Below is an interview with my buddy, Mike Daugherty. Mike and I have been friends for going on 30 years. We were groomsmen in each other’s weddings. Mike has an very geeky and very kool part time job working at a Renaissance Faire. I desired to know more about this job. I believe that you, the readers, will enjoy the interview.
Mike, thanks for agreeing to this interview. For the readers of Geeky KOOL who might not be familiar with what a “Renaissance Faire” is, tell us about what happens at a Ren Faire?
There are various types ranging from “fantasy” to “reality”. Fantasy Faires tend to have more fantasy and sci-fi aspects and on the other end of the spectrum you have Reality Faires that try to be as realistic as possible with dress, customs, and everything else. They tend to be set in the 1500’s and the one I work at takes place in 1539 near the end of Henry the VIII’s reign.
There are typically stage acts, jousting, street characters roaming the lanes, combat, good food, and drink.
You work at theOklahoma Renaissance Festival at the Castle at Muskogee, Oklahoma. Tell us about your role at the Festival and what is a typical day.
I’m part of the Town Watch and for $5 worth of evidence we’ll arrest anyone of your choosing and you decide what they must sing to earn their freedom. It’s also known as Jail-n-Bail. I also take part in the life Chessboard Match, imagine wizards chest without the magic, but the swords are quite real.
A typical day starts around 6:30, breakfast at 7:30, morning meeting at 9:30 and then up to the gates for the opening around 10. The day starts with opening cannon and closes at final cannon which is no earlier than 6PM. OKRF is one of the few Faires that have evening events that start at 7-7:30PM each night, so some days can go as late as 10PM and later.
I’ve always loved sci-fi and fantasy but never attended one until a friend invited me to OKRF in 2005. I was hooked from that moment. It’s just an amazing place, you can suspend belief and enjoy a day in 1539 England.
I’d attended OKRF for 6 years and finally started making friends with some of the cast outside of the Faire and decided I’d like to work there and give back some of the joy and fun I’d received. In a way I’d seen the “man behind the curtain” and the illusion wasn’t the same, so to me the next logical step was to step through the looking glass myself.
I started working after my son’s were grown, they fully support it and typically try to attend a few weekends. My family, coworkers, and friends now attend and think it’s very cool.
My best day was this past season. I celebrated my birthday on the final Sunday of the run and it was amazing the love and support I received from cast, crew, and patrons. Every day is amazing though when you have that one moment when you know you’ve given someone a memory they will have forever. Little children are amazing as they truly believe and when one of them give you a hug, or asks how they can become a guard as well, it just melts my heart that I’ve touched someone at that level.
We have open casting and anyone can join cast that cares to. We have four weekends of Academies that start in March where you can learn interactive techniques, design your character, learn Tudor history, get help with your clothing, etc. They can go towww.okcastle.com for more information.
Thank you Mike for taking the time to answer our questions.
