Will I qualify as a "reenactor"?

[Tailor Pete]

Yep!


I saw someone doing this at one event. I had a moment I'd love to get back too.

You know how sometimes you guys get visitors who ask really puzzling questions. Like, "Is that a real fire?"

We all laugh at those questions, right? Yeah. So what was the first darn thing out of my mouth when I stood there with this period photographer and his camera? Yep, you guessed it.

"Does this really take pictures?"

As soon as it came out of my mouth, I regretted it. I completely forgot myself. He laughed, "DOES THIS TAKE PICTURES?! SHE WANTS TO KNOW IF THIS TAKE PICTURES!!"

Ugh. I apologized. Then I helped him by holding a reflector for a photo as penance.

Classic! Thanks for sharing that moment... think I'm going to start a new thread, "Most Absurd Question / Most Embarrassing Moment - Please Share"

 

[ForeverFree]

What is the minimum effort one can do to qualify as a reenactor? I am a docent at the Michigan History Museum and we are having an open house type event next month. They have assigned me a table and I am to help young visitors try on Union sack coats and packs and such. Originally I insisted that I would not wear a "costume" and would be wearing a modern suit. Well when I had a meeting with the planners this and they asked once again if I would wear a Civil War uniform. I said no but they talked me in to taking home one of their Civil War uniforms. "Just in case you change your mind."

I am still trying to decide if I want to wear it. If I wear it once they will want me to wear it four or five times per year. So just in case I do wear it, would this meet the minimum requirement to say I once did a reenactment? I am not sure 4 or 5 hours in a frock coat, trousers and a cap really can be counted as having reenacted.

I'm also a docent at a museum. I have resisted the suggestion of wearing a uniform, but two of the guys who work for the museum are in military dress all the time, and one of them really enjoys it.

There are 3 separate things:
• reenactor: person in military dress who often performs at reenactments of military events

• living historian: Per Wiki, "Living history is an activity that incorporates historical tools, activities and dress into an interactive presentation that seeks to give observers and participants a sense of stepping back in time. Although it does not necessarily seek to reenact a specific event in history, living history is similar to, and sometimes incorporates, historical reenactment."

• historical interpreter: Per this source,

Costumed Historical Interpretation is a term that is used at Fort Edmonton Park and some other historical sites to refer to what it is the people in historical costume do at these living history museums.

As opposed to popular conceptions of historical "re-enactment", interpreters do not present or represent themselves as carbon copies of past events. They strive towards historical accuracy, but they acknowledge that everything they do is an interpretation of the past. Hence, "interpreter", not "re-enactor".

The terms have different philosophies at their terminological roots, though both may draw from common theories and techniques. The goal of historical interpretation is to educate the visitor about a certain time period and its people in ways that can't be achieved through books or traditional static museum displays.
​

A person can be a historical interpreter without wearing a costume. I define myself as a historical interpreter. I almost never wear period dress, although I have once or twice or thrice.

I see you as being a Costumed Historical Interpreter, if you wear the period dress, and not a reenactor.

- Alan

 

[captaindrew]

Major Bill...

I must warn you away from doing something so misguided and dangerous as wearing a period uniform for an historical presentation. Once you do so, it won't be long before you crave the feel of thick wool against your skin, long for the struggle of unbuttoning your trowsers when going about your natural duties, and desire the thrill of marching about in stiff, unshapen leather booties.

After a bit, you will find yourself 'marching' about your daily routine with fife and drum cadence trilling about in your head. There will be an unexplainable draw to antique shops and high-end fabric stores. Hours will be spent on cyber shopping trips to CW sutlers. You might even find yourself spending even MORE time on CivilWarTalk!

Then there is the unbridled excitement which only manifests itself in the aromatic presence of leather, black powder and gun oil. The hours planning trips into the wilderness to sleep in primitive conditions, eat minimal rations, and bond with men (and women) who, like you, smell of unwashed goat. Yet once you get home, you will refuse to wash that uniform in the belief that that smell holds some kind of magical quality. A quality which can carry you back into history again and again and again...

No sir, please resist the temptation. Few are capable of rejecting the charms and riches that befall those of us that have unwittingly embarked upon this journey. Reenacting is but a Siren calling from the rocky jumble of living history. Many are drawn to her beautiful music but scant few ever leave.

Don't number yourself among the stranded hulks like me that have ventured too close to the rocks. I have become ensnared, hopelessly entangled in the 1860's, and 1850's, and 1870's, and 1920's and... well, most all of it. It is but a web that, as you wrap yourself comfortably in one era strand, others adhere.

Hopefully I have helped clear this up for you, and soon expect to see you on the firing line at a future reenactment. I'm a founding member of Company H, 8th Missouri Infantry and Company D, 39th North Carolina. You are welcome to fall in with us any time you're in Arizona!

Love it! One of the best posts ever, need to write this down and hand it to new recruits.

 

[captaindrew]

Bill, if you'd like to do it I wouldn't worry about what you'd call yourself or be classified as. If you do a good presentation people won't care how old you are or what you look like. They will be interested in the uniform and gear. In the goal of teaching somebody something I say give it a try, might be pretty rewarding.

 

[unicornforge]

Perhaps another option that might be more appealing to you is to dress as a period civilian. That way you can blend into the program without reenacting, just be someone helping the kids try on uniform equipment without trying to be something that you are not comfortable with.

As a side note, when someone asks me if I am reenacting a blacksmith, my answer is "no I am a blacksmith. Is there something that you wish made or repaired."

 

[major bill]

I have slept rapped in a poncho in heavy rain. I have slept in tents at bellow zero. I have carried heavy packs. I have did plenty of marching. I have gone without eating for days and without sleeping for days.

I have went without a shower for well over a month and went without setting foot in a building for a couple months. I have suffered through the beginning stages of hypothermia and passed out from heat exhaustion.

So a couple of points. 1. It was not nearly as much fun as some here think it would be. 2. When given the option of sleeping in the woods at 10 below zero in a sleeping bag and poncho or sleeping in a tent, sorry I chose the tent. 3. The bottom line being I was paid to do these things and if I had to pay to be allowed to do them I doubt I would have paid a cent.

 

[Tailor Pete]

I have slept rapped in a poncho in heavy rain. I have slept in tents at bellow zero. I have carried heavy packs. I have did plenty of marching. I have gone without eating for days and without sleeping for days.

I have went without a shower for well over a month and went without setting foot in a building for a couple months. I have suffered through the beginning stages of hypothermia and passed out from heat exhaustion.

So a couple of points. 1. It was not nearly as much fun as some here think it would be. 2. When given the option of sleeping in the woods at 10 below zero in a sleeping bag and poncho or sleeping in a tent, sorry I chose the tent. 3. The bottom line being I was paid to do these things and if I had to pay to be allowed to do them I doubt I would have paid a cent.

Thank you for your service!

 

[Tailor Pete]

Love it! One of the best posts ever, need to write this down and hand it to new recruits.

Not a bad idea... I might do the exact same thing. Both a warning AND a description of fun! Feel free to use it any way you like.

 

[Yankeedave]

Hey Sir! They want you there and they want you comfortable. And Thank You for your service.

 

[7thWisconsin]

You already know what the suffering of soldering is like; you can speak to that already. The gear changes, but people are the same. I would call you a historical interpreter, but I don't really see what is to be gained by you suiting up. Unless you're primarily in a period building, or demonstrating period skills, or leading activities like drilling a class of school kids, I don't think being costumed in period gear is needed. I'm a reenactor, been a reenactor for over 40 years. I have been blessed with good health, and look about 20 years younger than I am. I also run half marathons because staying fit is part of the hobby for me. My avatar is my picture. Anyway, I wouldn't be offended if you were dressed in period fashion, but I don't really see the benefit.

 

[ForeverFree]

I have slept rapped in a poncho in heavy rain. I have slept in tents at bellow zero. I have carried heavy packs. I have did plenty of marching. I have gone without eating for days and without sleeping for days.

I have went without a shower for well over a month and went without setting foot in a building for a couple months. I have suffered through the beginning stages of hypothermia and passed out from heat exhaustion.

So a couple of points. 1. It was not nearly as much fun as some here think it would be. 2. When given the option of sleeping in the woods at 10 below zero in a sleeping bag and poncho or sleeping in a tent, sorry I chose the tent. 3. The bottom line being I was paid to do these things and if I had to pay to be allowed to do them I doubt I would have paid a cent.

It seems you can provide some real value by telling people what it was like to be soldier in the field. You don't need period dress to do that. But then again, some people do think that the period dress adds some pizzazz to the presentation. In the end, it's about what makes you comfortable.

- Alan

 

[major bill]

I would have just as soon have worn 1960s style clothing. At least I once wore 1960s clothing. Besides bellbottoms, tiedyed t-shirt, rainbow glasses, and a peace symbol medallion would be less itchy than wearing a wool uniform.

However, if I am having young visitors try on Civil War sack coats, a hippy outfit might look odd.

 

[Irishtom29]

Most docents wear or perhaps modern clothing. I do not think if I wear a Civil War uniform one day and a 1835 farm outfit the next day and then a 1960 hippy outfit the next day, that I can pull off any of the parts. I am now in my 60s and way way to old to be any of the above.

Until recently I was a volunteer with the NPS at the Castillo de San Marcos, the Spanish fort in St. Augustine. I volunteered because I'm interested in old fortifications, especially Italian trace and polygonal forts. I wore modern clothing and talked to visitors about the nature and features of the fortifications and the history of the fort and of the Spanish in Florida.

Several times I was asked to take part in the living history program there and declined. I'm not interested in shooting cannons and muskets, shouting orders in Spanish and dressing like a Spanish soldier and said so. After a couple of refusals I was no longer asked. Listen, you're a volunteer—do what suits you and avoid doing things you don't want to do. Doing things you don't want to do is called work, and that merits pay.

 

[diane]

My vote would be to do what you're comfortable with, but if you could it would be nice to go ahead with the uniform as the people would enjoy it.

I do things like that for events and occasions, but in my case I don't fit any of the categories that have been listed. I represent a living culture with an on-going history, I suppose. When someone has asked me to wear a 'Native costume' I say I'll be happy to wear my regalia except for the sacred items and that gives an opportunity to explain what I'm wearing - everything is worn for a specific reason and has a specific meaning, sometimes tribal, sometimes personal. (Which is why one doesn't touch an Indian in 'costume'!)

 

[LoriAnn]

bellbottoms, tiedyed t-shirt, rainbow glasses, and a peace symbol medallion

Did you really wear that in the 60s? If so, is there a photo?

 

[major bill]

Did you really wear that in the 60s? If so, is there a photo?

All at once? I would have to say yes I have worn all these and probably more. Fringed suede vest, hippy sandals, head bands, and I am sure the list could go on.

 

[LoriAnn]

All at once? I would have to say yes I have worn all these and probably more. Fringed suede vest, hippy sandals, head bands, and I am sure the list could go on.

*starts banging on the table and chanting* PICTURES! PICTURES!

You could post one in our forum photo thread.

 

[major bill]

I did not get my mother's photo album and not sure how many photos I would have from that era. I do think my wife has my old fringed suede hippy vest somewhere in the attic. How about open chested disco shirt and platform disco shoes?

 

[LoriAnn]

I did not get my mother's photo album and not sure how many photos I would have from that era. I do think my wife has my old fringed suede hippy vest somewhere in the attic. How about open chested disco shirt and platform disco shoes?

Perfect.

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

Thanks for explaining what your particular job as a docent is!
But, in reference to your original question as to whether or not you are a "reeenactor"
I am confused......Do you WANT to be a reenactor, OR are you insulted if you are classified as a reenactor?