Open letter to the new Demo Coordinator

I received very little instruction in the way of being a demo coordinator. I mostly learned by attending them but here are a few things that might make the process easier.

Someday, somehow, someone who wants a demo will contact you. This can come from many directions.

Baronial website

They've had a demo before

A friend or relative of someone in SCA

The first thing to do when receiving a request is to establish their expectations. Ask how they found out about SCA demos. Do they want this during the day or in the evenings? The date can be very important indicator of whether we do the demo or not. It is very difficult to get people to help with demos during the day. Asking the populace every now and then if individuals are available during the day would be useful. Weekend demos are also problematic. Is there a close event that weekend? During the week Thursdays are right out as are Officer meeting nights.

The Scout Demo

Evening demos come in 2 distinct flavors though there are some other permutations. The first and most popular is the ever present Scout Demo. A typical Scout demo features lots of fighting and an explanation of the evolution of arms and armor. Fernando is the expert at this sort of demo and the kids love him. Occasionally we will have a dance presentation in with the marshal stuff. Make sure the site has tables for the weapons display and the arts and sciences display. Brummbar and Olga each own several weapons that have been used for displays.

The Stations Demo

The next most popular demo is the school demo with stations. Usually a class or group of classes has been studying the Middle Ages. We present a little bit of a fighting and then seperate the children into about 5 groups. They circulate through stations every 15 minutes or so. Stations have included dancing, heraldry, weapons, armor, children in the Middle Ages, costuming, and interactive feudalism. It's best to recruit the leaders for each station well before the demo. End with a little more fighting for the whole group and a question and answer session.

We have been asked to do several other demos that don't fit into these categories. These can be interesting one time things. Beware of people who want us to be the servants at their Medievally themed feast.

Fashion show- Everyone brought their best garb and a local costuming laurel described each one as they walked around the room.

Dancing demo- Self explanatory. Make sure you ask the dancers first.

Storytellingor Show and Tell -  I once did a demo for very small children where I told a story and talked a little about heraldry. I let them try on a helmet and gauntlets. (By the way, children should not be allowed to try on helms unattended. Have someone hold the helm so the full weight doesn't rest on the child's head and skinny little neck)

Parade - Also self explanitory.

The Renaissance Faire

One of the most time consuming demo is the Renaissance Faire. We have been burned in the past with this type of demo so make sure the organization knows what it is doing. The three faires we worked when I was demo coordinator are the Celtic Days Music and Renaissance Faire in Glencoe MO, SIUE Renaissance Faire, and the St. Louis Artist Guild Renaissance Faire in Clayton. At each Faire we have set up a list field, an Arts and Sciences display, and a children's game called the Spear Ring.

Fighting can involve the regular arrangement of one on one up to a grand melee. Sometimes to raise money we hold a fighter auction. After the audience has seen the fighters go for a while, they are asked to bid on each one. Whoever bid on the fighter who wins a mini tourney or melee wins a prize, usually an etched goblet.

At a Ren faire the A&S display can be a little more elaborate. People have set up looms, a forge, or painted scrolls at these events. The Spear Ring can also be a fundraiser. Children try to get the best score at knocking over the targets in a ring. Each child receives a pre-printed scroll with their name and score written in calligraphy. The spear ring takes a lot of work to set up and needs a least 3 people running it.

When the Muny did Camelot one summer we were asked to do a demo out front before the show. There was a little bit of fighting and dancing and lots of passing out of flyers. (Most watchers thought we were part of the cast.) In exchange we all got a ticket to see the show.

Getting Helpers for Demos

When making a flyer for a demo make sure the directions are as clear as possible. I can't emphasize this enough. If the directions given by the demo requester are not clear enough go to other sources. On the Internet Mapquest.com and mapblast.com are good. You can also call the school secretary. They have probably given the directions many, many times. If you can, give the directions in both words and pictures.

Making one announcement at meeting will not get people to demos. The fighters often skip meeting and people will forget on the night of. I try to make at least two meeting announcements, send out two emails and talk personally to as many people as possible. I have occasionally called folks who seemed interested the night before to remind them. This seems annoying and it definitely goes against my nature to be so persistent. However, this method gets results and people often thanked me for reminding them.

Donations

At first it was difficult for me to talk about taking money for demos but just because we are a non- profit organization does not mean that we cannot accept money for our services. Many of the schools and organizations that ask for us have budgets and pay for other presentations. Having said that, there are a few demos that we haven't charged for including a demo for St. Joseph institute for the Deaf and a mini demo for children with AIDS. The St. Louis Artist Guild simply does not have the funds to promise us payment for working at their Ren Faire since they were not charging gate fees. They didn't mind us doing some fund raising with the fighter auction and the spear ring and when they did have a profit they paid us. Money is great for the Barony but so are good exposure and the future use of a good site.

Some Guidelines for Pricing Demos.

Daytime demo with one person $25

Evening demo with several people $100 to $150

Big weekend demo with all the trimmings $400 + fighter auction and spear ring

Random thoughts on Demos

The Barony is lucky to have a good reputation in St Louis and a lot of that comes through demos. Sometimes there is a lot of demand for demos especially in February when Cub Scouts have their Blue and Gold banquets. It is okay to say no. There is no reason to visit the same schools and scout groups year after year.

There is some standard advice for demos SCA folk should not wear scary black cloaks or obvious religious symbols. Make a clear distinction between what was done in the Middle Ages and how we recreate it. Try to say "Middle Ages" instead of "Medieval" at demos for young children. Sometimes all the kids will hear is "evil" and will talk about those "evil" people who came to their school. Remember we have a lot of jargon words what are not easily understood out of context. Displays should consist of items made by SCA folks and possibly SCA publications, not mundane books on the Middle Ages. Make sure of the local rules for display of weapons. Some schools are very serious about zero tolerence on weapons. Always have someone appointed to guard the weapons table.

Be sure to keep a list of those who helps out at a demo and pass it on to Their Excellencies.

Demos should be fun for everyone. I get a charge out of cheering kids as a fighter and from genuinely impressed adults.

Yours in service,

Slaine

Some other articles on SCA demos

http://www.florilegium.org/files/SCA-EVENT-PLANNING/SCA-Demos-art.html

http://www.florilegium.org/files/SCA-EVENT-PLANNING/demos-msg.html

A Question and Answer from the school or scout group's point of view.

http://www.oocities.org/scademoteam/faq-request.htm

Advice for SCA folks thinking of attending a demo

http://www.eg.bucknell.edu/~acg/Demohelp.htm