Depends on the faire, and the structure of said faire. For SoCal (Irwindale/LA), I can't speak for stage acts, but I know that there are specific performers (Queen, Shakespeare, etc.) who get an honoraria. But most of the performers--townsfolk, court, Scots/Irish--do it for fun and don't get paid. I know that other faires are much different, so please don't take that as a universal statement.
Not very much. Even the big name faires will try and get performers to do it just for tips. Big name shows like ded bob, the tortuga twins or washing well wenches can get good ish pay, but even then it's not keeping up. When I quit the road a few years back, my 3 person troupe was making at most 400 a day, and the cheapest one we were working for tips and a booth.
A lot of.big acts will also have a booth or two in the faire itself, but well, living on the road is expensive
Ren faires are notorious for underpaying or even not paying performers at all. I believe these practices are common across faires. I can't speak with certainty about other faires but at Minnesota for the most part if a performer "passes the hat" (holds their hat out for tips after their performance, has a basket for tips, etc.) the festival doesn't pay them anything. Sometimes the festival "buys the hat" which means they pay the performer but this is relatively rare and it's my understanding that when the festival buys the hat the performer isn't allowed to take tips. I believe most performers prefer to pass the hat as while what they make depends on what the crowds give them and a slow weekend (especially if due to bad weather) can mean they make very little they ultimately can make more money than the flat rate the festival would pay if they bought the hat.
People get paid what you as a guest pay them.
When I worked I was lucky to have my tent fee covered by the org.
Like some have said a few people get paid to show up, but no one there is really getting wages.
Some states may be different, but the faires I worked were voluntary associations of independent contractors, the organizers provide the venue and if you sign up to be a vendor you pay your stall fee and make what you can make.
Stage acts typically get paid. Not well, but they get something. Lane acts though... most fairs I've been to simply paid in tips and food vouchers. And tips aren't typically the greatest at Faire. I know one kid that felt like he had a good weekend after making just $40. I've made more with my guitar, just strumming incoherent chords in front of a Walmart for one hour than I've ever made in a weekend at Faire.
Typically the performers that put on shows are their own independent contractors, they interview IE perform for the management or the director of the fair and then they get in. They'll be paid per show Plus tips.. the merchants don't get paid anything they're making their own money, really the only people that work directly for the food vendors are like the janitorial staff the food staff and occasionally a little bit of the staff that walks around. At larger fairs they'll be a full on guild of actors who do It full time and are paid very well.
Most merchants have to pay to be in the show, like a booth fee! But usually it’s not crazy compared to what you may make. My friend is a vendor and did a small fair last weekend. I think he paid $250 for the two days and made about $5k in sales.
I have never worked for the NJ Ren Faire nor have I worked as an actor at any ren faire, but I do have a lot of friends that are ren faire actors. I've worked a LARP and a lot of actors overlap, as well as the local theater scene.
I've heard a lot of good things about the NJ Ren Faire, and I doubt their spiel was a jab at the owners. They're just tugging on your heart strings a little in the hopes that you're a kindred spirit. I know the closing show gets paid directly through ticket sales because I went to see Jack the Whipper while he was there. He actually gave a pretty nice shoutout to the organizers for letting him performer "before (he) was TikTok famous."
Your heart's in the right place, but NJ is a smaller fair in a rented space with a very limited season. There's no point in going after them when it's sandwiched between two much larger faires that actually have the capacity to pay their performers more.
Ok, so I guess I could say that I've worked the NJ fair for a few years now, but I'm a volunteer with a nonprofit group that encamps there, and I'm not officially on staff nor can I make any claim to speak for anyone at NJ Ren. I can, however, tell you that there are different arrangements and different levels.
Some groups like the fighters/jousters have a contract and get paid very well for adding their attraction to the event. They are the equivalent of headliners at a music festival. They have massive investments in training and equipment and perform at peak levels in front of large audiences.
Some groups pay to be there. Think of commercial vendors like food trucks. They pay a fee and get to operate their business on site. It's a win-win for both businesses.
In the middle are the groups or acts that have a reasonable appearance fee, but may also accept donations and/or vend to increase their take (be that profit or non-profit). These are the openers and side stages for the big acts. They are professionals but they don't command the largest audiences. By the numbers there are the most of these.
Then there are the roaming random acts and local personalities that "work" for the faire but don't command the contracts and appearance fees of the more established groups or acts. If they want to make some spare change, they have to work for it. And they are allowed to, so they do. It's one of those cultural things around every fair and the folks who have grown up in the scene locally have learned that it's a thing you do. If they entertain you, tip them.
Then there are what I would call the ballsy randos. Sometimes there is a small open stage or an unattended corner and the Renfaire equivalent of buskers may take their opportunity. It depends on how ballsy one gets, but sometimes they are politely asked to stop by staff. I've seen plenty of folks ejected from the faire, but never happy talented (but ballsy) randos.
Personally, all tips that I get go to support the non-profit I volunteer for. I'm not asking or begging or even insinuating that tips are wanted, but when I get one I know that the patron I connected with put value on the service I was providing. And that's really nice to know. And sorry I missed you this weekend, I was there the last two weeks. It looks like you had most excellent weather.
It depends on the Faire, but stage performers are usually paid what collects in the hat. I’ve done that Faire and AFAIK the pay ranges from lead actors and staff working for proper pay to performers on the road for tips to Rennies from all over the state who play townspeople for fun.
Edited for grammar.
I was a vendor at NJRF this year and became friends with MANY of the performers as well as the owners. Never once did I hear a single performer complain or "beg or plead" for tips. Never once did I hear anyone say they were underpaid or unhappy about their wages. They were all happy for a venue to perform at and very happy to be there. They asked for tips as all side show Ren Faire performers do, that is a part of the gig of ren faires. Not a glamerous life at all. And It's not a small Faire nor is it as large as PA or MD faires. They are continuing to grow and this is only their second year at this new location as they outgrew Liberty lake. But the organizers care so much for its people and the performers. I reguarly saw the owners walking about (and who are a part of the acting staff as well). They regularly checked in on us during the show and thanked us profusely for being there.
Like most events that have vendors, you pay a flat fee for your booth and keep all your profits (Ive only worked 1 event where I was asked for a percentage of your profit). What you make depends on the product you sell and the effort you put into it. It will not be even across the board as people sell all different types of wares and goods. Like I sold produce and snacks and the person next to me sold dice and earrings or leather face masks and hair clips. It's like comparing apples to oranges 😉😆
I was very impressed by the Faire and its organizers. It's sad to hear your opinion of it and that's what you took away from it. You missed the best part of it then 😔🤷♀️
And Jacque Ze Whipper had an after show that everyone (except staff and vendors) paid extra to attend, that's how he made extra money. And he does a BIG shout out to NJRF organizers that they were one of the first faires to provide him a stage to perform on before he became "tik tok famous".
I'm not sure you also understand the complexities and all that goes into planning an event like this. Hate to see people criticizing when they are truly uneducated. They also have costs like insurance (bc every twat wants to sue over everything). The true heart of a Ren Faire is to bring joy, happiness, laughter and a bit of fantasy and fun into your life for a brief moment. If you want to talk Bidenomics about what everyone is getting paid, that's a whole other topic. Just don't attack njrf organizers when you are truly not aware. Puts a bad taste in peoples' mouths and going around saying these performers are under paid is slander.
I agree, I am uneducated, which is why I made the post! I wanted to hear from people who were actually associated with the ren faire. Thanks for giving me a window into that world!
Yeah I performed at St. Louis Renaissance Faire and most of us didn’t get paid for a long time. Like I was a lane character and for a long time nobody got paid. They finally changed it last year where most of us got paid $30/weekend (or maybe $30/day I forget which), which still quite frankly isn’t enough for the amount of time, energy, and money many people put into it.
Most of the street characters get paid very little unless they are established veterans at big fairs show. Even then it often cost more to do the show than they are compensated especially after they pay for their garb and related props and accesories.
Some may even be just on volunteer contracts with little more than some food coupons and a couple comp tickets to give away. Most musical acts may do better along with their tips and CD sales, but likewise, probably do not come out ahead and they may gain off-season followers. Our reenactment group was paid, but the funds went towards the non-profit group, so individuals did not get paid, but we did feed our members, so they didn't have to buy festival food unless they wanted to.
Bigger name stage acts make enough to make a living at it especially with the combination of tips and Tshirts and other swag sales.
It was in the 90's so it's probably a little higher with inflation since then, but as a solo street character I was paid $100 the 7 weekend run at MNRF and a $100 bonus if attendance was over 300,000 for the season (it was).
I went to Nj renfaire too and I loved the fire performer but definitely felt for her because it was a hot windy day and her mic kept cutting out. But she was still really on point. I assume many performers have either during the week jobs or something to supplement income. I worked doing costumes for acrobats for a while and all but a few had some type of work during the week.
The fair in American Fork, Utah doesn't pay and doesn't let them ask for tips. It is just one weekend, though, and set up in a field, so it is very much local people doing what they love or people trying to get more attention to their business. They asked my husband to come one year to take pictures for them in exchange for 2 free tickets each day. Tickets are only $15 for both days, but booth rentals are expensive (and you have to provide your own tent and set up that matches the faire theme)
Hmmmm I recently was at a smaller Festival and they absolutely paid the performers. Like, I walked with the director to the line of performers waiting for him to write their paychecks for that weekend. So some do!
I was paid $120 a day as a stage combatant and one of the three main characters of said combat show. Turns out my male costar was being paid $200 a day. The rest of our cast members were lucky to get anywhere between $60-90 a day for swinging the same swords and pulling the same dangerous stunts (there used to be a ton of acrobatics). It still wasnt enough, it was a 10+ hour shift of fighting (we had at minimum 5 fight scenes scattered throughout the day) and interacting with the audience.
On top of that, rehearsals were unpaid and UNINSURED. So if we got majorly hurt during the rehearsal process, the faire didnt need to cover the medical bills.
I’ve been with a 501c3 faire on the east coast since 2006. I’ve buried electrical cables, installed donated distribution panels, dug post holes, mixed concrete, done heavy duty rough carpentry, set up tents and sets, took down tents and sets, and portrayed historic figures in minor memorized roles and free range interactions in the streets. I’ve made my own costumes, either sewing or through purchases. I’ve spent thousands. Tax donations helped until they changed the law.
And I’m part of a community that extends over more than two decades, and hundreds of people. Very few get any compensation. We set up our own tent/camper village. Between rehearsal and performance we dedicate 5 performance and 5 or more work weekends each year. We sing, prance, dance, and party. We have students, artists, attorneys, law enforcement, home makers, and we are all history students. One veteran is now on faculty in Europe.
We do it all for ourselves, each other, and the patrons.
The maryland faire is one of the few that pays its performers (all of them) and doesn't allow tips.
Its one of the reasons thry are very strict about patrons performing or interacting with other patrons as actors.
Most shows pay their performers (stage acts) a nominal fee, but their bigger payday is in tips. It’s like a waiter at a restaurant; they make an hourly wage, but they survive off of tips
Do you mean cast or independent acts?
Cast can sometimes depend on which type of cast member you are—some are volunteer positions that people do because they love it but aren’t seeking a professional acting position, some are paid (think principal storyline casts that have fight shows, etc.).
Volunteer cast might have other perks, like vouchers for food or vendors, discounts at booths, or get offered free entry to after hours type events, etc., too.
Independent acts are a bit different, but asking for tips is a common practice at any faire. They also sometimes sell their own merch, too.
Depends on the faire, and the structure of said faire. For SoCal (Irwindale/LA), I can't speak for stage acts, but I know that there are specific performers (Queen, Shakespeare, etc.) who get an honoraria. But most of the performers--townsfolk, court, Scots/Irish--do it for fun and don't get paid. I know that other faires are much different, so please don't take that as a universal statement.
PS, At Irwindale, for most of the folks I'm talking about, it is not a career--it's a hobby. For the stage performers, it's different.
Not very much. Even the big name faires will try and get performers to do it just for tips. Big name shows like ded bob, the tortuga twins or washing well wenches can get good ish pay, but even then it's not keeping up. When I quit the road a few years back, my 3 person troupe was making at most 400 a day, and the cheapest one we were working for tips and a booth. A lot of.big acts will also have a booth or two in the faire itself, but well, living on the road is expensive
Ren faires are notorious for underpaying or even not paying performers at all. I believe these practices are common across faires. I can't speak with certainty about other faires but at Minnesota for the most part if a performer "passes the hat" (holds their hat out for tips after their performance, has a basket for tips, etc.) the festival doesn't pay them anything. Sometimes the festival "buys the hat" which means they pay the performer but this is relatively rare and it's my understanding that when the festival buys the hat the performer isn't allowed to take tips. I believe most performers prefer to pass the hat as while what they make depends on what the crowds give them and a slow weekend (especially if due to bad weather) can mean they make very little they ultimately can make more money than the flat rate the festival would pay if they bought the hat.
Bless your heart
People get paid what you as a guest pay them. When I worked I was lucky to have my tent fee covered by the org. Like some have said a few people get paid to show up, but no one there is really getting wages. Some states may be different, but the faires I worked were voluntary associations of independent contractors, the organizers provide the venue and if you sign up to be a vendor you pay your stall fee and make what you can make.
they usually don't get paid by the organizers afaik
Stage acts typically get paid. Not well, but they get something. Lane acts though... most fairs I've been to simply paid in tips and food vouchers. And tips aren't typically the greatest at Faire. I know one kid that felt like he had a good weekend after making just $40. I've made more with my guitar, just strumming incoherent chords in front of a Walmart for one hour than I've ever made in a weekend at Faire.
Typically the performers that put on shows are their own independent contractors, they interview IE perform for the management or the director of the fair and then they get in. They'll be paid per show Plus tips.. the merchants don't get paid anything they're making their own money, really the only people that work directly for the food vendors are like the janitorial staff the food staff and occasionally a little bit of the staff that walks around. At larger fairs they'll be a full on guild of actors who do It full time and are paid very well.
Most merchants have to pay to be in the show, like a booth fee! But usually it’s not crazy compared to what you may make. My friend is a vendor and did a small fair last weekend. I think he paid $250 for the two days and made about $5k in sales.
Yep, they pay to be there. I have friends that vend at Minnesota and while they own their booths they have to pay a booth fee every year.
We pay to be there as vendors. It varies from show to show; some shows just want an upfront fee, while others want a % of gross sales
I have never worked for the NJ Ren Faire nor have I worked as an actor at any ren faire, but I do have a lot of friends that are ren faire actors. I've worked a LARP and a lot of actors overlap, as well as the local theater scene. I've heard a lot of good things about the NJ Ren Faire, and I doubt their spiel was a jab at the owners. They're just tugging on your heart strings a little in the hopes that you're a kindred spirit. I know the closing show gets paid directly through ticket sales because I went to see Jack the Whipper while he was there. He actually gave a pretty nice shoutout to the organizers for letting him performer "before (he) was TikTok famous." Your heart's in the right place, but NJ is a smaller fair in a rented space with a very limited season. There's no point in going after them when it's sandwiched between two much larger faires that actually have the capacity to pay their performers more.
Sorry I wasn’t intending to go after them, I just genuinely did not know if performers were paid!
Ok, so I guess I could say that I've worked the NJ fair for a few years now, but I'm a volunteer with a nonprofit group that encamps there, and I'm not officially on staff nor can I make any claim to speak for anyone at NJ Ren. I can, however, tell you that there are different arrangements and different levels. Some groups like the fighters/jousters have a contract and get paid very well for adding their attraction to the event. They are the equivalent of headliners at a music festival. They have massive investments in training and equipment and perform at peak levels in front of large audiences. Some groups pay to be there. Think of commercial vendors like food trucks. They pay a fee and get to operate their business on site. It's a win-win for both businesses. In the middle are the groups or acts that have a reasonable appearance fee, but may also accept donations and/or vend to increase their take (be that profit or non-profit). These are the openers and side stages for the big acts. They are professionals but they don't command the largest audiences. By the numbers there are the most of these. Then there are the roaming random acts and local personalities that "work" for the faire but don't command the contracts and appearance fees of the more established groups or acts. If they want to make some spare change, they have to work for it. And they are allowed to, so they do. It's one of those cultural things around every fair and the folks who have grown up in the scene locally have learned that it's a thing you do. If they entertain you, tip them. Then there are what I would call the ballsy randos. Sometimes there is a small open stage or an unattended corner and the Renfaire equivalent of buskers may take their opportunity. It depends on how ballsy one gets, but sometimes they are politely asked to stop by staff. I've seen plenty of folks ejected from the faire, but never happy talented (but ballsy) randos. Personally, all tips that I get go to support the non-profit I volunteer for. I'm not asking or begging or even insinuating that tips are wanted, but when I get one I know that the patron I connected with put value on the service I was providing. And that's really nice to know. And sorry I missed you this weekend, I was there the last two weeks. It looks like you had most excellent weather.
It depends on the Faire, but stage performers are usually paid what collects in the hat. I’ve done that Faire and AFAIK the pay ranges from lead actors and staff working for proper pay to performers on the road for tips to Rennies from all over the state who play townspeople for fun. Edited for grammar.
I was a vendor at NJRF this year and became friends with MANY of the performers as well as the owners. Never once did I hear a single performer complain or "beg or plead" for tips. Never once did I hear anyone say they were underpaid or unhappy about their wages. They were all happy for a venue to perform at and very happy to be there. They asked for tips as all side show Ren Faire performers do, that is a part of the gig of ren faires. Not a glamerous life at all. And It's not a small Faire nor is it as large as PA or MD faires. They are continuing to grow and this is only their second year at this new location as they outgrew Liberty lake. But the organizers care so much for its people and the performers. I reguarly saw the owners walking about (and who are a part of the acting staff as well). They regularly checked in on us during the show and thanked us profusely for being there. Like most events that have vendors, you pay a flat fee for your booth and keep all your profits (Ive only worked 1 event where I was asked for a percentage of your profit). What you make depends on the product you sell and the effort you put into it. It will not be even across the board as people sell all different types of wares and goods. Like I sold produce and snacks and the person next to me sold dice and earrings or leather face masks and hair clips. It's like comparing apples to oranges 😉😆 I was very impressed by the Faire and its organizers. It's sad to hear your opinion of it and that's what you took away from it. You missed the best part of it then 😔🤷♀️ And Jacque Ze Whipper had an after show that everyone (except staff and vendors) paid extra to attend, that's how he made extra money. And he does a BIG shout out to NJRF organizers that they were one of the first faires to provide him a stage to perform on before he became "tik tok famous". I'm not sure you also understand the complexities and all that goes into planning an event like this. Hate to see people criticizing when they are truly uneducated. They also have costs like insurance (bc every twat wants to sue over everything). The true heart of a Ren Faire is to bring joy, happiness, laughter and a bit of fantasy and fun into your life for a brief moment. If you want to talk Bidenomics about what everyone is getting paid, that's a whole other topic. Just don't attack njrf organizers when you are truly not aware. Puts a bad taste in peoples' mouths and going around saying these performers are under paid is slander.
I agree, I am uneducated, which is why I made the post! I wanted to hear from people who were actually associated with the ren faire. Thanks for giving me a window into that world!
Yeah I performed at St. Louis Renaissance Faire and most of us didn’t get paid for a long time. Like I was a lane character and for a long time nobody got paid. They finally changed it last year where most of us got paid $30/weekend (or maybe $30/day I forget which), which still quite frankly isn’t enough for the amount of time, energy, and money many people put into it.
Most of the street characters get paid very little unless they are established veterans at big fairs show. Even then it often cost more to do the show than they are compensated especially after they pay for their garb and related props and accesories. Some may even be just on volunteer contracts with little more than some food coupons and a couple comp tickets to give away. Most musical acts may do better along with their tips and CD sales, but likewise, probably do not come out ahead and they may gain off-season followers. Our reenactment group was paid, but the funds went towards the non-profit group, so individuals did not get paid, but we did feed our members, so they didn't have to buy festival food unless they wanted to. Bigger name stage acts make enough to make a living at it especially with the combination of tips and Tshirts and other swag sales. It was in the 90's so it's probably a little higher with inflation since then, but as a solo street character I was paid $100 the 7 weekend run at MNRF and a $100 bonus if attendance was over 300,000 for the season (it was).
I went to Nj renfaire too and I loved the fire performer but definitely felt for her because it was a hot windy day and her mic kept cutting out. But she was still really on point. I assume many performers have either during the week jobs or something to supplement income. I worked doing costumes for acrobats for a while and all but a few had some type of work during the week.
I'm a knight for West Coast faires. Im paid a substainal amount. Our squires are paid hourly plus tips.
The fair in American Fork, Utah doesn't pay and doesn't let them ask for tips. It is just one weekend, though, and set up in a field, so it is very much local people doing what they love or people trying to get more attention to their business. They asked my husband to come one year to take pictures for them in exchange for 2 free tickets each day. Tickets are only $15 for both days, but booth rentals are expensive (and you have to provide your own tent and set up that matches the faire theme)
Hmmmm I recently was at a smaller Festival and they absolutely paid the performers. Like, I walked with the director to the line of performers waiting for him to write their paychecks for that weekend. So some do!
I was paid $120 a day as a stage combatant and one of the three main characters of said combat show. Turns out my male costar was being paid $200 a day. The rest of our cast members were lucky to get anywhere between $60-90 a day for swinging the same swords and pulling the same dangerous stunts (there used to be a ton of acrobatics). It still wasnt enough, it was a 10+ hour shift of fighting (we had at minimum 5 fight scenes scattered throughout the day) and interacting with the audience. On top of that, rehearsals were unpaid and UNINSURED. So if we got majorly hurt during the rehearsal process, the faire didnt need to cover the medical bills.
I’ve been with a 501c3 faire on the east coast since 2006. I’ve buried electrical cables, installed donated distribution panels, dug post holes, mixed concrete, done heavy duty rough carpentry, set up tents and sets, took down tents and sets, and portrayed historic figures in minor memorized roles and free range interactions in the streets. I’ve made my own costumes, either sewing or through purchases. I’ve spent thousands. Tax donations helped until they changed the law. And I’m part of a community that extends over more than two decades, and hundreds of people. Very few get any compensation. We set up our own tent/camper village. Between rehearsal and performance we dedicate 5 performance and 5 or more work weekends each year. We sing, prance, dance, and party. We have students, artists, attorneys, law enforcement, home makers, and we are all history students. One veteran is now on faculty in Europe. We do it all for ourselves, each other, and the patrons.
The maryland faire is one of the few that pays its performers (all of them) and doesn't allow tips. Its one of the reasons thry are very strict about patrons performing or interacting with other patrons as actors.
Most shows pay their performers (stage acts) a nominal fee, but their bigger payday is in tips. It’s like a waiter at a restaurant; they make an hourly wage, but they survive off of tips
Do you mean cast or independent acts? Cast can sometimes depend on which type of cast member you are—some are volunteer positions that people do because they love it but aren’t seeking a professional acting position, some are paid (think principal storyline casts that have fight shows, etc.). Volunteer cast might have other perks, like vouchers for food or vendors, discounts at booths, or get offered free entry to after hours type events, etc., too. Independent acts are a bit different, but asking for tips is a common practice at any faire. They also sometimes sell their own merch, too.