What Makes a Good Group Member?

What makes a good group member? One word participation!  This can be done in two ways:

First attend business meetings.  Yes, they can be boring and they’re not the most glamorous part of being a reenactor, but they’re necessary.  During these meetings upcoming events are planned.  This is also the time to share ideas among the group.  The ideas can be on a new event, how to raise money, where to get supplies at a better price, etc.

Showing up at group events and helping out. We all know people who are content to literally sit down and let others do the work.  Now I’m not suggesting you do anything to hurt yourself, but chipping in whenever you can makes a difference in how quickly a job gets one.  Man your group’s setup. Hand out literature. Offer to go for a coffee run. It means being flexible and being willing to help where needed.  It’s that simple.

In addition, a good group member must be reliable.  If you say you’re going to be at an event be there.  Of course emergencies can happen that prevent you from attending, that’s understandable.  If you can’t commit to an event say so, the group can plan around you. Same goes for a job you are given. If you run into problems let the group know so they can make alternate plans.  If you can’t do a job or finish it once started, again communicate it to others so they can step up and complete the task.  A corollary is don’t be a hero.  If a job is too much for you to do, ask for help.  It’s better than a job falling apart.    

Being pleasant is another characteristic of a good group member.  No one wants to deal with a grouch.  When you’re hot and tired from being at a festival all day you don’t have the patience to deal with the grouch personality.  Grouches just make things unpleasant for everyone and can sink a group’s moral very quickly.

Consideration is another quality to have.  This can take many forms—offering to help someone carry their gear to their their car, bringing water to the person who’s sweating bullets breaking down a set, offering to mind the set so someone else can take a look at the festival.

Maturity.  There will always be the “star” among the group.  The person everyone at the fair wants to take their picture with, the one who is always gets their picture in the paper, quoted by all the reporters.  If you’re the big attraction be gracious about it. You also might want to think of ways of sharing the spotlight. If you’re not the star don’t be jealous and start demeaning the person behind their back.

A good group member should be able to handle pressure.  When things go wrong a good member is able to think on his or her feet and find a way to make things right quickly and not get angry.  In the days before the event he or she is able to juggle all the details that go into planning with such grace that makes organizing an event look easy.

Groups made up of engaged and friendly members are fortunate because they will find the reenactment experience more fun and satisfying.