Street Acting and Character Development

The majority of acting at faire is more interactive and improvisational than memorization and recitation. Remembering a few things will make street acting much easier.

•  Offer a situation in which you possess and out - something that can allow you to continue on your way (I.e. forgive me my lord or lady but I am promised forth to yonder tavern for a tankard of ale)

•  Don't be afraid to use your out, but make sure to allow someone else to speak too.

•  Speak slowly and give yourself time to think.

The following is a list of general rules and practices that will assist with good conduct and allow for an enjoyable experience for Members and Patrons alike:

•  Be sure the patron wishes to engage before pulling them into a conversation. Forcing someone into a conversation that they may be uncomfortable with could end up scaring them away from you and the faire experience.

•  Stay in character whenever practical while speaking around patrons so as not take anything away from their faire experience. Remember that we do this as much for them as we do for ourselves.

•  Don't talk about the “real world” in front of patrons (I.e. the score of the big game, computers, cell phones, etc…)

•  Don't touch patrons physically when you're trying to get their attention. It makes some people uncomfortable when people assume that kind of familiarity. Faire folks don't seem to mind it much, but some people need their space. - Used effectively, this is an excellent way to capture someone's attention: for most people, effectively means offering your arm to lead them somewhere or opening your arms to lend the suggestion of a touch. By no means ever pull on someone. Remember: NO means NO in every language.

•  Have fun and remember that we are here to have a good, safe time. If we have fun so will those patrons visiting. Sometimes you must amuse yourself first…a smile on your face can put a smile on many faces!

•  If you're not having a very good time then we will have to question you as to why you spent so much time, money and effort on those silly clothes!

Character Development

Since someone can ask you any question about yourself, you should have a good idea of the character you're portraying. In general, this means you should have some basic answers such as:

Name : [Character Name – Factual or Fictional]

Titles : [If Applicable]

Aka: [Nicknames or Alias]

Birthplace: [Where was your Character Born?]

Location: [Where is the Town / Village Located?]

Age: [Character Age]

Birth Date: [Be aware of Festival Time Period for Character]

Father: [Factual or Fictional]

Mother: [Factual or Fictional]

Grandparents: [Factual or Fictional]

(Father Side):

(Mother Side):

Occupation: [Character Occupation]

Current Residence: [Provide as much information to paint a picture]

My Creed: [Character's Family Creed or Motto]

Festival Experience: [Your experience for matter or record]

Obviously, the more detail you build up, the more realistic your character then becomes and the more fun you'll have in portraying him or her. Remember a picture may be worth a thousand words, but a thousand words will paint a better picture.

NOTE:

Further information pertaining to the structure and governance of the Kingdom of Onondaga can be found in the Articles of our bylaws. [Section 4 – Bylaws of the Kingdom].