Impressions Pseudonyms in Reenacting?

[Western Reserve Volunteer]

I know we tend more towards doing our impressions in third person than in first person, but does anyone use a pseudonym when they are acting in the first person? Does anyone actually have a sort of alter ego, not just a portrayal of a historical personage, but an actual character with a different name that they portray?

Just a random thought I had... I know SCA is big into using pseudonyms ect and was wondering if anyone else in the reenactment community did as well.

 

[MaryDee]

Generally, first person impressions require approval of the event management--probably to avoid a dozen Lincolns and fifty Robert E. Lees. With a generic sort of impression (a union private, a farm wife, a laundress or a civilian blacksmith), no problem, although for most of these you'll still need approval from your individual group. Twenty blacksmiths might be a few too many.

I was at one large national event where there were, I was told, three Robert E. Lees. I saw only one, though.

 

[grace]

The SCA actually requires them. Take it from a girl who almost joined before she came here.

I am working on a few different ones for my impressions. Being Asian and up in the classics at the time gives me scope for this, as does my desire to actually have a reason to be around.

For example, yesterday, my group did a living history around a cabin that had been there since 1837. I was instantly the lady of the house, complaining about the soliders on the lawn.

But that may be because of my background.

 

[Western Reserve Volunteer]

Yeah most museums shy away from 1st person, even with in house people, because they feel it confuses their guests. I think the level of co,fort someone has with 1st person as a viewer probably is dependent on their having had the experience before.

I know a lot of people put a lot of work into their "generic" character portrayals, this I wondered about pseudonyms. The big disadvantage I can see would be confusion in the chain of command, but I suppose that could be avoided simply by making your pseudonym known well in advance. Went to SCA once but they were not my cup of tea... however many people knew each other only by pseudonyms!

 

[skershaw]

I know we tend more towards doing our impressions in third person than in first person, but does anyone use a pseudonym when they are acting in the first person? Does anyone actually have a sort of alter ego, not just a portrayal of a historical personage, but an actual character with a different name that they portray?

Just a random thought I had... I know SCA is big into using pseudonyms ect and was wondering if anyone else in the reenactment community did as well.

I always referred to my 3-band Enfield as my Nephew Curtis....

 

[Union_Buff]

Here we go WRV, here is a little bit of background on my reenacting persona.

~

My first-persona alter ego is James William Leckemby. He was born in New Zealand in September 1835 to an American father and an Irish-Australian mother. He is the eldest of fourteen children (seven boys and seven girls) and lived in New Zealand for around eight years, before his family moved back to the United States. He enlisted in the Regular Army at age 15 as a cavalryman, in 1850, and he spent the next ten years fighting Indians out west and rose through the ranks to Sergeant.

But, he was demoted and kicked out of his regiment when he struck his Commanding Officer, after the Colonel had made some disparaging remarks against his family, especially about his sisters. And so in late 1860, James was posted against his will into one of the roughest units of the army - the 22nd Cavalry Regiment. And in January 1861, with the secession of South Carolina, the 22nd Cavalry was sent to South Carolina on a secret operation to curb the Confederate guerrillas; the operation was a resounding success, and James redeemed his good name and was reinstated as Sergeant once more.

The day after they returned home to Norfolk, Virginia, the Confederates fired on Fort Sumter, starting the Civil War. And on April 18 1861, James enlisted in the Norfolk Light Artillery Blues, a local militia. He did so because he felt he could not fight against his own family and that they all needed to be together. He would serve the unit faithfully through the whole war alongside several of his siblings and would receive the Confederate Medal of Honor twice from President Davis.

 

[Carronade]

I was at one large national event where there were, I was told, three Robert E. Lees. I saw only one, though.

I expect there were moments when the Yankees thought that was happening.....

 

[Banjo Pete]

Rudiger.

 

[lelliott19]

Sorry to derail your thread @Western Reserve Volunteer, just wanted to welcome our newest member.....

I always referred to my 3-band Enfield as my Nephew Curtis....

Hello @skershaw and Welcome to CivilWarTalk - the best place on the internet for Civil War discussion. Happy to have you aboard.

Be sure to stop in the new recruits forum and tell us a little about yourself. https://civilwartalk.com/forums/new-recruits-meet-greet-area.6/

 

[MaryDee]

A well-researched impression of one of your ancestors could be really good and could also be a wonderful family present. At the first CWT gathering at Gettysburg a couple of years ago (which I sadly could not attend), @hoosier gave an impression of one of his ancestors, based on the letters that ancestor wrote. I wish I could have seen it, and I wish that @hoosier would video it if he hasn't already!

 

[7thWisconsin]

I don't use one when I reenact the Civil War, but I have a common period sounding name. I do use one when I'm a WW2 Soviet soldier, though, because that deals with a totally different language and culture.