My Lord – My Lady
My Lord – My Lady
When you go to a Ren Fair you need to get used to hearing strange words. One of the ways that you will be addressed is as My Lord or My Lady.
This is the normal greeting that you will get from most people when you enter a merchant’s shop. The first couple of times that you are addressed that way it is a little strange and you will hear people all day long asking the shop keepers what they said. Just remember that this is normal. It is no different than a hi, a hey or a howdy, depending on where you are in the country.
So, the question then becomes, how do you respond? It depends on how into the Ren Fair you are at that point. A nod or a hey are perfectly acceptable. Most of these folks do not expect you to come back with a correct, in-period response. Just acknowledge like you would to ‘normal’ people and start browsing through their wares. Most fairs require a costume and some nod to talking in period or in character, for merchants, though most are not hardcore about the language side.
If you are feeling into the groove, respond in kind: My Lord or My Lady. If you are into your costume and your character continue the conversation in ‘voice.’ Really get into it. You will make that merchants day and give the rest of the people in the shop something to talk about for the rest of their lives.
It is true at a Fair as it is true in life: You get out of it what you put into it. The more fun you let yourself have the more fun you will have!
-Bobaganush the Pirate
