[Ansteorra] maybe an answer to recruitment problems

[Jessica Doss]

I was under the impression that this was the Society for CREATIVE ANACHRONISM, not the society for compulsive accuracy. Even though we all strive to learn more about our time period chosen, it is a process. We do not have to show up at our first event with everything in place. This is what I tell new comers, make an effort even if it is a t tunic over jeans. I have a spare tent and food. Come out and play. Then you can figure it out as you go along. I don't know about all of you but my personna has changed 3 times in space and time since I started playing in 1988. Did not have complete kit for each change when done....just jumped in.. this is supposed to be fun as well as educational. Thanks for listening,
               Johanna of bjornsborg

Owen Van Meter <ovanoff57 at clearwire.net> wrote:

>You and your husband aren't alone. Me and my family are often limited to
>weather we have the money to participate as much as we like to. Our carb is
>a collection of things from the past 8 years. Some stuff we bought and
>other things we have made. We use to attend Ren Faires and find us a shaded
>bench and check out what outfits were wearing and then make them at a
>fraction of the the cost of buying them. When we started the SCA alot of
>the outfits we had crossed over to the SCA. Most people that I know don't
>mind you asking questions about there outfits or even asking for help
>putting some garb together. The people who would criticize you because your
>stuff isn't up to "their" standards I've got a name for but can't use it on
>the list. So keep trying, keep asking questions and have some fun.
>
>And don't even get me started on what my mother thinks about the SCA and
>Ren Fairs.
>
>                                                             Griffin
>
>On Mon, Jan 16, 2012 at 11:08 AM, Bree Flowers <evethejust at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> > On the other hand, I know
>> > for me (and I'll probably say my husband as well) don't want to overwhelm
>> > any one we met with too many questions either.  I suppose it could be a
>> > version of peer fear, as we've heard call it.  We don't want to be
>> > annoying, we tend to be pretty shy, and we don't want it to be all about
>> > us.... But we want to learn, we want to get better, but we often don't
>> know
>> > where to start.
>>
>> Okay, let me give you a bit of insight... you know how you are seeing
>> the world in an entirely different light when you expose your two year
>> old to it? How showing her something new and seeing her reaction makes
>> it new and exciting for you too? Yeah, the SCA is like that with
>> veteran members and new people. The SCA can get pretty boring and
>> "been there, done that" for those of us who have been around for a
>> while. New blood with new questions, and enthusiasm, and passions for
>> different areas of history can make it all new and shiny again for us.
>> No one is ever going to chastise you for asking too many questions.
>>
>> As a newcomer, the only way you can go really wrong is being the
>> know-it-all. This is true whether you are new to the SCA or a veteran
>> player just moved and newly arrived to an area, and heck, to some
>> extent it's true even if you've been involved for decades in the same
>> group. Everyone can always learn something new and none of us knows
>> everything.
>>
>> > I don't know that the period stuff actually is a turn off.  It is just
>> how
>> > to incorporate the period stuff without a) looking lame and getting
>> > criticized due to a limited budget
>>
>> No one should criticize you for basic "get 'em on the field" gear. If
>> they do, they are rude and a jerk. And when you're ready to make your
>> second outfit, second piece of armor, or collect a second set of feast
>> gear, this is where that asking questions thing comes in handy.
>> There's period solutions in every budget range, and as a new member,
>> the best way to find those solutions is to copy someone else's
>> successful attempt. Never feel shy about approaching someone who has
>> something you'd like and ask them how they made it or where they got
>> it. People with nice things NEVER get tired of the compliment that is
>> someone else asking about it :)
>>
>> b) acting like a fool because you don't
>> > know who is what or when to do/say certain things (I still can't remember
>> > what hats are what)
>>
>> Don't worry about it. Treat everyone with respect, whether they are
>> wearing something on their head or not. You can't go wrong with that.
>> And never be afraid to ask someone how they'd like to be addressed.
>> Some people like to take titles that match their personas and thus
>> might be in a different language than is standard. Some people prefer
>> to be more informal and don't like to use their titles except when in
>> court, while others feel like formal address at all times adds to the
>> atmosphere. Asking someone's preference will never steer you wrong :)
>>
>> c) looking or sounding crazy to people who aren't in
>> > the sca (How do you explain it to people who think ren faires are the
>> norm
>> > and are completely filled with devil worshipers -ok that last bit just
>> > might be my mom).
>>
>> "Research and re-creation of the middle ages" is the term I believe I
>> have seen my friends recommend to use in border crossings. Avoid
>> "medieval" because people just hear "evil". And if you avoid
>> renaissance that will avoid confusion with ren faires. Emphasizing the
>> research aspect can also help.
>>
>> ~Eve
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