Does anyone work at Medievil Times in Chicago?

Calebhjohnson · Post by **Calebhjohnson** » Sun May 11, 2003 8:51 pm

Im going soon and it might be fun to meet someone.

Drake Orion · Post by **Drake Orion** » Mon May 12, 2003 12:05 am

no one in there right mind...did I say that out loud?

bela of kaffa · Post by **bela of kaffa** » Mon May 12, 2003 9:06 am

caleb, go, laugh & have fun... don't expect medieval, expect entertainment... expect the cable guy, in armour...

"come back, so i may smite thee!"

btw, the MT in joisey was hiring for a F/B director a couple of years ago; i almost went for it, then realized i woulda been whining about the presentation from the get-go, fired as soon as i told them where to put the turkey legs...

bela, evil food service denizen local #666

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Drake Orion:
no one in there right mind...did I say that out loud?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Pietro da San Tebaldo · Mon May 12, 2003 9:09 am

About a year ago, I talked to a fellow who was a 'cowboy' (their term for jousters) at the Myrtle Beach SC Medieval Times restaurant. At the time, he was on disability after fracturing his cocxyx (vestigial tailbone at the base of the spine) in a joust.

From how he told it, their cowboy crew averaged about 22 years old, with limited horseback experience. (Someone else takes care of the horses.) When the place opened, two guys came down from the Chicago franchise to train them - it took 2 days...

And for armor, he's wearing silver-string "mail" and aluminum. "Yeah, some of the guys wear BMX pads underneath, but that's for wusses!" (His words.)

------------------
"Or, a pall inverted surmounted by an orle Azure counterchanged"
mka: Sam Pearce

WaaaghBoss · Post by **WaaaghBoss** » Mon May 12, 2003 12:06 pm

I know a couple of guys who work there- Low pay, high risk = not for me!
They actually prefer to hire people with no horsemanship experience. Unfortunately it REALLY shows!
I also know one of the trainers there. She is a "real" cowgirl!

I will be working with the joust at the Bristol Renaissance Faire this summer- only slightly better than MT, but the atmosphere is certainly better!

Have fun, but don't expect too much- the target audience is the 8-12 YO boy...

~K

VadeKing · Post by **VadeKing** » Mon May 12, 2003 12:36 pm

I'm assuming that the one in Chicago is within the city itself and as such isn't as well set up as the Medieval Times in Kissimee-St.Cloud Florida, right outside of Orlando. The Show itself, yes quite laughable from a medieval point of view, but entertaining when you drop what you know of Medieval History and just take in the show value. However, the surrounding castle and people that made up the guildsmen WERE impressive. Their impressions of Falconer, Baker, Glassblower, Weaver (most with working shoppes) were quite good. The stonework of the superstructure itself was all wrong, but the shops themselves, objects inside, costumes (dirty, woven, brown) were as good as i've seen outside of Europe! If i ever go again, i might skip dinner and just stay with the craftsmen.

~~Vade

CalebJohnson · Post by **CalebJohnson** » Mon May 12, 2003 4:44 pm

I wasnt expecting anything historical. The pamplet showed jousters wearing armor that was crap. But thanks for the comments guys.

Caleb

ushumgal · Post by **ushumgal** » Mon May 12, 2003 4:55 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by VadeKing:
I'm assuming that the one in Chicago is within the city itself and as such isn't as well set up as the Medieval Times in Kissimee-St.Cloud Florida,

~~Vade<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Actually, it is a ways outside the city, right on the interstate on the way to Wisconsin. I used to drive past it frequently when I was going to school in Ann Arbor, MI (but I never bothered to stop...)

Jamie
LU2.DUB.SAR

Cassius the Rabbit · Post by **Cassius the Rabbit** » Mon May 12, 2003 5:08 pm

The horses are the real actors. The guys riding just swing a piece of steel around at each other but the horses make the show. I stopped watching how the guys were trying to hit and started watching how the horses moved without the riders making them go anywhere. The horses know what to do and even keep their head away from the stupid humans swinging steel around. THat is why they want folks with no horse experience. The horses are trained so the people dont have to be, they just have to look like Fabio and be willing to fall off a few times.

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Sir Alrek Kanin
or just plain 'ol Rabbit

gargoyle · Post by **gargoyle** » Mon May 12, 2003 5:30 pm

We did a demo for a 6th grade class a few weeks ago. Later they went to Medieval Times in Chicago. They came back and said we were much better. That the guys in Chicago were fake. 12 year-olds can tell the difference.