Reenactment numbers

[archieclement]

Was curious as imagine spectator numbers affects the hobby as much as participants.

 

[gentlemanrob]

I have been to two reenactments this year and its been a good crowd. I am looking forward to the next reenactment. If people participate and even just attend you will love what you see and then you will want to attend as many as you can. I am going to try to attend as many as possible. Reenactments help me relax after working in a stressful job in education.

 

[111thNYSV]

I'm getting worried about my small group. We haven't received our monthly unit update in months. I wouldn't be surprised if the pandemic was the death stroke to the dwindling Company E 28th NY infantry. If it is, I may step up and either start back up the 111th NY or try something not seen too much, a heavy artillery group i.e. 9th NY Heavy Artillery. Obviously we wouldn't be lugging around huge artillery pieces, just fighting like infantry like they did in 1864.

 

[Beltplate53]

I'm an optimist. A reenactment is only as good as you want it to be. Case in point, I attended a reenactment last year, worried that my friends who thrive on authenticity would get along with my friends that don't. We ended up having a really great time. Those that wanted to learn did and those that wanted to teach had ample opportunity. It all has to do with attitude. Not everyone can afford the $200 sack coat but they can still handle a musket and do Casey's drill. Heck, anyone that take's the weekend off to only sleep in a dog tent and march is good in my book. I won't get into the friends I have made that treat me as family. If you've been reenacting, you know what I mean. Numbers. Yes, I guess they could be better, but don't sell the hobby short. There will be a 200th anniversary and it might be the biggest yet. I'm just happy to be here , in the present, learning and teaching about one of the most important times in our history.

 

[Beltplate53]

I'm getting worried about my small group. We haven't received our monthly unit update in months. I wouldn't be surprised if the pandemic was the death stroke to the dwindling Company E 28th NY infantry. If it is, I may step up and either start back up the 111th NY or try something not seen too much, a heavy artillery group i.e. 9th NY Heavy Artillery. Obviously we wouldn't be lugging around huge artillery pieces, just fighting like infantry like they did in 1864.

What is being realized is that, especially for the major events, people are welcome to fall in with the units attending. I have learned to adjust to the unit I am falling in with. If no one from my unit attends, I fall in with a unit that will accept me. The current numbers dictate that it is what has to happen. I have yet to have a bad experience doing that. I'm there to learn or teach, what ever is required and have fun doing it.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Sir, thank you, sir.

Welcome @MeTheNorth !

I thought I saw a Maple Leaf Flag in your avatar.

 

[MeTheNorth]

Thankee sir....yep, that's my flag!

 

[bayouace]

I am new to an area that has events, but the Port Hudson Jan. 3 Firepower event was fun, informative, and well-attended, I felt. April 24-25 will see a Reenactment event at Oakley House near St. Francisville. The day prior to that event the Parks will host a Living History for schoolchildren there, as well. I regret the Port Hudson Reenactment was moved to November, but I feel efforts are being made here. Hope it continues.

 

[captaindrew]

I just attended an event in Florida this past weekend and am happy to report it was very well attended. Had a respectable amount of reenactors, a little thin on Yankees but that's normal in Florida, a great crowd of spectators on Saturday, a bit fewer Sunday but still a decent crowd. The best thing of the weekend we had 3 new young guys join our company for the 1st time and loved it. Always a great thing to see and very encouraging after a tough year. Next will be off to Fort Blakeley in two weeks.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

Heck I was ready to get out to events itching to go, but a certain housecat knocked over my Grandmother and broke her hip so my Spring Reenacting season is shot.

Which brings to my mind the number one enemy of reenacting and numbers out there: Life

 

[tmorr]

IMO - reenacting is what you put into it and what you, individually, make of it as part of your unit or group. I started doing NPS artillery living history in the late 1980s and that blossomed into signal corps, and infantry where I spent the bulk of my reenacting days, bowing out of the hobby in at the end of 2018 because it was no longer fun for me. My expectations for events at the end were too high and rather than thinking I was wasting my time, or getting angry at myself, event planers or the weather...I simply "retired."

I was Federal-only for my "career" and did a variety of impressions, striving for the best authenticity standards that I could maintain from a gear and health/weight standpoint. We, my pards and primary units (I was really only a member of 2 plus various NPS groups), did a variety of events from two person living history NPS musket demos to the first tactical at Land Between The Lakes, the original Red River Campaign event and everything in between. We went "east" on occasion but primarily stayed in the Western Theater. There are people that I met in the hobby that I will consider friends, or at least acquaintances, for life ....and there are a couple who I met that I will be content to never see again. I don't wish anyone harm, but the personality conflicts are part of life regardless of vocation or hobby. Let the unit officers deal with the "politics" of the hobby and command. If they're good officers on the field, they should have the competency to keep the BS from trickling down into the ranks and keep things fun for everyone. It's what I tried to do while wearing 1st Lt shoulder boards, a job I never really wanted, but found some enjoyment in leading a good company in a large battalion (300+ men) on several occasions - I learned a lot and it was fun.

A kid today can go anywhere in the world on his/her phone and see things that guys like me (aged 53) had to dig through libraries or get in a car to visit or experience in our youth BUT staying on your mobile device will never give you the satisfaction of building a shelter or shebang and trying to stay dry in a downpour, spooning with your mess mates to avoid hypothermia or simply sitting around the fire telling lies and talking history.

As mentioned earlier, the youth are the future of reenacting today and good, nurturing and understanding mentors are essential towards the long term viability of the hobby.

 

[Johhny Quest]

Does anyone have an idea if the number of reenactment participants is dwindling, growing or the same in recent years?

Purely anecdotal, but from what I saw, BAND OF BROTERS and SAVING PRIVATE RYAN started a huge move away from the Civil War.

There were several long-time art dealers selling Civil War prints around the Fort Hood area who closed shop right around the start of the Iraq War. It was mostly due to units deploying overseas but the heavy bleeding had started with SAVING PRIVATE RYAN in the late 90s.

Several officers I knew were heavy into collecting World War Two stuff and WW 2 art. Yet just ten years before when the movie GETTYSBURG came out it seemed like everyone was collecting Civil War art prints, buying books and studying Jeb Stuart and Stonewall Jackson. LOL

I'm not sure, but I suspect the interest I saw among officers would have translated into popularity among reenactors.

I think video games have also diverted interest. Guys who might once have spent the weekend outdoors now spend it in the basement.

I also have a sense (again purely anecdotal) that the fun has been sucked out of the Civil War re-enactor scene by pompous, overly bureaucratic, small-minded participants who love to wield power. That comes from horror stories I've heard from guys who participate.

 

[PrivateBrooke]

I just attended an event in Florida this past weekend and am happy to report it was very well attended. Had a respectable amount of reenactors, a little thin on Yankees but that's normal in Florida, a great crowd of spectators on Saturday, a bit fewer Sunday but still a decent crowd. The best thing of the weekend we had 3 new young guys join our company for the 1st time and loved it. Always a great thing to see and very encouraging after a tough year. Next will be off to Fort Blakeley in two weeks.

I'm Jealous...I have to wait almost three weeks for my first event, yet. And that's only "boot camp." DL farm opener the week after though which I'm super excited about!

 

[captaindrew]

I'm Jealous...I have to wait almost three weeks for my first event, yet. And that's only "boot camp." DL farm opener the week after though which I'm super excited about!

Looking like I'll be at DL Farm after all, a good number of the guys in my New England group want to go now so I think I'm in.

 

[LoisPauline]

I just attended an event in Florida this past weekend.....

If you're talking about Narcoossee I was there and yet again we did not meet. I could not for the life of me remember the unit you were in. For all I know I talked to you or someone with you and didn't even know it.

 

[JeffFromSyracuse]

To be honest, I hate camping with modern gear and equipment. Can't see myself enjoying spending the weekend in a reproduction Sibley and an India Gum blanket.

 

[captaindrew]

If you're talking about Narcoossee I was there and yet again we did not meet. I could not for the life of me remember the unit you were in. For all I know I talked to you or someone with you and didn't even know it.

I thought about that when I got there, should've sent a message ahead of time. I've been going in about 10 different directions lately and just didn't think of it till I got there. We were the last camp having us a big time Saturday night, you probably heard us if you didn't see us.

 

[LoisPauline]

I thought about that when I got there, should've sent a message ahead of time. I've been going in about 10 different directions lately and just didn't think of it till I got there. We were the last camp having us a big time Saturday night, you probably heard us if you didn't see us.

Well, actually my camp came and SAT with your camp Saturday night. We heard you and walked down about 5 of us. So, I saw you but didn't meet you. Holy moly.

 

[captaindrew]

Well, actually my camp came and SAT with your camp Saturday night. We heard you and walked down about 5 of us. So, I saw you but didn't meet you. Holy moly.

Hope you had fun! I'm actually one of the relatively quiet ones but I like to take in the show. I'm terrible with names, were you with I think his name is Klye? I am great with faces though, if that was you I promise I'll say hi the next time I see you. Are you guys going with the Florida bunch going to Gettysburg in a few weeks?

 

[LoisPauline]

Hope you had fun! I'm actually one of the relatively quiet ones but I like to take in the show. I'm terrible with names, were you with I think his name is Klye? I am great with faces though, if that was you I promise I'll say hi the next time I see you. Are you guys going with the Florida bunch going to Gettysburg in a few weeks?

Yep! I was with Kyle. I was the only one who brought a chair. I help the guitar player find his pic.