[MR] KASF - A matter of focus

[afpopa at cox.net]

I have followed this thread with much interest, and have spent a good deal of time on introspection about my feelings on the subject.  For better or worse, here goes... ;-)

IMHO, this truly is about the focus of the event, and the scale of the activities held there.  At most SCA events where both fighting and A&S are present, the fighting is the main focus of the event.  It is held on a large field.  There is usually much pagentry and display associated with it.  They have the "spotlight".  The one exception to this that I have seen are Universities, where each receive more or less equal time and/or space.

The A&S is typically confined to a few tables on one side of the hall, or possibly they may even have an entire room to themselves.  There is no pomp and circumstance.  Entrants come in, drop off their works, and come back later to pick them up.  Many people will stop by to view the wonders produced by our fine artisans, but the A&S exhibit is by no means the focus of the event.  

With all due respect, even at the Day in the Middle East event mentioned by HRM, this was the case.  At this event, the focus, the "spotlight", was on the social acitivities of the day.  The A&S exhibits were located on a few tables off to the side of the entry area, in the hallway between the classrooms and the feast hall.

KASF is the chance for the artisans and the performers of this Kingdom to have the "spotlight".  Maybe if we limited the War College to a few tables to the side of the hall, or maybe an entire room to themselves?  ;-)