We very much intend to stay as jargon-free as possible on this site. If you’ve back-linked to this page, it means we couldn’t avoid the use of a word that has come to have a particular meaning in our industry. We fully expect this page to evolve. Hopefully it will never be very long.
| 360s | Shops that are not in a booth line. They are visible to the audience from all sides, and consequently do not have a “backstage” |
| Backstage | Any space where park or festival guests are not allowed. Simply getting out of the line of view of guests does not count. All character actors must remain in character, unless backstage. |
| Boondocking | A Recreational Vehicle or RV term for camping somewhere without utilities, also known as “Primitive Camping” |
| Busking | Performing for voluntary donations, usually in the street. |
| Garb | Specific to the Renaissance Festival industry, work clothes, considered costume to festival guests, but required of all workers within sight of faire patrons. Rules about costume help shape the guest’s experience of another time. |
| Grab shack | A food shop or restaurant with no public seating, a snack bar; applies to most if not all food at festivals. |
| Hat pass | A time during or after a performance when gratuities are collected by the performer (or a designee) |
| Hawker | A person who vocally advertises performances, goods, or services to be seen or purchased. May or may not handle money. |
| On the Road | Refers to living and working a series of shows or festivals. The term is used throughout the outdoor festival industry. (see On-Circuit) |
| On-circuit | Refers to living and working a series of shows or festivals. The term is used throughout the outdoor festival industry. (see On the Road) |
| Primitive Camping | Camping somewhere without utilities, sometimes referred to as “Boondocking” |
| School Night | Any evening before a day when the event will be open. |
| Stick Joint | a tent with poles used as a shop. The term comes from circuses and carnivals, but is used to discern between trailers and tents in the food vendor realm of all festivals, and is sometimes used to refer to folks that haven’t made an investment, yet vend in permanent parks. (See Temporaries) |
| Temps or Temporaries | In a permanent venue, these terms refer to shops that can be carried away by their owners at the end of the event. |
| Week-work | Used primarily at events that are open on weekends only, this refers to the jobs that happen in-between weekends. Kitchen prep, art production, and construction are 3 good examples. |
