Katie,
This is always a problem. I've put on a number of these balls and attended dozens more over the last 20 years. It's not quite the same situation as the volunteers from Sun-N-Fun, who don't bring any special expertise to the event.
The usual price for a reenactor ball with light refreshments is $20-25 per person. This usually means water, punch, lemonade, or iced tea to drink, a cheese and fruit platter, some assorted cookies and pastries, and perhaps some veggies and dip.
If you're going to have a full sit-down meal or lots of hot hors d'ouevres, you can charge from a low end of $40 up to $70 per person. Frankly, most reenactors don't have that kind of money. One way to help them is to offer reduced prices to reenactors in period clothing, like let them in for $30 each or whatever. After all, you're asking them to "work" by looking authentic and mingling with the others, and I expect they will be doing a little dance instruction for those who don't know how to do the period dances.
Many reenactors feel insulted and "used" because they go to the trouble of researching and making their clothes -- at a huge expense -- and then event organizers invite them to events and expect them to pay for the privilege. It's really not fair to them, since they're part of what makes the event happen and you need them more than they need you--after all, if they want a ball, they'll have their own, at a price they can afford, and not have to deal with people who aren't in period clothes and have no idea of what it's all about! You really should be paying them, but since that's out of the question, the least you can do is give them a break on the price. It's like asking for free medical advice from a doctor at a party...
I also assume that there will be some kind of formal dance instruction in 1860s dances, or else the band will just play modern ballroom music. (Unfortunate, but it happens a lot at heritage balls where a majority of the audience aren't famliar with period dancing.)
Suzanne Fischer
Curator of Material Culture
Louisiana State Museum
P.O. Box 2448
New Orleans, LA 70176
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504-568-5459 office
504-599-1950 fax
-----Original Message-----
From: Katie Anderson [
Sent: Friday, August 05, 2005 11:16 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: reenactors at ball
We are planning a Heritage Ball as a fundraiser. The 8th Regiment Band (mid-19th century) is providing music for free. The local SCV is excited about participating. I'm in a quandary about what to charge for tickets. Cost per person including food, drinks, rental etc. is $38.75. We can seat 200. Our goal is to raise $20,000. I plan on asking 20 old Rome families and businesses to "host" at $1000. For that they receive 4 dinner tickets and a brief family history in the program. This leaves 120 seats at $75.00. This gets us to our goal.
Here's the dilemma. My dear friend from the band says most re-enactors would expect to and be willing to pay $50 per couple max. I don't want this to be an elitist event but $50 for a couple doesn't break even much less raise funds! We had planned on advertising the ball to regional re-enactors and inviting local re-enactors. I don't want to offend them with the high ticket price. We really need them there to provide a sense of authenticity. The band members will receive free tickets but I can't give all re-enactors free tickets. I can't think of a way to have two ticket prices without it becoming uncomfortable.
Any sage advice? If you've put on a ball before I'd love to hear from you!
Thanks,
Katie
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Katie Anderson
Museum Director
Rome Area History Museum
305 Broad Street
Rome, GA 30161
706-235-8051
cell 678-908-7751
fax 706-235-6631
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<http://www.romehistorymuseum.com/> www.RomeHistoryMuseum.com
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A new exhibit highlighting the efforts on the home front during WWII is now open at the Rome Area History Museum. "World War II: The Home Front" contains photos and artifacts from the 1940s that tell the story of this transformational time. A video containing clips of oral history interviews with local WWII veterans and civilians is on view in the exhibit.
As a partner of the Library of Congress Veterans History Project, we are coordinating an oral history project with World War II veterans and civilians in northwest Georgia. It is vital that we preserve these stories. Please contact the Museum to schedule interviews.
The oral history project and exhibit are supported in part by a grant from the Georgia Humanities Council.
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