[MR] Fighting at events

[Kelly Keck]

I don't know about *always.*  Fighting is a big part of our events, of
course, but it's not the only thing we do, nor is it the most important (I
know, as a fighter myself, that borders on heresy, but I never had a
shortage of fun things to do in the SCA before I ever started fighting.)

The fact that it's a big draw and gets the attention of possible new members
is a good reason for having fighting at every *demo* where it's feasible to
do so, but not so much at every event.  (We're doing events for ourselves,
not necessarily to attract people.)

There are a couple downsides to *always* having fighting at events:

-it keeps us from using sites that would be great for an
A&S/social/gaming/bardic/dancing/classes event, but that won't allow
fighting or don't have the space for it

-You can run a non-fighting event with fewer staff members than you need for
a fighting event.  (No marshals, no MOL, probably no waterbearers or
chirurgeonate, etc.).   Non-fighting events can be good for smaller shires,
cantons, colleges, and incipient groups,  since they don't require as many
people to run successfully.

-Non-fighting events give fighters a chance to do something *besides*
fighting, which a lot of us like to do.  Fighting takes up so much of your
day at an event, that there's often not time for anything else.  I like
going to non-fighting events as well, for a change of pace.

Sure, we spend tons of money on our armor and weapons, and put in countless
hours practicing, but is the real point of that to "get people to notice
us"?  I'm out there to support my barony and kingdom and for the sheer fun
of it.  If someone sees me out there and says, "Hey, that looks like fun.
I'd like to join," it's an added perk, but it's not why I fight, and I'd
wager that it's not why most people fight.

Not to mention that artisans of all sorts lay out huge amounts of money on
their chosen interests as well.  I picked up basic scribal supplies for
myself and my husband the other day, and you'd be amazed at how fast you can
rack up over a hundred dollars on pens, ink, paper, paint, and brushes.  I
gained a deeper respect for the people who shell out a fortune making
scrolls, just to give them away.

(All that said, I'm *very* glad we're having a war college at KASF.  But I
don't think every event *needs* fighting.)

In Service,
Lady Adriana Michaels

On 3/2/07, Jacob Auth <j_auth2187 at rock.com> wrote:
>
> I think that there should always be fighting at events. Half the people in
> the SCA wouldn't be here if it wasn't for seeing us playing in the park.
> Fighters are the most noticable part ofthe SCA when you're looking at
> getting more people to join. A and S is important too but I spend hundereds
> of bucks on getting armor and I'm out there getting bruised so people can
> notice us. The crash of two shield walls is far more noticable to the rest
> of the world than than a bunch of people sewing dresses. Our larger events
> are fight based. War practices, tournements, crown tournements. We have
> weekend camping events for fighting. Estrella and Pennsic are wars not A and
> S events. We need to have fighting.