Over on the CPH Folder there's a discussion going on for people who'd like to try the CPH side of the Hobby. I'd be interested in a discussion of why people aren't interested in attending CPH events. Frankly, there are plenty of reasonable reasons, family concerns, health issues, enjoy the low key evenings around the fire, or just enjoy being with your friends. Don't worry, nobody is going to tell you that you are wrong on this forum.  

Well, for me personally....  I'm brand new to the hobby.  I joined the 51st back in October, but that was the end of the season.  I haven't even attended my first event yet.  I chose them because they are a family oriented group, but strive for military accuracy.  Parhaps in a few years I'll want to give c/p/h a try, but for now I need to ease into things.  Heck I've never even gone camping, modern style.  I'm just a city boy, ya know.  

Honestly though, I can see myself being content with mainstream reenacting.  I want to look, and behave as accurately as I can, and I'll never stop trying to improve, but I can't see my self spending the kind of cash it takes to get hardest of hardcore kit.  Not now anyway.  But, who knows what the future holds?  I've been known to change my mind before.  

Anthony, it's not about the gear.

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TheBaldYankee wrote : I'll never stop trying to improve, but I can't see myself spending the kind of cash it takes to get the hardest of hardcore kit.  Not now anyway.  But, who knows what the future holds?  I've been known to change my mind before.

Anthony,

One thing to keep in mind. If you belong to an authenticity minded Mainstream unit, it's likely your present kit would get you into most CPH events. That you have to have the most authentic kit in the world to attend most CPH events is another one of those Reenactor myths. There's a lot of good reasons not to participate in CPH events, the lack of a good kit usually isn't one of them.  

As an aside, many of the high quality vendors will tell you  Mainstreamers are their best customers. A lot of people who sleep in tents and want a cooler close by, also want to improve their personal impressions.      

Well since I opened the can of worms I guess I should respond here for what its worth. I only started the CPH stuff about a year ago myself so although I am not as experienced (hence why I asked for more input in the other thread), I did about three to four years of research before dipping into the "dark side" (research is the real key). As to why some mainstreamers never get into the "campaign style", there are myriad of reasons. Some in my unit have "been there and done that" and now want something a bit easier on the body. Some do want to keep it as family orinted as possible while maintaining the soldier personna. I've heard many espouse that the fellowship around the campfire after the spectators go home is their favorite part of an event and what they come for. And others have heard the negative comments of the "hardcores" from their pards and hage gotten reinforcement of that idea from much of the us vs. them they see on other forums. Some are scared that they will drive upteen hours to an event just to be turend away because they only have 78 stitches in the cuff instead of the required 78. These latter two are the ones I started the other thread for.

I too love the mainstream and spend most of my time there as well mainly due o my home unit and the sheer number of mainstream events available but will generally jump at an authentic event when I can get it into my schedule wthout a conflict elsewhere (BTW, anybody going to be a the Chikamauga LH with me in September?).

Anthony, if you are even a little curious about the  dark side I invite you to the folder above and join us in the discussion. I call it CPH 101 and is for folks just like you. I think you may be surprised at how much misinformation you may have. Is the kit more expensive? Yes but there are ways to get it down close to what a mainstream kit costs. This is not the folder to discuss this so I will stop there. As Charles said it's not really about the gear, its more about the attitude and I think I will jump over and offer some insight about that now.  

--Last edited by toptimlrd on 2007-04-17 09:49:04 --

Bill,

The mainstream folks who have better gear typically get bumped up a notch to the level between mainstreamer and campaigner. That's the "Authenticist" niche that doesn't receive a lot of discussion, but has a good number of folks in that groove. In the original set of definitions 10 years ago, they were simply "good kit, bad camping." With the various fire sales on the A-C Forum, the Authenticists have seen some growth even as the hobby shrinks.

Charles,

As I said to Anthony, "If you belong to an authenticity minded Mainstream Group". There are lots of sterotypes in the Hobby, and not many people fit neatly into any of them. We are trying very hard to stay away from defining things in terms of bad or good. What might be good for you and me, could well be damn bad for another reenactor. Doesn't mean any of us are wrong, just approach things differently. For some people, that beer around the campfire with their friends, may well be the single best part of the events they attend. Who's to say they're wrong?  

I know it's not about the kit.  I was just yappin and stating my thoughts.  The main reason is my need to ease into things.  I also take into account my current work schedule.  I work on Saturdays.  Most events, I'll only attend on Sunday, except a  select couple that I requested off for( Wildwood, and Zoar).

My first impression of C/P/Hers was not good though thanks to the CWR forum.  But I'm not going to let that bother me.  As I said, who knows what the future holds.  One thing is certain.  If I go c/p/h I'm coming here for advice.  

I fall into a very tiny little niche made up of people who can’t do c/p/h because of physical limitations.  That‘s not a complaint.  It’s just a statement that the physical aspects of it preclude a few.

Folks who have definite physical limitations often find events that suit their needs, for example a prisoner at I-600 or a civilian at any number of events. In the past six or eight years, a number of fellows who want to be around the events, but want to do something different have ended up on the Kabuki side of things, and discovered a little hard work can keep an event moving right along.

IMHO the CWR forum is getting worse, even though Tom is doing the best job of moderating (really facilitating)since that place was created. That's just an observation, and I sure as heck don't have any solutions.

I think things are so basic the two "sides" will never meet. Well, lets say some people on the two sides. I firmly believe there is two or more different hobbies. And, the C/P/H guy can participate pretty much at will in any of them. Will everyone in the world agree on everything all of the time? Nope. Will everyone in the world like or get along with everyone else all of the time? Nope. Ya just gotta' accept it for what it is. So what do I care if the neighbor waters his trees with a 5 gallon bucket and I use a hose to water mine? For me, it's simple. And, usually wet.

You don’t have to be a weapon totting soldier to participate.  There are legit activities that assist the military guys.  Unfortunately, one of those tasks is providing camp security while they are off doing other things.

I am a Baptist. Even though a poor example of one, I also claim to be a Christian. A comparison can be made of the mainstream, campaign, progressive, hardcore entities in this Civil War reenactment hobby to Christian denominations. Denominations are man-made things just like the differing facets of this hobby are man-made things. Each denomination has all kinds of devices and techniques for the purpose of recruiting/converting more followers. Each denomination experiences differing levels of devotion by its parishioners. These run the gamut from being casually flippant to radically sanctimonious in their worship practices. And very much like this hobby, there is a human element present in each one of these Christian denominations attempting to convince any and all within the sound of their voice other denominations are doctrinally flawed. The people who attack other denominations will simultaneously claim to be pious and faithful practitioners of their brand of Christianity.

I see on two other fora enjoying this same conversation that the old, tire, trite, and typically bovine fecal matter laced "educate the public" crutch has been launched with great vigor and finger pointing.

"Yewwwwwwwwwww peeeeeeeple don't educate the public!"

Balderdash.

I myself do the mainsteam events..... One reason for doing this instead of a more hardcore is. 3am guard duty.  Been there done that.  Getting yelled at by sargents, fatigue duty? Morning noon and night inspections.  Been there done that.   50+ years old,  can't run and hike like I used to. I am getting a canon or mortor so I don't have to do drill. I do this for a hobby not a profession. Only chance to get away from the wife and kids. Spent the $$ on kitting myself and can't get it back by sellin it, so might as well use it.      
All said and done  I like to do the mainstream events cause they are close by (all less than 2 hours away), more relaxed. and the whole family can participate more easily.

Cris Westphal
1st Mich. Vol.

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I am getting a canon or mortor so I don't have to do drill. Cris Westphal 1st Mich. Vol.

Chris -

Don't know where you came under the delusion that possession of a fieldpiece or mortar absolves you from responsibilities of drill. Failure to use a recognized drill (preferably from one of the available manuals of the period) and be proficient at it makes you nothing more than a noisemaker and a pipe bomb waiting to happen. Safety is only achieved by repetitive drill.

Also, if you're not physically able to handle the infantry anymore, you'll find that artillery requires some physical exertion as well. Pieces still need to be schelepped around from Point A to Point B. A scenario may require you to advance the piece by hand or limber up and move the piece (if you don't have horses).

There's also a trend in the hobby to reduce the number of sub-scale pieces, mountain howitzers, and mortars from events. Partly because they're just not right for a given scenario (sub-scale pieces never are), but also because they're overrepresented and, in many cases, operated by folks who just aren't safe.

I have a list of artillery accidents that keeps growing each year. The chances of any of them happening could have been greatly reduced had the individuals involved been using a proper drill.

Artillery just isn't the place where old infantrymen go to die anymore.  

--Last edited by Forquer on 2007-04-23 07:21:01 --

We do mainstream because we are just starting. I dont see us going anywhere but mainstream though (our unit is also mainstream). We will venture out on our own to some events that arent, but not many.

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I am getting a canon or mortor so I don't have to do drill. Cris Westphal 1st Mich. Vol.

Cris, you might be better off getting a pen and an inkwell. There is a genuine need for guys to clerk at an event.  I know one man who has pretty well made a reenacting career of clerking (and teaching the art, too).

Ron Myzie

For me it is a combination of distance, limited time and unit.

My unit is probably progressive mainstream and I like going out with them.

Very few events are closer than 4 hours from my house so I chose carefully which ones I want to go to.

Running a horse farm on the side means I have very few weekends that I can even devote to the hobby so what time Ihave to do so is precious and since i enjoy the guys I fall in with I go to the 'main' events the unit attends.

why is cwr harsh? i posted we were going to an event, our real first one... and i got several pms telling me to stay away from that event... the reason? because its mainstream. i replied to each person thank you, i realize its mainstream as the unit we are joining is also mainstream and i like it that way. i couldnt believe how harsh some of hte people were that were posting to me about it! ouch.