Included herein is a description of what we expect of those we work with, the "rules" if you wish to call it that.
Onstage and Offstage:
There is a difference between onstage and offstage at Faire. Anything that is behind the scenes, not easily visible to Guests, on the campsite, or in your vehicle is OFFSTAGE. Offstage, feel free to do all of the things you cannot do onstage. Use plastic cutlery/plates, call people on your cellular phone, do all of those 20th century things you need to do.
ONSTAGE is any part of the Faire site that is visible to Guests. Please remain in character at all times when you are onstage.
Anachronisms: Obviously, some of the most common items of clothing and accessories we wear today were not around in the Renaissance. Part of the acting process in a Faire setting is to suspend the disbelief of the guests at Faire. Basically, this means that we want them to believe they've stepped back in time, into the Renaissance, and that's rather hard if you're wearing bright orange sunglasses and sparkly purple nail polish.
Makeup: Makeup is a common sense situation. Please try and keep it as natural as possible, unless your character would have obvious makeup. Gypsies, nobles, actors, dancers....these people might very possibly wear obvious makeup.
Jewelry: Jewelry is a common sense situation. If you are playing a Peasant character, please do not wear any jewelry. The only exception to this request is wedding rings, or anything that you "never take off" that holds extreme sentimental value. Body piercings are completely out of genre, if at all possible, please remove all visible body jewelry. If it is not possible for you to remove a piercing, please do everything in your power to downplay the jewelry.
Gypsies, Middle Class, Bards, Nobles, Sailors and other classes with access to money/plunder/gifts wear jewelry. Please use your common sense on what jewelry is acceptable, keeping in mind that it needs to look at least passably 16th century. Electronics: 20th century electronics can get in the way of the suspension of disbelief we're trying to achieve at Faire. Please switch all pagers to vibrate, and silence all cellular telephones while onstage. The ONLY exception to this rule is for Security and Administrative workers. Please do not use Walkman headphones, Game Boy games, laptop computers, etc. while onstage.
The BIG glaring exception to Anachronism rules are in the case of an emergency. Break character, and immediately summon security and medical assistance. Do not try and stay in character if a Guest or other Actor is injured or sick.
Behaviour on the Faire Site:
Please maintain a level of behaviour that you can be proud of. Be respectful of the land we are using as our Faire Site, clean up any messes you make, do not set anything on fire that isn't an approved bonfire or cooking fire, do not damage any property onsite, and please be especially careful with the stream that runs through the Site. That stream is a protected salmon stream, and any irresponsible usage of the stream could result in catastrophic ecological repercussions. Do NOT throw empty cans, cigarette butts or any other trash in the stream. Do NOT use soap in the stream. Do NOT attempt to catch fish in the stream. Do NOT wash yourself, your clothes or your dishes in the stream. Please let the stream be, with the exception of friendly dogs taking a wee drink from it, we don't want it tampered with at all. Also keep in mind that about a mile up the way, cows wade in that water, and you run a very high risk of becoming very ill by drinking that water. Bad idea.
Please camp only in designated camping areas, or inside your booth if you are a vendor. If you are unsure of whether or not you can camp in a certain area, please ask Security. Please do not camp anywhere that restricts the fire lines we try and keep open. Please keep in mind that any food left out will attract all manner of insects. Please keep all of your food covered. Do not leave alcohol visible in campsites. Please obey Security if you are asked to move your campsite, quiet your campsite down, etc. We understand Faire is fun, and people want to let their hair down and have a good time, but keep in mind as well that some people actually do want to sleep. Just live by the Golden Rule. Camping passes may be purchased prior to Faire, and also during Check-In.
Please remember that all Washington State, Pierce County and Gig Harbor City laws and ordinances still are held on the Faire Site. These include, but are not limited to: Sexual Harassment, Statutory Rape, Assault, Contributing to the Delinquency of Minors, Theft, Burglary, Auto Theft, Drug laws, Alcohol laws, etc. Please refrain from damaging and illegal behaviour while on the Faire Site. Please do not bring obviously illegal weaponry, paraphernalia, etc. onto the Faire Site.
It's an honour system. Please be discreet about drinking around minors. Try and watch your language around the little ones. Do not offer liquor or tobacco to minors. Play nice. Moderation and discretion are the key words here. Anyone deemed to be out of control or dangerous will be removed from the Faire Site.
Also, anyone found to be indulging in criminal behaviour will be turned over to the custody of the police. Be good, kittens.
Weather and Health Concerns:
Wear sunscreen. Depending on the rather capricious weather here in Washington, we could either be chilled to the bone, or warm as toast. And nothing makes Faire more miserable than a sunburn. If you feel you're at risk of frying like an egg, report to the Security tent, someone there is likely to be able to share a bit of their sunscreen. But be responsible and bring your own. Bring plenty of drinking water. You can get drinking water from the Faire operated food service area as well, but again. Be responsible and take care of yourself, too. If you feel you are having a health situation, please report to Security for assistance. Bring warm clothing for the mornings and nights, which can be very chilly. Extra blankets or a warm cloak is a wonderful idea. Weatherproofing your tent is a very good idea as well, as the mornings and nights can get very damp. Know your limits. If you need to sit down in the shade, sit down in the shade. If you need help, get help. It is a good idea to bring a first aid kit with you, however, if you need assistance of this kind, please report to Security.
Lost Children and Parents: If you observe any unattended children, it is never a bad idea to ask them if they need assistance. If you come upon a child who is lost, or a parent looking for their child, immediately contact Security. Immediately. Do not try and find the parent or child yourself. Get Security. They have radios, and can better sweep the Faire for the other party.
Port-A-Potties and You!: I should not even have to write this. But apparently, I do. The toilets are for a specific purpose, and I think we all know what that purpose is. The toilets are not trash cans. It is not amusing to tear the seats off the toilets. We have to pay for damage like that. I will assume all participants of this Faire are toilet trained, and know how to behave themselves, and functionally operate a toilet. If, for some reason, you either cause, or come across a situation that needs attention in one of the toilets, please alert Security.
Parking at Faire: Please park where you are told you can park. Please do not argue with Staff about where you have to park. We have reasons for having you park where we do, and that is that we need room for paying customers to park their cars. Please do not have cars on the Faire Site during the day. This includes campers. Campers are NOT to be on the Faire site. They are to be parked in the designated area for campers. Period. If you choose to ignore the Staff, and park somewhere you have been told not to, your car will be towed. Trust us, we are doing our best to make sure you have a reasonably convenient place to park that will not stand in the way of paying customers being able to park. The customers do come first in this situation, please try and be mindful of that. If you have to take your car through the Faire site before Faire starts in the morning, you must have it off the Faire site at least 30 minutes before the gates open. No exceptions. Cars that are allowed to remain in the back (quiet) camping area must remain there until the gates close, and Security has cleared traffic to commence. There are no exceptions to this rule, so if you feel you may need to leave the site prior to close, don't leave your car parked in the back.
Minors on the Faire Site: Minors are welcome to work at the WRFF. They must have signed and filed with Staff, a permission slip that has been signed by their parent/guardian. This goes for camping as well. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied at all times by a parent, or guardian that is over the age of 21. If you have brought your children to work Faire with you, please control and look out for them. Accidents can happen, and all children are expected to be closely monitored.
Please do not allow children to become problematic for other actors, administration, vendors or security.
Alcohol Guidelines: During the day, while the gates of Faire are open, the only legal place to be drinking is in the "Alehouse". You must be 21 years of age, holding valid picture identification that is state or military issued to gain admittance into the Alehouse. Even if you are not drinking, you may not be within the gates of the Alehouse unless you are 21. You may not bring alcohol out of the gates of the Alehouse.
Officially the entire site is Dry after closing of the alehouse. Please be responsible, and be mindful that minors may not be served alcohol. Anyone found contributing to a minor's consumption of alcohol will be removed from the Faire site. Any minor found drinking will be removed from the Faire site. All people violating the liquor guidelines will be turned over to Washington State patrol.
Harassment Issues: Faire is fun. Faire is supposed to be fun. Keep in mind that there is a difference between a bawdy joke and true harassment. If you feel as though you are being sexually harassed or that you are in any danger from another Actor, please take it up with Security and try handle it in an mature and calm manner. We're all adults, the Renaissance was a rather bawdy time, and we're all here to have fun. That being said, do NOT say or do anything that will make another person feel as though they are in danger of being violated, compromised or hurt. Play nice.
If you feel as though a Guest is harassing you, do NOT take matters into your own hands by swearing, hitting or in any other way abusing the Guest. Walk away from the Guest and report the matter to Security. If you are physically injured or restrained by a Guest, do what you deem to be the least violent appropriate action to remove yourself from the situation, and immediately report to Security.
Please avoid overtly sexually explicit innuendo with Actors and Guests. Many people find this to be harassment, in and of itself, and the truly witty person doesn't need to use coarse language anyhow. Be creative.
Bracelets And You: Bracelets are issued to all participants, as well as weekend patron campers. This bracelet allows Security to know that you're allowed inside the gates. Telling Security you're allowed inside the gates is not going to work. Nor is assuring them you're allowed, or getting mad at them for not letting you inside. Bracelets are issued when you check in at the Car Gate, or if you miss check in hours there, at the Castle Gate. You must provide ID to get your bracelet. Minors (under 21) are issued a different colour bracelet than adults. This does not mean that you don't need to show ID to get into the Alehouse. You must always provide legal picture ID when entering the Alehouse. Bracelets cannot be removed and taped back on, carried in one's pocket, or stored in a wallet. They must remain unbroken on the wrist or ankle for the entirety of the weekend. Should your bracelet need to be replaced, please go to the Castle Gate and present your ID again for a new bracelet. You are free to hide the bracelet under cloth, sleeves, other bracelets, bits of rope or whatever else, so long as you can readily show it to Staff when necessary. You'll find that these bracelets are pretty sturdy, and will weather the entire weekend without causing too much of a problem.
Check-In: Check-In will start Friday, all day, as well as Saturday morning. If you will be arriving Saturday morning to participate in Faire, please arrive early, so you don't clog up the line of customers. All minors must contact Staff before Faire begins to get the proper paperwork to participate in Faire, and have said paperwork filed with Staff. Minors must bring their responsible adult with them to Check-In. ID must be provided at Check-In. Please make sure that you have sent your information to the proper leaders (Merchants, Paid Performers, P.A.D., Security, Site) and that you are on their Gate List before Faire opens. Otherwise, it creates a terrible backup for those handling Check-In, and makes the process longer for everyone. Anyone not on the Gate List will be expected to pay full admission for entrance to the Faire.
Property Issues: WRFF is NOT responsible for the theft of anything belonging to a Vendor, Actor, Administrator, Security Worker, or hired Player while they are on the Faire Site.
Please be careful with your personal property. If you are camping on the Faire Site, consider purchasing a lock for the tent zipper. We should all be able to trust one another, but the fact remains that even in the shiniest batch of apples, there's a rotten one lurking around somewhere. Please do not leave valuables in plain sight. Lock up any jewelry or objects of value that you have brought to Faire with you. Do not leave cash in plain sight. Do not leave your tent unzipped and open when away from the Campsite. Please make certain to lock your car and put away all electronic devices you've brought with you. Try and avoid any property losses by using preventative measures.
On the other side of the coin, don't take things that are not rightfully yours. End of story. If you feel as though you are in any danger, please report immediately to Security. If you feel as though someone else may be in danger, please immediately tell Security. There are a great many people around at Faire, and we can't be everywhere at once. Please know that your help is greatly appreciated, please feel free to approach Security at all times. Please refrain from taking the law into your own hands, let Security deal with any situations that might arise. Please be respectful to Security.
Please also remember to clean up any messes you make, both within the Faire Site, and also at the Camp Site. If you do not, we may not be able to use the land we are using now. Be respectful and kind to those that have been kind enough to let us use this land. Throw away all trash, clean up any cooking messes, break down your campsite and bring everything back with you that you brought. Thank you.