[MR] Your suggestions please => Newcomers thread

[Jack Black of Flint]

Along this line, Siegfried, I have also seen this happen on a number of 
occasions...

However, in most of the cases, the folks running the Gate are usually so busy 
with a line that they don't have ((or are uninterested)) in the time needed to 
learn that the folks are indeed new, and need to be "handed off to a Chatelaine" 
((A phrase that I personally dislike, since in my opinion everyone who pays site 
fee and is in garb is a Chatelaine to one degree or another, but that's a 
different story))

So I agree, how do we fix that problem?  One suggestion could be to have 
something printed out at the Gate for newcomers, saying something like this:

"Hail and well met!  Welcome to (insert event here).  If you are new to our 
lands, please, seek out Lord Jack Black of Flint, our Baronial Chatelaine or 
newcomer contact.  He is wearing all black, with a purple sash and head wrap. 
 He will be more than happy to assist you in whatever way he can!"

((Using myself as the descriptor for ease))

But obviously there is rarely space or availability for the Chatelaine to sit at 
Gate all day, or even stay AT a Newcomers point.  Have it set up, but if there 
is something like what I just suggested available as a hand out at Gate, it 
might help new folks get an idea of who they are looking for, and help them feel 
a bit more at ease knowing there is someone there FOR them at their first event.
 
What say you, folks???? Good Idea, Bad Idea, shut the hell up and get back on 
your boat, BlackJack? **laughs**  ((Last was a joke, I hope))Until the next,
Yours in service,


Lord Jack Black of Flint
((AKA: BlackJack))
Captain and Master of "The Raptor" 
Chirurgeon, Canton of St. Georges
Chatelaine, Barony of Nottinghill Coill 
Brute for Hire




________________________________
From: Siegfried <siegfried at crossbows.biz>
To: atlantia at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org
Sent: Fri, October 15, 2010 10:29:58 AM
Subject: Re: [MR] Your suggestions please => Newcomers thread

> 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/
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