And what costumes! There were the traditionalists, of course, like last year- the ones who make their own buttons and such, but there were also a bunch of what I assume were locals, who just worked with what they had around. You know, like we do here, because there’s always something going on, so best to keep a few feathers around the house, maybe a boa, and you’re on your way. Thankfully, with another year between us and Pirates of the Caribbean movies, there were somewhat fewer Johnny Depp wannabes, though the young girls still loved them.

PyrateCon had much more of a street presence this year, too. They’ve jumped ship, leaving the CBD and mooring in the French Quarter, taking over part of Bourbon Street- including the block that includes the Funky Pirate bar, naturally.

I heard there was a bunch of in-fighting amongst the pirate community (to be expected, I suppose; organizing pirates has got to be like herding particularly well armed cats) and some splintering, but this year’s event seemed considerably larger and much better organized than last year.

Love this…the required proper attire is clearly a relative thing.

Lots of bemused tourists were Aaarrrghed at, and I proved something I long assumed- no matter how fierce your outfit (or, okay, costume), it is impossible to look tough holding a bright red Hurricane or lime green Hand Grenade.

And we won’t even talk about the Shark attack, pictured here. No matter how massively crowded they are, they still blast the Jaws music over the noise and chuck the tiny plastic alligator and massive shark into the mix.

The above started with a hat we sell which I gussied it up considerably, and it was there I first experienced the slippery slope aspect. It was very easy to say, “Well, I’m not going to go crazy on the costume thing, but I should at least have a decent hat, right? I mean, a hat is what people notice.”

Half an hour later:
“Well, the hat looks pretty good. Not authentic, but I can fix that later. But now that blouse looks really sad. Maybe I should just…”

Before you know it, you’re making your own buttons.

More (including a short video) in the gallery.

We went to the last seminar of the day, which was given by Tony Swatton, who is a majorly amazing artisan who’s done the weaponry, props and armor for just about every movie you’ve ever seen. Plus he’s a really nice guy.

He made/maintains the armor for this pizza chain in California. He said it’s a lot of fun but always comes back a mess:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SyDLsRWexw[/youtube]

Then it was off to dinner. I’ve got video and such also but haven’t had a chance to get through it all, but here are a few of dinner.

We knew we were in trouble when we got there and there was a sandwich board outside that said “Locals love us and you will too!” We took a look at the steamtable pasta and jambalaya and had dinner elsewhere, but it was a really beautiful night, and a huge kick. Tourists walking by would stop dead in their tracks, staring up openmouthed at the balcony.

I knew from perusing the website that there were some really intense people involved in PyrateCon, but…oh, I just had no idea.

Notes from “The Devil’s in the Details:”

(9AM, Friday)

-I am the only person not in full on pirate garb. I thought that surely there would be some sort of more modest pirate day wear. Accordingly, I’m wearing black jeans and a lacey blouse that’s only semi-pirate-ish, but the most pirate-y thing I own.

-Seminar largely about how to sew your own pirate clothes in the most authentic ways possible

-Lively discussion about what should go on the inside of jacket sleeves so as to allow free movement of arms for slashing, wenching, etc.

-Speaker has convinced a friend of hers to knit her a pair of period stockings: “It’s not going well.”

-”It’s all about the bits:” you can get away with having an improper waist coat if you have a lot of fun details. Weaponry of all types, grog tankards, purses all good items.

-I am sitting toward the back and am being snubbed, clearly an outsider. When the speaker’s “perfectly weighted ax” was passed along, they didn’t give it to me.

-No metal grommets, dammit!

-Also, no silk shirts. Impractical in a wet environment.

-She made her own buttons.

-Everything also should be hand sewn- a machine is a copout. If it’s an inside seam that won’t show, okay…if you absolutely have to. She doesn’t, of course, but if you have to…

-There were no left and rights in shoes??

-There’s a very serious guy who’s spending what sounds like thousands of dollars to look like “an average pirate.” None of this fancy captain stuff. An argument ensues about how/which threads would rot at sea. Wants to use rivets, which are very un-period, even if they look cool. Wax covered linen thread is what would be appropriate.

When the seminar was over, I returned to the office, and started reworking some things for my return with Charlie later in the day. It was abundantly clear that there was nothing I have in stock, costume-wise, was going to cut it. When you make your own freaking buttons, a mass produced polyester dress just isn’t going to work.