[Archers] Interest to capitalize on

[John Atkins]

Total agreement.  In my area, Sacred Stone, more people have either
joined or tried the SCA because of target archery than any other
activity.  But, as you say, what is most talked about is the heavy
fighting.  Now in comparing the two to fight heavy one must buy armor,
expensive, and "learn the basics", then get authorized, then they can
play on a regular basis.  For archery a person can walk out to the range
and say "that looks like fun, can I try?" and they get handed a bow and
some arrows and they are trying it out.  No bruises, or worse, from
"authorization" and no major cash outlay BEFORE they get to try it to
see if it's really what they think it is.  And, as my nurse wife says,
no physical damage that will come back to haunt you in your older age!
Plus, for archery size does NOT matter.  In heavy fighting going against
a 300 pound guy BEFORE he puts on his armor is intimidating.  In target
archery a 60 pound young lady can outshoot a 250 pound muscle man.
 
So the question then becomes, what can we do to better advertise target
archery?  One thing for which I am a major proponent is IF, big if most
of the time, archery is included in a demo, it must be something that
involves the crowd while displaying skill.  I love archery but watching
others shoot is right up there with grass growing and paint drying.
Involve the audience and give them a reason to be interested.
 
cog

-----Original Message-----
From: Jessica Mulligan [mailto:slaoen at yahoo.com] 
Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2012 11:51 AM
To: John Atkins; archers at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org
Subject: Re: [Archers] Interest to capitalize on


Of course it is.  :)  How many of us read/watched Robin Hood
books/movies as children?  When I took my daughter, Robin (can you guess
what stories I liked as a kid?), to see Brave she was so excited because
"she shoots a bow, like me!"  Growing up, I was either shooting while
pretending to be Robin Hood, or swordfighting while pretending to be
Madmartigan.  If I had known about the SCA back then I would have talked
to my parents about joining.
 
I think the biggest problem is advertisement.  There is interest to be
capitalized on, but we need to reach young people, and their parents.  I
didn't know the SCA did target archery until I reluctantly agreed to
attend an event at which my coworker was doing heavy fighting.  Up until
then, the only thing I had ever heard about the SCA was that they did
heavy fighting, and I only heard about that by word of mouth from heavy
fighters.
 
We get a lot of newcomers who are interested in archery out at Wolfhou.
I'm not sure how many of them have been inspired by recent movies
though.  The most common thing I hear is, "I've always wanted to try
archery, but never had the chance."
 
Sanada Katsumi

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