Surviving Economic Challenges Again.
When the Great Recession rolled in, event attendance did take a hit. People were laid off. Gas prices skyrocketed. Suddenly, that two-day drive to a Kingdom-level war with a glorious feast did not make the cut. Even camping under the stars was also excluded from the monthly budget.
But guess what? The SCA didn’t collapse.
What actually happened? A lot of creativity and compassion kicked in:
- Feasts got leaner (think hearty soups and simple breads rather than five removes).
- Day-trip pricing became more popular.
- Shires and baronies teamed up to share costs for joint events.
- People leaned into local revels, free garb-making meetups, and—this is my favorite—some folks started hosting “tavern nights” in their basements. BYOB and a sense of humor required.
- And horses stayed home.
Why This Matters Now
We’re in a different kind of uncertainty today. There’s buzz about layoffs, rising costs, and world tensions. We don’t know what’s coming. However, we do know that missing even one paycheck can affect whether someone goes to their favorite event. Alternatively, they might stay home with instant noodles and wistful doom-scrolling.
That matters. Not just for the individual, but for SCA event organizers, too. Fewer folks attending means tighter budgets and harder choices about sites, feasts, or whether to hold the event at all.
Here’s the good news: We’ve weathered this before. We can do it again with grace, creativity, and maybe some ale.
So What Can We Do?
If you’re an event steward, group officer, or just a concerned SCAdian with a big heart and a belt pouch full of ideas, here are a few thoughts:
- Be sure to offer flexible pricing. Sliding scale site fees, kids attend free, or “pay what you can” options are lifesavers for some folks.
- Think smaller, not sadder. Like many SCA revels, a potluck in the park can be just as magical. This is true if the company’s good, just like a feast hall.
- Keep people connected. If they can’t come to the event, consider offering an online A&S show-and-tell. They might enjoy a penpal project. Alternatively, start a simple chat thread about their persona’s favorite snacks.
- Ask around. Sometimes a friend has a spare tent, or someone can share a ride or garb. The SCA community is full of generosity—you just have to open the door for it.
In the End…
Events may ebb and flow, but the heart of the SCA is resilient. We’ve survived plagues, recessions, and fashion mistakes involving polyester brocade.
So if the road ahead gets bumpy, let’s remember:
We don’t need a castle to have court. We don’t need a tavern to share stories. We don’t need a feast hall to break bread.
We just need each other.
PS: If your group has any great budget-friendly SCA event tips, I’d love to hear them. Drop them in the comments below. I’d love to share them in a follow-up post!
