The leather has a bit of give to it, and is plain but fits quite nicely, and has no boning to poke or bend. That might not be the perfect bodice for you, that's why we all have to find the Miracle Bodice that is meant for us.

I watched my favorite show at festival...Nómmó Bugunté! Love their show. They're a dance/drum group, they do a lot of African rhythms. When I first saw them years ago, they had this girl who was a bit on the plus side, and she was the main dancer, and she was great. She had a lot of self confidence and projected it tremendously. I loved her style. She was there with this guy with nearly black curly hair who was a terrific drummer. They also had this short guy, and this really tall big guy, and they were great. The next year they brought a thin girl who was terrific as well. Well, eventually the bit on the plus side girl left, and the curly haired guy and the thin girl were doing the show. This year the curly haired guy is gone! The only two remaining are the thin girl and the short guy. They've brought in two more drummers and three more dancers. It was still enjoyable as always, and they have so much energy and enthusiasm, plus they have a better stage this year. I hope to see them again before the end of season. I miss the great drummer, though. I love drums.

So that's my entry.

Comments

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Y'know, what amazes me are the lengths people will go to for their garb. Some people spend so much money on an outfit!

I remember when Pendragon opened their booth at MI, and that was it. Everyone had to have a Pendragon bodice. Despite the fact that we are supposed to be "recreating" a look, there are still trends at faire! For awhile, everyone had to have a creature on their shoulder.

And the women in the high heels...that is ludicrous! I've seen it a couple times, with decidedly unsexy results. It looks awful.

Actually, there seemed to be fewer Goth people this year. A couple years ago there were quite a few leashed ones about as well, and lots of teenagers. I so desperately wanted to interview them and find out what they thought it was all about.

I've attended very few scifi/fantasy cons; only one in Minn, and comic cons here in MI. I am really thinking about Lumos in Las Vegas this year, though, because it's all HP. The Minn one was not as fun as it could have been because, well, there was little or no HP, wah!

Oh, fangs! You're right! There was a GIANT influx of fangs about six or seven years ago. Fangs and mutant contact lenses, for some.