If you saw a someone you took to be new at their third event wearing t-shirt & jeans (for the third time), what would you do if anything? Would what you do change if you were Baron/ess?

Master Aleksandr Ruslanovich and Lady Morwenna Westerne (other question responses)
Mistress Caitlin Davies and Master Justin du Coeur (other question responses)
Lord Diego Mundoz and Lady Godith Anyon (other question responses)
Lady Emmanuelle de Chenonceaux and Master Seamus Donn (other question responses)
Mistress Gwendolyn of Middlemarch and Lord Kali Harlansson of Gotland (other question responses)
Seigneur Jehan du Lac (other question responses)
Master John McGuire (other question responses)
Shi Hua Fu and Lady Yelizaveta Medvedeva (other question responses)

As an individual, I would approach the person and direct them towards Gold Key. If they had no interest in dressing in garb, I'd probably just ignore them.

If I were baron, I would start by talking to the folks manning gate. One of the few criteria of participation in SCA events is "an attempt at medieval clothing". If someone showed up in modern clothing -- and had no obvious change of clothes with them -- I would encourage the gatekeepers to explain the rules of participation, and point the newcomer towards someone who could provide them with clothing.

After that, I would find a Gold Key officer and point them towards the person, asking that Gold Key try to help them out. In some cases, like an event at a borough, I might approach one of the borough representatives first.

Lady Morwenna Westerne :

As an individual or as baroness, I think I would direct Gold Key or the Magistra (or both) towards this person. They are best suited to help out someone who is new to our society.

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Master Justin du Coeur :

Probably not much (would change, that is). I mean, as a Peer I've already got a certain amount of onus to try and guide people when it looks necessary.

In general, a situation like this calls for a gentle but firm hand, steering them towards some loaner garb for the short term, and a teacher (or at least a merchant) for the longer. The main danger is coming off as scolding, which can drive someone away -- you need to get across the point that we *do* have some reasonable expectations of folks, while being as helpful as possible. Exactly how you handle it is going to depend on the person involved, and being sensitive to how they react.

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Lord Diego Mundoz :

Find out who they are, and why they're not correctly dressed. If it's lack of opportunity, hand them off to Gold Key or solicit private contributions. Otherwise ... remind them gently we do have a clothing policy. If they're still not with the plan, it's time to talk to the autocrat.

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Lady Emmanuelle de Chenonceaux :

That is a tough call. If I see that now, my instinct is to chat with them and offer to introduce them to gold key- or invite them to a garb making or research workshop. Everyone has their area of expertise or interest, not everyone's is garb.

Master Seamus Donn :

On my own, if I did not already know them, I would discretely find whoever is in charge of Gold Key, and point the gentle out to them. If I did know them I would drag them back to my tent/car/bag and put them in extra garb of my own.

As Baron, if already introduced, I would approach them. If not I would find someone to introduce me. I would greet them, find out who they were, what their interests were. Proclaim that I need someone with just that set of interests to fulfill a position in court (cupbearer, treasury guard, messenger, spy, or whatever depending on their willingness and interests). I'd inform them, however, that court requires appropriate garb, but that all is well because I have just the person to sort them out. Then together seek out whoever is in charge of gold key and leave them in their hands. Later I would seek out someone who sews and direct them in their direction.

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Mistress Gwendolyn of Middlemarch :

This depends on the exact situation. Assuming I know it is for the third time, that the person is not immediately leaving the event, and, to be quite candid, I am not in the middle of some other small crisis at the time, here is what I would do.

If I could find someone who knows the person, and that someone is willing to talk to the person, then I would suggest that the someone have a chat with the person in the very near future and possibly take them to visit Gold Key to see if there is any loaner garb at the event.

If no one knows this person or is willing to talk to this person, then I would introduce myself to them and ask about their interests in the SCA. Then I would point out that some attempt at medieval or Renaissance clothing is expected at an event. If he or she still looked friendly, I would expound on the virtues of tabards and t-tunics. Then I would tell him or her that we would appreciate it if he or she would make the attempt to wear some type of garb. If they still looked friendly, I would offer to accompany them in search of loaner garb.

Lord Kali Harlansson of Gotland :

An interesting question, trickier than it seems at first glance. For now, not being Baron, I wouldn't assume that someone I'd seen at three events was necessarily new; on the other hand, if I've never seen them in garb, I wouldn't assume that they're necessarily members at all yet, either. What is the nature of this event and of the past two? If they've all been semi-open events like Falling Leaves or May Day, I would probably approach the person in an open and friendly manner as an evidently interested potential member; I'd talk to them about what their interests are, and try to link them up with some loaner garb and invite them to "come inside."

On the other hand, if I've been seeing them at more closed events where they evidently paid a site fee and otherwise consciously chose to come in, I'd be less likely to come straight over. I'd probably ask around a little first, see if anyone knows who this person is, whether anyone else has ever seen them in garb (maybe I've only seen them coming to or leaving the event), whether anyone else had already talked to them in the manner suggested above. I'd likely still approach them and engage them in talk, but just what tack I'd take would depend on what I'd learned from the asking-around stage.

I would likely do things a little differently as Baron. If they seemed shy and genuinely unaware, I'd worry lest having The Baron Of Carolingia approach them might be intimidating (gentle and lovable though I am); I'd probably ask a known responsible and discreet friend (member of entourage?) to go and try my first approach. On the other hand, the more it seemed that they had already had some exposure to our mores but just didn't care, the more likely I'd be to approach them in person - still open and friendly, but letting them know that collective appearance really does matter to us.

I can't give a clearer answer, it would depend a lot on the situation.

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Seigneur Jehan du Lac :

I would hope that by their third event I would have introduced myself and would therefore know them and they would know me. I do believe that one of the most important functions of a baron is to make new people welcome. I think I can be diplomatic enough to tell this person that we are delighted s/he has returned to join us again, but that our Society does have some minimum guidelines about attempting to wear clothing from our time period. We have many solutions the problem: our baronial Gold Key is ready with loaner garb for the short term, and there are many people who would be willing to help that person put together some clothing even if they have little money or skill. How I would behave after that point is a function of how they react. If they are sincere and willing to play, but hampered by poverty or other constraints, I would try hard to find them cheap solutions, including passing on old cast-off garments. If they aren't particularly cooperative, then I would be less inclined to go far out of my way to help. If they were uncooperative and showed up again the same way, I would have to be sterner.

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Master John McGuire :

(Do we actually have anyone in Carolingia who can go to two events dressed like that and not get an offer of help?????)
I would normally introduce them to gold key and offer to teach them how to make garb, or point them to a few good merchants depending on their interest in sewing.

As Baron I would be a bit more circumspect and have someone else approach them and introduce them to gold key and mention that the Baron and a few others are happy to teach. As Baron a comment on garb could be more intimidating, and thus I would avoid making it.

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Shi Hua Fu and Lady Yelizaveta Medvedeva :

Hua Fu would do what he does now -- walk up, introduce himself, make them feel comfortable, and try to get more information about why they aren't in garb. Presently, Yeliz assumes people not in garb are passers-by, and goes and talks to them about the group and what we're doing. If they've attended before and aren't in garb now, perhaps it's a misunderstanding about the garb requirement for attendance. We would explain the concept of atmosphere and how people in modern dress are seen as outside of our game. We would introduce them to Gold Key and to others who can set them up with the aid necessary to create a few basic wardrobe pieces. We would chat about personas and garb, and how the one is not necessary to the other -- I bet you'd look good in 14thC English, it's attractive and easy to make -- that sort of thing, and about the wisdom of doing something easy and basic until they decide on a time and place that best suits them. After all, Hua Fu was a Viking when he started, and Yeliz's first garb was all early English. We don't think being Baron and Baroness would change what we have been doing, except to perhaps provide a better opportunity for follow-up on the discussion.

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