Death of Reenacting? Really??

Tailor Pete

Sergeant
Joined
Mar 30, 2018
Location
Tucson, Arizona
Alright, know I'm beating a dead horse here, but I'm a bit sick of the notion that reenacting is a dying hobby. I participated during the 'Golden Age' of CW Reenacting, and really see only one major difference between then and now. Larger events are shrinking yet many small events I've gone to recently seem quite robust.

Could it be there is a shift within the hobby and not away from it?

Could it be that, living in the Southwest, I'm missing something?

Is there a way we, as reenactors, can reduce the costs associated with large events so as to reinvigorate them?

Please share your thoughts...
 
It's not dying yet! We just need to get more youngins interested. Big events are making a comeback I think.

Actually the biggest problem is the cost. It puts many a new reenactors off. Look at the price of new and used muskets. New 900 dollars and used as high as 800 dollars. This does not encourage people do do our hobby at all! This is truly sad. However, we can thank God for loaner equipment!
 
Agreed, I have noticed an increase in costs. Too bad the Pakistani made repros have such a bad reputation. I priced out a Pakistani made Enfield with a new, rifled barrel, and it almost costs as much as a Pedersoli... makes it impossible to save any money there!
Edited.
 
Agreed, I have noticed an increase in costs. Too bad the Pakistani made repress have such a bad reputation. I priced out a Pakistani made Enfield with a new, rifled barrel, and it almost costs as much as a Pedersoli... makes it impossible to save any money there!
Edited.
Buy a used rifle and clean it up. I did and saved 150-200 dollars. I know it's not alot but its still simething.
 
Dead? To quote General Longstreet, "Not yet!"

Many groups (including the one I belong to) are accumulating loaner gear to get new members started their first and second years. That really helps on the expense and is attractive for new members!

What seems more of a problem, at least out here in the Pacific Northwest, is the inevitable squabbling. More members are being lost due to factional quarreling (usually due to power struggles) than by loss of interest.

There are also changing attitudes, For instance, our reenactments have now all been kicked out of state parks, and alternative private sites (none as good) have to be used. Spectators who for many years have attended the Labor Day reenactment at Fort Stevens State Park (which was actually a Civil War site) will now be redirected to the Astoria Fairgrounds. Ugh.
 
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Dead? To quote General Longstreet, "Not yet!"

Many groups (including the one I belong to) are accumulating loaner gear to get new members started their first and second years. That really helps on the expense!

What seems more of a problem out here in the Pacific Northwest is the inevitable squabbling. More members are being lost due to factional quarreling (usually due to power struggles) than by loss of interest.
True, but we still need these nubbies to show up. We must recruit and mabey bring back drill competitions at more events to gey back some pride for a job well done!
 
here in the uk ,there is so much choice in periods from ancient greek to modern,so that seems to have watered some of our large groups down
years ago it was a choice of ww2 ,English civil war or American civil war and those were your major groups,but has already been said its cost now in which ever you do
 
here in the uk ,there is so much choice in periods from ancient greek to modern,so that seems to have watered some of our large groups down
years ago it was a choice of ww2 ,English civil war or American civil war and those were your major groups,but has already been said its cost now in which ever you do
What sparked interest in the civil war in Europe?
 
I wish to apologize for what some may have taken as a racial slur in the original post in this thread. No insult was intended, nor did I even stop to think of my wording as such.

It will never happen again.
 
Am in the Civil War Association here in Washington State and for what I have heard and observed over here people are quite interested in learning about the Civil War it's history, background, etc. So far it's been quite positive.
 
I'm optimistic, we have some nice young guys in our bunch, if they stick with it the future will be in good hands. Most of our events down here this past winter were pretty well attended. There were a couple disappointments, Olustee was a little lighter than normal. The groups coming from up north got hit hard with the flu over the winter. One company we usually camp next to usually brings down about 20 guys only had 3, the rest were sick with the flu. Still had plenty for a good show though if you check out the pictures I posted in the reenactor's forum. As far as the costs go it's definitely expensive but there's always people willing to help out new people with loaner gear and I tell all the new people to keep their eyes and ears open around camp for blanket sales. There's always somebody selling something around camp.
 
I'm optimistic, we have some nice young guys in our bunch, if they stick with it the future will be in good hands. Most of our events down here this past winter were pretty well attended. There were a couple disappointments, Olustee was a little lighter than normal. The groups coming from up north got hit hard with the flu over the winter. One company we usually camp next to usually brings down about 20 guys only had 3, the rest were sick with the flu. Still had plenty for a good show though if you check out the pictures I posted in the reenactor's forum. As far as the costs go it's definitely expensive but there's always people willing to help out new people with loaner gear and I tell all the new people to keep their eyes and ears open around camp for blanket sales. There's always somebody selling something around camp.
Are events in Va are getting bigger. New market, front royal, cedar creek, among others.
 
Here in Indiana, there's a bunch of younger fellows in the regiments and a few young ladies (myself included). The biggest difficulty is the expense, as usual.

I think we'll be around for quite a while. :smile: Anyway, this farm girl is out to recruit...especially girls who can sew and walk the events with her! Tisn't terribly proper for me to be always with the soldier boys!
 
Here in Indiana, there's a bunch of younger fellows in the regiments and a few young ladies (myself included). The biggest difficulty is the expense, as usual.

I think we'll be around for quite a while. :smile: Anyway, this farm girl is out to recruit...especially girls who can sew and walk the events with her! Tisn't terribly proper for me to be always with the soldier boys!
What would we most humble soldier boys do without you wonderful ladies.
 
*giggle* Well, luckily it was more mainstream. Because I was all over the camps (though with an escort) and most of the folks I know now are Union soldiers...

Re: expenses. Is there any way to start hosting other sorts of events for the public and newbies? How about dance workshops, dinners, fashion shows, and so on? I'm just getting into the hobby and boy, is it hard to find other ladies to talk to sometimes. Easy enough to find gentlemen to explain the battles...but I don't particularly want to do that part! (Unless as a nurse--I'd like that) And there's so much more...

Just a thought.
 
*giggle* Well, luckily it was more mainstream. Because I was all over the camps (though with an escort) and most of the folks I know now are Union soldiers...

Re: expenses. Is there any way to start hosting other sorts of events for the public and newbies? How about dance workshops, dinners, fashion shows, and so on? I'm just getting into the hobby and boy, is it hard to find other ladies to talk to sometimes. Easy enough to find gentlemen to explain the battles...but I don't particularly want to do that part! (Unless as a nurse--I'd like that) And there's so much more...

Just a thought.
We have quite a few ladies come out down here. Our events always have activities for the ladies such as a ladies tea, fashion shows, and of course the ladies like going to the Saturday evening ball. When the ladies in our lives enjoy coming out it sure makes it easier for us guys to make it out to more events.
 
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