[MR] Event Costs

[David Wendelken]

I've known people who wanted to join the SCA who were so poor that they
couldn't afford to fight at fighter practice using the freely supplied
armour.  

They simply couldn't afford the 15 minute trip across town.

What did I do to encourage and enable their SCA membership?

Organize car pools and donate costumes?

Nope.

I told them they needed to focus on getting a better job that would get
their finances in order.  Real life (TM) needs to take precedence over
make-believe kingdoms.  I've lived that advice from both sides can attest to
how much better life got once I got the skills to get a better paying job.

They didn't need to put their emotional energy and spare time into costumes
and SCA accomplishments, they needed to learn the real life skills that
would enable them to get and keep a better paying job.

I also told them I couldn't wait to see them back again, once they got
things in the real world in order.

That's called tough love.

The SCA is a remarkably inexpensive hobby, and I don't think our autocrats
need to be apologizing for event costs.  They do a darn good job.

I would challenge those who disagree to autocrat a local event and show us
all how to do as good a job more cheaply! :)

Andras Salamandra