Rondy and shoot attendance!

[Canute Rex]

I don't have a beef with authenticity. I used to be a thread counting reenactor in a recreated British regiment, and we worked hard to get it right. (We also fell all over ourselves trying to help newcomers.) In fact, aside from that one baggie I mentioned I was in pretty good shape, if a bit patched looking.

What bugged me was the lack of a level playing field. If they had published the rules ("You will be judged on authenticity from head to toe and inside your bags, with X points deducted for each post 1812 item.") I would have been fine with it. If they had said beforehand, "You will want to bring a throwaway hawk handle for shooting at" I would have brought one and shot at it with an easy mind. Even "You will be shooting at a number of tiny objects at close range" would have been good. But no. It was "Gotcha! Hahahaha!" That got old fast. The philosophy seemed to be, "Show up, hand over your money, be our butt for a joke, and watch us insiders win."

Oh well. I'll give my money and support to the biathlon people.

[LynnC]

Cal 45
Your my kinda neighbor.

Your welcome in Mississippi where we are still Free.................

[Jim Thomas]

Are the scorers using feather pens?      

I think the biggest reason for the drop off in particiption  is the lack of recrutment.    I'm amazed at how many local people don't know our club exists or what we do.   The local paper did a story on us and now when people realize I'm a member I find myself being asked so many questions.  There is interest out there.   But,  I sense a reluctance by the public to investigate.  

Soooooo.......I've decided  to set up camp at  various area community events and  put a freindly face on it.    Hopefully encourge people to visit our rondy/monthly shoots... and/or join.    It'll give me and my grandaughter something to do together.    

[Candle Snuffer]

Always a good idea Jim to have your club seen in the public eye.  We usually enter a float in our 4th of July parade to help get the word out.  Also, living in a small town our local newspaper is more then happy to report the shoot results, as well as listing the shoot schedule for a particular month.

Here's the kicker.  It helps to get folks interested and asking questions, but as yet  has not helped to put any new faces on the firing line?  We run a fairly easy program compared to other clubs IMHO. 

We don't require that folks dress up for the monthly shoots, just come as you are.  Really the only rules we put on our matches is; safety first, then the requirements that the muzzleloading firearm must be of traditional style sidelock (flint or cap lock), and we only shoot the patched round ball using either real black powder or an approved black powder substitute such as Pyrodex.  Rifles can have either fixed or adjustable open iron sights.

I'm not sure if the lack of folks willing to come out and take part are not doing so because they see some of us dressed in our buckskinning outfits during the 4th of July Parade and we may have sent the wrong message?

Our monthly shoots are not Rendezvous related, but rather geared towards the enjoyment of shooting our traditional style muzzleloading firearms.  We save the dress up for our Annual Rendezvous.

Also I might add that our little community only has a population of 1100 folks, so perhaps the 6 - 12 shooters we get off and on (it veries) over our scheduled shooting season is not really that bad?

The closest town to us is Chadron, NE that has a population of around 5000.  It's 25 miles east of us.  So we're pretty rural out here.

[Randy Hedden]

Well, I don't know where y'all attend these off the wall events. I have only encountered one or two events like that in this area, in nearly 30 years of rendezvousing and reenacting.

The only events I have attended with any rules about anyone's camp and clothing are the juried events that require preregistration. Otherwise,  rodys, in this area, are pretty lax on who and what is allowed. Most even allow street clothes, with an additional coupla bucks at registration.

There are a coupla survival walks, hosted in the area, with no written rules. Even the experienced competitors don't know what they will encounter on the course.  Nor do they tip off the competition as to what they will face, on the trail. Don't wanna give the competition an advantage, now do we?

From my experience, anyone attending a survival walk can expect a scorer to look for non-period gear. That's just the way it is. IMHO, deducting points for non-period gear encourages those folks to improve their gear.

It's like anything else, ya gotta learn the ins and outs of any sport. Did you quit playing softball or soccer the first time you played and didn't do well, or do you learn the rules and plays? Same thing with primitive events. The longer you stick around to learn how those things go,  the more fun you have.

If it was easy, after all, everyone would do it.  

IMHO, too many folks read the posts of those who don't want to learn or often don't even try to do any research. Those folks label anyone who does try to do it right an authentinazi or thread counter in an attempt to salvage their own self-esteem when faced with someone who displays higher personal expectations to authenticity. The result is that those complainers with low self-esteem run off many who have never attended an event, simply because of their ignorance.

While there are a few, and in my experience, very, very few who might disparage an newb, a vast majority of reenactors are very considerate of beginners, while at the same time gun shy of helping that beginner for fear of being labeled an authentinazi.

In my experience, most folks who ask for "advice" about their gear and clothing don't really want an honest critique.  Conversely, they seem to want everyone to oooh and ahh over their poorly chosen collection of mismatched clothing and gear.
Their response when the "advise" they ask for doesn't match their perception of their level of authenticity is an expression of anger at the "thread counters".

My advise is to go and have fun and not worry about the elusive "thread counters"...and don't ask for a critique of your clothing and gear if you really don't want an honest answer.

God bless

Thanks JD,

You have written everything that I wanted to write, but just didn't take the time to do it. 

Randy Hedden

[Colonial Riflesmith]

Hi Alexsnr,
I have been a member of the Jefferson Co. Longrifles for 11 years now. What I have seen drop off there has been the venders. I wasn't there this year 'cause I'm in Afghanistan. I'll be at the Oct. shoot though. Ron is still always there with his rifles, but no other regular venders. No big tent venders like we used to have. How was it this year? Lookin' forward to seein' ya there.

[Colonial Riflesmith]

Hi Canute, I only go to two rondys. One is an F&I and the other is in Brookville, Pa. Both are in NW Pa. I've never been treated like that, even when I was a newbie. If that guy would have talked to me that way, I would have ''''''BUTT STROKED HIS A**'''''' and left. At the Jefferson Co. Longrifles, they don't count threads, and everyone is given a fair shake. I've even gone in street clothes to the shoots with no problem. They do give extra points for dress, and extra points for flint verses cap, but you know that in advance. The old timers do have there clicks, but NW. Pa. is a very clanish area anyways. Point is, you pay and you get to play. If you're close enough, cone join us. Contact is Conrad at Brookville Lumber Co. 814-849-7346. Newbies are always welcome, as are there families. This is a family affair.

Tell you a quick rondy horror story. I went to a rondy once a few years back. Had the wife and kids with me. Some 400lb fat guy came around drunk with a whisky bottle in one hand and nothing but a loin cloth around his a**. There was a lot hanging out there. I complained to the organizers. They replied that that is period dress, and he is allowed to wear that stuff. We packed up and left on the spot. It's this type of behavior that drives people away, and is why attendance is dropping. I like to make it a family thing. Not if my family has to see $#@* like that. Usually, behavior like that is an exception. Most clubs are family oriented, and stess that fact. 

[Jim Thomas]

I've found that public perception leans toward rondys not being family oriented.    But, I have yet to see anyone visit ours (Whispering Pines) and not be impressed.  I believe there is a gap that needs to be closed.     Meeting the public at area community events with an informational setup including a visual display, shoot shedule ect.  at the moment seems the best way to accomplish.     

The Lewisburg show and locals being familiar with the Country Cupboard  is something else I've thought about promoting at the same time.   

Newbies have to enter the sport somewhere and that should be the purpose of local clubs... including their rondys.   This is where they come to learn, improve and be made welcome.   The first step is the longest.   I know for myself it was.    Not knowing anyone......just walking in and hoping to be accepted.    By being approachable and offering to be someone to make that step with, hopefully will improve on shooter numbers and the sports businesses.       

           

[leadslinger62]

   Have been a member of Jefferson County for a number of years. I have my youngest Son shooting and the Missus will shoot..sometimes! My Uncle got me into the Sport many many years ago. While shooting there,  I have never been told about the accuracy of our period outfits although they probably not.  Fair bunch of guys and always had a good time there.
    This past Labor Day, we shot with an older Fellow in His late seventies,  in the Woods Walk at Samples Border Rangers . If you have ever shot there it is a very Rocky but fun course. As we stumbled along my Wife asked Him if He was o.k. He never complained . He made the statement that all he wanted to do is feel His Rifle, a beautiful Yeager He built Himself, go off on His shoulder. To me, this sums it up......

[powderman]

I just attended a really nice Rendezvous near Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino Mtns of Southern California.
About 80-100 miles from LA area and me. 6500' elevation. Beautiful.
I didn't shoot but just went for the day to enjoy the sights. Guess at maybe 50-75 tents and 20-30 people selling stuff. Lots of tin teepees too.
Even though I'm not a member of their club (or any club), I made copies of the announcement and posted it at several gun stores in my area.
Maybe doing such as this by all will bring new people and families.
Somehow non connected people need to know about these things.
I saw several non-shooter "civilains" taking part at the "$1 per shot with our rifle" table. One kid (with his mother) shooting a rifle 6 inches taller than he was. I wish I had a picture as he held the rifle and the new "official mountainman certificate" he was just awarded. Loved it.