Wandering Minstrels's topics - tribe.net

Jingly Bits

cid — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 17:24:25 GMT

Sorry for the length of this and for the cross posting on several tribes, but after many agonizing months, we've made the really hard decision that we're going to be leaving California in the next month or so, probably not to return. If we do return, it won't be for several years...

The short version of the back story is that I was laid off from my engineering tech job last May. We've been living mainly off our savings and stock sales since then, but you can only go so long that way. I've been doing the high tech shuffle here in the "Valley of the Molten Sand" since '82 and I'm simply burned out on it... After this most recent lay off with me at 47 years old, as my mental and physical abilities have changed with age, I've lost my confidence to be employed in the only field I've worked in since entering adulthood. Now, if I even seriously think about re-entering the high tech workforce, I tense up to the point of starting to physically shake and tears start welling up... The few interviews I have forced myself to go on haven't turned out very well since it's pretty hard to sell oneself to a potential employer when one doesn't believe in oneself...

Anyway, as our resources here are starting to dwindle, we've got to do something soon or we'll wind up losing the equity in our house. To that end, we've made the exceedingly tough decision to sell our house here in San Jose and buy a house free-and-clear on more land back east, probably in the Ozark foothills of northern Arkansas. The whole financial equation changes drastically with no mortgage payments...

Now, before any of you get started on ribbing me about Arkansas, let me just say that I don't take it too well... Or, to practice for once I get there, "Ah don't cotton too kindly to folks sayin' thangs 'bout where Ah'm a'going an Ah ain't gonna stand fer it!" (I'm sure it won't take too long for me to get my Southern Drawl back... too bad it comes with all the other southern drawbacks.) I'm also working on getting one of my aunts to legally adopt Sherri... I mean, we're already married, but we'd fit in a smidge better if'n she was my cousin, too...

So, Jingly Bits will no longer be "bringing music to the quieter corners of the shire" at NCRF or any of the smaller circuit faires in California... We'd like to thank Molly for giving us the opportunity to grace the Curtain Call stage at Casa for the last couple of years. It was cool having Martin and the Naughty Minstrels as our warmup band last year... They did a pretty good job, but had a tendancy to lull the audience to sleep and then we'd get to wake them up!

Casa was (and always will be) our home faire. We started participating there as Friends of Faire under REC in 2003 and Arline (recently retired Mistress of the FOF Buttery) told Donnie (GM of Danse Macabre) that there was a new mandolin player in town... Danse Macabre asked me to "audition" and I was told by someone that "it's such an honour to be invited to join Danse Macabre!" (You know who you are and I've been paying for your statement ever since, thank you very much.) My "audition," which was possibly the only one ever given to a musician joining Northern Danse Macabre, consisted of Donnie and Ted asking:

"Can you play an A-minor?"
me: *bling*
D&T: "Can you play an E-minor?"
me: *bling*
D&T: "Can you play a D-minor?"
me: *bling*
D&T: "You're in the band!"

We jazzed up the Bones tunes and hit the streets of Casa hard, with mandolin machine heads pointing to the sky... That was in 2003, and I pushed the Bones to do more shows in 2004. We wound up doing 26 weekends of faire in 2004, mostly as Macabre and with me acting as GM on several occasions. Sherri and I started up Jingly Bits at SLO in 2005 because organizing the Bones to work as many shows as we wanted to was prohibitive. We also wanted to be out on the streets interacting with our patrons more than is customary when one is Dead...

Jingly Bits has been playing the streets and stages of events from Pembrooke, Willits, Calaveras, and Ione, and down to SLO, Visalia, Fresno and Bakersfield ever since. During that time, if we've offended anyone's senses or historical sensibilities and thus made their snobbish teeth itch, I would like to apologize. I won't actually apologize, but really, I'd like to... Personally, I've never been snobbishly period, though I have been periodically snobbish... Even though many of our songs weren't exactly period, (can you say "Flogging Molly?") I think we brought a lot of high energy to all of our performances. I know we put everything we could into them and the folks that did watch us seemed to enjoy it a lot.

Speaking of folks watching us, I'd also like to take a moment to thank all our fans... Oh, the appreciative roar of the crowd and the loving crush of our adoring fans... To all our fans, we're going to miss both of you terribly...

Anyway, no more Jingly Bits at faires in northern California,

BUT!!!

You have ONE LAST chance to catch us before we go. The day after we made the excruciating decision to leave, we were offered a paying pub gig! On St. Patrick's Day, Monday, March 17th, Jingly Bits will be giving their final performance in California. From 6pm until at least 8pm, we will be on the patio of O'Flaherty's Irish Pub in downtown San Jose. It's a pub, after all, so Master Thomas unfortunately can't be there with us, but we would be honored if some of you were to make it to the show to see us off.

It's hard to believe our run as Jingly Bits is over in California, but it is. We WILL be continuing on, and are already gatelisted for a faire in April in Joplin, Missouri. Once we get settled in after the move, there are several other faires within a hundred mile radius... We'll also probably try to work TRF at some point. There are also numerous SCA events in the area... I'm going to be taking some of the techie stuff I can do and apply it to woodworking and making period furniture, games, toys, weapons, and household items that would fit in at ren faires, SCA events and even Civil War re-enactments. (One of my prototype folding chairs and 20 of my lucets were supposed to be with a vendor at the Sonora Celtic Faire this weekend, by the way, but we've not heard how they did or if the vendor even made it there...) When or if we come back to CA, it might very well be as vendors...

Again, sorry this is so long winded, but you'd expect nothing less from me, would you? So, I'll sign off now... It would be far too strange and too painfully strained to hear or read blogs about how great this faire was or how fantastic the after-hours stuff was at that faire or what's planned for the other faire... To that end, I'll be leaving all the NorCal faire related tribes I'm part of and will be deleting most of the faire folks on my friends list. No offense is meant, but it would be too painful to be reminded over and over again of what we had to leave behind... If you notice your friend count dropping by one in the next few days, it was probably me...

Thanks to all that have made this long strange trip as wild a ride as it has been... We'd love to see some of you at O'Flaherty's on St. Patrick's Day. If you can't make, that's fine and understandable and we'll just wish nothing but the best for you as you rot in Hell... If you can make it, that'd be great! (If you do go, park in the garage across San Pedro street from the pub and get the barkeep to validate your ticket...)

Take care and may all your journeys be safe ones, where ever they might take you.

Goodbye, my friends...
cid

posted in Wandering Minstrels - 1 reply

any UK minstrels want a singer? :D

Morrigan — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 21:41:53 GMT

hello fellow wanderers! My name is Morrigan,. I have nearly finished my useless sociology degree and when I do I am buying a van and travelling around the UK busking. I sing, and am learning the Celtic harp and (portable!) piano. I also juggle knives and spin fire. Are there any merry people who would have me ride with them? Speak now!

posted in Wandering Minstrels - 1 reply

MWOW @ the World Famous Derby Club in Hollywood!

Kimi — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 00:58:23 GMT

The Merry Wives of Windsor are breaking away from the Ren Faire rounds and are going to be playing a great show at the World Famous Derby Club in Hollywood! This amazing place has been featured in many movies and is a landmark for LA! We are thrilled that they got in touch with us for a night of Celtic and Folk music!

The show will start at 8pm with Christiane Cargill-Kinney opening. The Wives will go on at 8:45. Tickets are $10 presale through our website and $15 at the door. Get your's online at our webpage www.mwow.net !

4500 Los Feliz Blvd., Hollywood, California 90027 www.clubderby.com

WE CANT WAIT TO SEE YOU THERE!

posted in Wandering Minstrels - 0 replies

Happy Birthday Skippy!

Sandi loves Mark — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 02:50:54 GMT

Here's to you Skinny Hippy!! Wishing you a great birthday......#33!

posted in Wandering Minstrels - 7 replies

Ian Abramovitch Has Passed Away

Ale-Wench — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 20:02:11 GMT

It is with GREAT sorrow that I pass on this sad news.

Farewell, my Scotch loving friend ...

Suzanne ~<{:o)

-----Original Message-----

It is with great respect and admiration I must inform you of the passing of Ian Abramovitch. He left this world earlier today after suffering a heart attack on Friday. Ian was a regular fixture at the faire. He was a member in good standing with the Clan MacColin. He was also the percussionist for the celtic group Highland Sun. I was lucky enough to perform with Ian on a few ocassions and will miss him dearly.

Final arrangements have not yet been made. It is expected there will be a very quick burial in accordance with remaining family wishes. Below are some links where you can find out more about Ian:

http://www.highlandsun.com/bandinfo.html
http://www.highlandsun.com/bandinfo/ian.html
http://www.cpmusic.com/perform.html

Although it was not available when I sent this message, it is expected something will be posted on the Clan MacColin web site:

http://www.maccolin.com/

A wake is expected to commence on Sunday at the home of Ian's sister Gail Schroeder in Van Nuys. If you are interested in attending, please send a response to me and I will try to get you more information.

Please pass this on to anyone you know that is a friend to Ian.

posted in Wandering Minstrels - 0 replies

Ride Share Tribe

Contessa — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 17:24:57 GMT

Need a lift from San Jose air port? or a ride from SanBernadino to Casa de Faire?
So I just started a Tribe, well Bevan is doing all the typing, not having any opposable thumbs and all.

http://tribes.tribe.net/ride2share4casa

posted in Wandering Minstrels - 0 replies

Not all who Wander are Lost

bonitajessica — Wed, 26 Jan 2005 20:45:04 GMT

That is all.

posted in Wandering Minstrels - 41 replies

Press kit?

melissatheloud — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 14:31:13 GMT

Hi all. I was wondering if anyone has any tips for putting together an application to faires. I understand I should make up something called a press kit, so I'm looking for tips about what should be in it besides a photo and CD of my music.

Most of my music experience has been outside the renfaire world, and I don't know if listing my experience there would be relevant to faire entertainment directors or not. My casual googling of "press kit" has revealed lots of articles on how to make a press kit to get your pop band signed to a major label, but that doesn't seem too relevant. Thoughts?

posted in Wandering Minstrels - 3 replies

Applying to renfaires?

melissatheloud — Fri, 16 Sep 2005 18:19:26 GMT

Greetings minstrels. I just joined this tribe, although I've been a wandering minstrel for my day job for a while now.

You can hear me play my hurdy gurdy and other instruments in the sound samples on my website:
www.melissatheloud.com

I usually busk in places like NYC, but I'm thinking that it would be fun to play at a renfaire. The approaching cold weather in particular is making me think that a warm-weather renfaire would be a great place to spend part of the winter.

Any thoughts on which renfaires I should apply to, and how to apply? I've found a lot on the web, like through
www.faires.com
but I don't know which are best to work for, or what they seek in an application.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

posted in Wandering Minstrels - 3 replies

You Merry Gentlemen....

bonitajessica — Fri, 16 Sep 2005 02:49:31 GMT

Sounded great this weekend!

posted in Wandering Minstrels - 1 reply

Where's my Naughty Minstrals CD?

Sanchez_Boon — Thu, 25 Aug 2005 09:06:00 GMT

When are you guys hitting the studio?

You sounded hot at Stafford, take that energy and put it down on wax!

posted in Wandering Minstrels - 4 replies

Casa workshop update

cid — Fri, 19 Aug 2005 20:53:36 GMT

All,

Molly Drew asked this info be passed on, so consider it passed... Although she said she was attaching the updated schedule, it was not attached to the original email.

Go to http://www.norcalrenfaire.org for official info and go to the faire site this weekend to take your required workshops.

cid

--
Please pass on that one new workshop was added for the next two
weekends, Meet N Greet taught by Will Wood. I highly recommend new
people, FOF greeters, St Lukes, Rogue Fools, St Bibianas take advantage
of this if possible. He will only be available second period.

I have also added another period of basic language with Jacueline Zahas.
This is important as she is only there on certain days. She had a big turn out last week and this is an important class. Basic costuming for newbies is also a one day a week class so make sure any newbies you talk to get to both of of these classes.

If you and your guild were not here last weekend you should take the Big
Picture second period, Sat or Sunday.

I have attached an updated schedule and the class descriptions and requirements. These are of course available on site.

Theme characters, rehearsal is your priority. Front gate show rehearses
first period, main stage, Harvest Maiden show, second period, main stage, Queen's show, third period, main stage.

Costume approval will go on throughout the day at our table and passes
will be ready to distribute.

Camping passes can be purchased in the main office between 10:00 and 2:00.

Thanks,
Molly

--

"We spend half our time tuning and the other half playing out of tune."

http://www.jinglybits.com
http://www.thedansemacabre.com

posted in Wandering Minstrels - 0 replies

Scottish mandolin for sale

Maembe — Sun, 10 Jul 2005 22:25:20 GMT

I need to sell my mandolin, which I recently brought over from the UK.
It's handcrafted by Freshwater of Scotland, electro-acoustic and in very good condition. Comes with case, rainbow/leather strap, spare strings... has a sweet woody sound.
It cost $750 new, and I'm asking $400 for it.
Please call Kate: 510 395 4479
We don't have tribe in the UK and I think I posted this in the wrong place first time around...sorry guys...

posted in Wandering Minstrels - 0 replies

Minstreling at SLO

Nedtheminstrel — Sun, 10 Jul 2005 03:29:50 GMT

Minstreling at SLO I will be, and I hope that many of you minstrel types will be also. I will be specially looking for a couple of people who want to do catches. I found a really neat book full of them. It was a very popular form of song. Especially suited to bawdiness. You'll love 'em. Also for a couple of people who want to be in Crew Show and do the old Rice Krispies tune. It is a sort of a catch, and a fun thing to sing.
BE OF GOODE CHEARE!

Ned the Minstrel

posted in Wandering Minstrels - 0 replies

Sing-in'?

el_rubio — Fri, 08 Jul 2005 01:42:50 GMT

Who amongst ye will be available for a little extemporaneous singing at Stafford Lake this year?

posted in Wandering Minstrels - 1 reply

Happy 31st Be-lated Birthday Skippy!

Sandi loves Mark — Fri, 06 May 2005 03:29:34 GMT

....last Friday 4/29, muah!!

posted in Wandering Minstrels - 5 replies

Photos

el_rubio — Thu, 07 Apr 2005 19:27:37 GMT

Hi All-

If you have any minstrelly photos, of minstrels alone or together, from wherever and whenever, please do feel free to put them up!

And Ned looks f-in' great, doesn't he?

-M.

posted in Wandering Minstrels - 2 replies

New England: Medieval Repertory forming - All disciplines needed

rayprice — Sat, 30 Apr 2005 15:38:59 GMT

Greetings -

I'm putting together a troupe of players who will perform medieval inspired plays / circus / happenings and I want to gather together a creative team together who can make this project a reality.

I'm looking for set designers to plan sets which can be transported easily and can be set up quickly, but will have HUGE impact. The set should be able to change with simple adjustments by the cast. It should be able to be used in parks, parking lots, community centers, fairs, festivals and anywhere else we find ourselves performing.

We also need costumes based on medieval traveling players, but with a twist - fantasy, gothic etc.

Medieval players depended a great deal on masks. Someone with design and building skills would be a great asset.

Finally, we will need people with musical, circus, dancing and performing skills.

I want this to be a collective / collaborative ensemble, where we all reap the benefits of our hard work.

The shows will be set in another time, but will comment directly on what is happening politically today.

See the Daughters of Elvin site for an idea of what I'm planning:
http://www.endicott-studio.com/jMA0301/daughters.html

If you want to get in at the groundfloor of this idea, please get in contact.

Visit my websites at:
http://www.raypriceonline.com
http://www.trouzbras.com

I thank you ...
The master of ceremonies and Lord of Misrule.

posted in Wandering Minstrels - 0 replies

WHAT IS YOU OBSESSION

bonitajessica — Thu, 17 Mar 2005 21:39:46 GMT

With the Turkish Bath>?

El Rubio, please explain yourself!!!!!

posted in Wandering Minstrels - 3 replies

new faire season

Nedtheminstrel — Mon, 21 Feb 2005 19:59:08 GMT

Ahoy! Any WMs on this site wandering to Corona this spring?

Ned the Minstrel

posted in Wandering Minstrels - 2 replies

Who's Wandering?

Sanchez_Boon — Thu, 01 Jul 2004 19:00:27 GMT

Hey minstrals. So who's wandering and where this year? Just curious in case I want to show up and drink your whiskey while you are busy playing...er...uh I mean so I can maybe sit in...uh yeah...

-Rick :-)

posted in Wandering Minstrels - 14 replies

Plasterkatz show on Friday is cancelled.

ChrisB — Wed, 08 Dec 2004 09:56:38 GMT

Sorry folks - due to a scheduling error, Plasterkatz won't be playing the Old Rogue this Friday night after all. I apologize for the inconvenience.

Please spread the word!

And please come out to Irelands 32 on the 23rd for our Christmas Eve-Eve/Solstice show.

Details --> www.plasterkatz.com

Thanks,
~Chris

posted in Wandering Minstrels - 0 replies

NCRF All Cast Meeting - Sat. 9 am

cid — Tue, 28 Sep 2004 19:11:29 GMT

Sorry if you get this notice more than once, but I've not seen this posted anywhere else and thought word should be gotten out...

An anonymous stage manager at NCRF, (let's call him "Norman") told the Bones Band leader (let's call him "Donnie") this bit of info and I mentioned I would pass it on, so:

There is supposed to be an All Cast Meeting this Saturday at 9:00 am on Main Stage at Casa de Fruta. As this meeting has not been advertised much, I thought it should be posted someplace.

And if you tell 'em Cid sent ya, they might not turn you away at the gate... that is if you mention my name and happen to have a $20 bill handy...

anon,
cid

--

"We spend half our time tuning and the other half playing out of tune."

http://www.thedansemacabre.com
http://home.inreach.com/cid
http://www.jinglybits.com

posted in Wandering Minstrels - 2 replies

northern faire wandering minstrels?

damien — Thu, 09 Sep 2004 21:57:07 GMT

hey is anyone doing casa de renfaire this year? are the wandering minstrels part of it again? i can actually walk this time...

posted in Wandering Minstrels - 3 replies

Woohoo! more wanderring possibilities!

damien — Tue, 20 Jul 2004 06:37:59 GMT

not only do i have two working legs (hey sometimes you gotta appreciate the basics) but i just picked up an acoustic bass guitar that sounds pretty decent unplugged as well as through an amp. while i sense my purpose in life is to beat off with friends (the bodhran, ninny), i'm psyched about playing a bunch of brown notes if needed.

posted in Wandering Minstrels - 3 replies

Remember to VOTE.

Will — Tue, 02 Mar 2004 19:19:04 GMT

They say less than 40% of the population is going to the polls today... (That is less than a quarum...)

What is the majority really casting it votes for in a democratic election, I wonder?

posted in Wandering Minstrels - 17 replies

And now for a short interlude...

DANIELIBRIGGS — Mon, 01 Mar 2004 21:36:13 GMT

So What Are Wandering Minstrils interested in BESIDES being gay and fucking Tygre?

posted in Wandering Minstrels - 30 replies

who's bass is that?

damien — Wed, 10 Mar 2004 23:37:54 GMT

in the image titled Minstrels off Wanderring? cool handmade idea...

posted in Wandering Minstrels - 4 replies

Acoustic handmade instruments

el_rubio — Tue, 09 Mar 2004 02:37:39 GMT

If anyone is looking to have a stringed instrument made, I can point you to a number of places, including Mr. Rory Dafoe who is located in British Columbia and makes wonderful handmade travel guitars, bouzoukis, and period fiddles. Contact me here on Tribe if you're interested and I will send you his email address or a URL where you can look at some of his work.

posted in Wandering Minstrels - 2 replies

wow...

Tygre — Wed, 25 Feb 2004 01:50:57 GMT

Y'know, we've all been doing Faires for so long, first off. And until this moment, I don't think I've ever taken a really good look at the male RenFaire costuming. But I just did... It's truly amazing how fruity it looks! It's weird to be just noticing this after 10 years, but I guess I just never thought about it. Sorry boys, but you guys look kinda gay. :) And I'm not just talking about the Dead Poets, either. Men's Ren costuming is kinda strange looking, isn't it? :)

Sorry, just had to share a thought, there... back to your original programing...

posted in Wandering Minstrels - 35 replies

Electric octave mandolins

el_rubio — Tue, 02 Mar 2004 01:10:01 GMT

This isn't exactly germaine to street music at FAIRES but for those of you who are mandolin or bouzouki players, it may be interesting.

I am currently having an electric 'zouk constructed by a guy who does some really nice work. For a look at some of it (though this is not his current website, if you need to get in touch with him I can help you on that later), go to this link:

http://www.greenmanhumming.com/lutherie/catalog.html

Some really cool pieces there...check it out!

posted in Wandering Minstrels - 13 replies

Tygre is a sexy bitch...

dougchorpenning — Fri, 27 Feb 2004 02:18:14 GMT

I just thought I'd chime in and say what a sexy bitch you are, Tygre...Any seconds? ;)

posted in Wandering Minstrels - 19 replies

Music at the new Northern faire

el_rubio — Fri, 27 Feb 2004 22:21:28 GMT

The new Northern faire as Casa de Fruta is currently being assembled by Play Faire productions. They have signaled on a number of occasions that they are very interested in beefing up the musical component of the faire, in the streets and otherwise. I am currently trying to find out who in their organization will be directly responsible for music. In the meantime, don't hesitate to contact them a www.norcalrenfaire.com and let them know you are available, if you are interested in playing music and entertaining at the new faire. An online application can be found on that site.

posted in Wandering Minstrels - 0 replies