Re-enactment events

[adroth]

Pardon my ignorance on this matter.

Are there any regular events where reenactors get to do their thing?

Typically where do these events take place?

[VeeVee]

There are annual events and there are some one time events.

I'd like to point out that there are different types of reenacting too. There's the Living History type where there is no "battle' but more of like a display of encampment, weapons, and the reenactors are there to talk history and to answer questions for the milling public.

There is also the public battle using blank firing weapons. These battles are scripted and are more of a show for the public.

There are also the ceremonial events where reenactors enhance a particular commemorative event. The guys in CA have done many color guard ceremonies. We also attended the last Philippine Scout Heritage Society reunion in Tacoma, WA, where we served as color guards, played taps, put up a display, and posed for pictures with vets and their relatives.

Then for the reenactor/historian with advanced appreciation and interest in history and historical and situational simulation, there is the tactical event. Tacticals are usually not for the benefit of the public and there's usually no audience. Tacticals are not scripted. It's more for the reenactors' total immersion. It's basically for fun trying to suspend the disbelief and simulating a tactical battle. It's a form of understanding history to the next level.

Many of these events are held annually, but there are those when an invitation for something just happens to come along.

[hawkins2ndcav]

IMHO, the best reenactor events are the private ones where you are away from the public and can focus on your impression and functioning as best you can in whatever era you are portraying.

While the public events can be fun, sometimes they become too much like a circus. But that's just me...

[VeeVee]

Are you talking about the tacticals? I think it's the real reenactment but nobody sees them except for the participants. I've never been in one.

[hawkins2ndcav]

I suppose you could call them tacticals but a lot of times we've done private low-key events where we might simply spend the weekend just "living the life"- acting and talking period. When I did Civil War we often did "piquet post" events where we'd have Union and Rebel "camps" within close proximity- basically two piquet posts- and we'd do all sort of things like trade tobacco for coffee, et al. It's a real aid to getting the history down and getting a better understanding of the original soldiers' lives. It's not for everyone- the powderburners have no patience with it.

For something more spectacular, our WWI battles are completely private and in the past, we'd get numbers in the 60 to 80 range. The best thing about private events is that "for us, by us".

[VeeVee]

That would be very interesting. It's for the advanced reenactor. I'd have a hard time keeping a straight face.

I think the powder burners are looking for the tactical simulation. The advanced and complete reenactor has fun all around.

[hawkins2ndcav]

The whole idea is that a private place, free of outside distractions, provides a good environment in which to "ease" into your impression. It also gives you an opportunity to really use your equipment and get comfortable wearing it and using it on a regular basis. Try what feels comfortable, it develops with time and it works better when everyone's pulling together.

The one thing I'd love to do, if I could arrange some ranch land, is to do a cavalry event where we simply do campaign marches and "live the life". It doesn't have to be dramatic or anything but it would really give you a good feeling for having to deal with a horse on an everyday basis while also being a soldier. It's not easy!

[VeeVee]

Aug 27, 2008 20:46:11 GMT -5 hawkins2ndcav said:

The one thing I'd love to do, if I could arrange some ranch land, is to do a cavalry event where we simply do campaign marches and "live the life". It doesn't have to be dramatic or anything but it would really give you a good feeling for having to deal with a horse on an everyday basis while also being a soldier. It's not easy!

That would be really fun. Even just practice mounted tactical maneuvers and drills would be very interesting.

I know someone in Texas who used to do something like that. Not sure if he still does. He is also a 26th Cav reenactor.

[noy]

Yeah someone should post a calendar of sorts for Philippine based reenactors to check out and join.

[insurrectomad]

There are Reenacters Websites listing events in both US & Britain. Also The British National Trust Foundation has it's own website giving details of all their events for the year. A similar calender of events in France, Holland, Germany and Spain can be seen on their tourist websites. Go to World List of Military Reeacter Groups & Events. Look up 'Events" in Reenacter/WarGames Mags also. The groups involved in the 1898-1904 period or the 1942-45 Phil/Pacific War haven't formed a federation as yet, so be patient with us, OK.

[ibarramedia]

It seems like when most people discuss period stuff regarding Philippine history, they automatically go to the 1898-1904 revolutionary era. I would like to see depictions of Filipino/Spanish uniforms during other time periods for a change. The Philippines has at least a 500 year colonial history to look back into. How about uniforms during the 1600's, 1700's,1740's 1800,1810's etc. There must be some sort of historical archive that can show this. It would alos be nice to see the fashions of the day as reflected in the Islands.

The Philippines was also administered as a colony under the vice royalty of New Spain which is presentday Mexico. I would like to see a Mexican walking the streets of Manila wearing a Sombrero Charro and a serape talk to a gentleman wearing a salakot and a camisa de chino...

[insurrectomad]

Doing reenactment or more likely living hist. depictions of earlier periods has to some how engage the public's relationship; to have some anchor of sorts. Capt. Brookes in Manila perhaps or the Ilacano Princess who led a bolo & spear charge against the Spanish in the 17th cent. There is so little relationship or promotion of Phil. WW2 seen in Phil. and scanter knowledge of 1896-04 period yet to inspire one to venture into times even more remote. Attempts were made to cover all the periods of Britain's long, colourful & well documented history (much of which was taught in the schools), in the 1960's. It is only now after some 40 odd years of reenacting by the original core societies that the many divergent groups were able to emerge. All of them are created by members of the principle core reeactment societies, whose combined membership in the UK alone exceeds 20,000. You would be hard-put to muster 200 reenacters covering all periods of hist. from Luzon to Mindinao. The UK had the "Swinging 60's" to help. A time of money and boom population of students (WW2 babies). the students reacted to the mass destruction of old buildings during that time of new construction everywhere as money now was plentiful for the first time since 1945. In addition anti war demos against the Yanks in Vietnam combined with a realization that there ancient traditions etc were being buried under the American pop, films & TV progs. Europe led by UK's Films/stars (James Bond), Rolling Stones & The Beatles etc. inspired the students to rediscover their own national heritage. The Phil.s is only just approaching that time, as of now. Alas it's starting in a time of World recession, unlike the 1960's. The authorities are making attempts to restore and preserve ancient buildings, monuments etc but the young people & students are too preoccupied with seeking a career and have little time or money to spend on history or reenacting at present, I fear. Tourism is the engine driving things forward now and municipal pride. In USA, & Europe reenactment societies sprang from the Universities, but they show almost no interest in the Phils.

[79thfoot]

I think its because CAT/ROTC seems (in my very humble opinion) sometimes mishandled and gives a negative impression of anything 'military' to young people. My young friend and 'ADC' Evan started out as my 'Royal Marine guard' in my for-fun Pirates of the Caribbean cosplay and from there we started doing other things like a French Poilu and Baron von Richthofen, British soldiers past and present, US Marine (dress greens), Wehrmacht and Colonel Stauffenberg and now he tells me he wants to join the USMC or British Royal Marines FOR REAL. All because he had a VERY positive experience cosplaying and - if only we got our act together here cuz he and I know many other friends would be willing - reenacting. If we could have a small demonstration group, with someone who knew how to do pyros, some non-firing Remingtons and Mausers, we could put on shows here and get the public more interested. And you know I'm up for playing OPFOR hehehe...

[insurrectomad]

We could make our own cannon from industrial tubing clad in wood and smooth-bore muskets (Lankots are they called?). In the English Civil War Soc. we use muzzle loading matchlocks made from Hydrolic proofed industrial 3/4 inch pipes that had a screw-fitted block welded at the rear with a simple flash pan and touch hole which we lit with a taper match. Many muskets of a similar kind along with flintlocks and old percussion shotguns supported those holding Mausers & Remingtons during the War 1896-04, so it would be authentic. A bit of basic engineering could fabric a sliding bolt device that would look like a rifle. Simply placing a row of pipes through holes in a stockade or wall primed with petrol or a firework would give a great effect of ragged firing. reloading down behind the parapet could be done while men with proper guns would be seen buy the public onlookers loading and cocking their rifles. Similar devices are used each Xmas in Phil. A gun like the old Remington with top breech loading could be simulated using a solid steel block for the breech & trigger section and a drop latch gate at the end of the barrel to close after a lit squib firework is inserted. There are many people who have years of experience of Xmas time pyros, I'm sure. Rainpipes are just buried in a hole in the ground locally, & a squib is dropped in the barrel filled with some petrol. they make an almighty bang! A mock Gatling gun or Nordienfelt made from steel pipes would fool the public at a distance using fireworks in the same way. With cell-phones it is easy to coordinate timing between firing and explosion at target. A single cannon really attracts a crowd I've noticed at 'battle' events.

[frank]

4th of July. Los Alamitos, Change of Command cerremony.

and Old Fort MacArthur Days 11 and 12 July.

www.geocities.com/fortmacarthur/ftmacevent.html

[79thfoot]

I like it David! The idea is to put on a good show to get more people interested, then we can upgrade and upgrade till we reach more 'professional' standards. I mean, even the Sealed Knot and the American groups had to start somewhere. We just gotta keep going.