We've been going about it all wrong!
Jul. 8th, 2007 11:11 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gurdymonkeyToday a message from the Known World Players hit the SCA_BARDS Yahoo Group, announcing that they had raised about half of the $2000 they needed to do this.
Two grand? To put on a play at Pennsic? I bet the Golden Stag Players don't do this. I'm pretty sure I Sebastiani doesn't.
George and I have been going about it all wrong. I could have financed my entire Pennsic trip by sucking up to prospective patrons evidently. So, I posted the following to SCA_BARDS.
Ahem.
George le Curieux, known throughout the Knowne Worlde* as the loveable internet star of "An Inquisitive Monkey At West Kingdom Court" wants to attend Pennsic. (*That should be pronounced Knownee Worldee because if you're going to spell it that way, you shouldn't let those poor, neglected terminal "e's" feel alone and unloved.)
For years, George has been entertaining the populace of the Kingdom of the West and the fine folks who attend Estrella War gratis. That's right. He has not received so much as one bruised banana for his
troubles. (No, wait, that's not true, there was the nice man who gave us a free lip balm. Lovely non-greasy tangerine lip balm, BTW, but you can't eat it or buy gas with it. Shameless Display beauty products,
they merchant at Estrella.)
Why? Because we here at the Abbey of St. Cornelius Bananabreath at Chateau des Singes have always felt that our performances were a gift to the people of the SCA. (Especially the way some of 'em whinge about non-member surcharges and membership fees cutting into their beer money and have you seen the price of a genuine leatherette Pyrate coat these days?)
Oh, and also probably because it's very difficult to put out a bowl when the novelty of one's act is being able to walk and play the gurdy at the same time. Someone is likely to steal it - or instigate litigation for having turned their ankle upon the thing. On the other hand, we have NEVER had a merchant mutter "George and Jehanne must die" because we've worn out our welcome by staying rooted to one place
for too long either.
We don't have sponsors, we don't have fundraising staff, we don't have a pledge drive on PBS. We don't have a budget to buy the paint and cardboard to display your heraldry on a sandwich board that it's going
to be too hot for me to wear anyway. It's just me and George and George doesn't eat very much and never, ever flings poo. He is a Very Good Monkey. We don't need a stage, we don't need $2000 to mount a
vast migratory production with or without coconuts.
We just need you. Our public. The people who have been making the site stats for George's website the hit of Livejournal and SCAToday. For the low, low price of a smile, you will get a smile back and a lively,
if cacophonous tune. If you decide you'd like to buy us a lemonade, we will cheerfully and gratefully accept. We're not going to change our no-bowl, no broken-ankle policy just 'cause it's Pennsic. We've eaten
Pop Tarts and peanut butter and jelly burritos before, we can do it again.
Thank you from the bottom of our kapoc stuffed hearts. We look forward to seeing you all at Pennsic.
Jehanne de Wodeford and George le Curieux
West Kingdom
[Small legal print: we would like to thank the Known World Players for unwittingly being forced to put up with this burst of silliness.]
George and I have been going about it all wrong. I could have financed my entire Pennsic trip by sucking up to prospective patrons evidently. So, I posted the following to SCA_BARDS.
Ahem.
George le Curieux, known throughout the Knowne Worlde* as the loveable internet star of "An Inquisitive Monkey At West Kingdom Court" wants to attend Pennsic. (*That should be pronounced Knownee Worldee because if you're going to spell it that way, you shouldn't let those poor, neglected terminal "e's" feel alone and unloved.)
For years, George has been entertaining the populace of the Kingdom of the West and the fine folks who attend Estrella War gratis. That's right. He has not received so much as one bruised banana for his
troubles. (No, wait, that's not true, there was the nice man who gave us a free lip balm. Lovely non-greasy tangerine lip balm, BTW, but you can't eat it or buy gas with it. Shameless Display beauty products,
they merchant at Estrella.)
Why? Because we here at the Abbey of St. Cornelius Bananabreath at Chateau des Singes have always felt that our performances were a gift to the people of the SCA. (Especially the way some of 'em whinge about non-member surcharges and membership fees cutting into their beer money and have you seen the price of a genuine leatherette Pyrate coat these days?)
Oh, and also probably because it's very difficult to put out a bowl when the novelty of one's act is being able to walk and play the gurdy at the same time. Someone is likely to steal it - or instigate litigation for having turned their ankle upon the thing. On the other hand, we have NEVER had a merchant mutter "George and Jehanne must die" because we've worn out our welcome by staying rooted to one place
for too long either.
We don't have sponsors, we don't have fundraising staff, we don't have a pledge drive on PBS. We don't have a budget to buy the paint and cardboard to display your heraldry on a sandwich board that it's going
to be too hot for me to wear anyway. It's just me and George and George doesn't eat very much and never, ever flings poo. He is a Very Good Monkey. We don't need a stage, we don't need $2000 to mount a
vast migratory production with or without coconuts.
We just need you. Our public. The people who have been making the site stats for George's website the hit of Livejournal and SCAToday. For the low, low price of a smile, you will get a smile back and a lively,
if cacophonous tune. If you decide you'd like to buy us a lemonade, we will cheerfully and gratefully accept. We're not going to change our no-bowl, no broken-ankle policy just 'cause it's Pennsic. We've eaten
Pop Tarts and peanut butter and jelly burritos before, we can do it again.
Thank you from the bottom of our kapoc stuffed hearts. We look forward to seeing you all at Pennsic.
Jehanne de Wodeford and George le Curieux
West Kingdom
[Small legal print: we would like to thank the Known World Players for unwittingly being forced to put up with this burst of silliness.]
no subject
Date: 2007-07-09 01:41 pm (UTC)This year the Known World Players will be holding auditions for one of next year's shows: "Forbidden Pennsic", a fun look at Pennsic through the eyes of a newcomer. We explore it through the music of Broadway ("West Side Story", "Into the Woods", "Hair", and more). Auditions are Monday of war week at 5pm in the Ampitheater.
no subject
Date: 2007-07-09 10:26 pm (UTC)Someone posted over on Tribe.net that Corvus Corax is not going to perform at Pennsic unless someone pays them very well. That is their right and privilege.
However, the SCA is a non-profit educational organization. As a teacher and a performer within that framework I consider myself a proud amateur. I do not require people to pay for class handouts, though I will not turn down donations for them (materials are different, those require outlay and I charge what I've paid for 'em). I don't put a bowl out or pass the hat at SCA events. If someone chooses to offer me something, be it a tip or a glass of lemonade or a free lip balm, I will happily accept, but I'm not there to part my audience from their purses. I'm there to take over the Known World one song at a time. ;-D
no subject
Date: 2007-07-10 01:35 am (UTC)I've been wondering that myself. I just came from Council where this very thing was discussed. One of the directors (a Carolingian) asked the Barony to consider being a "guild sponsor".
no subject
Date: 2007-07-10 03:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-10 11:20 am (UTC)