FINDING A GROUP
that's right for You

Many history buffs reach the point they don’t want to read about it anymore, they want to experience it. 
If this happens to you, it means you’re a re-enactor at heart.
And no matter what age you are, if you have never joined one of these historical groups of like-minded people before, they can be found in several ways. 

                JOINING
                How will you know if a group is right for you? 
                Only by visiting one. Every group welcomes visitors, so visit, and do it at least twice 
                before paying dues to join. By ‘Playing on the Fringe’ you’ll see and hear first hand 
                how active they are, what sports or activities they focus on, as well as discovering 
                what rules, hierarchy and political structure they adhere to. If it fits your desires and 
                you decide to join, most will have loaner costumes and gear to help out until you 
                make your own.

                BROTHERHOODS 
                This usually means a warrior or knights fighting group. 
                They are staunchly defended and protected, and no one joins because the 
                consider themselves good enough, or just because they want to. 
                You can only join if the one who started or heads the group asks you.
                Depending upon the group, it may also refer to a calligraphy or monk’s guild.

                BYLAWS and RULES
                The groups handbook should be given or made available. 
                Read it. 
                Inside you will find exactly what their preference, ideals, and rules are.
                Don’t go by word of mouth on what governs the group, that member maybe just as 
                new as you are. 

                CRAFTS and GUILDS 
                There are an abundance that can be found in most groups.
                A craft is something you learn.  
                A guild is one you join to learn a particular craft such as the armorers guild, 
                archery, sewing, etc. 
                After joining a group it is up to you to decide what, or if anything, you want to learn 

                FUN, FANCIFUL, or SERIOUS 
                Not all groups are equal. Most fall into these three basic groups.
                All begin from someone’s desire to play in a certain era or time period, or it may 
                be a one particular historical event, place, or person such as King Arthur. 

                Groups can be serious, meaning their By-Laws are formed to strictly adhere to 
                everything history says about their groups preference, or they can be totally 
                outlandishand fun such as a Fantasy War group dedicated to Medieval Times as 
                well. 
                So before joining any group, always know what type they are. Don’t join one that is 
                dedicated to court and pageantry if you want to become a fighting knight.

A local group is best for ease of access, friendship and camaraderie. and if you don’t know of any, search by your own preference such as Medieval Fighting, Living History, Pageantry, Saxons, Vikings, War, or a certain event followed by the name of your area or town.
Even the smallest group will most likely have a web site.
If you would rather join a well-established and a larger group for your first experience start with the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism), Adrian’s Empire etc.
And don’t forget to look up the closest Ren-Faire to you. Many want volunteers or hire people with costumes to play, work and offer period crafts. This is also a good way to find a group as well.
If none are listed for your area look to the local craft people such as armorers, blacksmiths, boot makers, costumers, jewelers, stain glass makers, weavers etc. Most sell their wares at craft or RenFaires.

They are the essential heart and soul of every groups survival, and if work is not your forte and you don’t think you can help out in any situation from erecting tents to aiding a Royals request to pick up a member whose car has broke down, or running a contest, joining a group may not be for you. By not joining you will miss out on the most important part of any group, and that is the close friendships you will make from those special guilds or brotherhoods you will be asked to join.

Becoming a re-enactor opens an array of crafts to learn, such as the martial art of sword fighting, archery, armorer, calligraphy, sewing, embroidery, jewelry, as well as many other numerous period crafts. As you research your work and attend events, along the way you also gain period manners and forthsoothly speech.
                OTHER THINGS to CONSIDER 
                COAT of ARMS
                Most groups encourage your to create your own COA, and many adhere to the
                strict rules that govern such creations, and others allow you the freedom to do 
                anything.

                PERSONA or CHARACTER 
                Each of us builds one that suits our inner desire. 
                It’s why we join a group, and it’s what impressed us with it in the first place, and 
                why we can‘t help but think of it with a certain title or rank. 
                A character may start out simple, but it never stays the same. As we ourselves 
                change with time, so will your character. You may even conjure up a second or 
                third one for different events or groups, or you may just refine the main one until 
                costume, manners, and name reaches what you desire it to be.

                * Never join a group that doesn’t fit a character. Being frustrated or settling for 
                one that you don’t believe in is not fun, which is why you joined a group for in 
                the first place.

                RANK
                Many groups allow anyone to achieve a higher rank in the group by trying out or 
                through friendship to become the King’s protector, master archery, or the Queen’s 
                Champion etc.
                Such rank is assigned and remains with the group. It is usually not permanent.
                Most groups allow member’s the decision as to what they want to attain, while 
                others only have two ranks to achieve, and still others will yield all title and rank 
                based on a merit system. 
                
                * Never join a group with a two-title system, usually the top two royal positions, if 
                  you feel your character should be a prince. It will leave you feeling stagnated.

                 TITLE 
                These are funny things. Most care not , or if they achieve one, while others will 
                drive a royal mad trying to coerce them into bestowing one. 
                Most groups allow the royals to pas them out, in others the member achieves 
                one by gaining a certain number of merits, and still others allow none to be 
                achieved.