What's This Gonna Cost Me?

That's another one of those fair questions you hear tell about.  Like any other hobby, you can get into this as deeply as you want and spend as much as you want, or you can treat it as lightly as you want and spend as little as you want.  It's all up to you.

The minimum rule for participation in an event is that everyone in attendence make a minimal effort at pre-17th century clothing.  You'll need at least one outfit of "garb."  It's not necessary to purchase garb before you attend your first event, though.  Most local groups maintain a stock of simple "loaner garb" to help newcomers fit in without having to spend a lot of money right away.   You will want to obtain your own garb fairly quickly.  As you become active with your local group you will meet the local tailors and seamstresses who will be glad to barter clothes for items you produce with your own skills, or for cash.  You will also meet merchants who can sell you whole wardrobes of clothing.  Medieval clothing tends to sell for as little as $10.00 for a simple tunic or pair of pants, up to several hundred dollars for a single reproduction of Queen Elizabeth's Sunday best, which can cost more than I spent for my first car.  But for your first couple of events, we'll dress you.

If you want to be a warrior, expect to spend a minimum of $200.00 on armor and weapons.   I once saw a man who armored-up for only $80.00, but he looked like he'd dont it on the cheap.

Most groups do not supply dishes at feast, only the serving platters.  You'll need your own plate, bowl, goblet, knife, fork, and spoon.  In a pinch, the stuff from your kitchen cabinet will do.  You'll blend in better if you can find some wooden or pewter eating gear, though.  They run roughly $2.00 - $3.00 an item.  You can put together a place setting for less than $20.00.

The next thing that you can't do without is the site fee.  It pays for your food, where food is provided, your bed, when beds are available, and the cost of renting the site.  The more services you get, the more expensive the site fee.  Naturally, events that provide nothing but an empty field to hold a tourney cost less than sites with cabins, showers, and fully-equipped kitchens.  In the past year I have paid as little as $7.00 for a site fee, and as much as $35.00 for a site fee. They're going to vary, but in general, budget no less than $20.00 for the site fee for a weekend event.

Lastly, there's membership.  Unlike most organizations, formal membership in the SCA is actually optional.  You can participate in most SCA activities without having to purchase a formal membership.  There are certain offices that are limited to paid members, but almost everything else is available without membership.  Membership does provide a discount at many of our activities.  For example, members get a $3.00 discount on many site fees.  As of October, 1998, membership costs $35.00/year.   Attend 12 events and the money on your discounts has paid for your membership!

So there you have it.  As a flat-broke undergraduate, working part-time and living hand-to-mouth, I participated for under $200.00 a year.  It's been a little while since I was an undergraduate, so that amount may have gone up, but it's a good low-end rule of thumb.  These days, as a degreed professional, who is too old to be sleeping on the ground, I manage to spend a couple of thousand dollars a year on it.  There's room in the SCA for all levels or income and participation. 

Come and visit!