Seeking topics for SCA 201

[jducoeur]

As part of Carolingia's upcoming Novice Schola, I'm planning on teaching a new class called "SCA 201". We've had "SCA 101" for a while -- that's an introduction to the Society, aimed primarily at the true novice, giving useful information for getting up and running. This is a little different. The target audience here is people who have been around for a year or three and have their feet under them. It is intended to get into a bit more detail about life in the SCA, and how to survive and thrive within it.

To that end, I'm seeking ideas for topics. Any and all ideas will be considered, but I'm especially looking for ideas from the people who *have* been in for 1-5 years. What questions have you had in the back of your mind for a while? What would have been useful for you to know about, that you learned only through painful experience? This class has a very broad remit -- the primary constraint is that it about SCA culture, *not* about history. Don't be shy about tossing ideas into the pot, and don't be afraid of "me, too" in this case -- if a bunch of people think a topic would be useful, that will bump it up the priority list. (Just bear in mind that I only have an hour, so I can't cover everything.)

Comments

[tpau]

yes, thank you. when i do that i get ignored. ti is all about knowing the right people.

[jdulac.livejournal.com]

you've got one of the major Right People at the other end of your yellow belt. She knows everyone.

contact their head lady-in-waiting. If you want an introduction, I can provide one.

check out their list of "needs." Offer to make something specific for them -- it really helps to let them know exactly what you can do. Seems to me there's some possibilities in the "personal device" category.

if you want to make something, show them (or their Chief Retainer) examples of your work, find out exactly what they want, and deliver it on time. Don't offer them things that they don't need.

if you want to retain, let them know your availability. The Winter king has gruelling schedule with out-of-kingdom events (Kingdom Crusades, Estrella, Gulf Wars). If you're willing to travel, I'm sure it would be helpful. Often retainers are based around the royalty's existing friends and household, because that is just easier for them to organize. You need to make the extra effort to be where they need you to be.

offer to make royal room food for an event that they'll be at. Keep in mind that this royalty has extremely limited diets, but their servants don't.

that's a start.

[new-man.livejournal.com]

"It's all about who you know" is absolutely incorrect. It's all about volunteering in some specific way which is actually useful. Simply saying "I want to help" is not enough. Say "I want to make order medallions" -- maybe they'll say "Thanks, we've already got plenty" (they don't), but you've given them something specific to react to. TRM/TRH get a lot of vague offers of help; managing all of them puts an extra burden on the royalty which is often enough for them to table the vague offers in favor of the concrete ones.

[hfcougar.livejournal.com]

Hell, it's a burden on us peons too.

One thing I've already really learned strongly is vague offers = not my friend.

[new-man.livejournal.com]

Yes, making a vague offer of help is a lot less effective than a specific offer of help -- regardless of the rank of the person to whom you're making the offer. This isn't just an SCA-ism; it's true in most situations.