ANST - Bored at Crown Tourney? Constructive Suggestion!

[Ward, Christie]

Alina, 

If you are going to attend Crown or some other event and you don't care to
learn enough about the fine points of chivalric combat to make the
preliminary rounds worth watching,  why don't you consider becoming the
moving force behind establishing a Ladies' Solar at the event? (see
http://www.realtime.net/~gunnora/symposium/)

The Solar is a marvellous way to be entertained, to learn, and to teach, not
to mention play persona.  In period, women usually had a designated area in
which they performed "womens' work" such as spinning, sewing, and weaving.
This is not to say that the Solar was an ancient sweatshop -- these were
noblewomen, who gathered together with their handcrafts, sharing the gentle
arts of conversation, experienced houshold managers would teach their ladies
in waiting the tricks of running a manor or farmstead, and often houshold
retainers such as musicians or storytellers would entertain the company.  

Ideally, you would get a noble or peer to be the "hostess" though any lady
will serve admirably in this role. Other people that you might want to line
up ahead of time include a musician or four, a witty, attractive young man
or two (for conversation, of course, backrubs optional), and some ladies who
you can get to promise to bring their arts and crafts to work on in the
Solar to "get the ball rolling" so to speak.  All of these people ideally
should be able to encourage good high-level persona play without being
ham-fisted authenticity mavens.

Then you need a pavillion.  It need not be furnished, though period
furnishings, banners, rugs, cushions, chairs, tables, etc. do add to the
ambience of the Solar.   The perfect location for the Solar is right beside
the listfield, so that the Ladies (and other gentles) particpating can watch
the fighters and wager on them if desired.

Next, you announce that a Solar will be held in advance, hopefully adding it
to the event announcement if the Autocrat is willing, otherwise publicizing
it in Notes and Challenges as well as on the Ansteorran website.

Finally, at the event you let it be known that all are welcome to visit,
bring their crafts, work together, entertain, or simply listen and watch and
be entertained.  

The Alexandrian Society had a Solar at our first Symposium, which was on
Women in the Middle Ages (which made the solar very appropriate.  We have
also done these at other events, and it is a good way to spend the day.

Please let me know if you have any further questions.

Wæs Þu Hæl (Waes Thu Hael)

::GUNNORA::

Gunnora Hallakarva
Herskerinde
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Ek eigi visa þik hversu oðlask Lofstirrlauf-Kruna heldr hversu na
Hersis-Aðal
(Ek eigi thik hversu odhlask Lofstirrlauf-Kruna heldr hversu na
Hersis-Adhal)




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