Solo Traveling in the East Kingdom
Rowan
I've only been involved with the SCA for one year come this Pennsic, so
the majority of the people I know are local from shire events and
surrounding events that people from my shire have gone to. This year
and starting in the next few weeks I'm thinking of attending events in
places I've never been to... alone.
Any suggestions for the more experienced members on breaking that layer
of ice that seems to be present at all events? I really want to "get
out there" and meet people from all over, and since I'm travelling by
myself to new places I was wondering if there are any tips that an
outsider should know about? Are there any events in the central area of
the East Kingdom that should be on the top of my list? My interests
within the SCA are widespread, from war practices through to bardic
events, so the Pikestaff descriptions haven't been too helpful on
narrowing down where I want to go.
Any ideas, comments, suggestions would be wonderful!
Rowan
Dick Eney
In article <336728...@redrose.net>, Rowan <ro...@redrose.net>
wrote: <snip>
>the majority of the people I know are local from shire events <snip>
>and starting in the next few weeks I'm thinking of attending events in
>places I've never been to... alone.
>Any suggestions for the more experienced members on breaking that layer
>of ice that seems to be present at all events? I really want to "get
>out there" and meet people from all over <snip> My interests
>within the SCA are widespread, from war practices through to bardic
>events, so the Pikestaff descriptions haven't been too helpful on
>narrowing down where I want to go.
>
>Any ideas, comments, suggestions would be wonderful!
In my past experience, the central area of the East Kingdom is very
friendly. If you want an "in", try contacting the autocrat of an
event in advance and offering help (and follow through on the offer) -
they are usually happy to accept help, especially with the less-glamorous
parts. You may not be able to arrive in time for set-up, but clean-up can
always use another pair of hands. Ditto activities, children's activities
for instance. Since you will be there with a car (I assume), you might
offer to run short errands (given good driving directions of course) if
something turns out to be needed at the last minute.
Very important: When you go to any event, don't wait for someone else to
speak first. If you see someone in garb you admire (or doing craftwork, or
using a magnificent wooden chest for their accoutrements, etc.), say so;
nine times out of ten they will be delighted to talk to you. That person
who seems to be quietly standoffish on the side may be very shy, hoping
someone will speak to them.
=Tamar the Gypsy (sharing account dick...@access.digex.net)
Linda Levy
Greetings
|> In article <336728...@redrose.net>, Rowan <ro...@redrose.net>
|> wrote: <snip>
|> >the majority of the people I know are local from shire events <snip>
|> >and starting in the next few weeks I'm thinking of attending events in
|> >places I've never been to... alone.
|> >Any suggestions for the more experienced members on breaking that
|> layer
|> >of ice that seems to be present at all events? I really want to "get
|> >out there" and meet people from all over <snip> My interests
|> >within the SCA are widespread, from war practices through to bardic
|> >events, so the Pikestaff descriptions haven't been too helpful on
|> >narrowing down where I want to go.
|> >
|> >Any ideas, comments, suggestions would be wonderful!
|>
I would second the suggestion to help out, but you might want to ask also
about helping at the "gate". That way you get to meet people and (if they
sign in)
get their names. If its someone you think you might want further contact
with, introduce yourself, and get them to set up a "get-together" time
during the event. You might also, if there is some sort of court, ask for
time on the agenda, and present yourself as some sort of ambassador or
wandering minstral with a presentation or gift for the locals.
Linda Levy
Perkins
Rowan asked:
> >Any suggestions for the more experienced members on breaking that layer
> >of ice that seems to be present at all events?
And Dick Eney suggested:
. If you want an "in", try contacting the autocrat of an
> event in advance and offering help (and follow through on the offer) -
This is a terrific suggestion, and even works at mundane events and
parties. There's nothing like having one's hands busy and a common goal to
break the ice. The only hazard--you will get so used to helping that just
attending events will become boring. Then you'll want to autocrat! Then
you'll meet *lots* of people!
--Ester
Jan Frelin
Rowna wrote:
>Any suggestions for the more experienced members on breaking that layer
>myself to new places I was wondering if there are any tips that an
>outsider should know about?
I've done this on occasion. The most important advice must be to get in
touch with somebody beforehand. Since you have the Pikestaff, I would
recommend either the seneschal or the autocrat. If you do that, there is
somebody on the premises that's aware of your situation! I've always felt
most welcome on these occasions. In big groups, people may not otherwise
realise you come from faraway lands, as there are always gentles on the
events they won't know. (Granted, I had the special advantage of being a
guest form a really faraway place (Sweden), which helps.)
Anyway I should say thanks to Carolingia, Quintavia, Gyldenholt and
Calafia, for the warm hospitality they showed a stranger in different ways.
(Don't remember? It was nine years ago, and I've changed my persona
since...)
Cheers,
===========================================================================
Hartmann Rogge, Shire of Holmrike, Nordmark, Drachenwald
Jan Frelin, Stockholm, Sweden
jan.f...@pub.mil.se
Eibhlin
Greetings all from Eibhlin
Several times this subject has come up. Not only visitors, but newbies
feel out of place because they don't know anyone at an event.
One of the ideas that has been tossed around is having people wear some
sort of society wide recognizable token (a blue key, gold diamond,
etc...) something that would let people know that this person is either
new to the Society, or new to this region.These tokens would be made
available at troll, and nobody would be required to wear one.
This way the person is easily recognizable as needing introductions, and
maybe some help understanding what is going on.
I have heard that some groups do something similar, but to make it a
society wide practice would make a lot of sense.
Nicole Laurent
Eibhlin wrote:
> One of the ideas that has been tossed around is having people wear
> some
> sort of society wide recognizable token (a blue key, gold diamond,
> etc...) something that would let people know that this person is
> either
> new to the Society, or new to this region.These tokens would be made
>
> available at troll, and nobody would be required to wear one.
Marvelous Idea! :) I think we should implement it!
Yumitori no Kiyoshi
> : > One of the ideas that has been tossed around is having people wear
> : > some sort of society wide recognizable token (a blue key, gold diamond,
> : > etc...) something that would let people know that this person is
> : > either new to the Society, or new to this region.
>
> picture of: a gate, a road, a map, ... how esle do you ID travellers?
>
> --
> ~Krysta Sutterfield / Lady Shandra
A pilgrim's staff?
Yumitori
Patty Winter
Krysta Sutterfield wrote:
>
> : > One of the ideas that has been tossed around is having people wear
> : > some sort of society wide recognizable token
> Hmmmm.... a gold key is taken. How 'bout a question mark? A
> picture of: a gate, a road, a map, ... how esle do you ID travellers?
>
> --
> ~Krysta Sutterfield / Lady Shandra
> Dogs have masters; cats have staff.
Wasn't a shell the symbol of people on pilgrimage in the Middle Ages?
Probably was around a specific time period but it would be awful easy and
something the traveler could find for thewmselves when travelling.
Just a thought in passing... Gwenllhian
Don Humberson
Rowan wrote:
>
> I've only been involved with the SCA for one year come this Pennsic, so
> the majority of the people I know are local from shire events and
> surrounding events that people from my shire have gone to. This year
> places I've never been to... alone.
>
> of ice that seems to be present at all events? I really want to "get
> out there" and meet people from all over, and since I'm travelling by
> myself to new places I was wondering if there are any tips that an
> within the SCA are widespread, from war practices through to bardic
> events, so the Pikestaff descriptions haven't been too helpful on
> narrowing down where I want to go.
>
> Any ideas, comments, suggestions would be wonderful!
>
Milady Rowan,
May I suggest you wander into the kitchen for a bit? My biggest SCA
secret is that I wind up in kitchens by preference, not habit: cooks
just about always need another pair of hands, the shared goals of
getting the blarsted food out the door don't allow that 'ice wall' to
form, and I usually get some neat recipes! My lady wife and I have been
cooking in the SCA since our first event ( and washing dishes, and
anything else the cook needed), we have done 3 feasts so far this year
and will do at least 1 more, and we love it.
If cooking isn't what you like, pick something else that does look fun.
Enjoy!
Ragnar Ketilsson,
East, AEthelmearc, Endless Hills
Arval d'Espas Nord
Greetings from Arval! Rowan asked:
> > Any suggestions for the more experienced members on breaking that layer
> > of ice that seems to be present at all events?
Ragnar Ketilsson replied:
> May I suggest you wander into the kitchen for a bit?
Good advice, and pretty much what I was going to say: Volunteer to help out
somewhere. An extra pair of hands is always welcome at setup and cleanup,
at the gate or registration table, or at the lists. If you have a good
voice, find the herald in charge and offer to cry the camp or help with the
tournament. If all else fails, find someone whose doing something
interesting, and ask politely if you can learn what she's doing.
===========================================================================
Arval d'Espas Nord mit...@panix.com
RMorrisson
Greetings from Myfanwy!
Ragnar's suggestion is my lord's standard practice ("where's Alastar?"
"the kitchen" "Duh, stupid question!").
The only time he had a problem was once down in Storvik at a heraldic
collegium (he wasn't remotely interested in the heraldry part, of course).
Needless to say, not being allowed in the kitchen made him extremely
grumpy. He was later apologized to as "Gee, we didn't know the spoon
around your neck meant anything SCA-wise, we just thought you were a
friend of the mayor! :-)
Actually, come to think, he got thrown out of an Ice Dragon kitchen once,
because the head cook didn't want him to get his fancy velvet garb dirty.
Alastar bitched all the way home the next day about how "next year I'm
going to Ice Dragon as a *peasant*!"
Lady Myfanwy ferch Rhiannon
mka Ruth Morrisson
RMorr...@aol.com
Deloris Booker
On 5 May 1997, Krysta Sutterfield wrote:
>
> : > One of the ideas that has been tossed around is having people wear
> : > some sort of society wide recognizable token (a blue key, gold diamond,
> : > etc...) something that would let people know that this person is
> : > either new to the Society, or new to this region.
>
> : Marvelous Idea! :) I think we should implement it!
>
> Hmmmm.... a gold key is taken. How 'bout a question mark? A
> picture of: a gate, a road, a map, ... how esle do you ID travellers?
>
>
> --
> ~Krysta Sutterfield / Lady Shandra
> Chaos Coordinator
> Dogs have masters; cats have staff.
>
>
Um, I hate to cast cold water on the enthusiasm for yet more heraldic
labels, but has anyone considered the difficulties in getting all those
newbies to 1) identify themselves to the official keeper of the "newbie
thingy"
2) agree to wear it
3) remember to hand it back when they have reached some as yet to
be determined level of "in-ness" so that they will no longer need to be
given their "mark of cain" (so to speak, tongue firmly in cheek,)?
I joined this late and have undoubtably missed a bunch of relevant stuff,
but why would anyone want to make a new person wear a token which would
make them stand out? I thought the reason we hand Gold Key and closets
full of loaner-garb was so that people would not stick out.
Aldreada of the Lakes (Barony of Montengarde, Kingdom of An Tir)
Chatzie Massy
Deloris Booker <dbo...@freenet.calgary.ab.ca> wrote in article
<Pine.A32.3.93.970512...@srv1.freenet.calgary.ab.ca>...
I don't know,.....something would be nice so that the newbie would
not be made fool of, and the *oldbie* would not, through ignorance
that one was addressing a newbie, put off someone from
enjoying all the group has to offer.
It wouldn't have to be something
obtrusive or compulsory....just a courtesy returned for a courtesy
expected (Don't yell at ME, I'm a newbie) that would simply imply
"Be gentle with me, Goode Gentle. I, as yet, haven't any idea.
Pray, enlighten me!"
Might I suggest this? On both sides, you have the newbie wanting
for information, and you have the oldbies that don't want to have
to answer a million questions. How about this, then? A silver oak leaf
for newbies who wish it to be understood that they need help and
guidance (the seekers) and a gold oak leaf for those like myself who
don't mind teaching something of what they know? (the scholars?)
Just a thought. Maychance I will be much flammed after this.
But it is my humble thought.
--
Lady Chatzie Massy of Arenal of the Kingdom of Meridies
Anti-spam key-No PETS allowed!!
(Any comments or statements made are not necessarily
those of Monsanto Corporation, its subsidaries or affiliates.)
Sharon Colvin
Chatzie Massy wrote:
> I don't know,.....something would be nice so that the newbie would
> not be made fool of, and the *oldbie* would not, through ignorance
> that one was addressing a newbie, put off someone from
> enjoying all the group has to offer.
Why do we have to remind anyone not to make fool of someone? I
certainly only give my friends a hard time about their garb (for
instance), and then only when they're in a good mood. I would
never presume to do this with someone I don't know.
Would it not be better to encourage people to ask someone how
long they have been playing and then gently inquire about whatever
the thing is that is in question?
Oriana
Ori...@pacbell.net
Sharon Palmer
Arval d'Espas Nord wrote:
> If all else fails, find someone whose doing something
> interesting, and ask politely if you can learn what she's doing.
Bring along something interesting that _you_ do and wait for
someone to ask about it. Bobbin lace is _my_ favorite icebreaker.
Ranvaig mka Sharon Palmer dm...@iwaynet.net
RMorrisson
Greetings from Myfanwy!
Ranvaig posted:
>Bring along something interesting that _you_ do and wait for
>someone to ask about it. Bobbin lace is _my_ favorite icebreaker.
year with a bobbin lace pillow and this extremely tall gentleman with red
hakama came up to me, saying "Bobbin lace! I haven't seen bobbin lace
since I left Caid!" :-)
I'm not sure now who it was; the only person I can think of as being (to
one sitting down on stairs at the time) that tall is Viscount Haakon.