Four Daze in the Past
Another Reenactorfest!
We pulled up to the Westin, where ReenactorFest 6 was being held n Thursday afternoon, and we spent much of the afternoon setting up our tables. Then, later on, the reason we came early happened, a room party that the main honcho, Mike Bollow, was holding. Julie brought naalbinding--she was trying to get a naalbound sock finished for the next day and succeeded--and we had a lot of talk about naalbinding, fake fur and, of course, the new Star Trek movie. Julie once again slept for only four hours that night as she worked on her socks.
There were plenty of friends and folks we had met in previous years there, so we had a good time until we realized there was no electricity. Since much of our recruiting table was powered by electricity, we had it last year and the hotel was wanting $120 to provide it, we were afraid we were not having electricity. Mike stepped in, arranged everything, and we were powered. Next year, we'll have a battery powered digital picture frame and another battery for our lap top, but it was frustrating this year.
Dear pal Dan Speer--Argent Fox Harps--show3ed up about noon and set up with a few harps, puzzle boxes, a cute scale-sized Oseberg bed like I've used for four years and some sundries. Later, our AO, Mike K, arrived with a few more items to set on the table. He thought we'd have more space, so he had to return a lot of his kit back in the car.
A few customers struggled in, and we had a great time. That evening, a bunch of us went down to the Historical Jeopardy game, and we formed a team with some add ons (ACW, AWI and a SCA coupe whom Sharon knew). Sharon showed up, as did Michael A., who bought some needles, fish hooks and styli he'd made (we sold them at our table) They specialize in questions on eras other than ours, but on the other hand I did know that Playboy had a braille edition...
Brickhousewench had wanted folk to show up with fezzes, and we had a couple fezzes. After knowing her on line for a while, we met each other by recognizing the fezzes. In fact, we called our team the Feztastics.
They showed History of the World later, but the projector was a bit too close to the screen and many of the crowd moved on. We did as well. Sharon picked up Chuck from O'Hare, where he was flying in from where he had been working, and we stayed up talking for a while.
The next day, we opened up to overwhelming numbers. Micel Folcland did its demonstration first thing, and we attracted a good crowd for so early even if some of our people did not arrive in time and we were quite disorganized. Later on, folk came up to our recruiting table to ask questions about what we were doing. Only a few people thought we were SCA. A few potential clients also came by, including a teacher who had only heard of it when we were talking about a show the previous seek. A lot of people were interested in Regia, and I'm very happy to see that we are getting recognized and that people are appreciating our attempts at achieving and enforcing accuracy.
We bought a side of leather to split up, planning to use it for scabbards. We bought some hemp canvas to make a work shelter. We talked to a lot of people. We showed videos, concentrating on Roy Underhill & the Mastermyr chest, on Hastings 2006 and on a copy of 1066. A lot of people were entranced by the display.
ReeactorFest is always a blast. You see old friends; you make new friends; you learn stuff and see stuff you have to buy! There is something about walking down the hall and being greeted by name by Nazis, redcoats, bluebellies, Dutch mercenaries and many more.
Later, I was interviwed for the Living History Podcast (http://livinghistorypodcast.com/), and I pimped a couple of Sharon's singing groups, since Stephen and Alena (the brains and muscles behind the podcast) need more music for their presentation. It was a great and fulfilling experience.
Chuck left in early afternoon to go home to see a family he hadn't seen for much of the week when he was on location; I still say he should have had them all come up since he missed a lot of the fun! Michael A went out to eat with an SCA household. Sharon went out with her singing group. We ended up with only four for the traditional pizza party, and one of them couldn't each pizza. We did talk a bit about construction of a faering, and some friends later stopped by.
The ball started at 8. The room was smaller than the first few years but larger than last year, and it was as always a blast. Among the attendees were a couple who were in town because their son and daughter-in-law were having a baby. They heard about RF and came even though their costumes were at home. They had a great time! There was no colonial dancing this year, but plenty of Renaissance, ACW and swing dancing. Then everyone did the Time Warp (from Rocky Horror), and the evening ended with everyone dancing to modern tunes.
Sharon and I had a long conversation on many topics (we hardly ever get to talk), and I went to bed around midnight. Early, but people were falling away, and I was tired.
Sunday, there were less people, and the day wound down. I bought another side of leather because demand was greater than expected and the Leather Guy had some leather that he hardly ever had. I found a perfect birthday gift for my little sweetie, even if she hasn't contacted me in well over a month (I talk to her dad more often; he hardly hears from her as well), and the two Michaels went over to William Booth to buy a large amount of fabric. Bernie, old pal from NWTA, gave me some film books as well. Brickhousewench came by to talk before she left, and many others did as well. A gent who came by the previous day--who is doing a book on reenacting--stopped by with the funny story about Stephen--the Podcast gentleman. I had told him to seek out Stephen, and it turns out that they went to school together. He noted that Stephen was quite and reserved in those days--certainly a great departure from the garrulous and expansive fellow he is today! This was the first day that I saw GoH Jason Strachey at his table without a huge line before him, so I went over, talked for a bit ad bought a photo. A very nice guy who told me that PBS was going to be running the Sharpe series in the near future! I also saw a few people I hadn't seen for a while, including someone I hadn't seen for 15 years who still lives in the same town I do!
The trip home was mainly uneventful. Many drivers seemed to be already at home for Testosterone Fest, although there were more than a few drivers flying low, obviously wanting to home from the kickoff. The roads were actually pleasantly sparse!
Fewer SCA vendors than in years past, and fewer Scadians. However, a boffer group set up as well, so the farb level remained about the same. Lots of good conversations, and we had fun. Today, we're moving at half speed. Tomorrow, there'll be another RF at the Westin. By7 crackey, we're already making plans!
I've got plenty of photos and videos, and I'll be editing then down and posting them later on tofday...if I don't fall asleep!
We pulled up to the Westin, where ReenactorFest 6 was being held n Thursday afternoon, and we spent much of the afternoon setting up our tables. Then, later on, the reason we came early happened, a room party that the main honcho, Mike Bollow, was holding. Julie brought naalbinding--she was trying to get a naalbound sock finished for the next day and succeeded--and we had a lot of talk about naalbinding, fake fur and, of course, the new Star Trek movie. Julie once again slept for only four hours that night as she worked on her socks.
There were plenty of friends and folks we had met in previous years there, so we had a good time until we realized there was no electricity. Since much of our recruiting table was powered by electricity, we had it last year and the hotel was wanting $120 to provide it, we were afraid we were not having electricity. Mike stepped in, arranged everything, and we were powered. Next year, we'll have a battery powered digital picture frame and another battery for our lap top, but it was frustrating this year.
Dear pal Dan Speer--Argent Fox Harps--show3ed up about noon and set up with a few harps, puzzle boxes, a cute scale-sized Oseberg bed like I've used for four years and some sundries. Later, our AO, Mike K, arrived with a few more items to set on the table. He thought we'd have more space, so he had to return a lot of his kit back in the car.
A few customers struggled in, and we had a great time. That evening, a bunch of us went down to the Historical Jeopardy game, and we formed a team with some add ons (ACW, AWI and a SCA coupe whom Sharon knew). Sharon showed up, as did Michael A., who bought some needles, fish hooks and styli he'd made (we sold them at our table) They specialize in questions on eras other than ours, but on the other hand I did know that Playboy had a braille edition...
Brickhousewench had wanted folk to show up with fezzes, and we had a couple fezzes. After knowing her on line for a while, we met each other by recognizing the fezzes. In fact, we called our team the Feztastics.
They showed History of the World later, but the projector was a bit too close to the screen and many of the crowd moved on. We did as well. Sharon picked up Chuck from O'Hare, where he was flying in from where he had been working, and we stayed up talking for a while.
The next day, we opened up to overwhelming numbers. Micel Folcland did its demonstration first thing, and we attracted a good crowd for so early even if some of our people did not arrive in time and we were quite disorganized. Later on, folk came up to our recruiting table to ask questions about what we were doing. Only a few people thought we were SCA. A few potential clients also came by, including a teacher who had only heard of it when we were talking about a show the previous seek. A lot of people were interested in Regia, and I'm very happy to see that we are getting recognized and that people are appreciating our attempts at achieving and enforcing accuracy.
We bought a side of leather to split up, planning to use it for scabbards. We bought some hemp canvas to make a work shelter. We talked to a lot of people. We showed videos, concentrating on Roy Underhill & the Mastermyr chest, on Hastings 2006 and on a copy of 1066. A lot of people were entranced by the display.
ReeactorFest is always a blast. You see old friends; you make new friends; you learn stuff and see stuff you have to buy! There is something about walking down the hall and being greeted by name by Nazis, redcoats, bluebellies, Dutch mercenaries and many more.
Later, I was interviwed for the Living History Podcast (http://livinghistorypodcast.com/), and I pimped a couple of Sharon's singing groups, since Stephen and Alena (the brains and muscles behind the podcast) need more music for their presentation. It was a great and fulfilling experience.
Chuck left in early afternoon to go home to see a family he hadn't seen for much of the week when he was on location; I still say he should have had them all come up since he missed a lot of the fun! Michael A went out to eat with an SCA household. Sharon went out with her singing group. We ended up with only four for the traditional pizza party, and one of them couldn't each pizza. We did talk a bit about construction of a faering, and some friends later stopped by.
The ball started at 8. The room was smaller than the first few years but larger than last year, and it was as always a blast. Among the attendees were a couple who were in town because their son and daughter-in-law were having a baby. They heard about RF and came even though their costumes were at home. They had a great time! There was no colonial dancing this year, but plenty of Renaissance, ACW and swing dancing. Then everyone did the Time Warp (from Rocky Horror), and the evening ended with everyone dancing to modern tunes.
Sharon and I had a long conversation on many topics (we hardly ever get to talk), and I went to bed around midnight. Early, but people were falling away, and I was tired.
Sunday, there were less people, and the day wound down. I bought another side of leather because demand was greater than expected and the Leather Guy had some leather that he hardly ever had. I found a perfect birthday gift for my little sweetie, even if she hasn't contacted me in well over a month (I talk to her dad more often; he hardly hears from her as well), and the two Michaels went over to William Booth to buy a large amount of fabric. Bernie, old pal from NWTA, gave me some film books as well. Brickhousewench came by to talk before she left, and many others did as well. A gent who came by the previous day--who is doing a book on reenacting--stopped by with the funny story about Stephen--the Podcast gentleman. I had told him to seek out Stephen, and it turns out that they went to school together. He noted that Stephen was quite and reserved in those days--certainly a great departure from the garrulous and expansive fellow he is today! This was the first day that I saw GoH Jason Strachey at his table without a huge line before him, so I went over, talked for a bit ad bought a photo. A very nice guy who told me that PBS was going to be running the Sharpe series in the near future! I also saw a few people I hadn't seen for a while, including someone I hadn't seen for 15 years who still lives in the same town I do!
The trip home was mainly uneventful. Many drivers seemed to be already at home for Testosterone Fest, although there were more than a few drivers flying low, obviously wanting to home from the kickoff. The roads were actually pleasantly sparse!
Fewer SCA vendors than in years past, and fewer Scadians. However, a boffer group set up as well, so the farb level remained about the same. Lots of good conversations, and we had fun. Today, we're moving at half speed. Tomorrow, there'll be another RF at the Westin. By7 crackey, we're already making plans!
I've got plenty of photos and videos, and I'll be editing then down and posting them later on tofday...if I don't fall asleep!