I can see it happening again shortly...

[lincolnsguard]

Folks are going to have to choose; gas for real life or, gas for events. Over $4 some places and climbing here in centeral PA. Near Goofysburg, wow. :(

[TheQM]

Eli,

It's a double whammy. Too many events and high gas prices. A lot of reenactment's numbers are going to suffer this year.

[50th VA Corporal]

We have "cut" our event schedule by about 1/3 this year - economics. And given the the 150th cycle it seems that every little town, burg, school, festival, etc. wants to have reenactors participate in their "commeration" puts a lot of pressure on already established schedule.

And I do hate it when I see the Gettysburg town or event referred to as "Goofysburg". It demeans the town and a lot of reenactors. If it were not for the town or the reenactors - of all likes - any kind of event there would not happen.

[RJSamp]

And I do hate it when I see the Gettysburg town or event referred to as "Goofysburg". It demeans the town and a lot of reenactors. If it were not for the town or the reenactors - of all likes - any kind of event there would not happen.

You forget that G135 was held over the objections of the town.....the yearly GAC event is a profit mongering Farb Fest....and At High Tide was held despite the town and with reenactors of Specific likes.

[dogcompanylt]

Back to the subject,
I have had to cut way back. Doing 3 time periods just is not working out with the high gas prices.
So I personally choose to cut out all but two of my 1812 events, and all but one ww2 event.
However, I am making a bigger effort to make the bigger CW events. Especially after missing out on Shiloh.
I guess its something we all have to do, and there were some tuff choices.
After all it is the 200th for some of the 1812 events.

Wish I had a better job, and more vacation time.
Ryan

[Rob Weaver]

I'm doing 4 events in each of the 3 time periods I reenact. The Civil War events I chose are ones the are all 150th events that I feel are going to be highly memorable. I really have had to exercise a huge sense of discipline in not adding more to the schedule. (Heck, I had to talk myself out of another just this morning.)
Gettysburg has a long history of tourism associated with the battle and the Civil War in general. Do a search - there was a pretty good thread on this subject a couple years ago.

[Artyman]

Driving to events will still be cheaper than running my boat. Poor ol' Suntanna will remain at the dock most all season (100 gallons per day @ $5.50 marina price), while the fuel will go into RV "CSS Ironclad" instead (8 MPG) to get me to the distant 150ths. Diff is that the docks will be there indef while the 150ths will not. Priorities!

Harry

[Rob Weaver]

You know the definition of "boat," don't you? "Boat: a hole in the water filled with money." :)

[flattop32355]

We'll all pick and choose according to what we want to do, both in reenacting and in modern pursuits.
Between reenactments, parades, and living histories I've got 18 places to be this season, in nine states.
Not having to worry about kitchen passes and other usual issues makes that easier than for many folks. There are advantages to being an older reenactor, along with all the disadvantages.

[indguard]

I think I will not likely do any more national events. Just local ones only. At this point the cost is too high for the disappointment they invariably are.

I started reenacting during the 125ths and I have now made two 150ths. I think that will be enough for me. By next year I'll have been reenacting 30 years. I've done enough nationals, I think.

WTH
The bintheredonethat mess

[Jubilo]

In some respects ( more self-serving than not, , but hey, that's what a hobby about), I regard "nationals," as the sine qua non of reenacting.

Bugles, field music, flags, mounted officers, large formations; that's Civil War. Twelve man "regiments ," is not.

Yes, fuel is expensive; so are many other things. If you want to do it there is a way. Hey, we're Americans, figure it out.

all for the old flag,
David Corbett

[Coatsy]

Just a WILD thought. Car Pool with your pals to the events. It worked for many of us going over to 1 of the 2 Shilohs.

[Rob Weaver]

Fuel is expensive, and I'm not getting any younger. This 150th cycle may present me with the last real opportunities to participate in experiences that have the breadth and scope of the massive linear battles that define Civil War tactics. The long lines of men, vollies that sound like tearing sail cloth, clouds of dust as tall as a house. I chose those events because those are the experiences that I want to have, and are representative of the experiences my regiment had (even if they weren't at that particular site). There were small events 30 years ago, and there will be for years to come, but these next few years represent a real opportunity.

[S.D.Swart]

Rob, that is my thoughts too. This will only come around once, so pick the best events. I most likely will not be making the typical small town event, unless it is right in my area. Instead focusing on quality events that will not come around again. Shiloh, Mills Spring, Maryland my Maryland, Perryville, and maybe Vicksburg, and Richmond Ky, dependent on my situation and cash flow.

S.D.Swart

[hanktrent]

I have no interest in what most people call "national" events, but I still need to travel two or three states away, in various directions, to find events I want to attend.

There's no way it's worth my time to waste a weekend around people trying to prevent me from having fun, when for $75 more, I can go where we're all working toward the same goal, to make an enjoyable experience for everyone.

So for me, it's a choice of driving 200+ miles and almost being guaranteed of a rewarding event, or not reenacting at all. Life is short, and there are ways to cut corners and make travel as cheap as possible. No way I'm letting gas prices change what I'd do otherwise.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@gmail.com

[RJSamp]

Just a WILD thought. Car Pool with your pals to the events. It worked for many of us going over to 1 of the 2 Shilohs.

The trouble is Herb, Is when it's David Corbett and I in the same car.....

[Jubilo]

The trouble is Herb, Is when it's David Corbett and I in the same car.....s

Dear Captain Samp,

When the two of us travel in tandem the vehicle is no longer a "car," but "the chariot of the gods," bearing Mars and Apollo.

all for the old flag,
David Corbett

[Rob Weaver]

There's no way it's worth my time to waste a weekend around people trying to prevent me from having fun, when for $75 more, I can go where we're all working toward the same goal, to make an enjoyable experience for everyone.


Now THAT'S a great attitude! (I use similar language several years ago when my wife asked "Why don't you go to this event that's so much closer?")

[lincolnsguard]

"Still goen to the wrong events?"

[RJSamp]

"Still goen to the wrong events?"

Not if seeing the WIG in action and camp at Shiloh BGA is 'wrong'....I didn't sign up for the Circus portion of events.....but I didn't sign up for small unit immersions either.....hundreds of horses, dozens of mules, functional wagons, fife and drum tattoos at night, long lines of troops, cannons, horses.....a cloud of skirmishers....flag silk flying....literally the fog of war...

That's the ticket, that's the way it was....

[hanktrent]

Not if seeing the WIG in action and camp at Shiloh BGA is 'wrong'....I didn't sign up for the Circus portion of events.....but I didn't sign up for small unit immersions either.....hundreds of horses, dozens of mules, functional wagons, fife and drum tattoos at night, long lines of troops, cannons, horses.....a cloud of skirmishers....flag silk flying....literally the fog of war...

That's the ticket, that's the way it was....

I think the point is that the wrong or right events are different for everyone, so there can't be a universal declaration of which events are right or wrong, period. The problem only comes when there's a miss-match between what an individual wants and what he or she attends.

"That's the way it was" speaks toward the suspension of disbelief, because a big event isn't any more the way it was than a small event, from an objective viewpoint. Big events are more accurate in some aspects, just as small events are more accurate in other aspects. Both require a participant to fill in lots of things with their imagination and to ignore other things.

So it's up to each reenactor to decide what they don't mind imagining or ignoring, and what they absolutely must experience to get a sense of the way it was, and choose events that suit them best.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@gmail.com

[lincolnsguard]

The original topic was how will gas prices effect event attendance? Nothing about event quality.
After all, it's a hobby and folks will attend what they wish, for the most part. that horse has been beaten to death.

So, back on topic, how will gas prices effect event attendance?

[reddcorp]

The original topic was how will gas prices effect event attendance? Nothing about event quality.
After all, it's a hobby and folks will attend what they wish, for the most part. that horse has been beaten to death.

So, back on topic, how will gas prices effect event attendance?

Adversely.

[TheQM]

So, back on topic, how will gas prices effect event attendance?

I'm involved with organizing some local events in SE Pennsylvania. With all the 150th. events taking place in Maryland and Virginia, we were very concerned about attendance this year; but the high gas prices may actually help us. Local guys may want to stay local to avoid burning a couple tanks of gas to attend an event.

[8thILCavalry]

I have my first child on the way and money is very tight, But I love to reenact and I'll be damned if the oil companies keep me away from something I love to do. I might have to miss a few. But I will not let it stop me completly. My next National is Gettysburg next year. Good Luck to you all with the hobby and gas.

[Rob Weaver]

People who reenact in other time periods have taught me a valuable lesson. Often their numbers are few and scattered out across the wider population. Realistically, they may only get to one or two events a season, and have to go to great lengths to do it. So they make the most of the opportunity. Pick very good events, and do your very best to make them worthwhile. I think that's the lesson for us in Civil War. If I have to pick between a major 150th event that's going to be expensive but I will smile every time I remember it, and a routine event that's cheap to attend but that I will sigh and say "Well it's ______________________________" then the choice is easier to make.

[lincolnsguard]

Here with us now is something else that may effect event attendance...burn bans. I'm at an event this weekend, no fires allowed in the county. Minimum $1000 fine. Of sourse, if I'm at an event, it'll be raining so hard, you wouldn't be able to light a fire anyway. ;)

[Rob Weaver]

I remember the last Saylor's Creek and the burn ban! No fires after 0600. And on Saturday morning, after a below freezing night, they sent a Park Ranger around with an indian tank whizzing on all the cookfires. LOL. There were a lot of grumpy "I didn't have my coffee this morning" faces in line. (Note: I recommend a candle stove or use a folding tin candle holder partially folded to avoid this discomfort.)

[indguard]

We had an event in Rockford, Ill. back in the late 90s where the fire marshall said he was going to institute a burn ban. We told him to shove it and had our fires anyway. LOL

We also had a new police chief the next year and at first he siad he wanted a list of names, address and every gun every reenactor was bringing on site. We told HIM to shove it, too. Imagine! How would we even GET such a list?? Moron.

WTH

The Event Host Fever Squelched mess

[Poor Private]

We had an event in Kazoo Michigan--No fires PERIOD- drought was really big that year. Fine was 500 bucks per fire. Guess what No fires. Good thing it was the height of the summer. I carry a triox stove in my bugout pack in my Jeep- it has been brought out a couple of times when rain was so hard or the no fire verdict. It was that or walk in the rain to the parking lot nad find the nearest restaurant- which alot of people did and do.
But also to get back to the original post.
After going down to Shiloh I have spent most of my dispossable event dollars for the year. The rest of the year will be events that are within a round trip tank of gas, Or about 2hour drive one way maximum. Purchasing of "things" and "eats" at events are being strickly limited also.

[lincolnsguard]

Two things from this weekend. As I drove from centeral PA to south western Maryland to attend an event, gas prices dropped as much as 15 cents a gallon ($3.99 to $3.84). And, were lower by about 18 cents for my trip home. As for the fire, the event orgainzer did a great job making adjustments dealing with the fire ban. We all had a heads up. Sleeping on our arms on Friday night, with no fire, wasn't really a big deal for the seasoned veteran campaigners in our group, I slept like a log. However, there was one of the fresh fish that had some difficulty making it through until sunrise. Saturday night was in the 60's a very nice night to sleep under the stars, even if the fire ban had not have been lifted for that day. And, so it goes.

[PMB1861]

We had an event in Rockford, Ill. back in the late 90s where the fire marshall said he was going to institute a burn ban. We told him to shove it and had our fires anyway. LOL

We also had a new police chief the next year and at first he siad he wanted a list of names, address and every gun every reenactor was bringing on site. We told HIM to shove it, too. Imagine! How would we even GET such a list?? Moron.

I guess we're all supposed to be impressed with your blaggardness and tough talk on an internet board?

Well I'm not. It just shows there is some truth to all the bad things the public thinks about reenactors. It proves the misguided notion that reenactors are a bunch of crazy idots aloof about safety and devoid of good sense.

You know, instead of telling public officials to 'shove it' you might have spent a little time being polite and working with them so they would know actually think you might be a good steward of the public and private land you are using for the hobby. But never mind, it's probably been a waste fo my time to write this since you're going to keep on being WTH. You can't teach an old dog new tricks.

Thanks Mr. Huston for giving us all another public black eye for no better reason than self-fellatio.

[bill shack]

consider yourselves lucky at $4.00 per gallon in Canada we are paying $1.46 per liter whitch translate to about $6.00 per gallon.
If you do come to Canada for a visit gas up just before the border and you will do fine.

[S.D.Swart]

We had an event in Kazoo Michigan--No fires PERIOD- drought was really big that year. Fine was 500 bucks per fire. Guess what No fires. Good thing it was the height of the summer. I carry a triox stove in my bugout pack in my Jeep- it has been brought out a couple of times when rain was so hard or the no fire verdict. It was that or walk in the rain to the parking lot nad find the nearest restaurant- which alot of people did and do.
But also to get back to the original post.
After going down to Shiloh I have spent most of my dispossable event dollars for the year. The rest of the year will be events that are within a round trip tank of gas, Or about 2hour drive one way maximum. Purchasing of "things" and "eats" at events are being strickly limited also.

Wow! Never been to a event with no fire. That said, I normally eat out of my bag, and as such do not need a fire, unless it is for confort, or coffee. However, having a fire, I can cooks some nice meals. So, I guess I better stay prepared to not have one, and be thankful when I can have one.

S.D.Swart. Citzen, Soldier, Sailor.

[lincolnsguard]

Bought diesel here in central PA yesterday. 4.49.9 per gallon. It was the school's money but it still hurt.

[Shermans_Neckties]

You forget that G135 was held over the objections of the town...

It was 14 years ago. Can we get over it already?


..the yearly GAC event is a profit mongering Farb Fest...

Did I suddenly wake up in Red China? When was making a profit made illegal?

Don't like a particular event? Then don't go to it.

And if there is one word that should be banned from reenacting, it's "Goofysburg". Using it is an insult to the men who fought and died there whether it refers to a modern day reenactment you have a personal distaste for or not.

[Silas]

I rather think those who participated there in 1863 would appreciate the word, Goofysburg. It's not a knock on anything they did, but the rape of history and the mining of pockets ever since then.