[Ansteorra] How to Trap a Laurel

Peter Wohlers donpieter at aol.com
Thu Jul 28 13:49:16 PDT 2011 

If you like you can be part of my display next. :)
Pieter

CAVE QUID DICIS,QUANDO,ET CUI

Sent from my iPhone

On Jul 28, 2011, at 3:24 PM, Zach Most <clermont1348 at yahoo.com> wrote:

> I'm a big fan of Haraldr's displays.  It really does feel like you're stepping into a craftsman's workshop.  It works particularly well at venues like Laurel's Prize where you have the time to play with the tools.  He taught my daughter how to use a bow drill. It was a great demo that spread enthusiasm.
>  And have you gotten to sail in Czina's corracle?  It's another great example of something that's fantastic, and more impressive outside of a formal competition setting.
>  Gaston
> 
> On Thu Jul 28th, 2011 11:14 AM PDT Haraldr Bassi wrote:
> 
>> Hello Vincenti,
>> 
>> Most of your examples have solid evidence for people doing the exact same types of things in 
>> period. Historically archery tourneys had odd shoots (split the wand, grid etc) and rarely used 
>> a modern concentric circle paper target. Fencers tended to be well dressed and the period they 
>> were popular lace was the standard dress. Chivalric tourney fighters would invest their winnings 
>> in fancy armor to impress people and intimidate their opponents.
>> 
>> Unfortunately, for most of period, there were little to no places where multiple artisans came 
>> together to compare and contrast their creations to other artisans in a competition, at least 
>> not that I've seen.
>> 
>> However, some artisans were also merchants and if they didn't have an attractive booth display 
>> their family would starve. But in general, most artisans would have a one on one relationship 
>> between themselves and their patron for creation of a specific item or service.
>> 
>> My own personal approach to artisan participation displays is to use this as an opportunity to 
>> actually perform my art in front of people. This equates to the artisan working in his shop with 
>> the front raised up and people walking by and being caught up in the sounds and smells of the 
>> work. While that approach works well for non-competition, it doesn't stand up so well for static 
>> display competitions like Kingdom A&S and Gulf Wars.
>> 
>> A very specific example, there is a world of difference between seeing a spring pole lathe in 
>> action with wood shavings flying all over the place and soft chuff of the wood and tools working 
>> together to seeing a picture of a lathe and the results of a week of effort culminating in a 
>> very basic wooden bowl. Believe me in how tough it is to express the thrill and grandeur of the 
>> creation of something so small and humble.
>> 
>> Haraldr
>> 
>> 
>> On 7/28/11 9:58 AM, Doug Copley wrote:
>>> Perhaps looking at it a different way ... I see people doing things everywhere that don't *NEED*
>>> to be done. At the Archery range I have seen bobbing heads with the faces and even eyes painted,
>>> fish that explode, Evil Elmo with 3 inch fangs and a sword. None of these types of things are
>>> *NEEDED*. But they do make it fun and draw attention. The chivalric fighter on the field that
>>> spends $800+ on a helm, the rapier fighter that makes sure they have lace on their clothing for
>>> fighting in, or even the artisan that gets some black cloth to put behind or on their display.
>>> None of these things are *NEEDED* ... but ... we are only human and our eyes are drawn to things
>>> that are interesting and / or contrasting. There are ways to do things that will make it far
>>> better and more exciting than a small bowl sitting on a table with a card.
>>> 
>>> While I agree that we all need to be careful not to get sucked in to flashy=good and that we
>>> need to look at the underlying work that it took to make something. We should still be aware
>>> that contrasting colors make it easier to notice something. When I setup my display with the
>>> crossbow it is not to add lights and everything to it, it is to create a contrast of colors. The
>>> wood in my crossbow was too close in color to the table tops and they were plastic so I really
>>> did not want the table top to take away from my display. To fix that I put down some black cloth
>>> and suddenly it looks better because it stands out more.
>>> 
>>> I am looking forward to Laurel's Prize Tourney and I am devising traps for any Laurels that may
>>> venture too near:-)
>>> 
>>> YIS,
>>> Vincenti
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On 7/28/2011 2:07 AM, Ld.blackmoon wrote:
>>>> greetings
>>>> 
>>>> lol, don't feel lonesome , between being strongly opinionated, not
>>>> afraid to open my mouth, and having terrible documentation skills, I
>>>> doubt I will ever join them either ; )
>>>> I think the problem is different than most people see, from my
>>>> perspective . as an a& s peer , they should be looking at every thing
>>>> they get the chance to , and advising / teaching as often as possible.
>>>> not just teaching / advising their chosen students. they should be
>>>> examining all entries , not just the ones with flashy colors , or fancy
>>>> displays. if your entry needs those things because it isn't very well
>>>> made, or it is made from modern materials in a modern fashion , I guess
>>>> that's ok, but , if I want to sell my stuff for profit I'll build a
>>>> display to attract the people with no knowledge, but lots of money, a& s
>>>> peers are supposed to be both knowledgeable and interested in things a &
>>>> s , as the top of the a & s food chain they shouldn't need flashy /
>>>> shiny to attract their attention.
>>>> skill and craftsmanship / knowledge should draw them like a moth to the
>>>> flame .
>>>> but hey , its their show , let them have fun their own way , ill keep
>>>> having fun making things ; )
>>>> again , just my opinion : )
>>>> Be Safe , Be Happy, Have Fun .
>>>> Arthur
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michelle Dodd"
>>>> <lygabrielerdb at hotmail.com>
>>>> To: "Ansteorra" <ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org>
>>>> Sent: Thursday, July 28, 2011 12:50 AM
>>>> Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] How to Trap a Laurel
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> I am not a Laurel and most likely will never join that little club.
>>>>> However, I have been a merchant for several years & I know that you
>>>>> will get more interest by having an interesting display. Having things
>>>>> at different levels is basic eye catching. It holds interest, where
>>>>> people will actually look at the items.A bowl on a table with a piece
>>>>> of paper is boring. Put that same bowl on an angle, to catch the light
>>>>> and show the colors, is much better & will get more response. While
>>>>> chocolate is good, you don't need "showgirls Or oiled towel boys".
>>>>> Just put a little effort into the display of what you put so much time
>>>>> and effort into making. I normally would not get into this discussion,
>>>>> since as I said I am not a Laurel, but I once entered a small A&S
>>>>> 'event' which, while NOT LPT,was similar in that it was for discussion
>>>>> and advice as to how to do 'it' better. What ever 'it' was.My display
>>>>> was flat. I had no table cover. Nothing to make the display
>>>>> interesting. At the end of the
>>>>> day I had few remarks, less advice. While it is certainly possible,
>>>>> that nobody there knew much about what I was displaying, I don't even
>>>>> remember what it was, If I had had a more interesting display, more
>>>>> people would have stopped and looked. YES it is merchandising. But if
>>>>> you want people, besides those who "geek out on the very things
>>>>> artisans are working on", to look at what you have done than you HAVE
>>>>> to catch their eye. Laurels are humans too, most of the time. They
>>>>> want to look at interesting things. Ly Gabriele
>>>>> 
>>>>> The pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we
>>>>> are allowed to remain children all our lives. (Albert Einstein)
>>>>>> From: barrett1 at cox.net
>>>>>> To: ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org
>>>>>> Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2011 20:05:35 -0500
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] How to Trap a Laurel
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> "And there are some shy Laurels. I have met them. But in
>>>>>> performance of our duties in aiding artisans to be their best, we should
>>>>>> never have to be lured like a mythical unicorn."
>>>>>> Suvdchin, OL
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Umm... I'd like to point out publically to my fellow Laurels that you
>>>>>> guys
>>>>>> are ruining what could be the wildest Arts & Sciences blowout the
>>>>>> Kingdom
>>>>>> has ever seen!
>>>>>> If we convince people we need wooing, we could have full body
>>>>>> massages while
>>>>>> reading docs, with champagne and quail eggs and those little toast
>>>>>> things
>>>>>> with smoked salmon while artisans display their work with wet bars and
>>>>>> chocolate fountains and showgirls wearing nothing but feathers and
>>>>>> jewelry
>>>>>> and oiled towel boys with sloppy hair and sedated monkeys wearing
>>>>>> little SCA
>>>>>> outfits all dancing around suggestively like a Kafka-written
>>>>>> nightmare when
>>>>>> not leading you gently to the vomitorium.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> I'm not ashamed of my dreams!
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> : )
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Anyway, all joking aside, yes, most of us became Laurels because we
>>>>>> geek out
>>>>>> on the very things artisans are working on - we can't help but pay
>>>>>> attention, most of the time.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Her Grace Willow was honestly trying to lend a helping hand, give a few
>>>>>> pointers to those who have never displayed before, but she was trying to
>>>>>> help, not declare Commandments. If your table has just your favorite
>>>>>> drinking mug and your art on it, we will stop by.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Shame though,... everything is better with monkeys.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
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>>>>> 
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>>>> 
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