Nigel

Most excellent work, Dreamie! I raise me tankard (in one hand, drawing pen in the other) in saloot to ya! Cheers, luv.

He hee! Great story, luv! I would love t'seen the looks on their faces. 'Ere luv, I had a mem'rable 'sperience in Key West to share wit' yas: At the "One-Eyed-Pirate Tea Dance", I was talkin' with a gal named Harriett, who was from my home state o' Colorady. Turns out she was a journalist, in town to do a story, when she heard 'bout the PiP festival. She wanted to interview me fer a story on "bein' a pirate" (me specialty!) We decided to go fer a walk down Duval St. She asked a lot o' good questions, and told me I was "giving good interview". She was inquirin' about what it's like bein' a pirate. I said "One thing that we do is to take an ordinary experience, and make it extraordinary, memorable. We take people out of their normal ev'ryday lives, into a world of pirate adventure and romance, and give them a moment they will remember for a long time. The great thing is that, because of the costume, I can walk up to anybody, and I mean ANYBODY, start a conversation, and 9 out of 10 people will respond enthusiastically. Then I realized, it's not really the costume, it's the mindset. Eventually, people start coming up to me and initiating conversations. I love that I can instantly connect with people. " Just then, two women approached and asked if they could take my photograph. I said only if I take one with them in it. We were shooting photos, talking and laughing; they got Harriett into the fray, taking pics as well as being in photos. They thanked us and walked off smiling. Just then, a van pulled up, and two guys jumped out and said "Where is the Disney DVD release party?" I said "tomorrow at Mallory Square at 10 pm!" Then the guy said "Can I get a picture of you with my girlfriend?" and pretty soon, everybody in the van was out, taking pictures, laughing and talking. The driver got out and insisted on getting a pic with me. Then, he asked if I would take a pic with his dog, the sweetest old bulldog ya ever seen (wish I could 'member the dog's name, she was cute.) Then he said "wait right here" - he ran back to the van, and grabbed a book. He handed me the book. "I am an author, and I just got this book published. I want you to have a copy!" I said "I'll bet that there is something in this book that I was meant to read." He was ecstatic "that is what I feel too! Everything happens for a reason!" We laughed and talked and took more photos. Then the whole group jumped back in the van and drove off, waving and shouting "See you tomorrow!" I looked over, and Harriett was standing there stunned, holding the microphone out, with the tape recorder still running. I spun right around, looked her stragiht in the eye, and said into the microphone "See what I mean?" It was brilliant, unforgettable; I couldn't have scripted a better moment. Arrgh! 'Ere's to bein' a pirate!!!!

A toast? I love toast! Happy Berfdaze!!!

What scale (size) are the figures?

"Clearly you've never been to Seafair...."

Int'restin' booty?

We WERE? So THAT'S what that strange sensation was....sobriety! I KNEW I had too much blood in me alkyhol stream!

I have uploaded four pix of my "Ultimate Pirate Belt" http://www.pyracy.com/gallery/categories.p...cat_id=1&page=5 Look for "Nigel's Ultimate Pirate Belt" etc etc....the specific page will move as people add pix. I do custom work too.

Ruh-roh, Relroy.....

Oh mate, I would LOVE to see some pix!

I thought the gent in the pics was much better at the look, the mannerisms, everything. Course, the stage actor wasn't as up close with everybody, so they musta made-do with what they could, bein as he had to swing a sword and all. Not bad, just not nearly as good as our friend in the photos. He had it together. He deserves our compliments. What is his name? Is he by chance a member here?

Happy Holidays, lass! May yer tankard overflow wit' the best rum!

Go to http://www.piratesofthecoast.com/kw-scrapbook.html or http://www.shutterfly.com/os.jsp?i=67b0de2...510284a3&open=1 to see the Pyrates of the Coast collection. There are a few from that night in there, and more to come (Lighthouse showed us her pics last night, so they are yet to be posted)

A couple of corrections, for the record: The author's name is Don Freed (not Dan) I may not be the first ever to have persmission. However, when I inquired about permission to perform the song, Tom informed me that he had gotten off the phone with Don only 48 hours before, and said that I was the first to have BOTH his and Don's permission. I was ecstatic, as you can imagine! The version I do is very much my own personal interpretation, but I wnt to give credit where credit is due, out of respect for Don and respect/fondness for Tom. Cheers!

Oh, and by the way, do check out Tom's website. BUY HIS MUSIC! You will not regret it! He is, to my tastes, "the definitive present day shanty-man", and his music is wonderful. He is a fascinating individual as well. I can't say enough nice things about him as a fellow musician, and he and his lovely wife are simply delightful. Again, here is his website: http://www.tomlewis.net/

Yes, "Bein' A Pirate", a favorite of mine, is the song that got me some notoriety and many requests in Key West. I prefer Tom's version, which I have adapted somewhat to my own style and abilities. Fortunately, I acquired permission from the source (Dan Freed & Tom Lewis) afore launching it at the festival (so far, I am the first and, other than Broadside, only one with with legal permission to do Tom's version). If'n ya wants to do his version, you will have to ask Tom. I can get you in touch with him. Here is Tom's website: http://www.tomlewis.net/ and his email address: seadog@netidea.com And if ya wants to hear/see a really spirited version of the song (it be better wit' the visuals and audience participation), be sure to check out "Pyrates of the Coast". We are based in Seattle, but we will be appearing all over the place. Check out our website for upcoming appearances and events: http://www.piratesofthecoast.com/voyages.html I didn't originally suggest "Being a Pirate" because it may involve some effort to get permission, whereas some other songs are traditional, and don't require permission. I also want to make sure that due credit is given, and every performance I do of the song is prefaced with acknowledgement of the author(s) of the song.

Wasn't that song originally by Martin Mull?

Oh, I see ye've heard of the "World Famous Sanger & Diddle"! Their rendition of "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything" is a riot! Or is there mayhaps another version of this song loatin' aboots? And what is all this about "Boston in the fall"? If ye ever get the chance to see The World Famous Sanger & Diddle - DO IT! Their version of "Hose Me Down, Boys" "We're Sinking" and "Will Ya Go, Lassie" are among the most hilarious songs I've ever heard! And they are fun in concert! Me personal favorite pyrate song is "Professional Pirate" fromt the Muppet Treasure Island soundtrack. I think that is qutie possibly THE BEST pirate movie ever made (save POTC mayhaps), so that lets ya know where I'm comin' from. And Master Studely is right: For the ultimate Pirate theme music, try ELP's "Pirates" from their album "Works Vol. I". (Ah Studley, yet another reason I likes ya!) I gots to see them on the Pirates tour in 19***mumble mumble*** from the 3rd row. When the cannons went off, I got burn marks on my t-shirt. Great show. Would loved to have seen them with the orchestra on that one, but they only did that on the east coast, if'n I remembers right. Course, that was a LONG time ago.... *ahem* anyhoo, as you were saying? Where did we bury all that gold?

Yer in luck, lads! I make fine quality leather goods. I can custom make belts, baldrics, etc. to your specifications. I am in the process of getting pics of what I fondly call "the ultimate pirate belt" which I will post soon. email me at mikekloepfer@comcast.net with questions and inquiries.

Who WAS that Red-haired Spanish lass selling bodices, anyway? I remember her. All I can say is, WOW!

Reminds me of a good phrase I heard at PiP: "That must be an X on your rear, lass, 'cuz I be diggin' yer booty!"

Uh-oh....Prepare for long-winded dissertation. On this, I speak plainly and directly. One thing that Hurricane (my pirate Sensei) has taught me, and it has proven to be truer than I ever anticipated: We are in the business of service, to the patrons, the community, the spectators, whatever. We are not there to gratify ourselves, we are there to serve. Lose sight of that, and you miss the whole point. Secondly, if you ignore it, you alienate your audience, which is (to me) a shameful neglect of your responsibility as a performer. Third, the rewards you get from focusing on the audience's entertainment experience far exceed the rewards of self-oriented egotism. Trust me, I have been on both sides of this equation. The difference is that in the instance of self gratification, you are coming from a place of ego, of lack. This is always a dead-end. In the instance of service, you are coming from a place of abundance. There is so much fun, you have to give some away to make room for more. People are drawn to that, and the response is astounding. They will respond in ways you never would have anticipated, and it is so much more rewarding. Everybody wins. I saw examples of these principles in action time and time again at the PiP festival in Key West. [Thank you for the lesson, Sensei.] There, I am finished with the soap box. (What did ya think I was gonna do with it, take a bath?) Forgive me if I offend anyone, or get too far off topic; this is my opinion on the subject. The question, then, is this: at what point does "staying in character" conflict with providing entertainment/enjoyment for the audience?

"To infamy....and beyond!!!!"

No problem, luv. Yer gots a darn fine pome. Jus' break it up diff'runt like: Pyrates on (a) board Discuss'n all things naughty Cal, I love pyrates Arrgh! Thar we go! BTW, Cap'n Tito, that were right pretty Haiku ye wrote. Bring a tear to a glass eye, it does.

Ah, 'Roo, yer a wommin after me own heart, lass! That toast be a treasure! Did someone say "treasure!" "ARRRGH! Ahoy! Hand over the booty, mateys! AVAST! ARRGH!" *cough* *sputter* ..more rum, please....