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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><STRONG><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#008000><SPAN
class=421522203-24052006>Tivar Moondragon wrote:</SPAN></FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV><SPAN class=421522203-24052006><STRONG><FONT face="Comic Sans MS"
color=#008000> <snip> </FONT></STRONG></SPAN><BR>I suppose
that part of the negative perception is because on the one hand, merchants are
doing it for money, rather than for "love of the art", and on the other hand,
merchants are perceived as having some sort of an advantage because they're
(presumably) doing it full-time rather than as a hobby. <BR><BR>Another
difficulty is that if someone is a merchant, they may not be as visible as an
artisan who just does it "for fun". A merchant has to spend most of his time
in his booth, rather than, for example, entering or judging A&S
competitions and if Merchants' Row isn't visited by those who make the
decisions about such awards--i.e. the Crown or Laurels--they may not be aware
of this person's skill.<BR><BR><STRONG><FONT face="Comic Sans MS"
color=#008000><snip></FONT></STRONG><BR></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV><SPAN class=421522203-24052006><STRONG><FONT face="Comic Sans MS"
color=#008000></FONT></STRONG></SPAN><BR><X-TAB></X-TAB><STRONG><FONT
color=#008000>What most fail to understand is that many of the Merchants in
Ansteorra in<SPAN class=421522203-24052006>deed do</SPAN> this "for the
love of the art" as well as to make money. The armorer has to love the art
of the craft to produce some of the beautiful pieces that I have seen placed for
sale<SPAN class=421522203-24052006> in several booths</SPAN>. <SPAN
class=421522203-24052006>As do the jewelers, tailors, leather workers, and
such. </SPAN>I do not know of many Merchants in Ansteorra that do not hold
full time jobs outside of the SCA to assist in funding their Merchant
booths. To simply state that "merchants are perceived as having some
sort of advantage because they're (presumably) doing it full time rather than as
a hobby" is casting too broad of a net. </FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#008000></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#008000>Maybe we should set up<SPAN
class=421522203-24052006> the</SPAN> A&S <SPAN
class=421522203-24052006>booth </SPAN>in the middle of Merchants Row to
allow <SPAN class=421522203-24052006>the Merchant's</SPAN> work to be
seen and judged as well.<SPAN class=421522203-24052006> Perhaps give the
Merchant that wants to enter a banner or such to display so the populace will
know that their work is to be considered (as well as the Laurels and the
Crown). </SPAN></FONT></STRONG><STRONG><FONT color=#008000>Perhaps we
should encourage our Crowns and our Laurels to visit the Merchants. To
take the time to stop and ask them about their respective crafts.
</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#008000></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT><FONT color=#008000>But on the other hand, as Laurels they
should already be aware that is part of their responsibility to their
fellow <SPAN class=421522203-24052006>SCAdians ...</SPAN> to go seek out
those that participate in the <SPAN class=421522203-24052006>various
</SPAN>crafts (whether it is on Merchants Row or simply by the List) and
encourage them in their endeavors. <SPAN class=421522203-24052006>Ask
questions of them to judge their knowledge, perhaps watch them as they work on
some project they are trying to finish, maybe offer a suggestion or two if they
are adept in the same craft. Many are the times we have had Laurels in our
own booth, but few are the times we have been asked questions regarding our
methods or designs. </SPAN>The<SPAN class=421522203-24052006>
Laurels</SPAN> are "the bar" that we are all aspiring to ... so <SPAN
class=421522203-24052006>why not keep all of the Populace in mind and spread the
wealth of knowledge that is out there to others (including those of us who are
tied to our booths)? How many Laurels take the time to stop and consider
what wonders they might see on Merchants Row? How many Laurels take the
time to think that they might learn something by asking a Merchant about a craft
they are unfamiliar with?</SPAN></FONT></FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT><FONT color=#008000><SPAN
class=421522203-24052006></SPAN></FONT></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT><FONT color=#008000><SPAN
class=421522203-24052006>YIS,</SPAN></FONT></FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT><FONT face="Comic Sans MS"><FONT color=#008000><SPAN
class=421522203-24052006>Ly Katrina Alyse
Argo</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT><FONT face="Comic Sans MS"><FONT color=#008000><SPAN
class=421522203-24052006></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></STRONG> </DIV></BODY></HTML>