[Wyewood] Got a great prize, but what to do for a contest

[M Wolfe via Wyewood]

Fun Idea, Basil!

-----Original Message-----
From: Basil [mailto:BasilD at zoho.com] 
Sent: Thursday, May 28, 2015 7:41 PM
To: M Wolfe
Subject: Re: [Wyewood] Got a great prize, but what to do for a contest

On 5/28/2015 5:30 PM, M Wolfe via Wyewood wrote:
> Greetings from Wyewood's A&S Champion Rauthulfr
>
> I have a large wicker hamper, filled with some very nice quality wool 
> that really wants to be carded, spun, and turned into something 
> amazing. The only thing is figuring out what it's going to be a prize for???

Each competitor will enter one object, any kind. S/he must have made the object (obviously), which must be something of everyday usefulness, *to his/her persona*. There must be documentation that the object fits his/her persona---personally as well as by time period. The documentation can be of the most basic sort; for example, "Everyone used wooden spoons!" is good enough. As well, there must be something written by the persona-as-such, explaining why s/he made it, and made it that way. Again, this can be very basic, and doesn't have to be more than a paragraph.

NOTE! The persona is not writing to the judges of the competition; s/he doesn't know the 21st century, the SCA, nor the event exist. IOW, s/he has written something that *happens* to mention the object and its making. E.g., "...and so he offered to add a few small pieces of very good wood to sweeten the deal. I accepted, and have made this spoon I send you as a gift, as well as some others that I have kept. I used one of those special wood-carver knives I showed unto you Michaelmas last, and then did smooth and polish it once carved. I am sending it by the hand of...." Yes, I mean the "cover letter" can be just an excerpt, Or it can be a fuller piece (even something deliberately written to describe the process, as if to teach someone how to do it). So long as it's written from the persona to someone from that time, for a purpose the persona would have had, that's fine.

Now, the judging is not based on the object /per se/, nor on the scholarly-ness of the documentation, but on how well the "cover letter" shows that being in persona can be fun. The "motto" is, "Persona is not a burden, it's a blast!" 
IOW, have the contestant show how s/he enjoys being in persona, more than show him/her doing his/her art/science/craft.

Well, that's my idea. It needs some work, and might be a bit hairy to work out, but I like it and I hope you do too. And if you think I have an agenda, you're right. ;-)


~~Basil Dragonstrike
Lions Heart Herald, An Tir

Such a long long time to be gone, and a short time to be there. -- Robert Hunter

You're only old if you can't think of anything to do in your future. -- Dante Shepard

And it's only the giving that makes you, what you are. -- J. Tull

My reality check was returned for insufficient funds.