Your first visit?? Some Ideas for circumventing culture shock!

If the Pirate festival is the first event of this type that you are visiting, there may be a little bit of culture shock. There are people in different styles of clothing who are waiting to interact with you – perhaps speaking with an accent, or using words you are unaccustomed to hearing. There are not many places in our everyday life that that this type of interaction occurs, so it is natural to feel a little nervous. 

Here are a few tips to help you get into the spirit of the day.

1. Relax, and remember that fun is the main intention here. Any question posed to you is intended to help spark your imagination, not test your knowledge.

2. If you are not sure of who the person speaking to you is, don’t be afraid to ask them – or better yet, introduce yourself. You don’t need to use your full name, or even your real name. It’s a pirate festival – so pick a persona – “I’m Bob the cabin boy”, or “I’m Captain Blue”, or “I’m the Duchess of Tortuga” all work equally well. If you want to be yourself, that is fine too – but a pirate may not understand what a computer programmer does, so be prepared to explain.

3. Try to find out who different people are – are they a pirate? Who is their Captain? Why have they chosen this village? Are they a villager? What do they think about the pirates? Most of the time, you may not have to ask the question – the performers are more than ready to tell you all – but asking the question will give you a starting point.

4. The more involved you get, the more fun you will have. Watching a game is fun, but playing it is better! There are plenty of games to be played - from a game of checkers, to Rat Pucking, or participate in either the kid's scavenger hunt, or our photo scavenger hunt, all designed to give you something to DO while you get the lay of the land. 

5. Try to overcome the fear of saying the wrong thing – saying anything is preferred to ignoring an interaction. Most performers are heartened by your attempts, and will try to help you out of a sticky verbal situation.

6. If someone is doing something interesting, or carrying something that you find intriguing, it is appropriate to ask questions about it – so long as you are not interrupting an obvious show. (For example – don’t ask a pirate about the weapon they are using WHILE they are fighting a duel!)

7. If you are uncomfortable getting involved in a specific situation, a smile and a firm “no” should be sufficient to deter any further promptings. Performers will respect your polite refusal to participate if you make it clear that you are not interested in interacting with them at the moment. For a more fun approach, you could always try to deflect an advance with a bit of humour “Alas, good pirate – I would join your crew if I were a free man, but my captain would flay me alive were I to jump ship!”

8. Try to think things through before you ask a question – if the answer is obvious, try to think of a different question. Yes, if it is a warm day, the people in costume are indeed hot. Yes, the pickles are actual real pickles. Remember that the obvious questions have probably been answered at least 20 times today - but we are happy to answer them again if you want!

9. If it sounds a little outlandish – it is probably for fun. If the Chandler tries to sell you 100 barrels of tar, you can likely play along without needing your wallet. If a merchant is offering a particularly lovely piece of jewelry – the price is not likely to be a jest – and they will expect your wallet to become involved. That said – don’t trust the mud pit actors – they WILL hug you if encouraged!

10. Figure out what the most common words / sayings mean, and use them yourself whenever appropriate. If you are not sure, ask! 

11. Watch some shows. You can follow the storyline of the day through a variety of different shows, beginning with opening gate, and ending at the pub sing show. Decided to sleep in, or need to leave early? Find a resident of Dry Bluffs, and find out what you've missed so far!

12. Dress the part - if you feel like it! We've seen it all - from grandma wearing ripped jeans and a bandana to little tykes dressed in historically accurate clothing. Many people come in "regular" clothing, buta hat and some sunscreen will keep you from turning into a lobster. Want more ideas of what to wear? Check this out!

In short, have fun, and let your imagination out! We're glad to see you, whatever your level of comfort!