demos-msg - 2/5/08 Advice on SCA demos for education and recruitment. NOTE: See also the files: Demos-as-Evts-art, SCA-Demos-art, recruitment-msg, SCA-PR-msg, new-groups-msg, evnt-stewards-msg, privvies-msg, waterbearing-msg. ************************************************************************ NOTICE - This file is a collection of various messages having a common theme that I have collected from my reading of the various computer networks. Some messages date back to 1989, some may be as recent as yesterday. This file is part of a collection of files called Stefan's Florilegium. These files are available on the Internet at: http://www.florilegium.org I have done a limited amount of editing. Messages having to do with separate topics were sometimes split into different files and sometimes extraneous information was removed. For instance, the message IDs were removed to save space and remove clutter. The comments made in these messages are not necessarily my viewpoints. I make no claims as to the accuracy of the information given by the individual authors. Please respect the time and efforts of those who have written these messages. The copyright status of these messages is unclear at this time. If information is published from these messages, please give credit to the originator(s). Thank you, Mark S. Harris AKA: THLord Stefan li Rous Stefan at florilegium.org ************************************************************************ From: 00mjstum at leo.bsuvc.bsu.edu (Matthew J. Stum) Newsgroups: rec.org.sca Subject: Re: Lothar's Rules for Demos Date: 9 Sep 93 14:18:19 GMT tbarnes at silver.ucs.indiana.edu (thomas wrentmore barnes) writes: [snip] > At fighting demos, have the fighters play at fighting. No > quibbling over blow calibration, no standing around feeling out the > range, or psyching out your opponent. If the blow hits solidly, take it. > Keep it moving. It helps to have a stage manager/M.C. to tell people > what's going on, and to prompt the fighters, as well as marshalling. > In this part of the world Duke Moonwulf does a mean fighting > demo. Maybe Palymar, Alan, or Jafar could describe it. Greetings! I'm not Moonwulf, Palymar, Alan, or Jafar... but I've heard "da spiel" enough that I thought I'd sit down and try to write it from memory one day... I didn't include all of the schtick/explanations about the various weapon forms... just the preamble: (Items in {}'s are either actions performed by the speaker, or comments made from the peanut-gallery, er, fighters...) {after crowd has gathered to the sound of two fighters "shield-bashing"...} "... we are the Society for Creative Anachronism; an international, educational, not-for-profit organization that believes that the Middle Ages should be studied actively, not passively. Like most scholars we do the research, learn the facts, etc... but then we go out and we _do_. We make and wear the clothes, we dance the dances, we cook and eat the food, we brew and drink the liquor {yeah! hubbah!}... but perhaps our most spectacular activity is our re-creation of Medieval tournament combat." {wield real broad-sword} "The most common weapon of the Middle Ages was the broad sword; easily capable of cutting off a limb, running a man through, or neatly and cleanly removing a man's head from his body. (Or sometimes _not_ so neatly and cleanly.)" {wield rattan} "However, we do not use steel and instead we make our weapons out of rattan; a dense, fibrous plant grown in the Phillipines and Indonesia who's purpose in life, when we can't rescue it, is to become lawn furniture. {boo! hiss!}" {bring out corpse-to-be} "Our fighters are on their honor to act as if the weapons were real. Therefore, you may see blows that have no apparent affect. This might be for any of several reasons. They might hit with the {bang} flat of the blade... or {tip} just the tip of the blade... or the {slap} blow might glance off of the armor. And then there are the blows that are just too wimpy, too feeble to penetrate the armor. If you hit a warrior like this he's going to just laugh at you and stomp you into the mud. But! To defeat your opponent, to win the day, you must strike your opponent truly and thus: {blam!}..." {corpse fall down and go boom} "A blow to the head or body is considered fatal. If a fighter is hit on one of their limbs then he is honor-bound to continue the fight without the use of that limb... which is a serious handicap for us, but great good fun for you to watch. Our fighters are encouraged to die as dramatically as possible... and as you can see, some are more well-known for their dying than their fighting. However, we are not into permanent injury or death and firmly believe in ressurection..." {gently tap corpse on the foot... he rises} "... although, this may not be the case if you tried this at home in your backyard with your little brother or sister... or your mother-in-law for that matter. And so with that, may we have our first two fighters!" {as different weapon combinations are used they are _briefly_ described} {demo ends in a couple "grand melees"} -- Matt Stum Gwydion ap Myrddin Ball State University 00mjstum at bsuvc.bsu.edu Shire of Afonlyn, MK Muncie, IN USA From: sclark at epas.utoronto.ca (Susan Clark) Newsgroups: rec.org.sca Subject: Re: The things we do (or, Recruiting) Date: 8 Sep 1993 18:25:13 -0400 Organization: EPAS Computing Facility, University of Toronto Greetings.... The first time I ran a recruitment demo, I had a sign-up list. Bad idea. There had to have been 50 names on that list, and though we tried, phoning them all was rather time-consuming and wasteful. The second time I ran a recruitment demo, I went to passing out bookmarks with our meeting times and a contact number. This was for new students, so we really played up the fact that our meeting place was right on campus and that fight practices were on Sundays right behind the library. We als designated a specific meeting as "newcomer's night". The last big information table I did was at the Orangeville Medieval festival. Orangeville at the time did not have an SCA group, but five or six experienced locals were just about to take that step. Because of the nature of the Festival (drawing folks from all over), I asked where the visitor was from and then wrote a local contact number on a bookmark. For a lot of folks I was able to give a meeting place as well. Incidentally, I was glad I broughtt my PIKESTAFFS along, because I had two people request contacts in Scotland (this was back when Drachenwald was a Principality), as well as the one each for Atlanta, Meriedies, and An Tir (to whom I gave the corporate address). Recruiting syles are highly dependant on the audience you're trying to reach. One of the best ways of figuring out what works for your group is to ask your own members how they found the SCA. And BOY does good media attention work wonders! There have been a good five or six articles in local papers in the past year on the SCA, as well as the airing of the CBC special. We've had a period of constant growth lately..... Cheers! Nicolaa/susan sclark at epas.utoronto.ca Newsgroups: rec.org.sca From: brandon at gauss.math.brown.edu (Joshua Brandon) Subject: Re: The things we do (or, Recruiting) Organization: Brown University Mathematics Department Date: Fri, 10 Sep 1993 18:06:35 GMT Gunwaldt recommends for new people: >A three fold one page flyer with pictures that they can take with them. >Cheap, easy, & saves a lot of breath for those who give you more >than 30 seconds. I've had lots of experience with the big student activities demos that Gabrielle was describing. Students collect a *lot* of pieces of paper while they are there, and most of them never get read. A table full of eye-catching objects and a good spiel will stick in people's minds a lot longer. A lot of people on campus seemed to know who we were, even if they weren't interested in joining.... (Note: sympathetic friends are *always* useful, even if they don't feel like playing!) ---Simon -- Joshua Brandon Brown Math Department brandon at gauss.math.brown.edu "It's never too late to have a happy childhood!" ---Cutter John YAZ/socrates Newsgroups: rec.org.sca From: tbarnes at silver.ucs.indiana.edu (thomas wrentmore barnes) Subject: Re: Lothar's Rules for Demos Organization: Indiana University Date: Thu, 9 Sep 1993 00:51:54 GMT A couple of other thoughts. It helps if you have a person in armor to stand around and look picuresque. A photo album of nifty pictures is a good thing to show, but you risk turning the demo into a shire nostalgia session. Never stand in front of the booth, you block the view of the stuff on the table and the people sitting or standing behind the table. If you aren't actively working the crowd, sit in the back of the booth or wander around so you don't get in the way. Make your fliers pretty. 15th c. woodcuts or good photocopies of MSS illuminations or renaissance art are all good. Our current flier has a picture by Botticelli on it and the words "Society for Creative Anachronism" smack dab in the middle of the page. Very effective. I consider fliers to be expendable. Expect to give out 100 and find 90 of them in the nearest trashcan. People who sign the sign up list are more likely to be interested, unless they think they're signing a petition :). You can cut costs if you can follow up on those folks via email (if you are a campus group). Don't be a pain though. If people aren't interested after 2 or 3 tries, they aren't interested. Drop them. Also post info about your local group on the local BBS's or campus newsgroup. Hold fighter practices or other high-profile activities in areas where there are likely to be a lot of passers-by. This will generate attention and publicity. At fighting demos, have the fighters play at fighting. No quibbling over blow calibration, no standing around feeling out the range, or psyching out your opponent. If the blow hits solidly, take it. Keep it moving. It helps to have a stage manager/M.C. to tell people what's going on, and to prompt the fighters, as well as marshalling. In this part of the world Duke Moonwulf does a mean fighting demo. Maybe Palymar, Alan, or Jafar could describe it. Hope this helps, Lothar \|/ 0 (who thinks that free beer or cookies would really pack them in!! ;) Newsgroups: rec.org.sca From: tbarnes at silver.ucs.indiana.edu (thomas wrentmore barnes) Subject: Re: Lothar's Rules for Demos Organization: Indiana University Greetings from Lothar, yet more clarifications. Date: Thu, 9 Sep 1993 16:21:53 GMT 4) By photogenic and charismatic I don't mean that you have to use people who look like Vogue models. Get people out there who photograph well and who are wearing nifty garb. They will be photographed. Also pitch the demographics of the demo team to the demo audience. For a college campus demo, get college kids. For a crafts fair that attracts a more general audience, get a mix of ages. Also choose your people from those who regularly shave, bathe and brush their teeth. There is a certain segment of the society who choose to recreate the hygiene of the Middle Ags at its worst. This is a turn-off to modern Americans who are used to higher standards of cleanliness. Also, "cute young thangs" can be of either sex. It helps if the CYT is charismatic and articulate tho. Beef/cheese-cake only goes so far. 10) PROVIDE LIASON SERVICES. Have a copy of the Kingdom newletter handy so you can give people from out of town the address of the SCA group nearest to their town. The Kingdom newsletter will also have the addresses of the Kingdom Seneschals of various other Kingdoms so you can help people from out of kingdom- sort of... If you know anything about it, politely give people information about where they can find the local Renn Faire, Civic Theater, Live-Action Role-Playing group, etc. but emphasize that you don't know the details, since the SCA is a different organization (unless you actively play with the group you are talking about.) That's it. Let the flames begin. Lothar \|/ 0 From: salley at niktow.canisius.edu (David Salley) Newsgroups: rec.org.sca Subject: Re: Lothar's Rules for Demos Date: 11 Sep 93 08:45:51 GMT Organization: Canisius College, Buffalo NY. 14208 Lothar writes: > (who thinks that free beer or cookies would really pack them in!! ;) ^^^^^^^^^ *Sigh!* I realize this is said in jest, but please, don't even think of doing it. Among the problems that occur off the top of my head; underage minors who don't look it, alcoholics, police who want to know if you have a liquor license. Free punch and cookies would be better, check Cariadoc's Cookbook for period recipes and have the recipes (WITH CONTENTS!) available as another flyer. - Dagonell SCA Persona : Lord Dagonell Collingwood of Emerald Lake, CSC, CK, CTr Habitat : East Kingdom, AEthelmearc Principality, Rhydderich Hael Barony Internet : salley at niktow.cs.canisius.edu USnail-net : David P. Salley, 136 Shepard Street, Buffalo, New York 14212-2029 From: nusbache at epas.utoronto.ca (Aryk Nusbacher) Newsgroups: rec.org.sca Subject: Recruiting Date: 9 Sep 1993 13:36:05 -0400 Organization: EPAS Computing Facility, University of Toronto It is vital to follow any display or demo with an immediate involvement of some sort. That is, the display has to throw the new recruit to the group, but the group has to catch the new recruit. This "catching" has to be well-thought-out. While some people will respond well to being told that there is a big road trip next week to Coronation, others (who have just been given a cult awareness lecture) will be scared off. A "welcome newbies" meeting might work, but a sterling example of a regular meeting (if your group has interesting non-business meetings) or practice might well work better. For instance, if your group has regular lecture-meetings, an interesting lecture on a non-Scadian topic (newcomers don't have the inside vocabulary or interests yet to listen to SCA subjects) works well. If your group has a fighting practice with lots of non-fighters in attendance, you can make that the "catch", making sure that the new people get talked to. A cooking meeting, calligraphy meeting, or whatever, can serve the same purpose. You can pitch these at the individuals whom you recruit. Good luck (and send anybody interested in living history to me), Aryk Nusbacher PS: as to Tom Barnes's remark about Vogue models, perhaps he might be able to arrange personal appearances at demos for Catherine Rose, the Blonde Bombshell of Sternfeld. From: tombrady at vtcc1.cc.vt.edu (Duncan MacKinnon) Newsgroups: rec.org.sca Subject: Re: Recruiting Date: 10 Sep 1993 09:24 EDT Organization: Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia In article <CD29F5.5Fp at usenet.ucs.indiana.edu>, tbarnes at silver.ucs.indiana.edu (thomas wrentmore barnes) writes... >In article <CD1y0H.3zp at acsu.buffalo.edu> v081lu33 at ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu (Kenneth C Mondschein) writes: >> I've been trying to get people here aware of us. While I have yet to >>put up the intended flyers, my friend Eros and I went out and sparred on the >>terrace in front of the dorms. Not much interest generated, but now we're >>"the crazy guys with the swords." Hmmnn. >> I suposse I'll have to go deface the fencing team's flyers by writing >>"wimps" all over them... > Don't do anything negative. Post your own fliers, don't deface >the fencing team's stuff. Greetings, all! Lothar is quite right, of course. Positive publicity, while harder to get, is FAR more effective than negative publicity. We are about to hold our Fall Recruitment Demo here on the Virginia Tech campus, and here's some of the things we've done in preparation: -Flyers. Everywhere. Dorms, dining halls, academic buildings, local businesses, and anywhere else there's a public bulletin board. Our flyers this year are built around the "tholouze.gif" file available from bransle.ucs.mun.ca, incorporated into text generated by Lotus Freelance. It looks nice, and is a little different from the picture of two guys whaling the bejeezus out of each other we've used in years past - gives a better image, too, IMHO. -We spent the last two evenings outside of the dining halls at dinner time fighting and passing out flyers. We gave away 1200 over 2 days, although probably ~50% of them wind up in the trash. Still, that means we've reached 600 people. -Announcements posted on the Student Center "Electronic Bulletin Board." -Flyers given to professors in medieval history, Latin, French, and Music with the request that they announce the demo in class. One final note: if you're lacking in fighters, or any other area you would like to see at your demo, contact a neighboring group - perhaps they could spare the people to lend a hand. The good folks of the Shire of Isenfir (U of VA) are sending down some rapier fighters in exchange for us sending some heavy fighters up to their demo the next day (hope to see you here, Henry!). Our goal this year was saturation of the incoming students, and as many of the existing students as possible. Hopefully, we'll have a good turnout at our demo tomorrow - couldn't be worse than the "monsoon demo" of last year... I'm always looking for new and interesting methods of recruitment. If anyone is interested in exchanging some ideas, drop me a line at brady at vtvm1.cc.vt.edu. Good luck to all! -Duncan ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Duncan MacKinnon of Tobermory Tom Brady Barony of Black Diamond Virginia Tech Kingdom of Atlantia Blacksburg, VA Per pale potenty purpure and argent, in pale three roundels, counterchanged Newsgroups: rec.org.sca From: tbarnes at silver.ucs.indiana.edu (thomas wrentmore barnes) Subject: Re: Recruiting Organization: Indiana University Date: Fri, 10 Sep 1993 17:43:23 GMT In article <10SEP199309241790 at vtcc1.cc.vt.edu> brady at vtvm1.cc.vt.edu writes: Re: Flier art. We use period illustrations or relevant line drawings on our fliers. Most black and white photographs photocopy reasonably well (or scan in reasonably well, but they take a hellatious amount of disk space). 15th and 16th c. book plates photocopy perfectly. Little did those printers know that 400 years down the road that their stuff would be a great source of copywrite free clip art. I agree though, that if you can get a GOOD photograph of some SCA activity, it is a good thing. Better yet though is LIVE SCA activity. Re: handing out lots of fliers: How do you folks afford it! 1200 fliers means $60-120 depending on local copy costs. >-Flyers given to professors in medieval history, Latin, French, and > Music with the request that they announce the demo in class. This would be nice. At IU the medieval history department, such as it is, seems to be anti-SCA. The other departments don't seem to have a clue that we exist. How did you wrangle such a thing? Lothar \|/ 0 From: tombrady at vtcc1.cc.vt.edu (Duncan MacKinnon) Newsgroups: rec.org.sca Subject: Re: Recruiting Date: 11 Sep 1993 08:43 EDT Organization: Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia tbarnes at silver.ucs.indiana.edu (thomas wrentmore barnes) writes... > Re: handing out lots of fliers: > > How do you folks afford it! 1200 fliers means $60-120 depending >on local copy costs. I should have been a bit clearer on this. We took our main flyer, reduced it with a copier, and put 4 to a page. I made 300 copies at $0.08 each for the first 100 and $0.04 for the other 200 for a total of $16. >>-Flyers given to professors in medieval history, Latin, French, and >> Music with the request that they announce the demo in class. > This would be nice. At IU the medieval history department, such >as it is, seems to be anti-SCA. The other departments don't seem to have >a clue that we exist. How did you wrangle such a thing? We have a professor or two in the history department who seems quite enamored with the SCA (we've done some demos for their classes). I guess it comes down to a personality thing for the professors - either they like us or they don't, and that guides how amenable they might be to helping. Slainte, Duncan ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Duncan MacKinnon of Tobermory Tom Brady Barony of Black Diamond Virginia Tech Kingdom of Atlantia Blacksburg, VA Per pale potenty purpure and argent, in pale three roundels, counterchanged From: Tony.Jordan at f4229.n124.z1.fidonet.org (Tony Jordan) Newsgroups: rec.org.sca Subject: Recruiting Date: Mon, 13 Sep 1993 20:13:46 Another method of recruiting you may want to consider involves locating the fringe medievalist/fantasy groups and playing their game for a little while. You'd be suprised at how many of these folks have not heard of the SCA and have no idea what it really entails. I was brought into the SCA in this manner and am on my way to becoming a productive member. The group (a household) which initiated this action has brought 20 solid new members into the fold (with another 30 or so that were recruited but preferred fantasy). As for the fact that these people have a 'fantasy mindset' to overcome, so what? A few polite suggestions as to what to wear to an event and the natural tendency for people to be hesitant in new surroundings generally takes care of this problem. And this isn't a matter of suddenly having to advise and care for a huge number of new members. The way my house took care of it was by recruiting two people they thought had potential. When those two people came back to us with tales of singing, dancing, fighting, and events like we'd only dreamed of, then the rest of us began to sniff around the edges of the camp trying to get in. Just something else for you to consider. Jester of Anglesea * Origin: Herald's Point * Steppes/Ansteorra * 214-699-0057 (1:124/4229) From: sherman at trln.lib.unc.edu (dennis r. sherman) Newsgroups: rec.org.sca Subject: Re: Customizing demos Date: 21 Sep 1993 13:08:06 GMT Organization: Triangle Research Libraries Network Greetings to the Rialto from Robyyan. Berwyn Aethelbryght says: >Anyhoo, my reason for this post is to perhaps get some discussion going on >what should be done at demos, what should be avoided, and how various groups >change their demos to fit the expeced audience. Also what the purpose of Rather than blather on about demos in general (Lothar did that recently, and quite well), here's one idea for one type of demo: One of the most common demo types around here is what I call the "street fair" demo. (We're one booth among lots of others containing artisans, charitable organizations, and political groups.) The primary purpose from our point of view is recruitment, and making contacts for the other most common demo, the "school" demo. One of the things that works well with this kind of demo is the "trying on hats" ploy. Get a mirror and *lots* of different kinds of hats, displayed on some sort of tree. Get an outgoing type to stand with the hats and mirror to convince people to try on a hat. This gets the moderately interested ones standing in place long enough to talk with them and maybe get them interested in some of the rest of the display. -- Robyyan Torr d'Elandris Kapellenberg, Windmaster's Hill Atlantia Dennis R. Sherman Triangle Research Libraries Network dennis_sherman at unc.edu Univ. of North Carolina - Chapel Hill Newsgroups: rec.org.sca From: nnpeters at watcgl.uwaterloo.ca (Neil N. Peterson) Subject: Re: Customizing demos Organization: University of Waterloo Date: Tue, 21 Sep 1993 18:26:48 GMT Bert Garwood garwood at milo.UUCP wrote: >This just occurred to me and I thought I'd ask around to see what is done >other places. We're a new group, and haven't dome many demos yet, a couple >at public festivals, 2 in grade schools, and one at the State Special >Olympics. Each of these has a different audience, and presumably, the >presentation of the demo should have a different focus. (So far we haven't >done any at the University, but we only have a couple students in our >ranks.. should we encourage them??) Well for comparison milord Bryniau (my group) is 5 or 6 years old and does a LOT of demos. We do collegiums, parades, schools, universities, and festivals. Specifically my job in this canton is demo-co-ordinator, i.e. the guy who does the front line contacts and setup and democrats about half of our demos. I have had this job since about 6 months after our canton started. Call all of that the introduction so you understand why I will say what I will. Your first question .. should you encourage university students. YES. They can be a BIG resource for a young group allowing you a meeting place, regular fresh (enthusiastic) blood. Be careful, however, that your group does not come to rely on the students to run itself as students have little things like exams which can shut down the students for weeks at a time. >My view of it is that when its at something like an arts festival int eh >park, along with doing the dancing and fighting and A&S display, we should >be encouraging discussion of the SCA as an organization with the idea of >soliciting new members. In a classroom, however, that we should be focusing >more on "Here's what life was like in the Middle Ages", and bring the >society into it only so far as to explain why we are doing this. Our VERY >FIRST scool dempo was in a classroom full of 6th graders, ant the >chattelaine introduced us by saying, "We're the Society for Creative >Anachronism, and that means `out of time'". (OK, she was nervous) I felt >uncomfortable with the amount of time spent discussing what the SCA did as a >club, and little attention was paid to what we've learned about history. >The teachers liked it, and we were invited back for another class, which did >spend more time on the educational/historical aspect. (The kids had made >miniature castles using everything from sugat cubes to hockey pucks, had the >room decorated with thier "devices", and were full of questions. Different layouts should mean different demos. Our school demos are kept apart from our public demos. In the schools we rarely even mention the SCA. We go in "playing personna" and try by example to show the kids the middle ages. "Faire" type demos are great for recruiting and you should mention the SCA. If possible also set up a table with books and stuff and staff it with a person willing to talk to the public about the SCA. It gives a focus for those discussion about the SCA. >At the State Special Olympics, we were there more for entertainment, with a >couple organizers asking about the group. The high point was teaching the >Olympians to dance the Montarde. Basically I saw it as a PR opportunity, to >show the community that we're public spirited, and not a bunch of wackos. >That apperance netted us an invitiation to the community July 4 festival, so >I guess it worked. Sounds like you did fine with it. >Anyhoo, my reason for this post is to perhaps get some discussion going on >what should be done at demos, what should be avoided, and how various groups >change their demos to fit the expeced audience. Also what the purpose of >the various types of demos are, and what results are expected. (new >members, community acceptance, education, etc.) Have your actual results >been what you expected? Have there been any real surprizes? Types of demos and a bit about each... School demos: (Usually grade 4-6) Arrive at school with about 1 SCA member per 10 kids. Get dressed. Have the teacher bring the kids in and introduce ourselves "I height Kyrie Ragnar THorbergsson. As the christians count the years I was born 835 years after the birth of their Christ. I am what you would call a viking". Once they know who we all are break them up into groups (1 group per SCA member) and send them off to talk to the SCA people. Rotate them through half the SCA people and bring them back together. Teach them a simple dance (usually Malteese since it is VERY simple and the speed game is fun for your kids). Then run them through the rest of the SCA people. When talking to a group try to have "hands-on" stuff available and talk about it and your personnas day to day life but do it in personna. The kids seem to eat it up. Parades: LOUD showy combat and an MC along with one page handouts for the crowds. (We seem to avarage 1 phone call per 50 or so flyers). HAM IT UP. Static demos: in the park and what not. MOstly the same as parades. We don't normally "stage" these demos but simply allow eveyone to have fun while showing off what we do. Other Demos: There are two in particular I would like to talk about as they show things the SCA can do but rarely does. Collegium (thanks again to Justin du Couer and Carolingia for the idea years ago). We take over a building in the university here and for one saturday during the summer offer "classes" on various aspects of the A&S in the middle ages. (I will post last years list of classes later with some other stuff). Charge $2 per class and this has brought us a pile of new members and four hundred dollars a year in profits. Classes on bear making or wood carving, etc go much farther than you would think. More on this in a later post. "Faire" Take a large park in the middle of a downtown core. Move it back to the middle ages for a day. Keep a "light" tone to it. We had fighting, fencing dancing, drinks and food and a couple of live bands. No "feast" no "royalty" no carefully schedualed plans. And above all LOTS of carftsmen showing/selling what they do. Add an info table and you are all set. Cost us a couple of hundred dollars this year (which we won't need next year) but it was well worth it in PR. >This might be interesting. Could be... >Ld Berwyn AEthelbryght of Ackley (Who incidentally just tonight found out >his device is registered) Purpure, three acorns Or within a bordure Or >ermined purpure. Over the next day or so I will post again on that "collegium" and also our 1 page handout. In addition we have just about finished a "resource" handbook subtitled "How to use the SCA" which I will post in a while when the editor is happier with it. Ragnar Newsgroups: rec.org.sca From: kreyling at lds.loral.com (Ed Kreyling 6966) Subject: Re: Customizing demos Organization: Loral Data Systems Date: Wed, 22 Sep 1993 13:39:15 GMT > Bert Garwood garwood at milo.UUCP wrote: >>This just occurred to me and I thought I'd ask around to see what is done >>other places. We're a new group, and haven't dome many demos yet, a couple >>at public festivals, 2 in grade schools, and one at the State Special >>Olympics. >> >>Anyhoo, my reason for this post is to perhaps get some discussion going on >>what should be done at demos, what should be avoided, and how various groups >>change their demos to fit the expeced audience. Also what the purpose of >>the various types of demos are, and what results are expected. (new >>members, community acceptance, education, etc.) Have your actual results >>been what you expected? Have there been any real surprizes? > >Types of demos and a bit about each... > >Static demos: in the park and what not. MOstly the same as parades. We >don't normally "stage" these demos but simply allow eveyone to have fun while >showing off what we do. > >Other Demos: > There are two in particular I would like to talk about as they show >things the SCA can do but rarely does. Greetings, As a kingdom Trimaris has, at one time or another, taken part in all the demo types you have mentioned. Additionally in the last 3 years several groups have taken part in what could be described as theme/theatrical demo's. The Shire of Brineside Moore (Sarasota, Fl.) is not what you might call heavy weapons country. We have 4 laurels 1 pelican and some talk of having fighter practices. So our demo's tend to center on history and A&S. Recently we have been approached by the Desoto Historical Society to create a Desoto Landing Pagent. Our members make or wear the costumes of the period and act out the scenes as the key characters in explorations of H. Desoto. We do this every year during the Desoto Celibration. The only time the SCA is mentioned is in the printed programs and during the introduction of the players. We also have had living history booths set up on the site for people to come and ask questions. It works out great. Last year we were approached by the Columbus Quincentenial Commission of Florida to put on a Columbus 500 Celebration last October 12th. We handled such things as a 500 year fashion show (with the help of some local living history groups), Display booths on Navigation, History of Columbus, Early American History and Crafts. Each era of the last 500 years was represented by a living history group with the SCA handling 1492 - 1692 (just a little stretching). Both these demo's worked great, but are obviously a matter of timing and can not be setup without a GREAT amount of effort. Another type of demo that we have found very successful is Movie opening demo's. We have done everything from static A&S displays to dancing at the front of the theater prior to the movie starting. Not only did we get great pr and new members but each participant got 3 free passes from the manager. We also used this plan for the Sarasota AIDS benifit in 1991. Erik. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ed Kreyling | Master Erik of Telemark O.L.,O.P. kreyling at world.lds.loral.com | Shire of Brineside Moor Sarasota,Fl. USA | Kingdom of Trimaris, SCA ----------------------------------------------------------------------- From: sclark at epas.utoronto.ca (Susan Clark) Newsgroups: rec.org.sca Subject: Re: Customizing demos Date: 22 Sep 1993 11:17:22 -0400 Organization: EPAS Computing Facility, University of Toronto Greetings..... Sounds like you're already well on the way to customizing your demos. Here's what our local group has been doing for schools the past few years: The demo is a whole-day affair. In the morning, we first assemble the kidstogether and introduce ourselves in persona, telling a bit about when we were born, our families, where we live, what we do, etc. (This is all in persona--noIn the SCA, I fence, embroider, make costumes, and do research". we don't even mention the SCA...) Then we split the class into smaller groups, who then go around to a series of brief "classes" on armour, calligraphy, costume, music, castles, etc, etc. (depending on the skills of the people there). After lunch, we move to a gym and teach the kids basic circle dances. After about 40 minutes of this, it's recess time and the fighters start armouring up. When the kids get back in, we run a fighting demo, explaining a bit about the weapons, the armour, etc. This is usually the first time we actually mention the SCA, so as to explain the rules and such. Sometimes the kids get to act as "squires" and help the fighters put on their armour; we also let them left (but not use) the rattan weapo. We always emphasize that fighting is dangerous and keep the kids behind a line on the gym floor. The key to this type of demo is giving the kids a taste of life in the Middle Ages. That means the people doing the demo have to know a certain amount about it themselves. When people who are less knowledgeable but willing sign up, we either give them an info sheet to learn or pair them up with a more experienced person. good luc! Nicolaa/Susan sclark at epa.utronto.ca Newsgroups: rec.org.sca From: gary at sci34hub.sci.com (Gary Heston) Subject: Re: Forwarding a School's Request For Help Organization: SCI Systems, Inc., Huntsville, Al. Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1993 03:32:10 GMT PBOYNTON%SESCVA at snybufva.CS.snybuf.EDU (ROWENA NI DHONNCHAIDH) writes: [ re: request from school teacher ] > And can the SCA group in her area help her? She would love a visit >in person. I just don't have the vaguest idea of who to contact in her area. *Warning!* In the United States, it is currently a Federal Felony to possess a weapon on the grounds of a school covering grades 1 through 12. Knives, swords, stilletos, clubs, pole arms, *all* of them. I think a rattan sword would be considered a club. (Yes, firearms too.) Either be *real* careful about what you take with you, or set up a demo well off the school grounds and have *them* visit *you*. Yet another stupidity, courtesy of the US Congress. -- Gary Heston SCI Systems, Inc. gary at sci34hub.sci.com site admin Newsgroups: rec.org.sca From: wklosky at nitro.mines.colorado.edu Subject: Re: Forwarding a School's Request For Help Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1993 19:30:11 GMT Organization: rec.org.sca gary at sci34hub.sci.com (Gary Heston) writes: > PBOYNTON%SESCVA at snybufva.CS.snybuf.EDU (ROWENA NI DHONNCHAIDH) writes: > [ re: request from school teacher ] >> And can the SCA group in her area help her? She would love a visit >>in person. I just don't have the vaguest idea of who to contact in her area. > >*Warning!* > >In the United States, it is currently a Federal Felony to possess a >weapon on the grounds of a school covering grades 1 through 12. Knives, >swords, stilletos, clubs, pole arms, *all* of them. I think a rattan >sword would be considered a club. (Yes, firearms too.) > >Either be *real* careful about what you take with you, or set up a >demo well off the school grounds and have *them* visit *you*. > >Yet another stupidity, courtesy of the US Congress. -- Ummmmm....or make arrangements with the proper authorities (principal, local security, etc.) to let them know that you will be bringing these items on campus for "demonstration purposes only." I have taken part in _many_ primary, secondary & university school demos. In most cases, you only need to get a letter to the authorities stating when and where you will have the swords, stick-jockery, etc., and receive a letter in return. Sometimes, you will need to show forms and sign stuff, and sometimes a phone call will do (I always get stuff in writing for the CYA protection that affords), but that all depends on the school. I would imagine that you would be talking to the authorities about what you are going to be doing at their school anyway, as a matter of courtesy.:) Rules vary from place-to- place (even within the same county/city), so do ask well in advance. branwynn ottersby Newsgroups: rec.org.sca From: kreyling at lds.loral.com (Ed Kreyling 6966) Subject: Re: Forwarding a School's Request For Help Organization: Loral Data Systems Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1993 14:27:36 GMT wklosky at nitro.mines.colorado.edu writes: >In article <1993Dec13.033210.12135 at sci34hub.sci.com> gary at sci34hub.sci.com (Gary Heston) writes: >>*Warning!* >> >>In the United States, it is currently a Federal Felony to possess a >>weapon on the grounds of a school covering grades 1 through 12. Knives, >>swords, stilletos, clubs, pole arms, *all* of them. I think a rattan >>sword would be considered a club. (Yes, firearms too.) >> >>Yet another stupidity, courtesy of the US Congress. >> >>-- >Ummmmm....or make arrangements with the proper authorities (principal, local security, >etc.) to let them know that you will be bringing these items on campus for "demonstration >purposes only." > >I have taken part in _many_ primary, secondary & university school demos. In most cases, >you only need to get a letter to the authorities stating when and where you will have >the swords, stick-jockery, etc., and receive a letter in return. Sometimes, you will need >to show forms and sign stuff, and sometimes a phone call will do (I always get stuff in >writing for the CYA protection that affords), but that all depends on the school. > >I would imagine that you would be talking to the authorities about what you are going >to be doing at their school anyway, as a matter of courtesy.:) Rules vary from place-to- >place (even within the same county/city), so do ask well in advance. > >branwynn ottersby Lets also keep things in perspective. I have been doing school demo's for years in several states. Since you are invited by a school official and the school official is aware of what the demo will consist of (assuming you've told them), they will probibly not call the police when they see the pole arms come out. However if you start threatening pupils or teachers with weapons then you can be arrested under this law. So be careful what you ask the pupils to do during the demo. Do not put children in armor and hit them with sticks. Even if the children like it, it is a sure bet that the parents will not. For those who believe that the authorities will drive on site uninvited and arrest you because they see some weapons laying on a demo table at a school, remember it is also illegal to sell pickles in New York City but I believe the police on the street have better things to do with their time. Erik. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ed Kreyling | Master Erik of Telemark O.L.,O.P. kreyling at world.lds.loral.com | Shire of Brineside Moor Sarasota,Fl. USA | Kingdom of Trimaris, SCA ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Newsgroups: rec.org.sca From: wklosky at nitro.mines.colorado.edu Subject: Re: Forwarding a School's Request For Help Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1993 16:58:48 GMT Organization: rec.org.sca kreyling at lds.loral.com (Ed Kreyling 6966) writes: >Lets also keep things in perspective. I have been doing school demo's for years >in several states. Since you are invited by a school official and the school <snip> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Sometimes people give demos without _invitation_, such as demos for recruiting purposes on university campuses; in these cases, you _do_ need to get permission through the university's proper channels, which in some cases involves notification of folks like local security (so that they do not mistake you for everyday miscreants, but know that you are Miscreants with Permission :), etc. I agree with you; it is unlikely that charges would ever be pressed for goodwill demos, or else home economics teachers across the country, and the professional chefs they bring in for demonstrations would risk arrest for chopping onions ("Son, that's a mighty big cleaver you got there. Would you mind stepping down to the station and explaining yourself?") :) branwynn ottersby From: salley at niktow.canisius.edu (David Salley) Newsgroups: rec.org.sca Subject: Public Knowledge of the SCA (was Re: Blackballing SCA members) Date: 27 May 94 16:25:05 GMT Organization: Canisius College, Buffalo NY. 14208 Megan the Limner writes: > > My wife was told at one interview that if they had know she was in the SCA, > > they wouldn't have called her in for an interview at all. > > > > Tibor > > Megan here. > I , in my 18 years of SCA participation , have VERY rarely come across > any non-scadian who knew of the SCA. A few roommates of members or > ex-significant others, perhaps, or family members, but very few indeed. > And I speak to ALOT of people almost everyday, all over the country. I > frequently mention the SCA in passing, and usually am met with blank > stares. > I cannot think that hers was a common experience. Sorry to deflate the > egos of those whose lives center around the SCA, but we just ain't that > big in the world at large to make such a splash. Sorry, Megan! Try coming to Rhydderich Hael. We're just another social group here in Buffalo; the Boy Scouts, the Elks, the Knights of Columbus, the SCA, ... We do at least five demos a month, sometimes closer to ten. Normally, we don't do demos at all in August, but this year the cub scouts DID ask us so nicely. ;-) As a member of the demo crew who works third shift and can attend school demos, I can't testify that we've hit EVERY school in an hour's drive from Buffalo, it just SEEMS like it (My favorite _Return to Como-lot_ at the Como Park Middle School. ;-) We've help the Central Library celebrate their 75th anniversary. The mundanes crowded around us and virtually ignored the other presentations. We were asked to take a breather during the VERY EXPENSIVE guest lecturer. ;-) We ran two Renaissance Fairs for the Amherst Museum. We were color for the Grand Opening of the new Amherst Library (Teaser for news that evening: "It was the hottest day in July ever recorded and these folks [screen behind him of us] were wearing metal clothes! Back after this message from our sponsor.") We were color for a historical site. We were color for the Buffalo museum's Leonardo da Vinci exhibit (They had a museum staff member dressed as daVinci. Okay, if he's daVinci, _I'm_ going to _act_ like he's daVinci! "Leo! Wonderful exhibit!" "Why thank you my good friend!" "How's the new painting coming along? Have you gotten the model to smile yet?" My angelic innocent face was locked in place, he was stunned speechless, the audience was roaring! We both lost it and had to hold each other up.) We've done demos for 5,000 the Amherst Museum Fairs; we've done demos for 5, the Buffalo Herbalists Guild. We've traded demos with the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society. We've done chains of demos, "How did you hear of us?" "I was at a demo you did for..." with up to ten links in the chain. Our baronial history has dozens of playbills listing us as "historical consultants" and even "costume department". We attend Shakespeare in the Park at least once a season (Standard procedure: garb matching Bill's England as much as possible, speak forsoothly about this _new_ play, give out cookies and sekajanben and business cards from the ever-full picnic basket, teach children to juggle, dance, sing, etc. We were there for the opening of Hamlet. Unknown to anyone because it was supposed to be a big surprize, it was all going to be done in modern dress to make it 'relevant'. When the actors got up on the open stage, the first several rows of the audience rebuked them! The play is going to open in less than ten minutes and the actors are already in costume, so get off the stage!) When _Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves_ officially opened, we attended in garb and found out the theatres were going nuts looking for us (They called all the archery ranges, but never called any library, museum or school *sigh*) They wanted us to do demos for their sneak preview parties. Probably just as well we didn't go, they wanted an exhibition of firing flaming arrows. (The burning toilet paper was put out by wind sheer (200 lb bow), various other methods didn't work, the acetylyne fuel capsule and fourth of july sparkler worked a little too well, fortunately the arrow carried the blast away from everyone and no one got hurt [I'm NOT making this up!]) The main library acquired a 14th cent. Italian dance manual. I was copying it for several days running during their rare book room hour. We did a demo. The next day I went back to the library to continue. "Why didn't say you were with the SCA???" They had photocopied it. I could go on and on and on here. We hand out dozens of business cards. We schedule demos as much as three months in advance, by request. We don't have to make ourselves known anymore, people come to us for information, demos, costume design, museum displays, etc. If we did all the demos we were asked to do, we wouldn't be able to schedule events for ourselves. Here in Buffalo, the SCA _is_ well known. > Megan > == > In 1994: Linda Anfuso > In the Current Middle Ages: Megan ni Laine de Belle Rive - Dagonell SCA Persona : Lord Dagonell Collingwood of Emerald Lake, CSC, CK, CTr Habitat : East Kingdom, AEthelmearc Principality, Rhydderich Hael Barony Internet : salley at niktow.cs.canisius.edu USnail-net : David P. Salley, 136 Shepard Street, Buffalo, New York 14212-2029 From: vanness at aludra.usc.edu (William E. Van Ness) Newsgroups: rec.org.sca Subject: Re: Demos Ideas Date: 12 May 1994 17:52:49 -0700 Organization: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA jowall at nmsu.EDU (Jonathan Ian Wall) writes: >I am Ld Bela Magyar, Hospitaller to the Outlands southern regions. I am >compiling different Ideas from all the kingdoms for ways to make all forms >of Demos interesting. Demos have always been my favorite aspect of the >SCA and now my job makes me responsible for them. Any Ideas I get will be >given to members of the Outlands so that they may benifit. Please send >these I deas to my Address as it makes it easier for me to make hard >copies. My address is jowall at dante.nmsu.edu. >Thank You >Bela Magyar Years ago, I was fortunate enough to autocrat a "demo" for the school I was attending. We set up a Gold Key, and exchanged student IDs for loaner garb. During the evening, we held a traditional SCA feast and invited those students who wished to join us, garb required. We found that, not only did the students get an idea as to what a private SCA event was like, the garb made them feel more a part of the action, and therefore they interacted more. And, I might add, we got every stitch of loaner garb back! In addition to this, I can only suggest that you offer as many different activities as possible, so as to have more to tempt any possible newcomer. Yours in Service, Ld. William Keith Fitz Garanhir From: jab2 at stl.stc.co.uk (Jennifer Ann Bray) Newsgroups: rec.org.sca Subject: Re: Pennsic Boundary Value Problem Date: 19 May 94 16:16:51 Organization: STC Technology Ltd., London Road, Harlow, UK. I have followed this thread on boundarys with interest. I do many outdoor craft demonstrations throughout the British summer. This means that I must try to protect myself, my equipment and my wolfhound from scorching sun alternating with rain by the bucketload. I usually take a viking tent, and modify it by propping up the canvas on one side by adding an extra pole at either end of the tent. This gives both a shady area and a waterproof refuge. The problem is that the public who come to see the demonstrations immediately see this as a private area and are visibly worried about entering even if I invite them under the shade. I can't cope with a day in the baking sun, even with factor 20 sun block I start to look like a lobster, so I have to try and lure people in. I've found that a line of interesting things leading into the tent's shade works quite well, by the time they've looked at the third basket they've forgotten all about the tent. Groups of tents are even worse. we used to arrange three of our group's tents in a U shape, with the open end of the U facing a path where members of the public walked by. They would cluster in a crowd on the pathway, but wouldn't step off to approach us. Even when invited they were shy. Eventually we resorted to getting a few fighters not involved in the craft demos to dress in 20th century costume and wander around. This seemed to work pretty well as "bait" to draw the public in! The best thing for luring people in though is Tara (the wolfhound). Despite her large size people show no fear of her at all and will happily wander past any boundary to pat her and rub her ears. This is good when you want the public to come in, but at the end of a day when hundreds of people have rubbed her ears, and she is starting to look very long suffering it can be difficult to get her somewhere where I can keep an eye on her but the public can't get at her. In cold weather she's had fleece and cloaks thrown over her to disguise her, but this isn't practical in warm weather. We're seriously contemplating getting her a tent of her own where she can hide when she's looking fed up. Odd isn't it how people won't cross boundarys at a human's invitation. but happily ignore them when an animals involved? Is this a peculiarly British thing or does it happen in the states as well? Jennifer/Rannveik Vanaheim Vikings From: 0003900943 at mcimail.COM (Marla Lecin) Newsgroups: rec.org.sca Subject: Medieval Scout Camp Ideas Date: 20 May 1994 11:35:14 -0400 Greetings from Jessa d'Avondale! Our canton once ran a 1 day event for Girl Scouts. The Scouts signed up for a variety of classes - juggling, calligraphy, dance, heraldry, mask-making, needlepoint, etc. We also put on a tournament for exhibition, and had archery (I don't recall if the Scouts shot also). We served them a feast, and had a masked ball later in the evening. For an event that runs several days, you might think about including: 1) Longer classes. How about letting them make their own costumes on the first day? If you supply fabric and give them simple choices, this could be a 2-3 hour class. Or, having craftsmen demonstrate their work, and allowing the Scouts to work on some piece of their own. 2) Cooking. Start with a (typically vague) period recipe, break the Scouts into groups of 3-4, and let them come up with their own variations of the finished dish. Finish with taste-test comparisons. 3) A quest. Scouts must solve riddles or answer questions correctly in order to reach the end of the quest. These can be based on period riddles, stories, etc. 4) "Color War". We had this every year at camp. Divide the Scouts into two groups (Saxons vs. Normans, English vs. French), and have them compete for points. The points could be things that you have taught them during the course of the week - archery, pell-work, medieval games (Blind-Man's Bluff, Last Couple in Hell), heraldic terms (maybe a quiz or a scavenger hunt). 5) And don't forget singing and dancing (every day! :-) Boy, if I had a captive audience to teach dancing to for a week, we'd have a crack Verceppe squad by Saturday! Good luck! Jessa From: una at bregeuf.stonemarche.org (Honour Horne-Jaruk) Newsgroups: rec.org.sca Subject: list of occupations-the total so far Summary: More occupations! More needed! Date: Fri, 27 May 94 00:38:54 EDT Respected friends: About three weeks ago I posted a request for names of midieval occupations, for use in a demo. I got lists back from several people, who may or may not have gotten thank-you notes because my Email is misbehaving. I also got a request to explain how I was going to use them. SO: here's who helped (Bless you, friends!) - Damon de Folo, JABray at bnr.co.uk(no other name given), Dorothea of Caer-Myrddin, Henry (HW) Troup, Damien of Baden, MartenB at aol.com (no other name given), and Tabitha. You kept me from falling on my face, folks. Thanks! Since MartenB at aol.com already reposted his list to the Rialto, I'll save bandwidth by skipping his list- There were considerable numbers of duplicates. The rest, in no particular order- Saltboiler,Delver,Linkman,Almoner,Waferer,Threadmaker,Begger,Footpad, Jailer,Cartwright,Skinner,Glassblower,Dairymaid,Lady,Barker,Thatcher,Wood- cutter,Senaschal,Beekeeper,Papermaker,Linenspinner,Troubadour,Landlord,Astro- loger,Confectioner,Guardsman,Scullion,Chantry Priest,Bearleader,Bard,Herald, Privycleaner,Pardoner,Pursuivant,Parish Priest,Sexton,Stewsman,Shrimper, Netmaker,Falconer,Bargeman,Panter,Chaplain,Clark,Tutor,Midwife,Bodyservant, Taverner,Scrivener,Archer,Quartermaster,Sapper,Burglar,Friar,Canon,Sherrif, Charcoalburner,Drycooper,Woolcomber,Seamstress,Clothier,Pickpocket,Poacher, Fuller,Lacemaker,Glover,Executioner,Ditcher,Tentsman,Bonecarver,Knight, Sheepshearer,Horsetrainer,Tapester,Tyler,Gamekeeper,Alewyfe,Reeve,Nun,Parker, Goatherd,Silkwoman,Cobbler,Ferryman,Navigator,Fence,Wheelwright,Mapmaker Mason,Crofter,Gravedigger,Player,Userer,Cordwainer,Tumbler,Chapman,Thresher, Waterseller,Costermonger,Smelter,Cheesemaker,Banker,Weirkeeper,Cutler,Hayward, Canaller,Cowherd,Fowler,Poulterer,Architect,Chaplain,Butler,Oyster Raker, Groom,Molecatcher,Bath Attendent,Plowman,Cannoneer,Drayman,Bailiff,Constable, Chamberlain,Carver,Judge,Swineherd,Watchman,Drywaller,Spinster,Farrier, Sawyer,Limner,Bricklayer,Sailmaker,Shingler,Stillroom Maid,Quarryman,Vintner, Laundress,Cook,Scholar,Pavier,Wet nurse,Master of Hounds, and Nurse. ...Which still adds up to only 248 trades, including both this list and the MartinB one. So if anybody has more to add, sing out- My original goal was 500 total. (Please Email me as well as posting, since my feed sometimes eats posts. Thanks.) Now for how it was supposed to work: We were told we'd have two hours with each group, to be split between heraldry, dancing, fencing, and whatever I came up with. So I was planning to hand out cards with the trade name on the blank side and a description on the lined side, then lead the kids through 1: How few of these were even scrape-the-bottom rank nobility, and 2: How many of these were tied to the land or castle and did not have freedom to travel. But.. First, I lost my list of 40 farm-related occupations (The ones performed by serfs, villeins, and cottars). This helped skew the list very heavily toward late-period and city trades. Then, I arrived to find our Herald/Fencer unavailable and our time cut to one hour each. So I accomplished #1 by having the kids with Noble cards stand up (In each group of +/- 150, that turned out to be two kids) and telling them that everybody else was a "working stiff" just like their parents and teachers are today. The look of shock on their faces was worth the work all by itself. (Poor things, they've gotten their history from fairy tales and Robin Hood, and even the outlaws are _really_ Earls)- Serious reality-check time. Since the skew made idea #2 impossible, I then explained about modern surnames coming from midieval trade and place names, and the rest of my part of the demo was spent telling them what their own last names meant in the Middle Ages- Which was brutal, since that's quite unmistakably Herald's work, and I'm not one. Even though I could only translate about half the names, they loved it. It was especially nice for the kids whose names are easy to make fun of nowadays, such as Crooker and Fou- they _loved_ hearing the period versions. With long demos I sincerely recommend having the Herald try this. If there isn't time to throw it open to the floor, you may want to get name lists from the teachers and choose a few from each class. All in all, it worked and worked well. I'll certainly do it again- (More! Send me more!) and I recommend it to all of you. If you've read this far, thanks again. (Friend) Honour Horne-Jaruk, R.S.F. Alizaunde, Demoiselle de Bregeuf, C.O.L. SCA From: ansteorra at eden.com (3/1/95) To: ansteorra at eden.com How about them Cavaliers! We did a bank grand opening one time. Very rich. They though we ye olde history types were most amusing. We have a general policy about demos. If we are doing a school or educational group, or if it is a recruiting or PR demo we do it free (though we DO accept donations if they choose to give them). If we are working as actors or entertainment we expect a donation to be made to the barony. This helps keep folks from using us as a free service and taking jobs away from actors and entertainers. It also brings in a bit of cash. We also work three different Ren fairs each year. At the two that are local we run our own games and keep some or all of the proceeds for our treasury. We have invested some funds in backdrops and equipment for our games, but we have long since recouped those costs and turned a healthy profit. The third fair (TRF) pays our barony on a per-person, per-hour worked basis. This combination of activities has kept our barony financially comfortable for years now. We have a nice, large pavilion, excellent thrones, good cookware and assorted other items that make our lives more pleasant at events -- all paid for from our treasury. This is all just food for thought for those of you who may be struggling to make ends meet in your areas. After all, the more groups that have good stuff, the better all the SCA's events look. Savian From: Mario Nigrovic <cyrus at netzone.com> To: Mark.S Harris Date: Fri, 29 Mar 1996 Subject: Re: Demo help Greetings from Melisend! We have had great success in the Tri-Baronies area (Phoenix metro) with combat archery shoots at live targets. You dress one of your people up in armor and let the demo attendees take potshots at them with combat arrows. I have also had tremendous success with a dress the dummy demonstration. I take my dress dummy (Lady Dumais, doncha know) and dress her in full Tudor from the drawers out. It amazes poeple how many layers of clothing they wore back then! Something I have wanted to do for some time is bring out period music and teach people the songs (perhaps giving them copies to take home) people are surprised at how many period songs they know (especially christmas carols). We have also had success with bringing out shield shaped cardboard and letting kids design their coat of arms with crayons or markers. This can be accompanied by written instructions (posters of field divisions and common charges is helpful here) or a live demonstrator. The kids also like to make favors for Mom and Dad. We bring out scraps of fabric (already cut to size and with clean finished edges), trim, buttons, rhinestones, etc. and let the kids sew and glue to their hearts content. I have also seen a suggestion for taking a roll of butcher paper and having someone line-draw the Bayeux Tapestry (or portions thereof) and then letting the kids color it in. Again, having a live demonstrator to explain what they are doing elevates it from just crafts to education. Hope these suggestions help. Since I work out of my home, I volunteer to hit all our day-time demos. This does, however, mean that a lot of my ideas are geared toward school children. Good luck! -- Melisend de Chartres Cindy Nigrovic <cyrus at NetZone.Com> From: Nils Hammer <nh0g+ at andrew.cmu.edu> Newsgroups: rec.org.sca Subject: Re: Demo help Date: Fri, 29 Mar 1996 14:17:57 -0500 Organization: Computer Science Department, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA I strongly reccommend some sort of craft work if possible in demos. At a recent demo here the person carding and spinning wool was very well received by children. She gave them hands-on things to do. My favorite thing to do is conversationaly answering people's questions. When someone asks "ain't that a 20th century british helmet on you?" (well, yes) I turn it into a discussion of the gradual evolution of technology. Of course, this is not something you can formally plan to do. I think that when you can tie period stuff to modern reallity it makes the things we do more relevant and vivid for the listener. Nils K. Hammer nh0g at andrew.cmu.edu From: Lisa Carter <zkr26 at ttacs1.ttu.edu> To: ansteorra at eden.com Date: Tue, 02 Jul 1996 21:09:36 -0600 (CST) Subject: Re: War of the Staked Plain > Along the line of demos and PR, what is this "Fourth on Broadway" and > what does Bonwicke do for this? How much participation do you get from > the gentles of Bonwicke? Broadway is one of the "old" streets here in Lubbock that runs down town. It is brick lined and quite nice. The city of Lubbock holds a 4th on Broadway on the 4th of July. There is a parade and a number of vendors. Over half of the city shows up at 8:00 am and leaves around 7:00 pm. We have a *float* with riders and those who do light and heavey walk along the side. Those who do Middle Eastern dance also walk along the side of the float and dance. After we have a number of demos. Usually the whole Barony shows...talk about free publicity! Kayleigh From: gray at ibis.cs.umass.edu (Lyle Gray) Newsgroups: rec.org.sca Subject: Re: Living History- How does it work? Date: 18 Jul 1996 15:06:30 GMT Or