Reaction to yer Piratey ways

[Red Cat Jenny]

Where have you wound up while on your way to a reenactment, festival, fair, party, whatnot.... dressed in all yer spledour? (Gas station, 7-11, pulled over perhaps? lol!)

I have always kept one braid tied in a good antique bit o ribbon which I tuck up under me long hair with a clip when at work. One day it came undone and when my boss asked about it I just smiled and said "I'd tell ye but then I'd have ta kill ye" He didn't ask any more questions..

Good thing he has a sense of humor and I do my job well LOL.

I used to work in the music industry where all manner of crazy fashion is acceptable, but now I wears a suit at the airport..little do they all know the danger in their midst (chuckle) Lookin foreward to yer stories..

[Hester]

Well, I haven't really been anywhere in public in pirate gear, except on Hallowe'en.

But, at the beginning of the summer I did go to an English Country Dancing "ball", dressed in my best approximation of Regency dress. Everything actually came from my own closet, so it wasn't that outrageous:

Empire-waisted pale yellow dress sprigged with blue flowers (from La Cache). Eyelet lace petticoat peaking out underneath, black leather ankle boots, and a mauve-grey velvet shawl with 8" fringes.

My hair was swept up at the back, with ringlets and little braids.

I took the subway to the dance. I didn't think I looked too out of place, but each time I looked up, the young woman wearing shorts and a t-shirt sitting directly across from me was staring at me with a look of bewilderment on her face.

Cheers, Hester

[Red-Handed Jill]

I've been all sorts of places in pirate garb. The group I belong to, Tales of the Seven Seas, does several events a year. This means that we've had to be several "mundane" places to run errands. Also, Iron Jack and I have a piratical musical group, so that means even more days that I'm in garb. In fact, I spend so much time in piratical garb that it's more like working clothes than a costume. The local grocery store has gotten so used to us as pirates and we get many cries of "arrr" even when we aren't in garb.

On one occasion, Iron Jack and I went to Beverages and More to pick up supplies (RUM) for some gig or another and everyone near the front door took one look at us pointed left and said, "the rum's that way!"

[Black Syren]

Hmm 7-11, was pulled over by an officer once because of my hat!, Toys R Us, Out to eat several times, the Mall, The theater of course, the Grocery Store and nearly cause a firetruck to have an accident.

[Dorian Lasseter]

Hmmmm... where ta start... I've been a reenactor for nigh on fifteen years...

Grocery stores

Gas Stations

Home Depot

Malls

Too many restaraunts to name

Museums

Bars

Some places, the folks don't even bat an eye.... other places... well, a space alien would get less attention....

I've had my picture taken on many occasion as well by 'spectators'...

Tis all goode fun....

[Black Syren]

LOL I did forget the Pirate and Smuggling Museum! and walked about one weekend on Padre Isle dressed as a Pyrate...

[Patrick Hand]

Hummmm... lets see if I can remember exactly what the Sonora paper "news of report" said (the wot the cops was doing part O' th' paper)

"An officer questioned a man on South Stewart Street dressed as a Pirtate" (Hey... I went to see PoTC and was walking home.......)

And when I fly out to PiP... I do it in garb..... aaargh... the looks on the Kids faces when I walk through the airport....... and it gives security something to talk about at lunch.... (the shrunken head when they searched my carry on bag might have helped....)

Awh heck... whenever I go to an event... or have a half way excuse to.... I dress in me pyrate garb..... Talk like a Pyrate Day... whatever.....

If you ever get up into the California Mountains where I live ... just ask around.... most everyone knows about the Pyrate up here.....

[The Doctor]

After spending all day Saturday at MNRF, Janelle and I went to dinner at Outback Steak House. It was an hour's wait, so we sat out on their front porch / bistro area, enjoyed (more) drinks and smoked a pipe or two. Before we knew it, we had a whole gaggle of kids and adults waiting outside with us because they wanted to hang out with the pyrates.

[Red Cat Jenny]

These are great! You've inspired me. I am picturing ye in home Depot and Outback. Liquor store ..most definately!

As fer th airport I haven't seen any o ye there yet.. but I like the idea of a whole bunch o us on a plane to Key West or other event, Imagine 15 or 20 pirates in business class!

lol Keep the stories coming!

I am wearing at least me hat ta werk on Halloween..will be fun walkin thru customs!

[hurricane]

I can't even begin to list the number of places - our crewe just goes out for no reason, even if it's just me mate and I. That means grocery stores, banks, bars, restaurants, museums - the works. We probably are in costume 50 times a year in different locales.

I think it's pretty hilarious that no one thinks twice about us roaming the streets of their towns with swords, knives and doglocks. I guess they just assume we'd have them. Even when we pull them out for photos, no one has ever cared in 24 years.

We always travel in costume. That means taking off your boots at the airport which is quite comical. But the people on the plane love it when 10 pirates and wenches come aboard.

I can't imagine traveling in civvies.

-- Hurricane

[Red Cat Jenny]

ha! good fer ye? Where does ye reside tha the police don't object to pointy or explosive things? Sadly that wouldn't go ere. If ever any o ye pass thru NY's JFK ye must let me know!

[Quartermaster James]

Well, it be more a thing for a fantasy pyrate than a reenactor, but I just got me one o' them Museum Replicas Buccaneer Coats (I got mine from Reliks). As soon as I convert the pocketless flaps to working pockets, it is going to be my regular cold weather coat. Might just take to wearing my pyrate hat round town too...

[Capt. Sterling]

Jeeze where haven't I been in kit?? I've even been invited to the Ladies' Tea Social at our church cause the women wanted to meet the Captain.

But I think the funniest time was back when we did a dragoon unit, the 17th Light Horse Dragoons from the Am. Rev. War. We had just finished up a big battle at Fort Tigondaroga (sp) and needless to say, with horses and wearing a kit that boasts white small clothes and white doeskin breeches, we were filthy even before we got caught in the rain... Any way, me, my younger brother and my cousin Linda, pretty much changed out the important parts of our kit for mundane clothes... I ended up with leather breeches, now unbuckled and unbuttoned at the knees, 18th century shirt, dirty white linen waistcoat, stockings fallen down to my ankles and sneakers... over which I had a beat up old rain jacket. My brother was pretty much dressed the same but put on a sweater and Linda, now just in chemise, denim jacket and petticote with her hair pulled back in a scrunchy thing.

We quickly packed up the kit, loaded the horses and decided to stop at the local supermarket for snacks on the trip back to Long Island. We only had a few bucks between us and as we were marching up and down the isles we were arguing about what we could actually afford so we better make it something we all liked... we made our purchase and as we stood just inside the door this old lady comes over, hands us a wad of cash and says "you poor kids, hope this helps" gets in her car and leaves...It took the three of us a minute to realize just how "bad" we looked....

[Capt. Sterling]

As fer th airport I haven't seen any o ye there yet..  but I like the idea of a whole bunch o us on a plane to Key West or other event, Imagine 15 or 20 pirates in business class!

lol Keep the stories coming!

Airports are no fun... done that with Wild West... running late from an event in WI and needing to fly back to NY. Truly nothing great about having to strip down to shirt and trousers, because yer braces are setting off the machine and then because of the shoe bomber, having to strip off spats and high button boots... and then put everything back on with a button hook in order to board the plane.... and then waistcoat, frock coat, pocketwatches... **sigh**

And I've dropped folks off at my new airport in pyrate gear... if I get too close to the metal detectors all the workers get really nervous... I just roll my eyes... like I'm going to hijack a plane with my small sword...

[DocF225]

On the way to a reenactment, stopped for the obligatory cup of coffee.

I had on me kilt, shoes and a modern t shirt (too tough to drive in a full plait).

The poor young lady at the deli was flabbergasted. Kept starin at me.

[Black Syren]

Capt. Sterling that was great. Little Ol Lady prolly did not know what to think, I can almost picture it!

As for you Doc? Why does that not surprise me..lol

I was going to work a pirate Party at work for a little boy and was fully dressed in my stuff hat and all and was sitting at a red light next to a firetruck. When the light turned green all these firemen were looking at me I guess to figure out just what I was wearing and started to cross into oncoming traffic..Luckily the driver realized and corrected his mistake so there were no accidents. But it was rather funny when it was all said and done...

[Capt. Sterling]

Capt. Sterling that was great. Little Ol Lady prolly did not know what to think, I can almost picture it!

I could go on and on... we always seem to end up in the right place at the right time, in the strangest clothes...

[kass]

Okay, this is not pirate-related at all, but since we're telling "in kit" stories.

I was on my way to my first ever reenactment -- a Scandinavian Festival in Northern New Jersey. I finally joined my friend's Swedish 30 Years War group a year earlier and I finally had enough kit to actually turn out for an event.

But I went the wrong was on Route 80! By the time I realized it, I was almost in Pennsylvania. So I was late. For a public event.

At the exit, I saw my salvation: Dunkin Donuts! If I bought the Kapten and the guys coffees, they'd forget I was late! And it had a drive-thru so I didn't even have to get out of my car. So I pull up, order six coffees, and pull up to the pickup window.

To set the scene, I'm wearing this (I'm the girl):

And I'm driving a bright blue Mazda Miata with the convertible top down.

The kid at the pickup window does a doubletake and says, "Are you Amish?"

I reply, "Yup. Horse and buggy's in the shop. This is a loaner!"

The story alone redeemed me with my new group!

[Capt. Sterling]

To set the scene, I'm wearing this (I'm the girl):

Shhhh don't tell Bob that....

[kass]

Captain, you act like I said, "I'm the pretty one wearing all the lace!" I would never say such a thing!

[Capt. Sterling]

Well then we shall just say, Dear Empress, that you are the pretty one, although I guess after MDRF, Mr. BALLS might disagree...

[Cheeky Actress]

One more strange but true tale of kit gone bad/wild/strange....

This happened back in the late 1990s. I had just been befriended by my Kishwaukee group friends who did an assortment of time periods. It just so happened that one weekend we had two events on the same day.

I promised to pick up my two new friends, Andy and Clint in Wisconsin at a Civil War event and bring them down to IL for a Wild West event in IL. Well, needless to say, we were pressed for time and we had to get over the board and be ready in less than an hour.

At the time I was driving a Dodge Stratus, which was limited in room to begin with. I drove like a mad-woman (and still do...ask anyone) the two men had to change from Civil War to Wild West in that tight little backseat area.

All I can remember is the strange looks we got as we drove down I-94 to the boarder as cars passed us by. One particular man in a oversize pickup truck did a double take when he saw me driving and the boyz changing; he almost veered off the road!

I am sooo lucky that we didn't meet up with a highway cop at the time. I don't know how we would have talked our way out of that one.

[kass]

Oh, I dunno, Captain. You know me! I likes 'em pretty!

Hey Sweet Cheeks, good one! The highway cop would have probably been laughing too hard to give you a ticket!

[Cheeky Actress]

Hmm...I don't know if I would have wanted to find that out or not! I'm just glad that we made it there in one piece (about 10 mins. to spare) and other than Clint having his shirt button all wrong (but...He kept it that way because he said, "I meant to do that!") everyone looked great.

[Capt. Sterling]

and other than Clint having his shirt button all wrong (but...He kept it that way because he said, "I meant to do that!")

That is soooo Clint!