Article on the aging SCA membership

[callistotoni]

Apparently this is not just a Western problem. I think the idea of posting on Craigs List is interesting. My gut feel is that, around here, there would be a fear of such a posting (a la "We want to stay safe by not inviting any crazy-types"). But people have to know the SCA is an option, so is it so dangerous to publicize? Or do we believe that "Those that want to find the SCA will"?

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local_state/story/302747.html#storylink=addthis

Comments

Oh, man, now you've got me thinking about this some more.

[aastg.livejournal.com]

I think we are short of teenagers and college-age people, at least based on the attendance numbers I've seen. We could probably use a lot more people who are younger than 40, for that matter.

It was really good for the GSP to have so many kids playing with this time: it was quite a creative shot in the arm. (Many thanks to thelbk for being the conduit that brought Katie, Kate, Aaron and Emily in.)

Most of us who can afford to play don't have kids; for those who do have kids it seems to be hit-or-miss whether the kids stay and play.

New people seem to do best when they have a friend to bring them in. We *used* to get lots of college types because we had Info Stations at universities and demos at cons. Now that we're in the age of social networking sites, really anyone who wants to find us *can* find us. Now I'm wondering about what we have to offer that young people want. Hm.

Re: Oh, man, now you've got me thinking about this some more.

[allison-is.livejournal.com]

I think the problem with getting some college students in is the aging population, at least here in Reno (no offense to any of the Silver Deserters or anyone else). It's harder to identify with people who are on average 20 years older than you. I don't have much of a problem doing it, but others might.

I am going to see if my professor will let me talk to my history class about the SCA for maybe 5 minutes or so as we progress in the semester (past Rome, I see more of a tie-in once we hit The Song of Roland) but even that's not a sure thing as far as recruitment depending on how I phrase it.