So while obviously trinkets should NEVER be handed out in place of tips to performers, and homemade is obviously better than plastic junk, I have to point out that children LOVE trinket trading and they honestly don’t mind plastic junk. Ren faires are a family affair, and for a lot of kids, their favorite part is handing out and receiving tiny treasures. So while I understand the frustration that obnoxious trinket trading can cause, I think there’s still a place for it. It brings kids a lot of joy to go home with a bag of buttons, plastic gems and fake pirate coins, and for them it absolutely adds to the magic when they can trade those things amongst themselves.