Re-enacting- a dieing hobby?

[jenna]

I have to ask this, and hopefully we can all pull together on this, but I have heard from many re-enactors in the area that they feel that Civil War re-enacting is a dieing hobby, unless we can all work together and encourage new recruits. What are your feelings on this?

I would like to have everyone who is a re-enactor or potiential re-enactor to take a moment and think about the hobby in your area. The reason for this is because we all need to look at our groups and see what we can do to encourage and promote this as a friendly hobby. I have recently had the privilage to do a few re-enactments outside my home state, and was very discouraged by the lack of reception outsiders were getting. Not just as re-enactors, but as prospective re-enactors. At these events the group I belong with were treated very much like outcasts for we did not run with the same groups, yet we have so much to offer in the way of our blacksmith, whom has a fantastic reputation, and our fashion shows, which has the same type of reputation. Yet, we were "finger pointed" at for coming in. And these were not national events, which my brother has participated in and has had the wonderful feeling of acceptance out on those battlefields.

If we are to continue to do this to "outside" groups, how will events grow and how will they continue to bring in people? We all need to work together.

My purpose for this thread is to hear how other events are being run in other states and how groups are being run and how they are in accepting other groups to events. I realize that there are groups out there that none of want to deal with, but then there are groups that need that chance and should be given it so as to grow in this hobby.

I don't want to see this die anymore then anyone else, but we all need to work together on this.

So, let me know your feelings and hear how things are going across the country and abroad.

Thank you for your time,
Jenna

[johan_steele]

My unit, the 3rd MN VI has been able to recruit three w/ a fourth and fifth possible w/in the next season. Our biggest issue has been getting any kind of sponsership or donations. As it is an expensive hobby to get into for high schoolers it is difficult to recruit from that age group.

As to events, this last year was not one of my busiest, while I think the number of large events have dropped I find myself involved w/ more smaller events. In all honesty these are the kind of events I prefer for a variety of reasons. There is less of a chance of pilfering or outright robbery and the general feeling between re-enactors seems quite a bit better. Less stress, less problems etc. THis is why I'm trying to put together Motor Mill in the spring of 2005. I don't care for the powder burning contests that amuse so many, perhaps because I've come to understand the history and real effects of combat... most of the mainstream battles I have attended in the last three-four years are almost an embarrasment to the men we are trying to honor. Few if any casualties and over dramatic acting get old real fast. I suppose the worst for me has been the very poor quality of CSA re-enactors, this is made worse by the fact that the first high quality re-enactors I met were CS troops.

I don't think the hobby is dieing, though the uality may be falling off somewhat.

The events I attended this year...

a half dozen parades (while not re-enactments)we were well received and enjoyed ourselves quite a bit.

Cleremont Heritage Park UAHLC... best event of the year, the detriments were that fewer than a third of the re-enactors who promised to attend showed up.

Grand Excursion a mainstream event that had real potential... poor battlefield site, little if any advertisement, poor planning... I could go on but don't wish to. However, once again the Union Infantry and the CS Scott's battery were nice groups. I was fighting a losing battle w/ my back at the time and this probably effected my outlook at the event.

Cannon Falls 150th anniversery, a nice small event w/ very few detrimental issues. WEll planned, well attended and frankly a good bit of fun.

Litchfield... normally a wonderful small event. The arty unit that had promised to attend ditched in favor of another event that paid a higher bounty. Left w/ no arty to help draw the crowds the event had lackluster spectatur attendence. The redeeming factor was once again the Union troops, the band and the Signal Corps representative.

Olmsted County History days (a decent sized multi generation event w/ increadible potential) ineptly run and more poorly organized, apparently there was an approx $100 bounty... several people were apparently not paid.

Mason City... usually a decent mainstream event. Poor location, por timing, poor planning, poor turnout The Union troops, surgeons and the traveling minstrals were the one real redeaming factor.

Osbourne Days (very small history event) well organized and well run.

[sockknitter]

I'm not a reenactor but am interested in the war, obviously. This summer my husband and I were able to go to "The Battle of Usher's Ferry" at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. I understand this wasn't even a real battle (correct me if I'm wrong, please) but I thought the presentation was very helpful to anybody's understanding of the years 1861-65. There were quite a few reenacting units both North and South, an excellent Lincoln impersonator, period music in a gazebo, an instructional fashion show, cavalry soldiers, good loud artillery, a few sutlers, representatives of SCV and SUVCW (is that the correct abbreviation for Yankee descendants?) and maybe best of all the event was in a large park that includes a village of moved-in, permanently placed authentic 1800s buildings.

Oh yes, I believe it also helped greatly that one reenacting unit sponsored a quiz for spectators. Answers were to be obtained by talking to reenactors.

I did see some anachronistic type things like teenage girls in semi-authentic dresses lying about barefooted on the ground (I assume that wouldn't be proper in the old days), but on the whole it was most enjoyable for me a spectator. I would like to hear reenactors' thoughts on the value of this event.

[johan_steele]

I've never been to Ushers Ferry but have been told repeatedly that it is a nice event. Knowing some of the participants I suspect they gave a nice impression. Glad you enjoyed it.

As to barefoot children, I've read of some men who were issued shoes when they joined the Army and it was the first time they had ever worn them...

THe SUVCW men you met are of my unit, based out of Mason City they do a splendid job. THe flag folding ceremony and new member initiation that they do are priceless.

[hoosier]

I was a member of a re-enacting unit at one time.

The unit was based in the state from which my Civil War ancestor came, which meant it was located much too far away from where I now live for me ever to be able to make more than an occasional meeting. Still, I would have been willing to remain a member and give them my monetary support.

However, every month they sent out a newsletter with the unit's mission statement prominently displayed on the front. The mission statement emphasized that being "good enough" just wouldn't do. Members of that organization were expected to totally adopt an 1860's mindset, to be completely authentic in living as the Civil War soldier lived in every regard. The kicker was the final statement, which said that doing anything less would be a grave disservice to the memory of the boys in blue who went off to the war in the 1860's.

I looked at that statement every month, and finally decided that, to be honest with myself, I was a long way from even being "good enough," and there was really no hope that I could ever live up to the organization's ideal. I didn't want to do a disservice to the memory of my ancestor. Therefore, I resigned from the organization.

In my own view, re-enacting units can drive potential re-enactors away if they put too much emphasis on an ultra-high degree of accuracy.

[qwincbruce]

Civil War Reenacting dying? I think not, but it might be on a temporary hiatus. Many members from my area have joined WWI or WWII groups. You can blame Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers for the WWII reenacting infatuation. Other former members are in the military (for real) and are in Irag or other hot areas of the middle east. I don't think folks are that excited with 140th fever, but wait ten years. When the 150th anniversary rolls around, I believe numbers will explode!

[jenna]

Interesting responces so far. There is so much that I agree with from what everyone has said so far. I have noticied allot of the guys jumping ship and doing the WWII stuff. We have allot of them around here that are doing both, and some that find they want to do more WWII, becasue they say it's easier to be authentic with that then with the CW stuff. But you are right, when the next big anniversary comes out. I think too when the Last Full Measure is released that will stir up the interest again. Look at how many people got into it when Gods and Generals came out.

I have to say George, that I agree with you on the fact that too many groups are turning potentially good recruits away by scaring them. The authenticity stuff will come, but if a person is showing enthusiasum then it should be encouraged. In our group you don't need to be at every encampment in order to be considered a memeber. I think it is a love of the history and wanting to portray it that should count more then how many events you go to.

I was hoping that it was just the few that seem to be dragging down the many, and it sounds so far that that is the truth. So, how do we get people to become more proactive then destructive? How do we get some of these groups that read one book and think it to be gospil to come out of their shell and see that there was allot more to the war then just one thought? For example, I was told at one event that a zouave outfit was not worn by a woman of my age (I'm 32- not "old" by any means, and when I tried to show her pictures of women "my age" that did wear it, I was called a lier. I had the proof, but she wanted to be in her own little world and own way of thinking and not listen to anything other then what was in her little box. How do you combat that? Since you know that they are telling potential re-enactors that one track mind set! Any ideas?

I still think that groups need to work more together. We are all out there to accomplish the same thing, yet we tend to fight one another then to compliment or help on another. Our group has made some very nice connections with some of the millitary groups and have worked with them in getting recruits to them that want millitary, and they have done the same for us in civilian. So, how do we get everyone to "just get along?" (Thank you Rodney for that coined phrase! LOL)

Jenna

[johan_steele]

I think the lack of universal standards has had a serious detrimental effect on the hobby. Vendors/sutlers w/ little to no quality control, units w/ such diverse standards that one individual is wearing excellent gear and another jeans and a T-shirt under their shell jacket. The other end of the spectrum are units that are so authentic that they literally will count the stitches per square inch. While I have a tendency to applaud such intensive authenticity standards I see that all in that particular unit are in the 40-50 age range... certainly not representative of the CW soldier.

I would love to see a set of universal standards set. Unfortunetly because the hobby is dominated by the "theme camper" and mainstream through numbers alone I don't see anything happening in that direction. There is little to encourage the youth of the US to get on board when there are such polarizing extremes.

While I consider myself a Progressive in that I am always trying to improve my impression. I have been shunned by some of the C/P/H community that believes that women have no place on the field in any capacity except that of a laundress, nurse or prostitute. In fact I was told I was nearly banned from another site because I asked for assistance in getting Dawna outfitted correctly. This of coarse after my last warning over insisting that enlisted men would wear civilian shirts & cravats whenever the opportunity presented itself, despite letter evidence and numerous written ccounts of men writing home to request such items.

I'm at a loss as to how to combat the one track mindset of some. Versatility and flexability is not something that appears to be encouraged.

[jenna]

And there in lies the problem. You are right, a set standard would be benificial, but who out there would enforce it and would anyone listen? People get set in their ways and they see little beyond the blinders.

I believe "on hours" there should be standard to live up to. Jeans and a T-shirt should not be allowed at all. There was a woman who came to one of our events as a spectator, but she was wearing her costume that she had bought from Gettysburg. Now we all know that not everything from Gettysburg is 100% period accurate, and this wasn't. But she came out with the mentallity that all she wanted was to look pretty. We quickly corrected her that this was more then just that. You were living history, and people looked at you as an example. Well, she didn't get it, came out at another event with a differnt group, and was pretty much looked down upon because she hadn't listened. Came out in sandles, sunglasses and her cell phone stuffed in her riticule. Just plain old bad.

I think, Shane, that you were on the right track with your "Building a Persona" line. We should work on that and continue to build on that and come up with a form that you can hand out at re-enactments. And maybe groups should start holding seminars in the off season for some of those events you do during the season for prospective re-enactors, a kind of "Intro to Re-enacting" thing. We did that for one of the big events around here, and had a great turn out, about 25 women, who were not only volunteers for the event, but also prospective re-enactors. We gave them a mini fashion show, and talked about the history of fabrics, what fabrics are acceptable, and then what to do and not do as a re-enactor.

I owe allot to my friend Terri who got me started in the right direction. She told me to do allot of research, and not just concentrate on one book, for that was narrowmindedness. But to look at allot of sources and allot of period pictures. And boy, did I. But what was nice is that when I came out that first time as a re-enactor there was no one out there that could say "look at what that newbie has on! That is so not right!" I came out like I had been doing this for years. And all because of her.

So, if we could all take that attitude of helping people get into this then maybe we can make this less of a "for us only club" and make it more interesting and encourage people to do this.

[dawna]

Shane & Jenna:

I think the idea of offering a mini course, refresher, or introduction/seminar to re-enactors is a great idea and I would be the first to sign up! I feel somewhat isolated in my neck of the woods and although it is wonderful to have on-line support, I would also benefit greatly from a classroom, 'hands on' environment. It would be an interesting project for the winter months.

Shane, I'm not familiar with the C/P/H community, but I can express to you how badly I feel that you have been taken to task on my behalf...

Dawna