Southeast Rangers: anyone going to the JRRT Celebration?

[Elleth]

Details here:
https://www.celebratetolkien.com/

It's this November in Greenville SC, and looks like they might have some interesting speakers.
Heck, they might appreciate some Rangers.


One of their promos is a viral contest for a dwarven axe. If anyone's interested, here's a link:
http://upvir.al/ref/v8143214
(They give YOU a link to pass on if you enter. Dastardly clever! )

[Greg]

The drive is not at all beyond me. The price tag, however, is. Too bad. That's a heck of a lineup...I'd LOVE to be there.

[Elleth]

Honestly, I think you'd make a good presenter yourself at that thing. Have you considered hitting them up to see if they're interested?
(I think there may be SOME connection w/Zan of Fell and Fair, since he's in that neck of the woods, but I don't know details)

[Greg]

They don't have need of other presenters, I already checked. Doesn't look like Fell & Fair are involved, thankfully. Thanks for the compliment, though!

[Manveruon]

Well dang... It does seem like an event of that sort would be the perfect place for a Middle Earth Reenactment presence of some kind.

[Greg]

Well dang... It does seem like an event of that sort would be the perfect place for a Middle Earth Reenactment presence of some kind.

Yeah. The types that this would attract seem, to me, to be exactly the sort that would appreciate a breakdown of a book-accurate kit with references explaining the rationale behind things.

[Manveruon]

Exactly!

[Kortoso]

It seems to be more of an academic event. I doubt that costumed participants would be made to feel welcome. (Having made that mistake in the past.)

[Manveruon]

If that's the case, they're alienating a huge demographic that could deeply enrich their event. Like it or not, costumed hobbies are becoming more and more popular, and to disregard and/or spurn the people who are passionate about them seems like an increasingly bad move. But I suppose I am biased.

[Elleth]

Oh, I think there's a place and time for everything.

It's entirely reasonable I think for a more literary setting to expect mundane or even semi-formal attire from participants.
If they let tunics and bows in, next thing you know some dude is roaming the halls with Spock ears and a toy tricorder, and any gravitas they hoped to convey is out the window.

That said, I do think they're missing the boat not also including presentations from more juried reenactor types with meticulous footnotes. But their penny, their tune.

[Udwin]

Except....
"Tolkien fans are being encouraged to dress in their best Middle Earth costumes for the first annual “Celebrate Tolkien” conference, which will be held at the Old Cigar Warehouse November 9-10, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.....“Our goal is honor and appreciate Tolkien’s work with this conference,” said organizer Dan Cruver. “We’re encouraging everyone to dress as their favorite Tolkien character. We want hobbits, we want Gandalf, we want orcs. We want people to know they’re in Middle Earth when they come through the doors." (source)

Also, they apparently have a giveaway to win a 'Tolkien-inspired battle axe'

[Elleth]

Hah! That's awesome then.