I first went to Southern Faire in 1992 with some of my college friends. I had heard of if it before, but I never made it out there till then. I had a blast. At the time I was a history major at Cypress College and one of my classmates was Rick Sullivan. Well, during the course of the day I saw him in costume during that parade with all the people and the Queen (that's turkey talk for Progress). The following week I caught up with Rick and he told me about Blackshires and I said I was interested in joining. The next school year began and I carpooled with Rick to my very first Blackshires meeting. I believe it was at Jerry and Jill Wood's place somewhere in Orange County. That is where I met most of the people I know from St Michael's: Jerry and Jill, Michael Foster ( pre-Guild Master era), Gary Kephart, "Little" John Tiffany, the Wines (Dave, my first Captain Stoddard, Dale, and Mike, who was the company ensign), Rebel, Kevin Wright, Kathy Soper, and some other people whose faces I remember but names I cannot.
After the first meeting, I decided I was definitely up for it and started getting my costume ready. At the time, I was a twenty year old full time college student who part timed as a tutor for minimum wage ($5.25 an hour back in 1993). So basically I had no money. Kathy Soper made me a very nice set of wool breeches for $40 (which I would be gladly still be wearing if I still had a 29 inch waist). I had a shirt that I bought at the Southern faire on my first trip ( although it was more peasant than middle class). Rick Sullivan lent me an old doublet and hat. I made do with K-mart fu shoes that I picked up for twelve dollars. Other than some flack from my parents (they thought I was being silly for wanting to do faire and that I should get a real job), I was ready to go.
In April 1993, the faire was still being ran by the Pattersons through the Living History Center. Registration and work shops were held at Cal State San Bernardino with an added twist that people had to audition to be part of Faire ( a practice that I am not surprised that REC did away with). The audition process was grouping people together and having them improv a scene. I made the cut and got to take many wonderful workshops mandated by my newbie status.
Reflecting back after nearly ten years, I have many strong memories from the 1993 faire. I remember not quite understanding why there were all these different groups under the same guild ( the Germans, Shot, Mariners, and Queen's Guard who back then participated in Battle Pageant). To be honest, I didn't know that there were such a thing as guild masters. I remember the work involved in setting up the camp such as digging post holes and having to cover up the asphalt roads with dirt ourselves. I remember when Little John and Gary were still pikemen. I remember the kissing bridge.
The group's morning routine consisted of a morning muster with the plan of the day being discussed, watch words set, and the morning benediction from the German's Father Anders ( I do not believe that the Academy had begun yet). My favorite morning prayer was on a particularly hot day when Anders looked to the sky and said, "Oh Lord, You have got to be f@cking joking with this weather." We drilled every moring in the horse tourney (I believe Jerry Wood was our seargent). Later that morning, the battle pageant took place on the pennisula. Back in those days, the English forces won everyday with the exception of Memorial Day. Then we got to eat. Then we had free time before Progress. What always stood out about Progress was the part where Stoddard's went down the final path towards the main stage with the ringing of the Cryer's bells to the sides. Then after Progress, more free time.
Moreover, I have a lot of memories of faire after hours. I was camping out every weekend and I was surprised about how many after hours events were going on, even in Tent City ( remember, this was a pre-Corporate faire where security consisted mostly of Hell's Angels and the unwritten rule was that if they didn't see it, it never happened, just as long as you had shoes on). On a complete side note, one of my favorite security stories involved a security guy named Darrel (Hey, it's not that type of story. Get your mind out of the gutter). Mind you, I was still twenty as my birthday was about a week after faire ended. Anyway, Darrel bravely patrolled Tent City with a flashlight, a walkie talkie, and a liter bottle of rum and coke. He had me hold onto it while he pulled out his pot pipe and took a few tokes between his increasing slurred progress reports back to security central. I strongly doubt that will ever happen again at Southern. Anyway, there was always some sort of party going on with the big one a Halloween/Dead Man's Party type ( this was 1993 and Oingo Boingo was still active as a band). I believe Memorial Day weekend was the second or third annual St Michael's Death Punch / Choir Practice party. I also remember every morning having to walk through a privy bank to get from Tent City to the military camp.
have some bad memories from that faire, too. I remember one of the new members to BCOTS that year having his pass pulled like the second week of faire because one of the parking attendants gave him some lip so he gave some back and that attendant ran to management. Also, the Washer Women group decided it would be a funny prank to go into our camp while we were out on progress and steal ( I mean hide) our remaining mandillions ( the group had not yet graduated to cassoks for all its members yet). Then there was the weekend that faire was rained out ( imagine waking up and getting out of your tent to potential landslide conditions.) I remember being chased by Jan Todd after hours because he thought I didn't have an after hours pass.
Overall, I loved doing the faire. I enjoyed the camaraderie between the people in the group. I liked the fact that I felt that I belonged. I was all set to come back the next year, but in early 1994 I decided to join the U.S. Navy ( at the time it seemed like a good idea and the recruiter had some really nice brochures). I didn't return until 2000, but that story will be told later.