Economics: Experiences vs Material developement.

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I am often faced with the choice of going to an event or investing in books and kit and have been for years as I am sure most people who have limited budgets do. Which puts forward the question, which ends up having more value the experiences had at an event or the building up of material things for events. Is the truly great event worth more then doing say 4 small events every year but more local with more of your own stuff.

I am faced with this, one week that will more then blow my budget for books and equiptment just to afford to attend what will likely be a great event, or to take that money and instead invest it in starting a local/regional group or and doing things more local or perhaps getting more kit to do other things.

Why have people chosen which in the past and why and do you feel you made the right decisions.

For example if you did ACW traveling across the country for the largest Gettysburg vs investing in stuff that would improve things locally, or in the SCA going to one of the major week long wars vs improving your kit or whatever it is that you do. How do you feel the great experience weighs against a improving long series of much more modest ones.

[knitebee]

personally I gain far more of my enjoyment in sharing what I have (shortfallings included) with others than in having those things, so I have to go with Experience over Material. Then again there has been more than once where I've only ate one meager meal a day so I could do both.

Brian

[chef de chambre]

It can be a tough balancing act. More than once in recent years, I have kept it local, and worked on the group, but that is due to more issues than just economics (that plays a big role as well), and largely based around the insurance difficulties.

If I were in a situation, where I could do one or the other, and there was something about my kit that I just couldn't stand anymore (and I mean, really could not stand), I would fix the kit, and forgo the event.

HOWEVER, reenactment/living history, is sort of like being a part of a congregation, and if you do not feed your soul through fellowship with fellow reenactors, your interests will suffer. So if you really need to be revitalized, pick the cool event over the piece of kit.

[Jehan de Pelham]

I'll have to think on this...I may have no experience dealing with the issues you relate.

John
Jehan de Pelham, ecuyer and servant of Sir Vitus
www.mron.org

[Jeff J]

Given that it's you, Peder, the question is whether to be mildly disappointed with smaller events that you don't expect much from, or an event for which you have massive expectations which will likely result in massive disappointment.

Seriously, though: you can buy stuff later. Missed experiences are hard to recover.

Take lots of pictures.

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Given that it's you, Peder, the question is whether to be mildly disappointed with smaller events that you don't expect much from, or an event for which you have massive expectations which will likely result in massive disappointment.

You know I try and try to reduce my expectations and I do and then someone comes along and impresses me with their ability to undercut them in a way I never expected.

[Alcyoneus]

If the book is on the shelf, and you can afford it, buy it. You may never find it, or remember enough about it to find it again. I've done that before. And probably will again.

It is also good to go and smell the roses, even if they aren't world reknowned roses that bards will sing about for a thousand years.

Get out and have some fun, enjoy it for what it is.

[Angusm0628]

One can never capture or hold a memory if they never experienced it. Books can be found, items can be bought. Those are material items and as such will be around for a long time
The time spent with friends sharing a particular experience whether it's an event, a hunting or fishing trip, or just a weekend together.. You can't buy them ever, they can only be shared by presence..

[Derian le Breton]

An hour learning from an experienced person can do more than a dozen with a book.

-Donasian.

[Alan]

Consider the event an investment on where to go with books and your kit. There will likely be several "living" books there, and as noted, a book or kit is a material thing that you can pick up at will (or as finances allow), but this type of event that I think you're talking about, are few and far between.

For example, I missed Crossroads last year. Some of it was scheduling, but more was I didn't think I had my kit to where I wanted it to be overall. Soft kit was good to go, but the harness not up to speed. So I didn't go, and I still regret that. I plan on being at Crossroads this time, because I hate regretting things!

Just my 2 cents worth on this topic. And like most folks on this list, I LOVE books!

Alan

[AaronCarter]

All the materials in the world will be for nothing if you dont alow your friends a chance to be jealous of you

[Gobae]

Our group regularly passed up opportunities to go to local events until we were pleased with our level of equipment.

For us not having a majority of correct equipment really ruined the immersion experience we were seeking. Additionally, the lack of social, intra-group contact helped give us time and space to decide what WE wanted our group to become.

Now when we go to events we have enough confidence that we can LEARN from the other groups without having the temptation to just copy them outright.

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Our group regularly passed up opportunities to go to local events until we were pleased with our level of equipment.

I think if I had a group much more locally that I would have less of a question. The people I've been close to re-enactment wise have always been basically too spread out to successfully make a group even as the distances have gotten smaller success hasn't gone up much. I haven't seriously tried to put together a group based in Texas since I stopped doing 13th century and took up 15th for a variety of reasons.

[earnest carruthers]

Jeff

"Seriously, though: you can buy stuff later. Missed experiences are hard to recover. "

Spot on.

After all this is a social activity, moreover of the event is of a scale that you normally would not be doing then the event, the people, the collected sense of participation is the most important thig, books can be got of Amazon, a big meeting with loads of friends you never knew you had is not off the shelf.

I cite Hastings 2006 as an example, if you were not there you really missed something special.

[earnest carruthers]

oops

[Fire Stryker]

...books can be got of Amazon, a big meeting with loads of friends you never knew you had is not off the shelf.

Depends on the rarity of the book. Ask me about Duarte and THE artillery of the dukes of burgundy (not the current English language release - which isn't complete- but the French one).

I like to spend time with friends regardless of venue. So, if the book is available and easy to find, skip it and go to an event...it'll still be waiting for you.

[earnest carruthers]

"Depends on the rarity of the book. Ask me about Duarte and THE artillery of the dukes of burgundy (not the current English language release - which isn't complete- but the French one)."

or the strasbourg manuscript or a list of rare and desired tomes

Nothing beats the time spent with mates of a like mind, even if their ideas of kit might not match ones own.

[Jehan de Pelham]

After having thought about it, I don't really have the experience to answer your question, Brent. I've always done both. I haven't had such a cut and dried choice laid afore me.

However, traditionally I always was on the side of more prep, less play even when I was more heavily involved with the SCA. These days, because of the deployments, I do one event a year, Crossroads, and I load it up with all the extras. It's a year of prep, and this year, nine days of play. I suppose it could be thought of as four or five weekend events--really good ones relative to what's available. I'd like to do three--one in the Fall, one in the Summer, and one in the Spring--eventually.

In your case, I don't know what the best course of action is. For my part, I would do the event, take photos, put what I have in the best light, and use the passion, photos, and accounts gained from the event to recruit others. Why? Because ultimately, this pastime is about execution.

The other stuff will suss out, I think.

John
Jehan de Pelham, ecuyer and servant of Sir Vitus
www.mron.org

[Karen Larsdatter]

Which puts forward the question, which ends up having more value the experiences had at an event or the building up of material things for events. Is the truly great event worth more then doing say 4 small events every year but more local with more of your own stuff.

I am faced with this, one week that will more then blow my budget for books and equiptment just to afford to attend what will likely be a great event, or to take that money and instead invest it in starting a local/regional group or and doing things more local or perhaps getting more kit to do other things.

Why have people chosen which in the past and why and do you feel you made the right decisions.

Books can be borrowed. There are these big, mystical places called "libraries." Many of them will not charge a cover fee for the experience of having your head filled with knowledge and ideas, some of which will help color your perceptions about the historical background of the sort of role you intend to portray at an event, and some of which will help you understand what sort of items (clothing, goods, storage, furniture, shelter, etc.) would be appropriate for your context.

Between family, work, and school (not to mention housework and all that) I just don't have much time for events, lately. Most of the social outings I've had, recently, are when the Mini-He & I tag along with Gruff when he goes to a practice or an armoring workshop. We occasionally talk about going to the bigger events, but just end up going to a handful of locallish events per year.

But, keep in mind, location is a big factor in this. We have the option of going to one or two events within a reasonable driving distance, because that's just the way the DC area is. We've got plenty to choose from, it's just a factor of choosing, getting everything together, getting my classwork done in advance, and going.

But I s'pose I'm that way with my 18th century hobbies, too; I haven't been to an event at all since I was pregnant, never have gone to the bigger regional events -- just a few of the special Market Fair events for the local site that I work with.

But, obviously, I invest most of my SCA time (when I can find a spot of free time) doing research ... the kind that I don't pay any money to actually do.

[Fire Stryker]

Books can be borrowed. There are these big, mystical places called "libraries."

Ah yes, very much aware of these large mystical places. I recently rescued a book from a library that was selling a book on the artifacts of the Prague exhibition which had a very useful article for some project I'm working on...and it has lots of other cool stuff too. Got it for a song. I have borrowed what I could not readily obtain. However, I prefer not to make copies and then have to give books back. I like the tactile pleasure of books. I loath reading them on screen, for me the printed word isn't dead. I suffer, but do not enjoy, loose or even binder bound stacks of paper.

Oh and did I mention, I don't have to give them back.

Experience vs. Material

I think for me it's actually a balance. I like to make a good impression of what I'm supposed to be portraying and am not satisfied yet, but it doesn't normally stop me from participating and enjoying the company of people (most of the time) and I like cool objects that fit with what i'm doing.