Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirate’s Life for Me!

On April 26 and 27, pirates will once again invade Yorktown! But there’s nothing to fear–these buccaneers are friendly folk. In fact, they’re just regular people with a passion for piracy. So, we wondered, what inspires one to perform? For answers, we turned to Mister Willis of The Loose Cannon Company. 

Ahoy! First off, who are you, when you’re not dressed as your pirate persona, Mister Willis?
 I’m Todd Willis, and for my full-time job, I’m the safety director for Chesapeake Drywall & Acoustic Inc., a commercial construction contractor.

What inspired you to become a pirate reenactor?
 I was born and raised in Beaufort, North Carolina, a town rich with pirate history. In 1960 the town of Beaufort would reenact a pirate invasion that actually took place in 1747, as a way to draw people to the small town to start the tourist season. I attended that every year as a child, and it made a big impact on me.

Later, when I had children of my own, it was something that we could do together. My kids are grown now, and I continue to do it with my adult children, my wife, and now grandchildren as well.

How was The Loose Cannon Company formed?
 I’ve worked with other crews in the past, which was fun and educational. In doing so, I met a lot of like-minded individuals, and I kept hearing from my friends that I should start my own crew. So, I did–and we’ve been going strong since 2009. 

How many pirates make up the crew, and how do you select new members?
 We have about 25 full members and 10 or so associate members from all over the Eastern Seaboard, and we come together at the various events we participate in each year.

On the subject of new members, mostly they approach us, and ask how they can be a part of it. We ask them to attend as many events as they can for the first year to see if they can get along with all of us, and also for us to see if we can get along with them as well.

The Loose Cannon Company is a very tight-knit group, more like family than friends. We all truly enjoy each other’s company, which is the most important aspect of this group. We all love this hobby, and we’ve become a supportive family of history lovers.

How often and how far do you travel for events?
 We have around 12 to 15 events that we attend each season, which runs from March to November. Some are as far as Cedar Key, Florida, and others are more local in Virginia and North Carolina. Some of us have traveled to Long Beach, California, for their Pirate Invasion.

How are the impressive costumes put together?
 Over time we picked up a piece here and there from period vendors at various events. But a few years ago, Devra and Jay Brusso, two very talented people who have made a business of making custom made-to-order pirate outfits and props, joined our crew. We all get the mass majority of outfits from their company, Parlay 8. 

What makes being a pirate so much fun?
 With us it’s become more of a family gathering (a family who dresses just like 18th-century pirates and shoots functional flintlock reproduction weapons and small cannons!). But it’s also seeing the amazement in young children’s eyes when a real pirate is standing in front of them–that is a true joy, as is teaching them the ins and outs of the life of a sailor during the Golden Age of Piracy.

What are you looking forward to during our upcoming Pirate Invasion Weekend?
 We absolutely love Yorktown. It’s such a beautiful place right on the water, and we get to camp on the beach behind the Watermen’s Museum. It’s just a lot of fun–it’s what we live for, and we get to see our friends from the County, the Watermen’s Museum, and other pirate crews that attend. Blackbeard’s Crew from Hampton and The Defiant Crew/Handmade History will set up their camps at different spots around Yorktown, along the Riverwalk, and the Watermen’s Museum. And of course, you can find The Loose Cannon Company camping on the beach directly behind the Watermen’s Museum.

***

Join us in Historic Yorktown on April 26 and 27 for our Pirate Invasion Weekend. We’ll also have a two-day Pirate Invasion Market!

Be sure to follow The Loose Cannon Company/Mr. Willis on Facebook for more on the crew’s epic adventures!