[MR] Your suggestions please => Newcomers thread

[Siegfried]

> I remember the first two events very clearly where I showed up in
> period garb and no one spoke to me. For someone who is very shy, this
> is really heartbreaking. The first event was a 12th Night in Northern
> Virginia. The second event was an outdoor event at a church in
> Herndon.

Unfortunately, I have seen this situation happen often.  And while not
making excuses for it, it is definitely a 'blind spot' in most SCAdians
radar.

Specifically, that we expect newcomers to be contacting local officers,
showing up at local practices/meetings, and getting their slow
introduction to the SCA, long before going to an event, and at that
point, having 'friends' already to hang out with.

(Or, at least, showing up at an event in blue jeans saying: "Can I
play?"  And therefore getting quickly handed over to a Chatelaine for
the day.)

I've heard this story often ... about the newcomer who does all the
research ahead of time, shows up in period (or 'attempt') garb, trolls
in without issue ... and then feels left out because there is no
interaction with them.

Mostly because, heck, everyone is off doing their thing.  And one person
wandering by in garb doesn't ring any 'newcomer who we need to welcome'
bells, versus 'random scadian off doing their own thing and we shouldn't
bother' bells.

All that being said, I don't know exactly the best way to 'fix' that
specific situation.  Other than maybe asking as people troll in, if this
is one of your first events, and if so, talking to them more, making
sure they have someone to show them around, etc.

Siegfried


-- 
Barun Siegfried Sebastian Faust - Barony of Highland Foorde - Atlantia
http://hf.atlantia.sca.org/ - http://crossbows.biz/ - http://eliw.com/