I'm on a SEVERE budget. I like historical reenacting. I'm with the SCA for the promise of heavy fighting eventually, AND relaxed standards that I can achieve with little $ and little time. My standard can raise with more $ and more time, and still stay with the SCA.....

That having been said, HOW do you do historical re-enacting on a SEVERE budget? I've only been able to do two cases (and both when I was single....my wife likes NEITHER of these):

1. Leper. Get cotton cloth of period design (cheap!). Make big robe with hood. Put backpack under robe (to make the "hunchback", and store your mudane gear and food). Cover face and hands and feet with flour....wear old sandles on your feet (or wrap up your shoes in "rags"). Get a big "walking staff" and shamble through a Ren-Faire. Great fun, trust me. You just need to be a really actor and comedian. I always draged my leg behind me like it was dead.

My wife doesn't like the idea of going as a family of lepers. For some reason she doesn't see it as a romantic concept...even when I tell leper jokes....

"What did the leper say to the prostitute?"

"Keep the tip!!"

2. Monk. Similiar concept to the leper, but substitue big cross for staff, no flour, and no jokes (except for my occasional comment to a "pretty young thing" that her confession could be heard somewhere comfortable....I was 19 yrs old and full of....need (for lack of a more descriptive, or rude word).) It was fun going through the "maze" in the Ren Faire with a four foot tall cross in front of me. My hood covered my eyes and nose (but it was burlap, and I could see through it). Every time we would round a corner, I would put the cross out in front of me and say "Repent, sinners!!" Scared some kids that way. They loved it (and asked how I could see them with my face covered).

Monks don't have kids or wives (publicly....except before 1100 AD or so). My wife doesn't like that one either.

Any suggestions?

Any STORIES?!? I love stories.

I'm mostly trying to get some discussion on inexpensive ways to re-enactment.....

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-Aaron Miaullis, SCAer with Authenticity Leanings (yes, it's not an oxymoron... :)maybe...)

One of our guys outfitted himself, his wife and their 3 kids in several changes of RedCo. approved clothing each for $150. $30 per person- that's pretty thrifty in my world.

This is an excellent question, and some very good points have been touched on.

The cornerstone to doing living history is to research. If you want to take authenticity to a high level, you need to do more research than looking at a couple of period examples of extant objects or images. You need to Know where you are, when you are, and make yourself familiar with what people in this narrow time and space ate, wore, lived in, and how they thought to a degree. THEN after your persona is developed, go and look at objects and images to that time, space and social station you are portraying. Everybody who has done re-enactment at some point has gone out and obtained something incorrect for their portrayal because it looked neat - try to wean yourself from this (it is a choore for all of us to do this).

OK - you have done your research. There are two things you MUST understand to bring about an top notch authentic portrayal, and you have realised one already - to do a convincing portrayal you must work within your means. The other thing we need to understand is that for historical accuracy, the pieces must be visualy exacting copies. To keep it at the managable level of expense, as Geoffrey said, you must spend time and skill, or cash.

DISCALIMER
(and I am not going into the discussion of objects being only correct if made with copies of historical tools, or material correct at the molecular level - none of us have access to wool woven from fleece as fine as produced in the middle ages, and even "wrought Iron" obtained from 18th & 19th c. scrap is incorrect for 15th c. or ealier wrought iron.)

If you can make a needed item, and make it to the level of authenticity needed for living history - do so! You will save yourself a bundle. We all have our limitations in skill, and the key is to be truthful to yourself in examining your work. Some people can sew and pattern clothing with skill, some people can work with wood, leather, cast metal, etc... Somebody may do one of these things very well, but not have other skills to the level required.

The second part to this is never "settle" for something less in quality appropriate to the portrayal, or of less accuracy. Learn from my example. I have two helmets - one I settled for, and the other is to the degree of authenticity I strive for and station I portray. If I had not settled for less originally, then I would have had $450 to spend on other things.

Bringing these thoughts together, using myself as an example - I can make some things, and make them well enough for my use without sacrificing authenticity - simple items of furniture for example. I cannot make armour appropriate to my station and to the level of authenticity required - I must buy that. If I want clothing to my station, again, I must turn to the professionals. I will try to make myself a belt purse.

The items I must buy are expensive - how do I go about obtaining them? Save. I save my chang, and I roll it as soon as I have a rolls worth. I work extra hours for extra money. I skimp on other things (I ate the cheeapest imaginable lunches at work for over a year - brought food from home, and saved my spending money instead of spending it). Buy a little at a time. For example, take armour. It takes a while to make armour, so I save up money till I reach a 50% deposit, then I send off the money to the armourer who accepts my commission, then I start saving again. It takes time to make high quality reproduction armour, you inevitably have to wait. By the time my commission is finished, I have the money to pay what is owed, and more besides.

It takes patience & discipline. I am not wealthy, but by having patience and realizing I can't accomplish it all overnight, and expending the time and skill where I can, and excersising discipline in my money the budget allows me, I am able to pull off an authentic portrayal.

One nice thing is research is usually cheap, and on your research everything else depends. While you wait to finish an item, or wait for a commission to be finished, do more research. Thats more than half tyhe fun of doing thios hobby (and the active part is plenty fun in itself). Just remember, never settle for less.

Hope this helps.

I am a middle class lab geek, and I portray a middle class kitchen geek in the middle ages. .

If you are on a grad student budget, be a clerk!
If you're on a menial day laborers budget, be a....menial day laborer!

Stick with ONE well made authentic garment rather than a wardrobe of cheap imitations. They'll last longer and its perfectly medieval to own only one set of clothes. If you rinse out your linens at night before you go to bed (assuming you live in a dry climate) they'll be dry enough to put back on the next day.

Barter labor for stuff. I would gladly trade a pair of shoes or a weekends worth of food for someone to help me schlep stuff to and from my car before and after events. I often barter food at events for metalwork, jewelry, etc. I've bartered things *I* can make for things I cant (I dont sew, for example)

Modern people often insist on a modern sized wardrobe. Stick to the medieval mindset and I think youll find you can afford it ok.

Hey Ann-Marie, you're pretty close to where I live (I'm in Tacoma, WA). Just a word of warning...it doesn't get much better budget-wise once your out of graduate school. I'm a lab-geek too.

Thanks for the suggestions.

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-Aaron Miaullis, SCAer with Authenticity Leanings (yes, it's not an oxymoron... :)maybe...)

quote:

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Originally posted by Aaron Miaullis:
Wow, thanks all!

Hey Ann-Marie, you're pretty close to where I live (I'm in Tacoma, WA). Just a word of warning...it doesn't get much better budget-wise once your out of graduate school. I'm a lab-geek too.

Thanks for the suggestions.

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dont mention it
what period do you do, Aaron?

For referances, I'm using the book, "The Armour from the Battle of Wisby, 1361" by Brent Thoredeman. I've got some parts photocopied.

For me, it's tights and fluffy stuff I guess. Can you help (or give suggestions)?

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-Aaron Miaullis, SCAer with Authenticity Leanings (yes, it's not an oxymoron... :)maybe...)

I'd be happy to kick in my 2d, but I'm not sure I understand what you're asking.

Could you rephrase the question please?

Thanks-

For clairification, how much would it cost to be in period tights (instead of substituting my bicycle pants, which is what I do now), turn-shoes (the ones with the long tip), fluffy sleved jacket (saw this in a painting of the period), and hat (I'm unsure exactly on the hat....).

Could you get me the "poor-man's" quote on this?

Sometimes I miss being a leper I guess...it was easy, and fun.

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-Aaron Miaullis, SCAer with Authenticity Leanings (yes, it's not an oxymoron... :)maybe...)

period tights ($30 for hose...poly-knit means that it's almost the same as my bicycling pants).
14th Century Braies ($18)
della Francesca Shirt ($40)
turn-shoes (the ones with the long tip)
fluffy sleved jacket (saw this in a painting of the period), and hat (I'm unsure exactly on the hat....). ($8 on your site...nice price!)

-I like the hat. I will probably buy it (after talking with the better half after New Years....)

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-Aaron Miaullis, SCAer with Authenticity Leanings (yes, it's not an oxymoron... :)maybe...)

period tights ($30 for hose).
These are not historically correct. Karl Kohler has a pattern for leggings in his book, and several folk here and on the AA have posted links to sites that contain info on making them. Print out the info, buy 1 yard of linen ($10 +/-), take the pattern, the linen and an old sheet to your local Costume Laurel or Costume Guild and say "Can you help me make this?" Savings- $25 over my price.

14th Century Braies ($18)
Go to same sources and print out info on braies. Buy 1/2 yard white linen ($5 +/-), take the pattern info and linen to your local Costume Laurel or Costume Guild and say "Can you help me make this?" Savings- $13 over my price.

della Francesca Shirt ($40)
Find the book "Cut my Cote", which contains the pattern for the St. Louis shirt. Buy 2.5 ($25 +/-) yards white linen, take the pattern and the linen to your local Costume Laurel or Costume Guild and say "Can you help me make this?" Savings- $15 over my price.

turn-shoes
Anne Marie makes her own shoes and lives in AnTir- maybe she can give you some tips on who could help you make your own?

fluffy sleeved jacket
Look for the style you want in Hill & Bucknell's book "Patterns of Fashion". Photocopy the design & pattern, and take both to your local Costume Laurel or Costume Guild and say "Can you help me make this?". They should be able to help you select appropriate fabrics and determine yardage requirements.

hat
Buy the hat - you can't beat the price.

In my experience, the SCA prides itself on it's A&S achievements, and it is the duty of every Laurel to teach others. I think if you did your own legwork in the research department and were willing to sew your own stuff, with some support you could make a very nice, historically accurate outfit on a limited budget.

In the example I cited earlier about one of our Red Co. members, Dylan made his own clothes on a **very** curtailed budget. He is a nurse and the sole supporter of his wife and 3 kids. This is how he did it:

Doublet: Purchased a wool blanket at the thrift for $5. Scrounged lining from me. Got the pattern from me, and I taught him how to cut it out and put it together. Cost- $5 plus time.

Hose: Did yardwork for me in exchange. Cost - Time

Shirt / braies: Bought linen on sale table for $3 py. Came to me for a pattern and cut and sewed them himself. Cost: $9 + time

Shoes: Bought leather on discount. Echanged learning how to make shoes with Jeff for pattern. (became RedCo. cordwainer, which provided him with something to barter with other members with.) Cost $12 + time

Coat: Bought 2 blankets at thrift for $5 each. Bought lining on discount. I helped him pattern and put it together. Cost $20 + time.

Hood: Scrounged scaps from my cabbage bin and made it. Cost - $0 + time

Belt / pouch: Bought leather at same time he bought shoe leather. Bought buckles and tips. Used RedCo. patterns and made them himself. Cost $20 + time.

He borrowed all armour and weapons from the RedCo. armoury, for a total cost of $66 for his outfit. This is what he looks like:

If you think that's expensive for an outfit, consider the value aspect: he has an outfit that will last him for the next 10 years and look better as it ages. That life expectancy means his outfit costs him $6 per year. Pretty thrifty, I think!

Dylan is my favorite example of why living history has a bum rap as being ruinously expensive. He is the poster child of how to look great on a budget. No doubt LH *can* be expensive, but it doesn't *have* to be.

Gwen

All the other ideas are great.

It's not like your prices are high, it's just my finances are low. If I was single, you'd receive a money order on Monday. It was just that way back then. But now I'm married with a wife and 1.9 kids (one 3 year old son, and another on the way -- my wife is 8 months along, and having small daily contractions). I've given up all my worldly goods, money, time and energy for her....and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Great job with the guy on the budget. I'll get back to you.

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-Aaron Miaullis, SCAer with Authenticity Leanings (yes, it's not an oxymoron... :)maybe...)

on outfitting on a budget...I'd like to second what Gwen says. It can be done!!

since you're doing 14th century, I strongly recommend talking to Master Mark de Gaukler and Mistress Linnet. They and their band do 14th century stuff, and I know they are on a budget. They may even have patterns you can use.

14th century is nice because you can do lower class stuff VERY easily...its not all cotehardies (which require tailoring etc).

are you going to 12th night this year? if so, I'd be happy to introduce you to Mark and Linnet and chat with you in person about 14th century re-enactment clothing.

...on 12th Night...I can't. I haven't been home in 5 years, and we're taking an el-cheapo flight south to California this Christmas. I should be in the Silcon Valley by Tuesday evening (tomorrow)....

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-Aaron Miaullis, SCAer with Authenticity Leanings (yes, it's not an oxymoron... :)maybe...)

Both the G63 pattern and the Bocksten pattern are contained in the book "Buried Norsemen at Herjolfsness" by Poul Norlund

The Bocksten pattern is contained in the book on the Bocksten dig by Margerita Nockert.

Split hose would be de rigeur, not "tights", and the wool "fez" would be 15th century, not 14th.

There's also quite a nice bibliography on the site.

quote:

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Shoes: Bought leather on discount. Echanged learning how to make shoes with Jeff for pattern. (became RedCo.
cordwainer, which provided him with something to barter with other members with.) Cost $12 + time

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