Collegium this last weekend

[madbaker]

It sounded like the event went well - fewer people than I would have liked to see, but well for all that. There were classes I would have attended. But instead, I spent all day in the kitchen helping ldyanna prepare a lunch sideboard and the dinner feast. I enjoyed myself, though.

She has her summary here, to which I will add that the jellies were far more popular than I expected and the layered orange jellies in particular were stunning. It was a very good feast and quite different in feel from the usual.

I had an idea for starting a list of "things to bring to a feast kitchen" (beyond the usual knives and cutting board) but I've forgotten them all. Sigh.

Also a lovely late breakfast Sunday with ldyanna's family and allergicone, who it turns out went to the same consortium of undergrad schools that I did while I was there. She wasn't involved in the SCA then, but knew several people who were. We had some good reminisces, I think somewhat to the bemusement of the soon-to-be-going-off-to-college daughter present.

Still feeling a bit tired today; I'd have called in sick to decompress and help straighten the house, but my backup is still in Spain for another week.

Comments

[goldenstag.livejournal.com]

The "zebra oranges" were definitely spectacular looking (and tasty). It was good food ...

[loup_noir]

FWIW, Cynaguan Collegia were always less attended than Mists' versions. I would suggest for next time, that you try to combine the event with another event, preferably a fighting one.

Where and when is the fall Collegium?

[madbaker.livejournal.com]

I don't know - ask the Chancellor.
I understand what you're saying about combining it with a fighting event for attendance, but every other SCA event is a fighting event.

[loup_noir]

Whatever. I just thought I'd express my eleven years or so worth of experience. Obviously, you and yours are much more in the current thick of things.

[goldenstag.livejournal.com]

I think this is a general backlash against the fact that "in order for it to be a 'real event' it must have fighting ..." aspect. Unfortunately, I fear, it's an irrational backlash (sorry, madbaker, et al ...) -- the reality is, if there's no fighting, some folk just won't attend the event (except, oh, 12th Night and Investitures, and these days they're doing late night fighting at some of those, or they're holding a champion's list, or ...).

[seamoose.livejournal.com]

For what it's worth, and frankly I don't care if it is worth anything at all, Collegium should NOT have fighting. Theory, history, armor making are all fine, but my opinion is NO FIGHTING.

[goldenstag.livejournal.com]

I happen to agree that I don't think fighting should be part of Collegium, but if that's the only way you're going to get the fighters to show up ... I mean, reality is what it is.

[seamoose.livejournal.com]

Then screw the fighters. If they don't care enough to try, do we really want them in our game?

[goldenstag.livejournal.com]

Like it or not, fighters are a major part of the SCA ...

[madbaker.livejournal.com]

I don't think there's anything irrational about wanting to have one event where the main focus is not on fighting.

[goldenstag.livejournal.com]

The main focus of collegium does not have to be on fighting, but I see an irrational backlash here ... if you want a larger attendance at the event, you have to have fighting at it -- otherwise you won't have those people attending. There are people who just won't go otherwise. Whether it's actual fighting classes, or whether it's classes that discuss fighting techniques ...

That said, the main focus of the event does not need to be about fighting. However, I am seeing a catch-22 situation. You want more people, but if you don't include fighting stuff, you won't get them, but then you complain that there aren't enough people ...

[madbaker.livejournal.com]

There was "fighting stuff", like Antonio's class on Castiglione for fighters. There just wasn't any P.E.

[goldenstag.livejournal.com]

Of the attendees of the class, how many of them were heavy fighters? (I know, you were in the kitchen, this is more of a rhetorical question, particularly since the number of heavy fighters at the event was rather low in the first place.)

I honestly see no reason why "PE" is a problem at Collegia. If it will get the people there, some of them may attend, say, two class sessions of "PE" and then attend some other non-fighting classes ... but you have to get them there.

My concern is the backlash part of it. seamoose statement of "do we really want them in our game?" is, IMO rather harsh. Rather than taking the negative approach, why not a positive one? Why not try to encourage (it might require working with the royalty, but still ...) the heavies to attend? Try the tack of "a Knight should know ...", for example.

[madbaker.livejournal.com]

I have no problems with the encouragement approach. Personally, I've taken "pike battle tactics of the 15th century" - or whatever - because while I don't fight I find it interesting to have some passing knowledge outside my main interests. I wish more people felt that way; there might be more volunteers and overlap.

The "backlash", as you call it, stems somewhat from a feeling that fighting already takes over nearly every other event. Those of us who don't fight already feel like "they don't want us in their game" when 99% of the focus is on fighting. Is it too much to ask that the remaining 1% stay that way?

I'm exaggerating for effect, but the sense is there.

[goldenstag.livejournal.com]

I do understand the point, but I also think that the attitude and backlash that I'm seeing is going the opposite direction perhaps a bit too far. Rather than reacting in a negative way to a problem, or even perhaps a perceived problem, work with the fighter community, make it a positive reaction, and you might see things work. If that means having one or two "PE" classes at Collegium, what is the harm? Make them very focused classes, ones aimed at some very specific technique, and only allow one or two in the whole event. That would encourage them to come for something they can learn that they KNOW they'll be interested, and then some of them will (hopefully) stay and go to other classes as well.

[seamoose.livejournal.com]

Yes, my comment was a little harsh, but I am sick and tired of stickjocks. And by that I mean those who have a focus only on fighting. Granted, the majority of our more visible fighters seem to come from those ranks, but are they the ones that we enjoy being around? Or do we prefer the ones that have other interests, are more into the off the field stuff. Even if their other interests are still fighting related, they are still doing more than just going out and beating people into submission.

[goldenstag.livejournal.com]

There is always going to be some of this, and I don't think it can be avoided. However, I also think that rather than just saying "screw you all" or even more so "screw you and anyone who looks like you!", we should be trying to encourage them to do something other than fighting, to discover other aspects of the SCA ... some of them will eventually migrate in that direction, but not all. However, if Collegia give them a way to do so, so much the better.

Of course, it would have helped to have more royalty support for Collegium, this time. Her Majesty was in An Tir, and who knows where His Majesty was ... and of course The Prince of the Mists was pushing the demo this weekend rather than Collegium (d'oh).

[otherwind.livejournal.com]

So good to find you on lj and I must say--SCA is a small world--I see you have ornerie on your flist--she is a dear friend of mine (I was her seneschal and tiring woman when she was baroness) and you and I run in the same circles with mad_duchess (although I only know her on LJ).

It will be great to know what you are up to!

--Ariel