Hi! My name's Aidan Terry, I'm 16 and I live in Columbus, Ohio. I have had an interest in Civil War for a while now. I have been trying to get involved with WW2 reenacting, but it is not looking good, being that there aren't as many people doing it to get info from. I want to get started in Civil War Reenacting. I have seen some units that are civil war period musicians. I play the upright bass (double bass, to be politically correct) I have some degree of skill. I play with the Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestra and one of the youth jazz groups in Columbus. I'm looking to major in Double Bass Performance in college. I also play tuba and trombone. If anyone knows of these groups around the Central Ohio area, please let me know. And if anyone can provide me with somewhere to get cheap and/or used uniforms, please let me know! Thanks so much!

Howdy Aidan

The 6th Ohio is based out of Cinci but I'm pretty sure we have guys in Columbus too. I'm just north of Dayton, so not far from your neck of the woods. I'm sure Ken, the admin, will be along shortly to give you a bit of info.

Two quick pieces of advice though: first, put your own name in the signature block. They like to know who it is they are talking to and require it. It's just easier that way. Second, you might consider dropping the Patton quote for something a little more CW appropriate.

Good luck and welcome aboard.

Thanks man! It may be awhile before I start doing this, but I'm looking to make contacts and gain information.

Hi Aiden,

Welcome aboard. I do need to put my mod hat on for just a moment (dang I hate wearing it  :/ ) but you do need to go to your profile and set it up to automatically insert your signature at the bottom of the posts. Even though your screen name is likely your full name as well, it is forum policy.

Now to throw that mod hat back in the closet. As to your eagerness to get into the hobby may I sugest slowing down just a tiny bit. Read through some of the new to reenacting posts here and there will be a lot of sage advice. A couple of pointers right off the bat:
1. buy absolutely nothing yet
2. Contact units that you ae interested in joining and go visit them.
3. Once you find the unit you are comfortable with, let them assign you a mentor before you spend a dime.
4. Research and confirm EVERYTHING that mentor tells you as there are many "exeperts" out there who really do not have a clue.
5. Use their loaner gear for the first couple of events, make sure this is the hobby you want to be in before you lay down your money, this hobby is generally cheaper than a classic car or boating but it is not exactly the cheapest either and you can spend a lot of $$ quickly only to lose much of that $$ if you end up not liking the hobby.
6. Spend as much time as possible researching the era. The library is your best friend at first. I believe it is an Indiana Jones movie where it was said that 90% of archaeology is done in the library, similarly 90% of being a living historian is also research.
7. If being a musician is what you want to do, bear in mind that modern brass and stringed instruments bear little to no resemblance to their period counterparts (not sure about woodwinds except the fife). I am also a high brass player and do some bugling. I want a period Bb soprano saxhorn (the equivalant to today's trumpet or cornet), but a reproduction period one is about $2000. If you can adjust your embrochure to play a bugle that would be a great way to start as a musician. Get a period Bb bugle (not one of the modern "Boy Scout" type which is keyed in G and definitely not one of the "gunga din" types that most sutlers sell. Armati, Jean Baptise, and a German gentleman by the name of Berger all make horns that will work for the period (if you compare a moern bugle as aving the shape of a tumpet, then a period one resembles a fleuglehorn). I would then work lke crazy to learn the calls , and there are plenty of them. Geoge Rabbi sells a book and CD that is excellent for learning and is reasonably priced.

Welcome to the hobby an I look forward to seeing you on the field.  

--Last edited by toptimlrd on 2009-03-04 20:58:23 --

Aiden,

The Sixth Ohio out of southwest Ohio (mostly Cincy) is one of the largest and oldest reenacting groups in the area.  We have recently resurged with new folks and are strong in numbers again.  I am the recruiting officer for the regiment and we have developed a three man interview team that sets a check and balance system for both sides.  This is to see if you really want to get into the hobby, and for us, it is to see if you are what we are looking for.  Things that matter are your age, size, health, and interest/dedication.  If you decide to check out the Sixth, please private messge me first.

Thanks guys! I'll definately try to get more involved as summer rolls along. Unfortunately, school is not very condusive to my hobbies, but thanks again for all of your advice. Before I do anything, I'll hit the library.

Howdy.  I'm chairman of the 30th Ohio Volunteer reenactor group, based out of the Columbus area.  I live in Worthington.

You can contact me at bbiederm@columbus.rr.com if you'd like, and we can talk about your interest in the hobby and how best to accomodate.

Aiden,

Greetings. Mike Davis of the 6th Ohio. I live in Westerville, and we have two members in New Albany and one in Hilliard. Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have. Feel free to visit our website as well, there is a lot of helpful info there to.

I would strongly echo what Robert said and encourage you to follow his suggested steps. Read through the forum posts on starting out. I wish I had that much info available back when I started!

Regards,
Mike

Geez, my eyes must be going. I just re-read my post above and could not believe the number of typos in it. I'm glad my high school english teacher isn't on here, her red pen would have been all over the screen.  

--Last edited by toptimlrd on 2009-03-06 17:32:39 --

Robert, I just thought it was Georgian education   .

I'd better watch that, two out of four WIG staff are Georgian's   .

One recommendation about finding a unit.  Try to find on that is affiliated with a larger organization.  Independent mess are nice on a number of levels but you can find yourself sort of shutout at a larger event.  Independents get put together in their own battalion and then you start to have command issues and level of drill proficiency that sometimes makes the independent battalion something of an orphaned (and disjointed) child.

By being part of a larger organization gives you a 'home' at most events with a well delinated command structure and usually a group philosphy that leds to similiar drill capabilities and allows your group to be easily amalgamanted into a larger group (say if you show up with 3 guys you get put into a larger company and don't tend to get lost in the shuffle).

Might not be for you but I find it works very well for me.