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BEGINNING A LONG TRIP
I'm one of those people who needs information before I make a move and when I joined St. Michael's Guild in 1996, I realize acting was only one part of the gig, the other part require researching what my acting group was about and what was my role.
Since being in St. Michael's and being part of the Company of Foote means being a Pikeman, I had a lot of research ahead of me. Methods of warfare, rank and file distribution, officers, battlefield arrangements and tactics, the list goes on. So between the end of the first year and next faire season, I devoted at least 50% of my free time studying and researching everything, Not the least was Queen Elizabeth I, and what goes on in Court, the Courtiers (nobles). Of course everything was secondary compared to battle pageant. It was Battle Pageant I was really into. In fact almost anyone who joins the military is about getting out on the field to fight.
This role playing game was simply too much fun, and before long I started acquiring costume pieces, arms and armor that I could use. Not only will they make me look good in a crowd, but I was acquiring them for my own enjoyment as well. My new armor and swords etc., became the envy of the group. Even though there were only a few of us, training and drills didn't slack up. Little John who was the fight coordinator and playing Sergeant Major at the time had the men drill pike routines until we could do it in our sleep. There were a lot more Germans and Border Horse members back then, but when the time came for battle pageant, the non regulars (boothies and people from other groups) of the Company of Foote would join the ranks to fight the Irish and the Scots. Very similar to a real period muster where the people gather from all walks of life. As the regulars of the guild, on a very good day, we'd have six people on the roster.
Unfortunately, first year rookies don't get out to do single combat. It was a time to learn the ropes and to get a hang of what goes on in the military as well as getting to know everyone. 1996 was a good year. I was in a guild I liked, and was enjoying my faire experience. Of those newbies who weren't into the fighting and just wanted to join faire, it's probably more about the booze, the after hours parties and of course the boobies.
Back then, the faire ran for 8 weekends including 3 day weekend (May) and by then end of three day weekend, I'd be totally exhausted. But tired or not, I was loving faire more and more and usually couldn't wait till the next faire season to come around. Finally 1997 rolled around, I was prepared for another year of fun, only this time I had also purchased more stuff including a gauget when I went up to do Northern Faire at Black Point the previous year, I had purchased demi-gauntlets as well as leather paudrons to add to my arsenal of weapons and armor and Just prior to faire starting I picked up a buckler too, Now I was armed to the teeth (so to speak). Cathy Soper made me a new pair of pants along with two new shirts so in my mind I was really ready to rock-n-roll. This was the year I'd devote to developing my fictitious faire character and attempt to breathe life into the character I've created. It was hard not to break character when talking to the patrons and even harder by not using modern terms and slangs. I figured this was a learning curve, so when faire was thru', I'd started attending acting classes to further hone my skills as an actor.
From 1998 to 2000, I was allowed to do solo fights in battle pageants. Tom Templeman from Celt camp and I seem to always end up squaring off, so between the two of us, I'd work out fight routines that the two of us can get out and do. Of course on 3 day weekends, we always kill each other on the one on one fights which were usually spectacular. Tom had put together his brigandine armor and I got a Burgundian gothic plate armor. Together we'd be on the field wacking and bashing each other to the delights of the audience.
If my memory serves me correctly it was in 1999 that we began to expand to start doing timeline events at Fort MacArthur in San Pedro. Since there are a number of us who love living history, this also provided ample opportunities to be out talking and educating the public about 16th Century military history and tactics. It was also a time when I was able fully utilize the vast amount of knowledge I have stored up just for occasions like this. Many of the true historical enthusiasts, like myself crave for occasions like these. For me, it's a measuring stick to see how much knowledge and info I've retained from my research about 16th C. Elizabethan militia and what or who I am.
In 2000 I was elected as one of Blackshire's theatrical officers. (Blackshires' is the theatrical group that performs out at faire at Stoddard's Compayne) and took on the persona of Lieutenant Sir Guy de Montfort. The biggest challenge was finding a character that I liked enough play. It happened when I was researching another subject and came upon his great grandfather Simon de Monfort the Earl of Leicester back in the 14th Century. I followed the family lineage and went to libraries, researched him on the internet and finally decided on Guy. Since Guy's mother was English (and not French) that would somewhat explain his presence in England and why he would be an officer. (After all back then, if one was born a gentry or noble it was assumed one had the ability to lead). I had Mary Wine make my new costume (seen on the top left) which cost a total of of almost $1800 because the fabric was so expensive and a friend from the Germans made the pants (which was a complete disaster.) For making such a beautiful and expensive costume, I got a lot of flak from the Assistant Guild Master because she didn't see the need that I should be dressed so well. Luckily Frieda Paras-Jones, the Costuming Director stepped in to resolve the issue and I was allowed to wear my new costume. If there's one thing I absolutely hate, is the faire politics. I just want to have fun, do my bit and enjoy my time, but by 2001 this was getting harder and harder to do. Not only did I not get re-elected, but got down graded to Ensign so in a way I was looking for somewhere else to go.
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