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A friend of mine asked me to post this because she can't get into tribe herself. I've certainly had my fair share of bitter recriminations with the RenFair...and wtf is up with undercutting??
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In 1999 troupe Ghawazee was screwed by the Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival. I don't know the whole story as that was before my time.
But years later and under new management I, Sadira, decided what the hey, lets give the faire a chance. My husband and I were just street cast and I belly danced in the streets. The next year, 2 or 3 weeks before the new season started the faire contacted me and asked me to throw together a show with 3 dancers and 2 musicians (who would be willing to work for very little money). Well, because I ignored the warnings of those who got screwed the first time by the faire and I was blinded by my love for it I accepted and set off trying to find more dancers and musicians. I was able to get more people for the show and in under a week we had pieced together a 30 minute show. We jumped through every hoop they put in front of us always with a smile on our faces. We performed tasks not in our contract because they needed us to.
As the season ended everyone told us they would see us next year. As the off season came, the other dancers and I spent money on stage decorations, wrote new choreographies and even got a fellow Rennie to help us write a new show. My husband and I participated in promotional events for the festival too. Time passed and soon this new season was only a few weeks away. We called and emailed and couldn't get anyone to return our calls. Finally, we heard that we would not be hired back. I talked with management and they asked for our price again and then said no we would not be hired back.
Then management proceeded to turn around and talk to one of the other dancers and hint that it was my fault or the third dancers fault that we were not coming back. That we expressed no interest in the faire. They then got dancers from PenRen to come and dance for free.
I should have listened. I didn't. So PUHLEASE learn from me and all those that came before me. Don't get screwed by the Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival.
Sadira
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In 1999 troupe Ghawazee was screwed by the Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival. I don't know the whole story as that was before my time.
But years later and under new management I, Sadira, decided what the hey, lets give the faire a chance. My husband and I were just street cast and I belly danced in the streets. The next year, 2 or 3 weeks before the new season started the faire contacted me and asked me to throw together a show with 3 dancers and 2 musicians (who would be willing to work for very little money). Well, because I ignored the warnings of those who got screwed the first time by the faire and I was blinded by my love for it I accepted and set off trying to find more dancers and musicians. I was able to get more people for the show and in under a week we had pieced together a 30 minute show. We jumped through every hoop they put in front of us always with a smile on our faces. We performed tasks not in our contract because they needed us to.
As the season ended everyone told us they would see us next year. As the off season came, the other dancers and I spent money on stage decorations, wrote new choreographies and even got a fellow Rennie to help us write a new show. My husband and I participated in promotional events for the festival too. Time passed and soon this new season was only a few weeks away. We called and emailed and couldn't get anyone to return our calls. Finally, we heard that we would not be hired back. I talked with management and they asked for our price again and then said no we would not be hired back.
Then management proceeded to turn around and talk to one of the other dancers and hint that it was my fault or the third dancers fault that we were not coming back. That we expressed no interest in the faire. They then got dancers from PenRen to come and dance for free.
I should have listened. I didn't. So PUHLEASE learn from me and all those that came before me. Don't get screwed by the Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival.
Sadira
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Re: Pittsburgh Ren Faire
Wed, August 26, 2009 - 2:56 PMHonestly, those types of stories are pretty par for the course at MOST Ren Faires - it's more the norm than not from stories I've heard. The KC Ren Faire has burned so many dancers here in the local area that they had to start shipping in dancers from St Louis & the like - those who didn't know how others had been treated in the past. It's a pretty rare gig to find a ren fest that will pay well & treat their dancers -- mostly because there's always someone waiting in the wings willing to do it cheaper, even for free. -
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Re: Pittsburgh Ren Faire
Thu, August 27, 2009 - 6:28 AMIt's not just the dancers either. I have friends who are part of a historical weaponry and fighting styles group; they are always talking about this type of thing happening.
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Re: Pittsburgh Ren Faire
Thu, August 27, 2009 - 8:26 AMI'll have ti disagree--everyone I've talked to who's ever worked with the Pgh ren faire has horror stories to tell. From the owner freaking out on a vendor in front of customers until they cried, to illegal clauses in the contracts, to open favoritism, to shows being kicked to the curb to make room for the person the director's been fucking, to a complete lack of promoting (which means minimal attendees and a rapidly collapsing fair), and so on--it's nothing I want to touch with a ten foot pole.
I've even heard from three random people at the local county fair this week alone, telling me they'd never vend there again/have shit to do with that group again.
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Re: Pittsburgh Ren Faire
Wed, August 26, 2009 - 7:13 PMI second Bellatrix - seen it happen here
