[MR] raising and lowering expectations - a new(?) method

[mebrett at vassar.edu]

All have made some interesting points. May I direct thoughts toward a 
middle ground?

Yes, not everyone can afford a period pavillion. This is why we put 
camping off to the side of an event whenever possible, and ask the 
more period tents to "mask" the non-period ones. This is also why 
people with normal, affordable tents, bring along painted canvas 
covered in their arms to cover the tent, and iron hangers for 
lanters, and other such acouterments.

As to the nylon chairs, I am a big fan of these chairs. They're 
inexpensive, comfortable, and lightwieght. As a small college 
student, I appreciate that. I can also understand that for many, it's 
more sensible to use them. HOWEVER, that does not mean you can bring 
a neon chair to court. It is extremely simple to go to JoAnns, or 
something, and get a piece of target cloth, or duck cloth, or 
something, with which you cover the chair to make it less jarring. I 
seem to remember a slew of articles a few years ago about how to make 
coverings for director's chairs and the  like.

As to people wearing jeans and sneakers. *sigh* Sweatpants or solid 
color cotton pants are not hard to find (try the men's sleepwear 
section at Target or k-Mart). There is no reason why someone who has 
been to more than one event should be wearing Blue jeans. Even Black 
jeans are perferable.

I suppose the point I'm trying to make is this: Yes, not all of us 
have enough money to dress in linen, wool, and silk garb sitting on 
authentic chairs under the flys of our period pavillions. That does 
not give us an excuse to say "We're a non-profit educational 
organization recreating hte middle ages" while wearing blue jeans, 
white sneakers, and a t-tunic in an orange fold-up chair beside our 
"throw it in the air poof it's a tent" abode. There is a middle 
ground.

I though the middle ground was where we were mostly, and that we 
waxed and waned from Pennsic to Twelfth Night to Pennsic.  No matter 
what you have, a yard or two of unassuming canvas can do yonders. At 
least, that's what I've learned in ten years, sans parents, in the 
SCA.

In Service to the Dream,

Ana bhecc inghean ui Fearghail,

formerly of Windmasters, now wanderer between the East and Atlantia.
mebrett at vassar.edu
History major, herald, bard, rapier fighter, costumer
college student extraordinnaire.