Greetings to you all from Aysun the Mermaid

[Aysun_the_Mermaid]

It is good to be meeting you all.

I go by Aysun.

I had always had a general interest in mermaids, but I just thought they were pretty and liked the mythos. Nothing really beyond that. Then:

Two years ago, around this time, I scheduled an audition to work at my local renaissance festival. I intended to volunteer as a villager or wherever I was needed as part of the local cast. Then I got a call from the entertainment director asking me if I wanted to take part in a secret new attraction they were putting together 3 months before the faire was opening.
Long story short, I said yes and have performed the last two seasons as "the blue mermaid" in the mermaid lagoon at the Scarborough Renaissance Festival.
(I got that moniker because we were non-speaking characters the first year, so patrons identified us by the color of our tails, blue/gold/purple/red)

In the 2013 season, I fleshed out my character of "Aysun the Mermaid" when we were not only encouraged to speak English (as opposed to mermish/gibberish) but also to have accents so that we could be somewhat educational and come from different places around the world.
The accent I chose (since it was a bit on the spot and the only accent I could sustain convincingly at the time) was Russian.

That is why my mermaid is from the Black Sea, with a Russian accent and a Turkish name.

The tail I have been using the past 2 years (which belongs to the faire but was made to my measurements) is a very early generation FinFolk tali. It is two toned blue with silver down the front and back. The fluke is lightly spotted.

I am currently waiting on my own custom silicone tail from Pearlie Mae. :3

[MermaidCelesteFL]

OMG, a Pearlie Mae tail?! You won't be disappointed. :)

[Merman Chatfish]

That is awesome Aysun they way you got to became a mermaid. Jelousy level high!

[Merman Chatfish]

One thing I have been curious about is why mermaids at a renaissance festival?

[Miyu]

Welcome! Your character sounds interesting :) WOWZA you're getting a PearlieMae tail??!? I bet you're going to love it!

Flyer: Renfaires for the most part aren't about historical accuracy anymore, outside of the Court and Knights. There's fairies and fauns and nymphs working at almost every renfaire I've seen these days!

[Aysun_the_Mermaid]

The same reason there are fairies, gnomes, leprechauns, trolls, etc.
People and kids like them.
Family friendly elements or attractions. (sometimes. Not always though. I know some of the aforementioned creatures that are hilariously unkind)

Also, when some people call foul on "mermaids are not real, this is dumb" or "you have no business being here", we tell them that actors at a festival of the time period very likely would have dressed as fantasy creatures for fun to add to the festival. Just like we are doing today :)

We tell the kids we are real, though ;)

[Aysun_the_Mermaid]

Flyer: Renfaires for the most part aren't about historical accuracy anymore, outside of the Court and Knights. There's fairies and fauns and nymphs working at almost every renfaire I've seen these days!

Miyu is correct. Many faires are no longer true Renaissance Festivals. They are "fantasy faires" now. Or heading that way. Full on fae courts are gaining popularity in addition to courts from various countries.

[Merman Chatfish]

Ahh ok. I would enjoy being a merman at a fair, though fairies (and mermaids) are cute.

[Miyu]

There's a reason there's been an increase of interest in SCA/LARP: If you're into period-accuracy, then that's the place to look these days! :)

@Aysun: Exactly! Actual performers in the Renn Era would most likely have at least a few fantasy costumes! We're not the first era to enjoy a good game of make-believe ;) I'm sure there's some historical evidence for it somewhere.

[AniaR]

Pearlie Mae- excellent choice :D

welcome to the forum I remember seeing photos of you!!

[Aysun_the_Mermaid]

That is so cool!

[Merman Jamie]

Welcome to the forum

[Aziara]

Yay, welcome! I went to Scarborough fair last year. I sure wish the local fair had mermaids too (because I'd be begging to be a part of it, lol)

[Mermaid Galene]

Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme...

Welcome, Aysun!

[PearlieMae]

Hi Aysun! Glad to see you! I hope your holiday went swimmingly! I can't wait to build your tail!

[Aysun_the_Mermaid]

Aziara, which is your local faire?

And thank you for all the warm welcomes, guys :)

[Aziara]

The Louisiana renaissance festival in Hammond, LA. I say local only because it's the nearest--it's actually a two hour drive! :D

[Mermaid Enora]

Welome Aysun!
scarborough is my home faire and I've seen you there several times and even gotten pics with you.
I always come as fairy in a group of three fairies with large wings
do you recall seeing us at all out of the hundreds of people you see? :)
Was your name lochlyn rose at any time by chance? That's what I always see you labeled as on Pinterest pics

[Aysun_the_Mermaid]

Yes! I remember you guys! Your outfits are amazing.

My first year I was Lochlyn-Rose. But when they wanted us to speak, I knew a Russian accent would be better for me.
That, and I wanted a name that fit my character.
So I decided that that was the name I was given as a fry. Named after a great grandmother.
Then, when I came of age, I got my "adult name" that was a descriptor of my tail/personality/whatnot.

Or so I tell the kiddies that remember me from year to year.

[Mermaid Enora]

Good plan on what to tell the kids!
we did notice that the mermaids started talking more the second year
it seemed to us like all the mermaids were using Russian accents maybe?
also the new half tanks y'all got are a nice improvement

[Aysun_the_Mermaid]

Siren Nasreen had a quiet Scottish accent. Very subtle and pretty. Mermaid Echo was trying for an Irish accent. Very excited and ernest, though. And Mermaid Kai did not use an accent.

The tanks are so much better than the soap dishes. Now if we could only get the heaters to work >.>

[Mermaid Kelda]

I wish my local faire had mermaids ;__;
It's connected to an Abbey-turned-museum, which means they go for a very realistic occasion. I've volunteered there a couple of years, and they give you a proper outfit and you have to speak historically correct Middle-English etc. I did ask them once about mermaids and mentioned the whole "they would have had fantasy performers" but apparently all they had was stilt-walkers and giant puppets.

But anyway, welcome! I can't wait to see how your tail turns out! We're going to be a stunning group of mermaids ;)

[Mermaid Enora]

Haha soap dishes!! Very good way to describe them.
I don't know how y'all can stand the cold I've been bundled up some days and still cold.
but I've seen the mermaids shaking, teeth chattering, and almost blue from the cold and sitting in cold creek water.
did not look like fun those days.
also, if you're interested I have lots of photos of the SRF mermaids. Some with fairies some without.

[Aysun_the_Mermaid]

We just smile through the freezingness. The water was never adequately heated.

And yussssssss so very interested!

Melaina, where is your local faire?

[Mermaid Kelda]

Caboolture, South-East Queensland. It's the only festival I know of in this half of the country, never mind my area.

[Aysun_the_Mermaid]

Would that make you a tim tam eating mermaid?

[Mermaid Kelda]

Haha, it would indeed!