From the original Beverage Babe
Keeping the record straight
For those who received the letter from 'Beverage Bitch' and may be a bit confused, we are NOT one and the same, nor am I Beverage Babe II. Though I do believe in free speech as you have seen, I do not condone the idea of threats or talk of boycotts and retaliation. My intent was only to pass on information to the faire community the awful things happening in hopes that we would come together as community and our voices heard.
I have expressed the anger, frustration and disgust that most of the faire community is feeling at this time, albeit too aggressively at times. The only arguments to my letters that I have received have been from the new people in beverage. I have received a stunning amount of support, with the exception of one letter asking that I not be so harsh and reflect on some of the positive. Thank you again for the attitude check.
I have done the attitude check and now it's time for everyone to do a reality check. Look around you, are you and your fellow faire family as happy to be there as you were in previous years? Are the things you see going on making you feel as though the faire is falling away from what it is supposed to be about?
It's true I don't care for the Selways or what they represent. It's not who or what they are but more importantly what the Selways are not, they are not faire folk. Just because you work at faire or own a booth at faire does not automatically make you faire folk. Being faire folk comes from within, your heart and sole, it's a way of being, and from that comes a community, a family. It is that love that keeps this faire going and it's that same love that we have in us that keep the people coming back to see us each year.
There is no anger in this letter, it's just time for people to start thinking about what they've heard and seen and decide if they are going to speak up or just let the faire, as it's been for 46 years, go by the way side.
We are the true spirit of the faire
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Keeping the record straight
For those who received the letter from 'Beverage Bitch' and may be a bit confused, we are NOT one and the same, nor am I Beverage Babe II. Though I do believe in free speech as you have seen, I do not condone the idea of threats or talk of boycotts and retaliation. My intent was only to pass on information to the faire community the awful things happening in hopes that we would come together as community and our voices heard.
I have expressed the anger, frustration and disgust that most of the faire community is feeling at this time, albeit too aggressively at times. The only arguments to my letters that I have received have been from the new people in beverage. I have received a stunning amount of support, with the exception of one letter asking that I not be so harsh and reflect on some of the positive. Thank you again for the attitude check.
I have done the attitude check and now it's time for everyone to do a reality check. Look around you, are you and your fellow faire family as happy to be there as you were in previous years? Are the things you see going on making you feel as though the faire is falling away from what it is supposed to be about?
It's true I don't care for the Selways or what they represent. It's not who or what they are but more importantly what the Selways are not, they are not faire folk. Just because you work at faire or own a booth at faire does not automatically make you faire folk. Being faire folk comes from within, your heart and sole, it's a way of being, and from that comes a community, a family. It is that love that keeps this faire going and it's that same love that we have in us that keep the people coming back to see us each year.
There is no anger in this letter, it's just time for people to start thinking about what they've heard and seen and decide if they are going to speak up or just let the faire, as it's been for 46 years, go by the way side.
We are the true spirit of the faire
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posted by:
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Los Angeles
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Re: Keeping the record straight
Tue, May 6, 2008 - 4:20 PMFrom Beverage Bitch:
Oh the tangled web we weave. No, we are not one in the the same and I really hope that we want the same thing. For Faire to be the true Faire. Now for a bit of clarification.
It is mistaken that I was calling for or asking for anything specific. I was just responding and putting choices out to those who wish to know the options. I only responded to each point that was presented. Road apples vs breakfast, teenage girls being used by their pimp, tip pooling, etc., etc. I only gave out information that anyone in any of these precarious positions could use. There are always choices out there but some don't know where to look.
I do not say "do this, do that" I am also just passing on information. People can use it, they can disregard it and file it in the appropriate receptacle or they can just ponder on it.
I was just giving my opinion of the points that were presented and people can do what they want with the information.
I just want to give people a reality check and make them think about what is really going on.
Hail to the True Faire
Beverage Bitch
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Re: Beverage Babe
Tue, May 6, 2008 - 4:23 PMFrom D' Bastard O' Beverage :
Well Kiddo's,
Big HOTT weekend comin up. Too bad the patrons will be standing in endless lines without any relief from that relentless sun!
Can O' peas?? We doan need no stinkin' can O' peas!! Whaddu thing this is, a freakin' swap meet oh whad? Oh das rye - it is a freakin swapped mead!
Say, here is an idea to get that "Tip Pool" way up! When the poor mark finally gets to the counter, politely take their order, throw it in their face and yell CARBON CONDITION at the top of your lungs... explain that you had mistaken them for a pile of ashes! Defo the cup, comp them a water and they will dig deep into their already depleted cash reserves and reward you accordingly!
If their cash reserves are already depleted, (if they have four or more in their party and paid at the gate, they will be) tell them to find the next ATM that does not work and shove that "Out of Order" sign up their asses!
Here is a riddle: What is the difference between a cup of the beer we serve and a cup of pig vomit? A) THE CUP!!! There are finer beverages in the bottom of a privvy!
Speaking of privvies, watch out for the ones the smell like rotten flesh because someone has died of heat stroke in it!
D' Bastard O' Beverage
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This is from me
Tue, May 6, 2008 - 4:40 PMI keep posting these messages hoping that anyone beyond Beverage will pay attention and maybe care. That has'nt happened. The actors and performers that I talk to just don't care that there is turmoil in Beverage. They should care, Beverage supports the Faire's ability to have performers, but most are so wrapped up in their little gigs and need for attention that anything beyond the ego is irrelevant.
Community my ass. In the past, if half of the performers were let go from Faire I would have screamed just as loud as any actor or dancer, not now. I see how selfish our "Faire family" can be. So all of you out there, I'm in it for me. I work my shift, chat with real friends (beverage people) and leave. Your silly shows are not worth my time. I will spend my earnings very carefully, only with the few vendors that really are upset by the way beverage has been bungled.
Faire used to be fun, it used to feel like family -
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Re: This is from me
Tue, May 6, 2008 - 5:11 PMOne question: Why are you doing it if it's not fun anymore? -
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Re: This is from me
Wed, May 7, 2008 - 12:29 AMI am going to say the answer I have heard over and over. People don't want to give in, they don't want to show weakness, and they seriously would miss their family.
Its a long and shitty road some days, but many feel they need to travel it to possibly see that light at the end of the tunnel, too bad so many feel we should travel it alone. Everyone might be best to remember what would happen to faire if all of us "Beverage" decided to pick up our toys and go home.
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Re: why are you doing it if its not fun?
Wed, May 7, 2008 - 8:24 AM
I'm not. This is the last year for me. When half of the beverage staff was cut the rest of us decided to stay because Faire needs us. Alot of us wanted to quit but the ones that were not hired told us to stay. That's the only support we got, from the other beverage people that were not rehired. Almost no support from vendors, no support from performers. Screw all of you, I told my manager I will stay the rest of this year but that's it.
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Re: why are you doing it if its not fun?
Wed, May 7, 2008 - 11:43 AMScrew all of us? What the fuck did the rest of US do? Hell I didnt even go to southern this year...
Nice way to drum up support when you are alienating people that have nothing to do with the issue... -
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Re: why are you doing it if its not fun?
Wed, May 7, 2008 - 11:59 AM~breaks out the Jiffy Pop~
~warms up the microwave~
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Re: why are you doing it if its not fun?
Wed, May 7, 2008 - 3:51 PM...psssst - pass the popcorn -
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Re: why are you doing it if its not fun?
Wed, May 7, 2008 - 4:32 PMI'll bring the raisinettes and the licorice whips
(popcorn get stuck in my teeth)
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Re: why are you doing it if its not fun?
Wed, May 7, 2008 - 12:12 PM
Take things personally much?
Before the "screw all of you" statement there was a direct reference to specific unsupportive RPFS participants. The ones that stopped visiting the ale stand when ALL freebies stopped. I always thought those people came by because they liked us no they only came by for the free soda or beer and clean(er) priv.
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Re: This is from me
Wed, May 7, 2008 - 1:32 AM<<Community my ass>> << I'm in it for me>>
I think there's far more productive ways to achieve your goals without throwing a snit. Projecting disdain and retreating to a comfort zone is hardly productive.
It's one thing to go, "Waaaaa!"
It's another thing to go, "Waaaaa, AND what can I do now to make it better?" -
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Re: This is from me
Wed, May 7, 2008 - 12:49 PMSometimes it's better to just move on and find something better to do than to stay and watch something stagnate... -
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Re: This is from me
Wed, May 7, 2008 - 1:00 PMI think it's delightful that she has chosen to take her whine elsewhere! -
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Re: This is from me
Wed, May 7, 2008 - 7:26 PMWell, I was just thinking why watch something you love get screwed up... I don't have a problem if someone wants to bitch about it but definitely action and bitching is better than just bitching...
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Re: keeping the record straight
Sat, May 10, 2008 - 10:26 AMI may be out of Beverage this year but am certainly not out of the loop.
Regarding Thew’s statement: Some folks have taken action, the GM has been contacted, there have been conversations with the former Beverage Director, and the email blasts by current Beverage people (hopefully) continue. I heard when the new Bev Director discovered that so many of the changes she made didn’t work, she was open to suggestions. But there is a general fear by current Bev folks that if they speak out they will be fired, thus the postings using pseudonyms. Also the current folks have done everything in their power to band together and do the best job possible.
As for Beverage Babe II ‘s claims of no support from other participants, I believe it. If you look at the RPFS boards here on tribe you will not see any mention of trouble in the Beverage Dept. I visited the Faire site a couple times this season and will tell you that the break areas behind the Ale Stands were not the lively hubs of the neighborhood as in past years (which is both good and bad). The front areas of the Ale Stands were pretty barren of participants as well. Just one person’s observations but I did spend 2 days going from one Ale Stand to the next . . . cuz that is where my friends are.
Because the Beverage people are such professionals I don’t think Faire guests notice much of a difference but in the back areas that overall Beverage "joie de vivre" is noticeably missing.
Again, I think these people are doing a fantastic job and accusing any of them of bitching and whining and not taking action is unfair and proves that the writer is not down here and living it.
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Re: keeping the record straight
Sat, May 10, 2008 - 1:22 PMI'm sure I would have been one of the ones fired if I had been down there living it. I don't blame everyone for being pissed off. There's just no excuse for the destruction. I hate to see you guys lose your faire time because of some idiot! -
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Re: keeping the record straight
Sat, May 10, 2008 - 2:51 PMLynn wrote: "I'm sure I would have been one of the ones fired . . ."
No doubt, I remember you from the Devore days, but you would have been in company ! ; }
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This is the maximum depth. Additional responses will not be threaded.
Re: keeping the record straight
Sat, May 10, 2008 - 2:52 PM
I meant good company - oops -
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Re: keeping the record straight
Mon, May 12, 2008 - 10:29 AMWe all would have been fired...
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Re: This is from me
Mon, May 12, 2008 - 7:13 PMMy Dear Little Fry,
Don't let the egos of some destroy your entire hope of someone listening and caring. Please don't give up, keep putting up the good fight and most importantly keep having fun with those still around you. In this time of strife and discord, everyone whether they know it or not have or will be affected by the things that are going on behind the scenes. And no one person, be it actor, vendor or crew feels safe to say anything in regards to this for fear of losing their position in faire no matter what that position may be. For vendors and some crew, meaning anyone actually paid by REP, its fear of losing their lively-hood, for actors its fear of loosing their place to play and having their egos stroked. Beverage I feel is just the start of the changes to come. Those that feel they are not affected will soon be enlightened, amazed and dismayed when their own little worlds come crashing down around them as well. And won't they feel stupid when they think back to the warnings and calls for help that they so easily ignored.
I feel I have said all I could to enlighten people, including management and the owners, of a lot of things going on in hopes of once again bringing our community closer together as it was in days gone by. But it seems that our community is just simply afraid of the owners and the power they wield. I would love nothing better than to see EVERYONE at faire ask for a 'Town Hall' style meeting with management and the owners. So take that as a hint to email or post to anyone in faire asking that they email or send a note to the GM asking for a 'Town Hall' style meeting to discuss their concerns or issues. Let it be known that this is their faire too and they have an investment in it as well whether it be vendor fees, cost for those high priced noble costumes or their hearts and soles and with out us there would be no faire.
We are the true spirit of the faire!
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Re: A message of hope
Wed, May 14, 2008 - 2:14 PMI got a message from somebody who is not part of Beverage but who knows how awful things are and is doing something about it. This somebody says there are other people trying to help too. I promised not to post the original message or their name.
I don’t know about anybody else but this sure makes me hopeful. It might be worth it to work next year, things might be better.
For now I can make it through one more weekend because of the love and support of my beverage family.
We are the true spirit of Faire
I love my job
I love my co-workers
I LOVE THE FAIRE
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Re: A message of hope
Sun, May 18, 2008 - 3:53 PMBelieving what is right; Resisting bad; Acknowledgeing what you're capable of.......Do not give up the struggle it might not seem important, but it is your own.....ying has the same power as yang ....Communication and conviction, got to kick until it breaks.
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