by Sir Anastasia » Mon Jun 03, 2013 5:21 pm
This has been an issue for my group or groups around me for all of my 12 years in the sport. We have consistently found garb can be a deterrent when strongly enforced at practices and it has caused me or groups in our area not less than 3 major "die offs" where a realm has lost at least 50% of the persons in it due to enforcement, which is why it is probably a good idea to ask the boards for help with this. Factors that contribute to this issue seem to be: age of participants (high school and college), financial obligation, accessibility, and some sort of social stigma. I have never been able to devise a way to have enforcement without loosing a substantial population of casual fighters. I have long deemed this prospect unacceptable and have instead chosen to emphasize quality events over practice. I recognize the controversy, but have made my choice to actively court this population to give my fighters "someone else" to fight, keep large practices, and to train and gradually convert the casual fighter into die-hard Belgrim. The policy has paid off immensely for me in my region. I consistently field the largest numbers of garbed fighters at my own events, other California events, and also fair numbers at Chaos Wars. What we do, we do for our particulars - each group finds its own balance for its goals and demographics.
But what do we do to get better garb on the field?
We emphasize quality over minimum garb and make sure all participants at events have garb. People seem to be cool with the idea of getting to wear garb at events. Once you can get new people to an event, garb concerns largely go away. They see the atmosphere and they get it. They want to improve their kits. Sadly, not all people will feel this way. It has always been this way. There will always be these people - they are here to swing stick, and that's it. I'm married to one, some are my friends, other realms have them, and dealing with this minority's lack of enthusiasm is not, nor should it be, a priority concern for our organization.
I care passionately about this issue despite my controversial approach, and I work year after year to improve the cultural aspects of our organization, especially garb. Here's what we do:
*Give considerable rewards to grab/armor makers at events (Leather stamp sets, leather, fabric, ect)
*Give good garb to best newcomers at events
*Give great garb (via vendor certificates) as prizes for tournies and service at events
*Entice newcomers to attend events by providing them loaner garb
*Show them how fantastic it is when we all look amazing together at a huge event (Inspiration!!)
*Annually do a "garb give away": armor bits, scrap fabric, donated materials, thrift shop finds
*Give fighters that get their own garb in a timely manner a free sword
*Give fighters that get their own weapons in a timely manner free garb
*Have garb making parties where we teach sewing and help people get basic garb for small fees
*Get vendors or swap-meeters to events so that garb is available for purchase or trade at events
*Represent with Pimptastic kits - My own wardrobe is easily 2k+ of garb, armor, and jewelry
*Give mad respect publicly, privately, and dish out those compliments to awesome garbed individuals
*Recommend that all fighters have a cultural project for our two major events: BftR and Chaos Wars
*Be involved with theater or student film projects that necessitate garb - get it to "be a star!"
*Promote Cosplay or theater to get more garb makers involved with the community
*Promote online local vendors, preferred vendors, etsy, as inspirational pieces (Marketing via FB or MB)
Be patient - Great empires aren't built in a day
Cofounder and Marshal of Andúril
Cofounder Battle for the Ring
Order of the Shining Tower
Order of the Western Flame
See you at Battle for the Ring in January
www.battleforthering.com