Post by mwkeogh on Apr 17, 2007 17:15:28 GMT -6
I have written long and hard about the ongoing sad state of affairs now plaguing the Real Bird Reenactment. Truly, it can hardly be called a real reenactment any longer. I would say more along the lines of a pageant....One of my biggest beefs has centered on turning the event over to professional profiteers. It started in 2004 with the SASS tourist group coming up to play reenactor for a weekend. It has now expanded significantly since then to include a number of other groups. Here are the latest crop of profiteers to take advantage of our serious reenactors:
www.westernromancecompany.com/boothilltrip.html and:
www.uscavalryschool.org/enrollment.htm
What is the problem with profiteers, you ask? And how do they take unfair advantage of our serious reenactors? Here is my answer.... our reenactors have invested literally thousands of dollars and many years of effort into their impressions. They take this effort very seriously. They are not doing this for pay. The Real Birds have refused to pay them from day 1 (only the Indian reenactors---and just the Crows at that--- get paid, for those who don't know. lol.) The problem arises when various professional profiteers, be they film companies, tourist groups, horse wranglers or whatever come onto the scene and make their profit off the backs of our reenactors. This is not fair to them and they are being taken advantage of. Many of our reenactors do not have a great deal of money and often must spend hundreds of dollars (some spend well over a thousand, depending on their distance of travel) to attend this event in the far reaches of Montana. I would like someone to explain to me just how one can justify these profiteers making money off the impressions freely given by our reenactors. Its not fair and its not right, and I will continue to oppose it whenever the opportunity allows me to.
www.westernromancecompany.com/boothilltrip.html and:
www.uscavalryschool.org/enrollment.htm
What is the problem with profiteers, you ask? And how do they take unfair advantage of our serious reenactors? Here is my answer.... our reenactors have invested literally thousands of dollars and many years of effort into their impressions. They take this effort very seriously. They are not doing this for pay. The Real Birds have refused to pay them from day 1 (only the Indian reenactors---and just the Crows at that--- get paid, for those who don't know. lol.) The problem arises when various professional profiteers, be they film companies, tourist groups, horse wranglers or whatever come onto the scene and make their profit off the backs of our reenactors. This is not fair to them and they are being taken advantage of. Many of our reenactors do not have a great deal of money and often must spend hundreds of dollars (some spend well over a thousand, depending on their distance of travel) to attend this event in the far reaches of Montana. I would like someone to explain to me just how one can justify these profiteers making money off the impressions freely given by our reenactors. Its not fair and its not right, and I will continue to oppose it whenever the opportunity allows me to.
