Thinking about 12th Night...

[bovil]

Westermark/West 12th Night & Coronation Jan 4-6, 2008

So we'll start out with what I don't know:
I haven't been to an SCA event in nearly 10 years. I haven't ever been to a West Kingdom event. I haven't ever been to a hotel event. I haven't gone nihonjin to an event.

What I do know?
I was involved in my local SCA groups throughout much of the 90's. I come from the Northshield (back when it was still part of the Middle, and was just a "region"). I've been to several 12th Night events, including the Nordskogen 12th Night that was the first Northshield Coronet Tourney and Investiture. I've been to many camping events, and many church/school/strange-old-building events. I attended Pennsic 23 and 24. I've dressed generic middle-ages, generic middle-eastern for ugly-hot events and Italian Ren, German Ren and Elizabethan when I wanted to look nice. I've cooked feasts. I've merchanted, and never will again.

So here's the thing. In April we're running Costume-Con 26 in San Jose (yes, I realize it's the same weekend as Spring Collegium Occidentalis, but our historical costume competition is Sunday for folks who wouldn't be caught dead missing CO) at the same hotel. This is a very local kingdom event where we can talk up our conference.

Can anyone give me an idea what the schedule and activities at a West 12th Night/Coronation are like? Anything that someone who isn't a native Wester would find odd?

Is it worth getting a social-floor room to do an open afternoon Nihonjin "embassy" party, or to do a costumers' post-revel after Court?

Comments

[esprix.livejournal.com]

If you go, let me know how it is. I haven't been to an SCA event outside of Pennsic in probably just as long.

report from last year's 12th Night West

[trystbat.livejournal.com]

Everyone is saying this one is supposed to be v. different than previous years bec. they want more stuff going on than just Saturday.

Last year was in a Modesto hotel, all events in the general programming rooms. The big thing was the nearly non-stop court in the biggest room, but it was super-crowded & I couldn't see what was going on (hence my joke about you could, since you're taller ;-). The 2 other big rooms were for merchants & a DIY 'feasting hall' that imo looked kinda lame, very high-school-gym, but I guess that's standard SCA. Smaller rooms had A&S displays, belly dancing lounge (pretty good too, nice place to loiter), & um, I forget what else. Lots of mingling in the open area in front of the court/merchant rooms.

There was no equivalent of a party floor or open parties. The next morning I could tell that plenty of us had private parties tho.

Re: report from last year's 12th Night West

[bovil.livejournal.com]

We can hope that between it being at the Doubletree and the high number of scadians familiar with BayCon and other Doubletree events that the social environment might be a bit different.

Re: report from last year's 12th Night West

[demode.livejournal.com]

A bunch of us GBACG people would be there - it would be fab if you and Kevin came. Yes party!

Ditto what Trystan said - as an SCA newbie, what was fun was running around and drinking with my friends in costume. Wheeeee!!

[neo-serenity.livejournal.com]

Caid here... although I haven't been to a 12th night in years, since I wasn't willing to travel to far to them when I first started in the SCA due to concerns about reliable transportation. Now it's different, but my time is taken up with going to conventions instead.

So is Collegium going to be held at the same hotel at the same time as CC26? Or am I misunderstanding you, and you're saying that the event you are attending for 12th night is at the same hotel?

[bovil.livejournal.com]

12th Night is at the Doubletree (where we are). Collegium Occidentalis is going to be our weekend, but in Sacramento.

[seamoose.livejournal.com]

I haven't heard the planned schedule yet, but unfortunately, most of Western 12th Night is court. There is also smoozing and shopping, with some other activities thrown in. If you want to see if there is a place/time that you could set up and shill at, contact the autocrat.

[semy-of-pearls.livejournal.com]

Wot he said.

Actually, what lots of people have said. One hall will be set up for court, court and yet more court. I'm part of the group that will be performing a commedia during one of the court breaks.

Honestly? Court is boring unless you know who is who and what is what. Pop your head in, look at the pretty people on the throne, then go schmooze.

There will be a large room (probably what has been the dealers room when BayCon was held there) set up for 'feasting.' There is no feast, but people will sit around tables and lay out noshies.

Shopping is usually pretty damn fine. You will get the regular amount of kitch, but there are some out of kingdom merchants who make a special trip to 12th night because everyone is there with their chequebooks.

There is the Arts and Sciences display, where people will show off what people are currently working on, be it armor, embroidery, calligraphy, etc.

In the evening, there is the casbah, and several private/open parties. Think room parties from con days.

Hope this helps

[yourbob.livejournal.com]

I've been out of it a lot longer than you have - almost twenty years, and looking over the info on the Kingdom Calendar, it's all greek to me. They DO have a "party floor"!! Who'da thunk.

As suggested by others, you might contact the autocrat. They should be able to help you figure out what's feasible.

You might also contact the Kingdom Chatelaine and Gold Key (and Mists Principality). Outside 12th Night hey may be willing to direct people, perhaps let their officer mailing lists know about CC. Email is on the Kingdom website (but it's "office@westkingdom.org"). There's also going through at least the local branches and sending a blurb. Some of them have local newsletters or would be willing to announce the stuff to their branch meetings.

Just some thoughts.