On the Field…

Call your blows!
How long does it take to get rid of a bad reputation? Let me offer an empirical example: I joined the SCA in 1989. Off the top of my head, I can name five people who were listed to me as "rhino-hides" back then. These five people are still referred to as "rhino-hides". It takes a few bad fights to give you a reputation; it'll take years of ultra-clean fighting to get rid of it.

On Personas...

Is there something wrong with your nose?
If you can't emulate an accent fairly well, don't do it at all. It's embarrassing to the people you're with -- they won't want to listen to you use it, but they also won't want to tell you how stupid you sound. Unless I’m rather inebriated I cannot do a European accent to save my life; I'd sound a lot more like Bart Simpson than Groundskeeper Willie. Remember how much you laughed at Kevin Costner's pitiful attempts in Robin Hood?

Pick a persona.
This is actually a tough issue. You should take some care in picking a name and persona; if you're going to be known as Ephriam ap Modricai, make sure you like the sound of it. On the other hand, it doesn't take long for SCA people to "lock" into your name. My friend Jason does, in fact, have an SCA name -- it's "Gilius Something-French-sounding". Unfortunately, Jason didn't have people start calling him Gilius until a few years into his SCA life. There are a heck of a lot of us who can't help calling him "Gillie"

Don't be a Twinkie.
"Twinkie" was a very popular description when I first joined the Society. It referred to all sorts of things, such as requesting a totally black device, selecting an historical/literary name such as "Charlemagne", or wearing elf ears and vampire fangs to events.

Elves are something you stomp, vampires are something you slay.
Not everyone in the Society is hell-bent on making his or her persona and campsite 100% "period". However, the vast majority of the Society agrees that this is *not* a fantasy faire nor live-action D&D. We are all humans in the Society, despite the fact that some are more evolved than others. We are definitely not vampires, elves, fairies, trolls, or whatever other fantasy crap you come up with. I like D&D and Heroes of Might and Magic, but I play them at home, not at Coronation.

Know the difference between "jerk" and "persona".
 

A common misconception about the middle ages is that everyone had a stuffy, lofty personality. An even more common misconception about the SCA is that being rude will make you appear to have an authentic persona. Fact is, being rude is just a quick way to make you unpopular. Jackasses are indeed period, and they were just as popular then as they are now.

Those feet don't taste good...
Despite the large number of people in the SCA and the vast territory that a single kingdom may cover, you'll find pretty quickly that everyone seems to know everyone else. If you meet the Baroness of Atenveldt and start telling her about this "jerk I met from Tir Ysgithir", you may very well find that said jerk is Her Excellency's best friend. And don't assume that people in one kingdom are totally unknown in others. There are a lot of inter-kingdom events and online discussion groups; friendships abound from miles away.

Don't be afraid to ask.
The fact that you're new doesn't give anyone the right to ignore your blows, usurp your campsite, or order you to serve feast. If you feel you've been wronged or treated poorly, speak to your local officers or someone else quickly. As long as you handle the situation calmly and in a non-accusatory manner, your feelings and dignity are just as important as anyone else's.

Titles aren't just for books.
If someone has a title of "Don", "Sir", "Mistress", "Your Majesty" or the like, they (hopefully) did something to earn it. Nobody should expect you to magically know the titles for everyone you meet. After you've been introduced to a person, however, show some respect by using their title. Many such people will indicate for you to use their given name after becoming acquainted, but until then try to use the title.

Bear in mind the company.
There's a time and place for familiarity, and even your closest friends should be referred to formally on occasion. Don Giacomo is a perfect example. Because we're friends, Don Giacomo doesn't mind me referring to him as "Giacomo". When introducing someone to him, however, I try to use "Don Giacomo". By making use of the title you convey your respect to the third party -- if they have any manners, they'll follow suit.

Spread the word.
As in any other social organization, bad news tends to make the rounds quite a bit faster than good news. Do something really cool -- spread stories about good things you saw, such as the man who helped five others unload their cars, the guy who held up a pavilion corner for an hour until another pole could be found, or the fighter who gave a particularly chivalrous display. Others will start to remember you as the person who enjoys the SCA and is fun to be around.

Needle in a stack of needles.
Virtually everyone in the SCA sews. I'm not kidding; I don't sew, and I think I'm in a 2% minority. The point here is that the vast majority of SCA garb does not consist of store-bought costumes. If you make fun of someone's garb, chances are the designer/seamstress is going to hear about it and be unhappy. On the other hand, if you really want to make someone's day, compliment them on their garb.

Don't give up hope.
You'll find that some of the most impressive artisans/performers/service renderers/etc go entirely unrecognized for years. You'll also find that some people receive awards after exactly one public performance or volunteer stint. Don't sweat it; awards are given on a recommendation basis and decision by the crown or local officials. I.e., you've got to be in the right place at the right time to be noticed, and even that isn't a guarantee. If you truly enjoy doing what you're doing, the act of doing it should be a great deal of reward in itself. Just keep on keepin' on.

You can recommend someone, too.
There's no minimum time of SCA attendance for authorization to recognize someone's contribution. If you see something you find worthy of a A&S award, service award, fighting honor, or simply some public lauding, say so. Kingdom level awards are recommended by letter or verbal mention to Their Majesties; you'll find information in the Southwind on submitting. Recommendations for local awards are handled according to your local group's practices. Just find someone who seems to know what's going on and ask how to make your recommendation.

Everyone loves an appreciative audience.
Want to really make someone happy? Go up to them after a performance, display, service, etc, and tell them how much you appreciated their work. It doesn't matter if this is your first day in the SCA -- the fact that you're appreciative of the other person's contribution will make their weekend worthwhile.

You won't always be the new guy.
One of the hardest things to remember in the SCA is that we're all new at some time. When you've been in for six months, two years, then a decade, keep in mind that other people are just experiencing the Society for the first time. Don't make fun of their garb or their nylon tent. Don't snap at them to hide their Coke can or move their vehicle immediately. Treat them with the same respect you hoped to find when you joined, and help guide them into enjoying the SCA even more. I’ve been pretty fortunate in my time here; gentles the kingdom over have made an incredible difference on my newbie experience. Without friends like these people, the SCA may have just been a fleeting interest.
 
 

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