WIL
Last weekend of faire is done and I have slept. This year was amazing. This is my twelfth year doing this show. Every year I learn something.
When I am unhappy as a performer it is because I am not working/playing hard enough. This is one of those things no one can tell you. I had to figure it out on my own. In this kind of theater when it is not working, it is usually because you do not have enough invested. Unlike normal theater here the actor gets to determine how much stage time they get. They even get to choose if they are the lead or a supporting role. This confused me my first couple of years. Ultimately, my success as an actor depends on time in front of an audience. That means working as hard to find a audience whether it be working the lanes, stage combat, dueling, talking to people one on one or on stage. My ultimate happiness as a performer depends on how hard I work from canon to canon.
I have a super power. It is giving others super powers. Teaching at faire is really like walking around with a magic wand giving peoples super powers. It works because you believe in them, not because they believe in you. For example, I stopped and waved to this young girl in a princess dress. She immediately started crying and ran to her mother. In her hand was a toy magic wand. Her mom convinced her to wave it at me. I dropped into zombie mode. Using the power of the wand the little girl made me go away. Latter I ran into her again this time no tears but she used the wand once again to make me go away. This time I ran into a tree to the sound of giggles. My powers are not confined to small children. They work on everyone from small girls in princess dresses to fellow cast members in inprov classes to close personal friends. That is my super power.
There is nothing more humbling then to have a hero of yours tell you that you are their hero. Faire is full of heroes for me. I dream of being that talented. As actors they risk, as performers they amaze audiences, as people they are humble and giving. To have one of those people say that I am their hero. This astounds me.
These are the things I learned this year….