This article was published some years ago in our local newsletter just before our big annual event that is open to the public.  We have held Junefaire for over 30 years and I think this advice still holds true.

It is time to get ready for June Faire.  Do you have enough garb?  Is your encampment all together?  Is that special project going to be ready?  These are the concerns occupying all our minds.  Please take time to consider how to deal with one more special circumstance.

Chatelaine for a Day

At Junefaire, Hawaiian shirts and bicycle shorts will stand shoulder to shoulder with Elizabethan velvet.  A family in their Sunday best will chat with battle scarred Norsemen. Byzantine silks will compete with tie-dye and jeans.  At no other event are we so up close and personal with the modern public. 

At most of our events, a few moderns stop by to see what all the fluttering banners and loud huzzahs are about.  In most cases the gate can answer their few questions or direct the visitor to the Chatelaine for more information. This situation is totally flip-flopped at Junefaire. The impression they take away with them of the SCA and Dragons Laire depends on each and every one of you. 

Be friendly in a general way.   Smile, nod and greet the public with a simple Good Day or something appropriate to your persona. Try to keep the faire G-rated during the public hours.  The *F* word may be a perfectly good Anglo-Saxon word but the wide- eyed five-year-old doesn’t need to learn it here and that bawdy ditty will have a more appreciative audience after the public hours.  And if you must smoke, keep it in the designated area.  Never near the Eric!

If you have time, offer to answer questions.  Start a conversation with a modern.  "Good Day, Are you enjoying the Faire?  Can I answer any questions?"  If the questions require more expertise than you have, look around for an expert. One will be standing right behind you.  "Milord fighter, do you have time to answer a few questions about armor for this young man?" "Milady, could you answer a few questions about your garb?"

Even if you haven't offered to answer questions, if you are in garb, visitors may still stop you and ask a question.  If you are about to step into the eric or are on a vital mission for the autocrat, politely explain you cannot help them right now and if possible point them to another.  Otherwise give the visitor your polite attention for a few moments and either point them to the Chatelaine or answer the question yourself.

There are several questions that any of us ought to be able to answer.  These require short factual answers and providing them makes us seem friendly and helpful.

"Where are the bathrooms?" is perhaps the most important question you can answer. You should also be generally familiar with where other amenities are situated; this is, after all, your village.  Most uninvited questions adult visitors ask will be of this variety.  (The under 10 crowd can ask such an unpredictable variety of questions, it is impossible to even start to catalogue them. They often don’t even have an actual question but merely want to share their enthusiasm. It is not a terrible trial to listen for a few moments. Is it?)

In addition to 'Where' several other questions always seem to pop up. "What’s that SCA stand for?"  And "Do you do this full time?" are common.   (A simple explanation that the rest of the week you work at the shipyard or selling real estate answers the visitor's question without revealing too much personal information.)

Questions about what people are wearing or doing are also often heard.  "What are those swords made out of?"  "Isn’t all that armor heavy?" and "Where do you get your costumes?"  In most cases the visitor is simply curious and a short simple answer is all they want, but some are looking for more detailed information. These often turn out to be potential new members. Share if you feel comfortable with the subject or refer them to the chatelaine for more information.

Requests for information on demos or joining the SCA should always be steered to the Chatelaine’s booth. She has the information they need and can also provide out of area contacts.

Many local schools schedule lessons on the Middle Ages near the end of the school year and encourage their students to attend Junefaire.  These students often have a list of questions to answer or contacts to make for some sort of assignment. Please, help them with their homework.

A few polite moments of your time and attention will make the faire a more enjoyable experience for all and keep Dragons Laire and the SCA in the good graces of the community.

Copyright 2001and 2002 by L.J.Henson aka HL Rycheza z Polska.  Posted receipt book of Rycheza z Polska February 2013

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