Hi, Kathy--even though you haven't asked, I'll answer!
I worked at a Renn Fair for a number of years here in Massachusetts for $100
a day plus hat privileges. (you should ask for more money!)
It was very, very dusty and the dust would settle on the wheel and just chew
up my cotton--I got REALLY good at changing cotton through dire necessity,
as well as in determining how much rosin to apply as weather conditions
changed. I drew the line at bringing it out in the rain, though....all the
musicians would carry tinwhistles along as a kind of musical instrument
insurance policy. It was um, shall we say, "memorable" to hear droves of
musicians with varying degrees of proficiency tootling on the whistles in
the drizzle for bedraggled fair-goers... One year a heavy storm knocked all
the bee hives out of the trees and there were swarms of angry bees settling
everywhere, including my keybox and I lived in mortal fear of getting stung.
Perhaps they were attracted by the buzz? The final straw was when a vendor
started selling dumbeks and inebriated patrons would charge over to where I
was playing to just jam along...
But I digress! Ultimately, what is important is the pleasure we derive from
the instruments and the music we play (in the absence of incompetent dumbek
neophytes, that is!) Keep us in the loop regarding the progress you make,
I'm crossing my fingers for you.
Oh--and if you do bring the gurdy to your Renn Fair, be prepared to endure
some really stupid questions asked many, many times! (Melissa on the list
has some very good come backs, if you're interested...)
Nan
And speaking of that -- I won't even ask if any of you have ever worked a
RenFaire. Have any of you ever been to one, and seen the conditions under
which the entertainers work? The weather can be anything from 45 to 105
degrees, Rain, wind, mud, dust. Little kids putting their sticky hands on
your stuff. Would any of you take your expensive, touchy instruments into
such an environment six weekends in a row, for fifty dollars a day and
tips from passing the hat? I won't take my best harp to a RenFaire, that's
why I've got two backups. (One of which my husband built. From a kit.)
Kathy Hutchins
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
