At 12:04 AM 9/17/03 -0400, you wrote:
>Date:    Tue, 16 Sep 2003 11:23:46 -0700
>From:    "Kimberly Kenney, Curator" <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Question about impersonators
>MIME-Version: 1.0
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
>Hello all,
>
>I have been asked to inquire what policies other
>museums have about impersonators / first person
>interpreters (not on staff).

We call them "re-enactors". :-) We actually have both staff and volunteers
who do the first-person interpretation thang.

>We are wondering...
>
>Is there a contract between the museum and the
>impersonator?

None other than their usual staff or vounteer agreement.

>What is the fee schedule?
>
>Are the impersonators ever volunteers?

Yup. Our Viking Warrior is a volunteer, we have the Company of the Wolfe
Argent come by every now and then (volunteer).

>Are costumes provided?  Or are they the responsibility
>of the impersonator?

They do their own. Even the staff who do first-person gigs are involved in
getting their own stuff -- purchase and then reimburse sometimes. The
museum has bought stuff for the Sword Guild folks to use, but it belongs to
the museum for use by the group.

>Do the impersonators do off-site programs,
>representing the museum?

We do send *museum staff* out on outreaches to schools, libraries, etc. ,
doing the first-person thang -- but only staff. The folks who do volunteer
appearances at the museum also do appearances at other places, but on their
own, not as representing the museum. We do have volunteer members of the
museum Sword Guild who will go to various Ren Faires and SF cons in the
area and do demos --- then they are volunteers representing the museum, but
they are closely allied with us, and it's not necessarily first-person
interpretation.

>   If so, how is the
>schedule/bookings handled?

Through our Ed Dept. We have an Outreach Manager and an administrative
assistant who do bookings. The Director of Education usually books the
appearances for the Sword Guild demo team.


---Amy

------------------------------
Look, I have ONE job on this lousy ship. It's STUPID, but I'm gonna do it,
OKAY?
- Gwen DeMarco in _Galaxy Quest_

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