Little Things To Improve Your Impression.

[yankee hoorah]

What are some little things that can make or break
your reenacting impression besides the uniform?

 

[Frederick14Va]

Are we speaking of habits and actions, or material items?..

Have a hoard of articles written in the past that was unit newsletter fodder on impression review-improvement topics taking one specific item at a time... wasn't sure if those could be of interest here or not..

 

[Cilla]

The way you speak, the things you do for entertainment in camp, and how you act around other reenactors or the general public.

 

[yankee hoorah]

More of actions i'm speaking of.

 

[johan_steele]

Know your persona, who, what & where were you prior to the Army. If you were a farmer know what it meant to be a farmer in 1860 etc. If you were a student what were you studying, what books were you reading etc.

 

[yankee hoorah]

Like develope a First Person impression?

 

[Chattahooch33]

First thing is to have the right hat. Second is to not have anything that makes you stand out. If you have something "unique" then you should lose it.

 

[yankee hoorah]

First thing is to have the right hat. Second is to not have anything that makes you stand out. If you have something "unique" then you should lose it.

I'm buying some used Sekela sky b
lues to replace my crappy dark blues.

 

[Chattahooch33]

I'm buying some used Sekela sky b
lues to replace my crappy dark blues.

Perfect. Try to look as ordinary as possible.

 

[yankee hoorah]

Perfect. Try to look as ordinary as possible.

ok

 

[Republican Blues]

Dont be so down on the Dark blue trousers...

Expired Image Removed
Cause this guy apparently didnt get the memo about sky blue trousers. Dark blues are just fine. The reg didnt change untill 62, so dark blue trousers were common.. and God knows the army doesnt throw stuff out untill it wears out. This image is wonderful because its full of "They Never... " but tread lightly young padwan... somethings, like the trousers in the socks get over done...

 

[Chattahooch33]

Dont be so down on the Dark blue trousers...

Expired Image Removed
Cause this guy apparently didnt get the memo about sky blue trousers. Dark blues are just fine. The reg didnt change untill 62, so dark blue trousers were common.. and God knows the army doesnt throw stuff out untill it wears out. This image is wonderful because its full of "They Never... " but tread lightly young padwan... somethings, like the trousers in the socks get over done...

My response would be yes, you can wear them, but the majority of them didn't. Don't be "that guy" that stands out.

 

[Republican Blues]

Just sayin, Ive learned to never say never... LOL

 

[Steve Thumper]

be polite to everyone you talk to. Being a pig for show as on tv is not correct, or favorable.
even fresh off of the farm, boys new how to act in public. The main idea is that everything you do, your mother is watching.

 

[Republican Blues]

Learn your trade... one of the impressions I do, I am still really learning alot about and still have to learn the proper "speak". also doing a lot of rope work lately, learning how to splice and do fancy knotwork, learned how to caulk a deck and holy stone it, and part of my job was learning the rudiments of how a ship works... trivia question when is a sheet not a sheet? and when is a rope not a rope?

 

[Dave Hull]

Here is a little thing to help your impression; a good reproduction handkerchief. Every man would have carried at least one. South Union Mills has a number of spot on reproductions. For the small fee of $18.50, you too can posses one of the most essential, valuable tools an Infantryman has had since the dawn of time.

Here is another one, with no monetary cost; know what you are talking about when speaking with the public. The topics of discussion here cover a huge range of subjects, from the war, equipment, arms, foods, politics and all other sorts of 1860's aspects of life. Not everyone wants to know what the thread count of a particular garment is or what the twist of rifling is on a 1855 Springfield. Having a broad range of topics for discussion aide in drawing in and keeping the civilians listening.

 

[scarter92]

First thing is to have the right hat. Second is to not have anything that makes you stand out. If you have something "unique" then you should lose it.

To add to the fire here, I don't necessarily agree with that sentiment, but then I'm a Revolutionary reenactor. Homogeneity is actually a problem, the way I view it. If we dress in uniforms without variety, it just wouldn't be right.

 

[Chattahooch33]

To add to the fire here, I don't necessarily agree with that sentiment, but then I'm a Revolutionary reenactor. Homogeneity is actually a problem, the way I view it. If we dress in uniforms without variety, it just wouldn't be right.

This can be true, but then you always have the people who go overboard. You end up with 4-5 dudes in leopard print pants because the guy in Echoes of Glory had them.
I meant you don't want to stand out. If you get a taupe jacket instead of a butternut jacket, that's fine because it fits the impression but don't get that awesome Wade Hampton-esque South Carolina cavalry jacket because it looks cool.

 

[scarter92]

Yep. No doubt.

I'm enjoying all the back and forth. Hopefully i can further contribute other than just chiming in from the 18th (colonial) century.

I tell you what, there aren't many things I've found more fun recently than reenacting.

 

[yankee hoorah]

This can be true, but then you always have the people who go overboard. You end up with 4-5 dudes in leopard print pants because the guy in Echoes of Glory had them.
I meant you don't want to stand out. If you get a taupe jacket instead of a butternut jacket, that's fine because it fits the impression but don't get that awesome Wade Hampton-esque South Carolina cavalry jacket because it looks cool.

What about a pair of dark blues in a line of sky blue trousers