Canterbury faire documentation - User contributions [en]

Ball

2025-08-10T06:16:29Z

DauidDeCochrane: /* Tassel-Kicking and Other Entertainments */

This Guide is intended for Faire Stewards and Ball Coordinators to assist them in organising the Ball at Canterbury Faire. While not a compulsory event on the Faire schedule, the Ball is a Marquee event much looked forward to, and for many people it is a highlight of their Faire activities.

=== Ball Coordinator ===
The Steward must be prepared to recruit a Ball Coordinator quite early in the pre-event planning process, as a successful Ball often requires considerable lead-in time for the participants. Musicians and dancers need time to learn and practice music and dances, particularly if some of the dances are not part of their usual repertoire. Stewards should consider giving the Coordinator a small budget for materials, particularly the printing of dance handbooks and lists for participants.

=== Scheduling ===
The Ball is a Marquee event on the Faire schedule, so it should not clash with any other major evening event. Hence the Ball should be amongst the major events that the Steward places on the schedule first. Recent Faires have sought to place the Ball on an evening later in the event (such as the Friday) in order for dancers and musicians to have tie for practice, but there is no hard and fast rule. Note that the Ball is usually quite lengthy, going very late into the evening, so scheduling something 'after the Ball' often doesn't really work.

Other items the Coordinator should work into the Faire schedule: practice times for the band (this should be early in the event, so the band has time to figure out musical arrangements), and dance practices for Faire attendees wishing to brush up on their dance steps.

=== The Ball List ===
Early on in the planning process, the Ball coordinator must work out the list of dances planned. This should be set in coordination with local dance teachers, and ideally in consultation with dance teachers around the Crescent Isles. Dancers must have time to practice the dances on the list, so this must happen well before Faire - the first week of November is recommended. This is particularly important if some of the dances are obscure, complex, or rarely danced. This list should be communicated to relevant email lists and Facebook groups (Southron Gaard, Crescent Isles, various Hamlets), and be linked to the Ball schedule on the Faire webpage.

It has become customary for the coordinator to put together small 'cheat sheet' booklets of the steps necessary for each dance. While not a required element, they are very useful to many attendees, and are often taken away as souvenirs of the event, and as guidebooks for learning dances in their own right.

==== Choosing Dances for the Ball List ====
The selection of dances for the Ball list is a process requiring some thought in itself. There are several factors to consider:

* How many sets? The Ball is usually structured as having 3-5 'sets' of dances, with breaks in between for entertainments, the supper, and the tassel-kicking competition.
* Theme: Does this Faire have an overall theme, and are there dances/sets which could fit this theme?
* Difficulty level: Ball coordinators usually aim to create a list of variable difficulty for the Ball, so that there are a sufficient number of easy dancers that inexperienced dancers can participate in, and some challenging dances that the experts can really sink their teeth into. In the past some lists have ordered their sets by difficulty level, with easy dances in the first one or two sets, and more difficult dances at the end. However recent experience has shown that this results in people leaving as soon as the dances step above their level of expertise, and to retain people through the full length of the ball it is better to intersperse the easy and difficult dances throughout all the sets, so everyone can look at each set and see something that catches their interest.
* In- or Out- of Period: The Ball is usually seen as an in-Period experience, so Out-of-Period dances such as Saracens Branscle, Saltarello, Hole in the Wall, or Korobushka are usually not included. Coordinators keen on seeing these dances performed should consider them for the Peasant's Dance event.

=== Music ===
As one of Lochac's premier dance event, it is greatly preferred for the Ball to be set to live music - the coordinator must at least attempt to assemble a band of musicians willing to play the music. This requires some pre-event publicity calling for musicians to attend and bring their instruments, and the communication of music to these musicians so they can practice beforehand.

=== Ball Setup ===
The Coordinator will need several helpers to set up the Great Hall for the Ball, usually starting immediately after dinner. Tables are usually stacked and set to the side (or outside if the weather is ok), and the room is lined with chairs. The band will have their own space set up to their own liking - be prepared to assist them. Often the Crown will wish to attend, so be prepared to recruit a crew for the transport and setup of thrones etc.

=== The Ball Supper ===
It is customary for a light supper to be served as part of the Ball, usually mid-Ball between sets. Menus for this can vary widely depending on the cooks. It is highly recommended that lots of cold drinks/water be provided,as dancing can require physical exertion and rehydration can be important.

=== Tassel-Kicking and Other Entertainments ===
The Tassel-Kicking competition is a now-traditional competition held at the Faire Ball. Usually scheduled between sets, the Ball coordinator will need to ensure that the following items are present: the tassel-on-a-stick, the tassel-kicking hat (make sure to contact the winner from last year so it is present!).

=== Some Recommended Dances/Dance Resources ===

Peasants dance

2025-08-10T06:02:19Z

DauidDeCochrane: Page created, with essential info included. DM.

The Peasant's dance is an occasional dance event at Faire, intended as a less formal dance event held in addition to the Ball. While the Ball is a 'must have' on the Event Schedule, the Peasant's Dance is more of an optional event, held in years when the local dance community has sufficient enthusiasm.

==== Scheduling ====
This is traditionally an afternoon event, set for an outdoor site. Participants prefer even ground for dancing, so the Village Green is usually preferred to the Half-Circle. The Dance usually takes about two hours.

==== The Dances ====
While coordinators of the Peasant's Dance may choose a theme (e.g. English Country), this event is often seen as an opportunity to perform dances that are 'SCA traditional', with less period authenticity. Live musicians can be arranged if possible, though music for this dance is often 'canned', as this is a less formal event.

Food and beverage tastings

2025-08-10T05:27:20Z

DauidDeCochrane: Created this page, and laid out the basics. DM.

There has been a proliferation of food and beverage tasting events at Faire in recent years, made popular by traditional gatherings every year of the Brewers' Guild, and the World Tour of Scotland. While these are techincally private events, and therefore the Stewards do not need to concern themselves with their organisation, there are a few points to pay attention to in working with those who are organising them.

=== Responsible Hosting ===
It is important that the people running these events understand the importance of being responsible hosts where alcohol is concerned. Alcohol should not be served to minors, nor should it be served to gentles who are intoxicated.

Note also: attendance at such events must not require specific payment of any kind from attendees. Requiring payment to consume alcohol would violate mundane law regards requirements for a mundane liquor license. This extends to voucher schemes and similar.

=== Events and Scheduling ===
Traditional events that are usually scheduled:

==== Setup Sunday Wine Tasting ====
This is usually held in the Glade (Cultus Faunus encampment) on the Sunday afternoon of setup weekend, before the Soup Kitchen.

==== Brewers' Guild ====
The Guild holds an annual meeting at Faire. The timing is variable (usually a late afternoon), but their meeting and tasting requires a two hour timeslot. The Half-Circle theatre is their preferred site. The local contact for the Guild is currently THL Dauid de Cochrane.

==== The World Tour of Scotland ====
Traditionally a whiskey/spirits tasting held on an evening of Faire. A popular event which often takes up the entire evening, and often occupies the Marquee. The local contact for this event is currently Ld Tim.

Ball

2025-05-25T07:20:14Z

DauidDeCochrane: Started page. Incomplete, but I think the necessary elements are all laid out...

Newcomers tour

2025-03-09T07:10:34Z

DauidDeCochrane: I've inserted my draft of the Newcomers' Tour doc. Feel free to hack into it as necessary. Dauid :)

= Introduction =
This guide is intended to inform Stewards and the Newcomers’ Tour Coordinator at Canterbury Faire of the essential organisation components for this activity. The Newcomers’ Tour is important for attendees new to Faire, many of whom will be relatively new to the SCA. For many New Zealand scadians Canterbury Faire is also the biggest event they ever attend, and thus many will not necessarily be aware of some of the unwritten traditions and protocols associated with navigating large camping events. This tour therefore represents the best opportunity for new attendees to discover where they can go, what they can do, and what makes Canterbury Faire so special as an event on the SCA calendar.

= Tour Coordinator =
The steward should appoint a coordinator/leader of the tour quite early in the planning process. The Tour Leader should have most of the following qualities:

* Be an experienced scadian who has attended Faire for several years.
* Is familiar with the various households and places of interest where important activities take place.
* Can demonstrate protocol when entering and engaging with different household campsites.
* Can eloquently discuss all of this, and answer questions from newcomers.

= Scheduling and Publicity =
It is important when scheduling the tour that newcomers have maximum opportunity to attend. Thus it is recommended that the tour be scheduled later on the Sunday afternoon of setup weekend, when households and the Ordinance Corps have completed (at least mostly completed) setup. This should give newcomers time to attend, and gives them the opportunity to see the site after everything has been set up and the site is fully structured.

The committee also recommends that Stewards consider scheduling a ''second'' Newcomers’ Tour within the early-mid timeframe (Tuesday or thereabouts) of Faire itself. A second tour enables people to attend who were unable to attend the first, and it enables people to tour the site once it is fully active, with everyone in garb and sites such as The Mangy Mongol and Coppergate in full operation.

The steward and/or tour leader should ensure that the tour(s) time and start location are set on the schedule and publicised well in advance of the event.

= Essential Elements of the Tour =

== Starting Point: ==
Thought should be given to the announced start point of the tour, as this can have considerable bearing on its effectiveness as an introduction. Remember that many tour attendees will be unfamiliar with locations around the site (that’s the point of the tour, after all), so a start point should be chosen that is fairly obvious for anyone to find. Be aware that some locations may have accessibility issues, and this could trouble some newcomers. Some suggested locations (not exhaustive):

* The Mangy Mongol
* The Main Marquee on the Village Green
* Half-Circle/The Green Man
* Gate
* The Great Hall (note potential accessibility issues for attendees unable to negotiate the hill)

An alternative approach is to find a household willing to run a welcoming event on the afternoon of setup Sunday (a barbeque or similar) for newcomers, and start the tour from there. Such an event has been hosted by Wyvern Gaard previously with some success in attracting a crowd of attendees.

== Points of Interest: ==
Points of interest that the tour should definitely cover include (but are not limited to):

* The Great Hall
** Site of the Ball, the Feast, and the Meal Plan (ensure everyone knows where the dishwashing station is).
* The Village Green
** Point out the List Field, the War field, the Archery range, the various A&S tents, and the Gate tent (if it is in this vicinity).
** Visit the Mangy Mongol, and give the proprietors an opportunity to describe the Mong and its services.
* Half-Circle
** Traditional site of the Half Circle Theatre.
** If the Postmaster is in, give them an opportunity to discuss the Postal Service.
* Coppergate
** Ensure that someone is present to talk about Coppergate, protocols for using the space and tools, and that it is a welcoming space for newcomers.
* Tui
** Usual site of the Repast. Ensure that everyone sees the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry facilities.

'''Households''': The tour leader should include stops in a variety of household encampments. The following are highly recommended:

* Draco Viridis: home of the black oven, which is an available resource for cooking in coordination with the household..
* Cultus Faunus: ensure that everyone understands that the path through The Glade is a public path, and the household welcomes people walking through between Half Circle and the Village Green.
* Blue Feather: this is a safe space for members of the LGBTQI community, and are happy to welcome visitors.
* Northside: Because yurts. Need we say more.
* Gildenwick: home of Lady Ailith’s Tea House, and the Gildenwick Mead Society.

'''Practicalities''': As the tour proceeds around site, point out mundane essentials such as: toilets, water taps, power points, and paths for navigating the site (i.e. the High Road and the Old Road).

== Protocols: ==
While many households welcome visitors, some do appreciate privacy, and prefer if permission is sought before entering their space. Some households even have bells or other audible signals for visitors to announce themselves. The tour leader should have an understanding of these protocols, which households utilise them, and demonstrate the appropriate methods of approach to each household they visit.

== Feedback: ==
The Steward and/or the Tour Coordinator should consider a process for obtaining feedback from Faire newcomers on the effectiveness of the Tour. This could be undertaken shortly after Faire, or even later at Faire itself.