Days of Knights

[Ian]

Well, it's not so much that I don't know what I need to camp out, it's more honestly that I have no intention of buying all that stuff before October and driving it from Florida to Kentucky.  Also with the wife being preggers, sleeping outside will probably be a no-go.  If I do attend I'd more than likely be staying at a hotel in the evenings.  If enough of us are planning to stay at a hotel and are serious about going, perhaps we should coordinate our lodging? 

I guess I just don't understand how the daily routine works.  Do we all just hang out in the various encampments and answer questions?  I can't imagine the public will be a non-stop flow of people walking by and asking questions for 12 hours a day... what exactly does one do at a living history / reenactment event?  This will sound silly, but if you guys are doing Crusader era, and I'm doing 14th century, does that mean we're not supposed to be in the same encampment areas together?  I mean, you guys are the only people I will 'know' at the event, even though we haven't met in real life before, but I know I'd feel more comfortable going to something totally foreign to me if at least I get to do it with people I'm familiar with

I guess I just have no idea what to expect.

[Sir Edward]

Good questions. I'm going to guess that between visiting patrons, folks more or less try to stay "in character" and socialize amongst themselves. But I haven't been to one yet, so I can't say for sure.

I know one thing I'd plan on is try to get a lot of pictures. It's a rare opportunity to stage a variety of great portraits, action scenes, etc.

As for mixing periods, I have a feeling they'll try to group people accordingly in terms of tent space, but it doesn't mean people can't interact. I'm thinking I'll probably do circa 1250 for the most part, but I can also bring my plate kit, which would put me in the 15th century, and I'd probably match no one.

I haven't decided for sure if I want to do the hotel room or not. My other idea is to get a room on Thrusday and Sunday nights, but camp on Friday and Saturday. One concern is leaving my tent and gear on site while I leave. But then again, as I said before, I like my air conditioning and modern shower. So we'll see.

[Sir Wolf]

living history can vary from event to event. sometimes you are in a submersion event were you have nothing but period stuff and thats what you do all the time. DOTK seems what we think of as a public show. you look like you belong in period but it is hard to be submerged in it due to the questions etc and relating with the public. so its period really only in background and yourselves.

usually you are in "period" from event hours say 9-5ish then people like to party afterwards i've been doing lh for 10+ years now so any questions feel free to ask.

[SirNathanQ]

Yeah, Sir Wolf if you could give us the rundown on how this whole thing works, that would be great! 

My thing is I have very very little in the way on an encampment, just 2 chests for all my stuff. (though I will have some banners and flags) So naturally I'm going to have to bum with someones campsite (Sir Eds)
I'm gong to be portraying a 1350 Teutonic Knight (though for the combat I'll be dropping to 1370 so I can wear as much nice protective plate as possible) which will allow me to use pretty much all the armour I've collected over the years.

Sir Ed, if you're worried about leaving our stuff out, I could sleep in the tent to keep everything good and not stolen. (though I will levy a watchman's tax, in the form of the use of your hotel shower  )

Ian, if you got yourself a Teutonic Tabard, you could probably camp with me and Sir Ed, and be contemporary with my kit! (we're both doing Teutonic Knight)

[Sir Wolf]

for this show it will be a lot of "who am i? what am i wearing? why am i here? yes that is a real fire. no you can't cut your sibling with the sword. this is what the encampment would have looked like. no i'm not an actor. i am (enter employment name) in real life" then the public moves on to the next encampment.

i would say if you guys hung out at one tent. had a suitable "periodisc" looking background it will be fine. you don't have to explain why you are together unless you use the order of the marshal banner and that you are showing a multitude of periods etc. public really doesn't know the details of a glastonberry chair vs a 900s box chest so what you have will be fine. you will find yourself learning jsut as much as the public does. learning your interactions with them and other reenactors. learning their kits and how to make your own better (thats the best thing!!)

anything else? happy to help

[Sir James A]

I've been pushing a bit to try to make this. With a multiple-albion repair quote looming over my water supply system, it's going to be a "well holds out and I make DoK" or "well let loose and I needed running water more than event attendance". Fingers, crossed.

I decided it'll be camping for me. So, I made a deposit on a tent last week (a day before the well issues ... ugh!). I found my old SCA feast gear, so I've got a couple wooden bowls and such. I'm looking at furniture options now. I'll need a bed, somewhere to sit, and a couple chests, at least. If I have time and funds, I'll expand from there. I posted a long-winded thing in the Days of Knights FB page. Here's a short summary:









Basic slat bed, based off the "gokstad" viking bed. Basic benches. Basic half-lap chests. One of them will be hiding a modern cooler, so I can keep cold drinks and such. Mortise and tenon joints on the bed and benches. Chests will be countersunk wood screws with wood pegs to hide them. The bed will have 15 slats, but I didn't draw them all. No visible modern hardware except the chest hinges, and everything but the chests breaks down into individual boards for easy transport. I may do some very light and basic engraving or decorative cutouts, depending on time and energy. To finish it, I'll be going with a simple stain.

That gives me a tent, somewhere to sit, somewhere to sleep, somewhere to store stuff ... a post to hang the gonfalon and I should be almost set. Am I missing anything? Would the furniture look sufficiently medieval? I've seen period examples of all of those, with minor variances, but don't know if they're broadly medieval or only a specific time period. Plus, after Days of Knights, I'll have it all on hand for us to use at VARF next year if we get our own space - I think the disguised cooler will be great for that.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

[Sir Brian]

Very cool! You are a knight of many talents!

[Sir Edward]

A bed frame is an excellent idea. For Pennsic, I've always done an inflatable mattress, just well covered in furs and blankets so that you don't see it.

[Lord Dane]

A bed frame is an excellent idea. For Pennsic, I've always done an inflatable mattress, just well covered in furs and blankets so that you don't see it.

Hard to hide a hammock. lol But hell, my back appreciates it.

[SirNathanQ]

If I stay with the camp, then I'll use a sleeping bag. Easy to hide, and simple.

[Sir Brian]

... though for the combat I'll be dropping to 1370 so I can wear as much nice protective plate as possible...

I've been meaning to ask you Sir Nathan, what weapon do you plan on using? 

If you need a rebated arming sword you can borrow mine.

[Sir Wolf]

cool idea.

if in a pinch take 2 bed sheets and sew them together save for one end. then ask for hay/straw (which ever is the better of the too) and see if they can supply it at the event. then stuff your "tick" and wala a bed! but a air mattress works great too! hehehe

[Sir William]

Sir Wolf, what is going on in your avatar?

[Lord Dane]

Sir Wolf, what is going on in your avatar?

Looks like a Lucy & Charlie Brown football punting reenactment. Perhaps a foot massage. Hmmmmm....

[Sir Edward]

Sir Wolf, what is going on in your avatar?

We were doing the Monty-Python "Black Knight" thing. His arm is cut off, and he's kicking me in the side of the head.