While many guests order their flags online prior to their visit, they have the chance to purchase them right down to the wire, to coin a phrase. Shop serfs and wenches enter the Arena to offer final chances to cheer your Knight onto victory with his colors and symbol!
As a theatre lover, I love immersion. The more I feel as though I am a part of something, the better. Hence why I have loved attractions like Medieval Times since childhood. The spectacle, the experience, it's all so epic, and now I get to help make it happen for a new lot of young squires and princesses. That is why I love my job, even on the hard days.
This is also why selling flags and banners in the Arena is my favorite task. The excitement is building at this point. The tournament is what everyone has ultimately come to see. From a retail standpoint, yes, it's a prime moment to clinch a sale. But even more than that, on a personal level, my "character" gets to have some fun, and really get the crowd pumped! (Although, I'm mostly following the lead of serving serfs and wenches, who give their mighty speeches. I'm the awesome pack mule bringing in the props and accessories, and ding dang, I'm happy to do so!)
Of course, this is when my set of memorable moments happened. So let's take a look at some, shall we?
~ "I DON'T THINK I'M WELCOME HERE" ~
[Please note: my spelling is terrible and homelands may be spelled wrong. I shall fix in the future if I must.]
Yes, guests are loyal to their given Knight. But as the tournament goes on, and things become a bit more serious, one by one the Knights begin to fall. Therefore, it is good to have allies, and they do! The Arena is divided into West and East lands. Navarre (Yellow), Santiago (Black & White), and Castilla (Red) hail from the West. Valiente (Blue), Peralata (Red & Yellow Striped), and Leon (Green) hail from the East. Both groups are allies with those on the same side. Both groups are foes with those on the opposite side. Good? Good.
Now, I suppose we can say that serfs and wenches are neutral. We are loyal servants to the Queen, and therefore, we help guests no matter what color crown they wear. This doesn't stop me from having a little fun while in-character though.
One night, I was assigned to sell flags in Valiente (Blue). Guests donning the Black & White crowns of Santiago needed assistance finding their place, and I was more than happy to help. But I couldn't resist having some chuckles with them. Blue is an Eastern land. Black & White is Western. While escorting them over there, I couldn't resist telling them 'secretly' "I do hope my flags don't offend them, m'lord and lady. Lands from the West are foes of those to the East. But for you, I will brave the danger!"
Yes, this got a laugh out of them, and I believe a promise that they would vouch for my safety. Thankfully, a co-worker who knows I like to "play act" was assigned to B&W. I told them that I brought guests visiting from Santiago, and Valiente flags might cause unrest. They went along with the story, and brought the guests to their table while I made a bee line back to my own territory, safe and sound for another day!
~ I NEED TO BRUSH UP MY SKILLS ~
Medieval Times does private events. For more information, please contact your local castle.
The first private event that I worked, I was assigned to the Red & Yellow section.
[...from here on in, I will refer to the "combo colors" as B&W and R&Y. The latter especially, considering that Red and Yellow are also standalone colors.]
Anyway, yes, I was assigned to R&Y. I was doing my thing, being the most epic shop wench ever. (I allow myself a vote of confidence now and then.) While going down the tables, I had one guest begin to use ASL (American Sign Language).
Now, I took ASL in high school many moons ago. But like French (which I also took and loved), I haven't practiced in so long that I am severely rusty. However, I did my best to accommodate our guest. I made certain to look directly at them so they could see my lips, and gestured to convey "Flags, $5" for them. While they didn't want a flag, they smiled and made the sign for "Thank You".
I looked at them again, for lip reading purposes, and said "I know Thank You, but I can't remember You're Welcome." They smiled even more and showed me the sign, to which I very graciously bowed and signed back "You're welcome!"
I know, this may not seem like a big deal. It should be common knowledge for customer service, assisting any guest no matter the circumstances. But for me, it's a very nice memory. The guest was so kind and understanding, and seeing them smile just meant the world to me. It's something I don't want to forget, and a high standard that I hold myself to. Also made me want to brush up on my ASL. It's a great skill to have in retail where there's so much interaction with the public.
~ THE TALE OF YOUNG SIR DANNY of VALIENTE ~
This one is arguably my absolute favorite of today's trio, but first, a quick lesson!
At one of our tournaments recently, Yellow and Blue had been taken over by GCU (Grand Canyon University), I believe, and a rather sizeable Girl Scout troop. I was assigned to Blue with the scouts.
Now, prior to this, my pre-show station was in the Exit side gift shop. (We have two: the gift shop and the Armory, where we sell real, legit swords. But the latter is a tale for another day!)
I am safely assuming that the guest who approached me was the troop leader. She had come to my register asking about flags. I had told her how much they were, and her expression deflated some. The number of girls present made it a little outside the price range. From the sales POV, I didn't want to lose it, so I instead showed her the banners. It was still a cheering souvenir, and in a better price range for the group. Needless to say, I got the sale. Woo!
Fast-forward now to the Arena...where I now had to sell the higher priced flags and 90% of my section that day was the scouts from this group. Oi. Not good, but nonetheless, it was my duty and I had to do it. So onward and upward we go! "M'lords, m'ladies! Flags to cheer on your Knight! $5 flags!"
The group was fantastic, but one little squire - a younger brother, perhaps, sitting with chaperoning parents - saw me. He really wants the flag, but the parents are adamant about "No, you have a banner." The boy is equally persistent that he wanted a flag. This is what I feared was coming since I stepped into the Blue section.
Noticing that the boy had a glow axe, I took pause and asked if I may speak frankly to the young squire. The parents agreed, and I leaned over the table. The following occurred...
Me: "I see you have an axe there, young squire."
Boy: (He holds it up to show me, rather proudly)
Me: "Yes, very good! Now, I am charged by Her Majesty to keep the flags safe, so I assure you, they will be all right. But! I think you have a very important job to do, Sir...forgive me, what's your name?"
Him: (After prompting from his parents) "Danny."
Me: "Ah, yes! The great Sir Danny! My young lord, your job is very important indeed! The Lord Marshal will be announcing our Knights very soon, and we have to be very loud and proud! Much moreso than the Yellow Crowns of Navarre, understood?"
(Yes, it was a running jest for me that day to completely overpower GCU in the Yellow section. My little Scouts in Blue needed to be insanely awesome, and boy were they! Anyway...)
Me: "So, I have the flags, and I will be back to help cheer when my Lord Del Mau arrives. But you, Sir Danny, must lead the charge with your banner and axe! Can you do that? Will you help me?"
Him: (Nods, holding up his axe again after I "show him how" to lead the cheer)
Me: "Yes!! Just like that! Wait for me to return..."
His parents thanked me for helping to keep him content with what he had, and I kept my word. As the Blue Knight rode forth into the Arena, I purposely moved to stand near the boy's side of the table so that I may cross for my second selling pass in front of him. As I did and the section went nuts, I looked for him, calling out, "THAT'S IT, SIR DANNY!! LEAD THE CHARGE!!"
I don't think I was ever more proud of my crowd. Those cheers with little Sir Danny "leading" the way still ring in my ears. It was most glorious, indeed.
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