Guild FAQs
Why are you called "The Crew of The Dirty Rotten Oar"?
Believe it or not, there is a very good reason for the name and it has some historical
as well as humorous logic behind it. The insigna for The British Admiralty
has been a very ornate silver oar since the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. And since
we portray "poor Irish pirates" a good deal of the time, it only stands to reason that we
would be the crew of "The Dirty Rotten Oar" which we have claimed as our insigna.
What does the Crew of the Dirty Rotten Oar do?
We are Guerilla actors, interacting with people on the street at festivals
and faires. We help create the illusion of a place or time and allow people
to play with us. We usually set up a “period” encampment from which we present
an era. Our gigs are improv, often unscripted and sometimes fearless!
What are Dues?
Dues are money OTHER groups charge you to participate. Some groups
can charge a hundred dollars or more for allowing you the privilege to join them.
We here at COTDRO want something more valuable, your PARTICIPATION.
We figure by the time you setup, tear down, get costumed, and spend half your faire
hours helping the guild, who are we to ask for dues? We don’t believe in them.
Are children welcome?
Of course they are, we like families. Just some ground rules though. You are
responsible for your children, no one else. The children need to be old enough to understand play-acting and to attempt to be in character. Just like the adults,
half of their faire time needs to be dedicated to doing something with the guild.
What kind of character can I play?
We encourage all of our players to grow and take roles that showcase
their abilities. If you want to be a noble, better carry yourself like one! If you want
to do swordwork, then best get some lessons! The only limitation on what you
can play is your own imagination! Since we present a variety of genres you
could be a pirate one weekend, then a bard, then an elf, before the month is out!
Multiple Genres?
Since COTDRO is a troop of Guerilla actors, we like to stretch and
present what is asked of us. We’ve been Wild Irish at Renaissance Faires,
Pirates at Pirate Faires, and Dwarves & Elves at Middle Earth Festivals.
Who knows, maybe the Gold Rush is next! The key is, we don’t get stuck in a rut.
What does this Hobby cost?
That depends on how elaborate you want to get. Poor Irish garb is easy to
make, noble garb is expensive. We suggest you start out simple and
gradually upgrade your costume/s until you find where you are comfortable.
With gas and food, expect to spend at least $50/person per faire PLUS costuming,
props and encampment. The biggest cost is not guild related,
it’s the SHOPPING!
Is it Fun?
Do you enjoy dressing up and pretending to be something you’re not? Do you
like seeing the light in little kid’s eyes when you put some magic in
their lives? Do you enjoy being what people talk about around the water
cooler Monday at work? Then yes, you’ll have fun!
Upcoming Events
The Wild Irish
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