I think a lot of it has to do with whatever first person impression you intend to make. I am doing civilian reenacting now as a news reporter for an Ohio newspaper. I stay in first person with other reenactors, trying to get their "stories" (name, unit, hometown, etc.) which I put into my notebook. You may want to portray some other type of civilian impression from a sutler, Christian Commission representative, preacher, farmer, tradesperson, state representative or political figure, doctor, the field is wide open for you to decide.
Thanks for your reply! I'm portraying a slave catcher who's quitting the business early-war or has quit late-war, but it gives me an excuse to talk to anyone about the local area, politics, how the war has changed things, and eventually get to my main purpose of interpreting that the Olde South wasn't all moonlight and magnolias and happy loyal slaves. It also means I can start out as just a random farmer passing through with his dog making small talk, then take it only as far as the other person seems comfortable.
I'd love to stay in first person with other reenactors, which is what I'm used to, but it doesn't seem to work. I can clue in members of the public by dropping a few hints if they don't immediately get it, but what do you do when reenactors simply can't or won't understand?
While in period clothes waiting to get my picture taken at Guyandotte, I tried talking to a union soldier and started by asking him how recruiting was going in the area, knowing the union men were portraying soldiers there recruiting. He thought I meant modern recruiting. I dropped hint after hint: Wasn't he here in
Virginia [not West Virginia] recruiting? I said my dog was a little over a year old, born last spring in
1860. Most spectators would have gotten it, but he still insisted on talking about modern things--other reenactments, his modern life. And that seemed to be typical of many reenactors--no clue and no interest in a period portrayal. So it seemed that a period portrayal around other reenactors was not the right thing.
There's also the problem when they suspect you're portraying someone and insist on modern answers: "No, where are you
really from? Is that your
real name?" (I don't mean at registration, etc. where real info is needed, but just during small talk.) Or: "What other events have you been to?"
Do you say, "That
is my real name," or, "Not sure what you mean by events; I was at the county fair last month," the way the person you're portraying would? But they don't give up. I get the idea that you're supposed to drop the portrayal as soon as anyone expects you to, so it almost seems easier/better just not to start and save it for spectators.
But I wondered if maybe there was a social cue from reenactors that I wasn't understanding, to indicate when a period portrayal was okay.