Seeking Advice about Performing at a Renaissance Feast

[Khamon]

Eric has been commissioned to preform during this feast and requires a character along with appropriate clothing. Thinking to go by Eric (just Eric) or Eric the Dane or Eric the Skald or Eric the Poet. It feels like committing to a lifelong priesthood!

My character is a Nordic Skáld, that traveled with the Danish armies to immortalize the invasion of England in 1069, then was fortuitously stranded when the fleet suddenly returned home after William of Normandy paid King Sweyn II a large settlement. It was a good thing because my travels took me to Scotland, where I learned to harp, and then around the islands gathering music from various Celtic, French, and British sources to add to the Nordic tunes in my repertoire.

The performance will be threefold: accompanying Beowulf recitation thusly; playing a couple of Medieval/Renaissance tunes on my own; then accompanying an Olde English recitation of some poem about springtime. There may be opportunities to fill in a few holes with period tunes between other acts as well.

I have a good undershirt, and am planning to wear plain black pants and soft ankle boots, but need a tunic, I'm told, to finish the outfit. Poking around, and having never done this before, the best quality/comfort/cost item, that will ship quickly enough, that I've found is this tunic. Some of you have participated in such events and may be willing to advise me either here or in IM. Input will be much appreciated. The last thing I want to do is somehow mar the atmosphere.

 

[Veritable Quandry]

At the Ohio Renn Faire, I see a lot of people wearing this tunic.

 

[Khamon]

Feel free to move this BTW if it belongs in another forum. I couldn’t reckon a better place for it. Do we have a RL role play reenactment space here?

 

[Khamon]

Okay people call me Eric Faraskáld which translates, from Old East Norse, to traveling, or wandering, poet. The language never contained a word for "musician" specifically; people just happened to play instruments but it was not considered a profession, or even a hobby. The golden age of Viking Poets (Skálds) faded during the 800s but the occupation continued into the late Medieval period. Oddly, Skálds were not trained to recite rote history but to tell, pass on, stories in their own phrasing while altering relative "facts" to suit their audience. Imagine Beowulf being a simple tale of young Hrothgar killing a large wolf that threatened his hunting party one evening, and how that burgeoning epic was embellished over the next four or five centuries, before it was recorded.

I've ordered two tunics because material and fit and stuff. Hoping at least one of them is suitable. Also found a good pair of period boots that I'm now wearing to break in, they hurt, it'll be okay. Oh and there's a really long black braided belt in the closet for some reason that nobody knows

 

[Khamon]

Wull I accompanied recitations of Beowulf and Canterbury Tales, with a couple of solo tunes between them, for the Alabama Renaissance Feast in Florence last weekend. They've invited me back to play during the Faire this weekend. One is also booked to play, and accompany singing, for the pleasure of the Dragon Croft Court during a Kingdom Feast in December. More character development is in order and much clothing must be acquired. Retirement looks better every day. Thank You Veritable and Soen for the encouragement.

 

[Khamon]

We've been invited to play a second year at the Alabama Renaissance Faire so I must've muddled through well enough last year. One has acquired a bit more period clothing and fleshed out the repertoire with some courtly pieces and sea shanties that the Pirates Privateers will enjoy. The Pirates wish to not be called Pirates any longer and who am I to argue being a Viking Norseman myself.

 

[Sid]

Situating it around 1069 is pure Middle Ages, isn't it?
The Renaissance period starts around 3-4 centuries later. 1400-1600\1700.

 

[Veritable Quandry]

I have acquired two bolts of unbleached linen. One will be dyed purple using cabbage. The other will be cut in half and dyed with dandelion root for medium and light brown. By Ohio Renfaire were will have the base layers of Viking outfits. I will make a wool tunic and dress for October.

 

[Khamon]

Situating it around 1069 is pure Middle Ages, isn't it?
The Renaissance period starts around 3-4 centuries later. 1400-1600\1700.

Yes. The official period for this faire is 1100-1650 but they tolerate my slight anachronism. The other kingdom that I work with delves back into the late ninth century to accommodate the settlement of the Normans who aim to conquest everything. They have the largest and most permanent campsite to date yet others are working to displace them!

 

[Soen Eber]

They have the largest and most permanent campsite to date yet others are working to displace them!

How wouly you rate the one in Shakopee, MN? They just barely escaped a death sentence because of traffic hassles, and may have to move eventually or jack the prices up to cover shuttle busses. It's always been an hour wait in traffic.

 

[Soen Eber]

I have acquired two bolts of unbleached linen. One will be dyed purple using cabbage. The other will be cut in half and dyed with dandelion root for medium and light brown. By Ohio Renfaire were will have the base layers of Viking outfits. I will make a wool tunic and dress for October.

I read "willst" for "will" the first time through. IIRC, it's not that hard to learn Elizabethen grammar and vocabulary.

 

[Khamon]

I read "willst" for "will" the first time through. IIRC, it's not that hard to learn Elizabethen grammar and vocabulary.

Sooth

How wouly you rate the one in Shakopee, MN? They just barely escaped a death sentence because of traffic hassles, and may have to move eventually or jack the prices up to cover shuttle busses. It's always been an hour wait in traffic.

Just got back from MN but haven’t attended their Faire. Ours are small compared to most. Georgia’s runs for months and is crammed full of people that waited hours to arrive, park, amd wedge their way through the gate.

 

[Casey Pelous]

Situating it around 1069 is pure Middle Ages, isn't it?
The Renaissance period starts around 3-4 centuries later. 1400-1600\1700.

Mister Faraskald is very .................................................... ummmm ........ experienced.

 

[Khamon]

in many way...many many ways...yas