[MR] So..You want to be an Apprentice

[Craig Levin]

Hrosvitha:

> I would like to invisigate what it takes to apprentice
> in the gentle arts.  I have begun to study embrodiery
> patterns and work with embrodiery, but I don't have
> much direction.  
> How do I go about finding out who to talk to about
> this?  What does apprenticing usually involve?  Am I
> the only one who doesn't know the answers to these
> question?

Inasmuch as I'm a protege, and not an apprentice, my experience
may or may not be applicable.

Imprimis, there's no need to take service under a peer. One's
service is valued no matter who you're with, or not with. As my
wife's grandfather once put it, "The job doesn't care who does
it, so long as it's done right." So why do it?

Well, there's the advice and guidance. That can be really
important. In the current thread on GoA collars, the research
would be a lot harder without my master's collection of Laurel
letters. Magister Herveus has helped me not just in the matter of
research, but in a lot of aspects of my SCA life.

Finding a peer to work with-Magister Herveus and I met because we
were regulars at Jaelle's old Silver Slug commenting sessions.
Put a prominent herald in the same room with someone eager to
learn more about the subject and being useful to others, and
that's what you get. We were friends long before I became his
protege. Is there anyone in your area who's doing top-notch
embroidery? Have you looked in the Rolls Ethereal
(http://waks.ne.mediaone.net//rolls)?

As for what it involves for the vassal, it depends entirely upon
you and the peer. I'll help Magister Herveus with projects. I'll
help him set up his shop, and watch over it. I've overseen his
kids on chores, loaded his van, cleaned the house, and run
errands. I also have been known to bring him tribute-the
occasional flask of single-malt or Port-at various points in the
year.

Pedro