Mar 21 2009
Working Conditions - Absolute Bare Minimum
I’ve been thinking about how much stuff I tote around when I work Faires - I’ve mentioned before that I’m a great believer in infrastructure - but when it comes down to it, there is an ABM - an Absolute Bare Minimum - that I’d want to pack in and out.
If you’re starting to work / perform at faires, don’t have a full “kit”, and are looking to get the most out of what little funds you have for this wacky pastime, here’s what I recommend:
- A washable blanket - something along the lines of a stadium blanket or even a piece of polar fleece in earth tones or neutrals. You can use this as seating, a wrap, or to hide those pesky modern things if opening parade hits and your stuff is still in plain view.
- A tarp - for under your blanket if you’re on damp or mushy ground, or over your gear backstage to keep the rain or other nature off it
- A plate, fork, spoon and knife - I went about this the usual way by hitting the local thrift shops, but you lucky kids today can just go to your local socially and environmentally aware grocery store and pick up “disposable” bamboo plates and eating utensils for a fraction of what us old guys used to spend. And bamboo is a wood product so it’s as “period” as necessary.
- A beverage vessel - another good cause for hitting the local thrift or charity stores - pewter, brass, even stainless steel if it doesn’t look too modern. Wood is great, but you’ll need to look into sealing the inside.
- Trash bags - because humans generate garbage, and your tarp may not be big enough once you’ve got stuff spread out
- A small, soft-sided cooler - For your food (you are going to be frugal and bring at least some of what you’re going to consume at faire, aren’t you?)
- Something to carry it all in - preferably something with wheels if you can manage it. These days you can get a pretty nifty rolling shopping card / folding box on wheels for not too much, and you will appreciate the slight increase in expense at the end of a 3 day weekend when you have to haul your gear alllll the way out to performer parking. Way… out… there.
Of course, there’s also your costume and other props, so you should factor that stuff into the capacity of your carrying thingy. The good news is that everything I’ve mentioned can be bought “off the shelf” at thrift and sporting supply shops… or if you’re willing to spend a little more time, you can spend less money and get the raw bits and do some sewing and sawing to make a custom ABM kit.
