Greetings to all,
I'm going to try and do this without getting drummed out of camp on my first posting. I'm going to talk about respect, and sometimes the lack of it.
I have been doing this since 1999 in New Hampshire and Vermont, and travelled down to DC/Baltimore area from NH approximately 24 times in 2 years....2002-2004 to play bass saxhorn with Jari's Federal City Brass Band.
During that time, I have met and/or interacted with literally hundreds of great folks. In 2004 my wife and I moved here.
Federal City has played at Monocacy, Cedar Creek, 140th Antietam, Spotsylvania, Gettysburg Rememberence Day (s), McDowell, Gettysburg as the 26th North Carolina Band with that regiment in October of 2005, Paynes Farm on the campaign........to name a few. Pitching tents and sleeping in the dirt. Plus Fort Delaware several times, and concerts too numerous to mention, from the Library of Congress to Moravian Music Festivals as the 26th North Carolina Band wearing hand stitched Confederate uniforms, made from cloth from the North Carolina. Our instruments, EVERY one is original...or music is researched.....and we'll sleep around the camp fire. Every reenactor we've had the pleasure to meet seems to appreciate our efforts. Every one, except one.
Now you guys seem to tolerate him...and in fact some folks think he has " something to offer"......and is " knowledgeable ".......and we all just " need to understand him" as I've been told.
I think that he needs to try less " humor" and show more respect for others who know vastly more than he does, certainly about Civil War music.
This person, who shall remain nameless has insulted about every member of our band.......from events at McDowell, 2005 where he tried to off load some knowledge on Jari ( bugler United States Air Force Band, Washington DC) by coming into our encampment, interrupting our playing, and telling him how HE thinks " Last Post" should be played.........doing so right in Jari's camp, in front of Jari's band.......bad form coming to another man's camp and insulting him in front of his band...bad form......to insulting our lead Eb cornet player at Fort Delaware a few weeks ago......in front of people! Now that person, our lead player is in the real United States Army, currently stationed at Ft. Meade, attending Definse Information School. Up at 0300hrs on Friday for a weigh in for record, up at 0400 hrs Saturday,for a PT test for record ( score 298 out of 300, finishing 2nd out of 150 soldiers ) then requests leave, drives to Ft. Delaware to play music all day for nothing but fun, sleep on an Army cot that night, and go back to school the next day. That soldier played first trumpet in the NH Philharmonic Orchestra, has a degree in music from Williams College in Mass. studied for 7 years with Charlie Lewis of the Empire Brass, Boston, who cut one of the first recordings of Civil War music. Well, the bombastic person I'm speaking about, says to our lead cornet player " well I see New Hampshire is here, sending in the second string" as she walks into the room. Second string????? Is he smoking dope? And Yes SHE. Staff Sergeant, US Army. Five years in the various Army bands.....music degree...... while HE, Mr Bombastic, doesn't have the musical talent to carry her mouthpiece and HE has an opinion?
I'd say LOTS more respect needs to happen amongst a few reenactors, and alot less talking. For the life of me, why all of you accept his failed attempt at humor, is beyond the life of me. You all try so hard to find the good, and all he does is insult, belittle, complain and act out fits of jealousy. I'm not asking that we all sit around the campfire, have a sip of scotch, hold hands and sing Kumbaya. Just respect, or a Civil War era muzzel......if anyone's got one?
By Sunday, our cornet player had listened to enough and on her way back to the REAL Army said, " you know, I only met you once before but you ............. are living proof that the Indian did...............the buffalo."
A little respect for those much more talented and equally devoted is in order.......then come back here and voice an " opinion" if you must. Insulting people to their faces? Visiting another man's camp and insulting him in front of his unit? Not good, not funny, disrespectful, childish, immature......and not good for " the hobby" Now let's see if I'M respected enough, that this post will stand, or are we too afraid to offend one person who offends lots of us.