Avoiding Burnout
One of the hazards of ongoing avid participation in this activity is burnout or loss of enthusiasm for participation. This is especially true of an activity that is time-consuming and expensive. The failure to recognize the symptoms leads to the dreaded phenomenon called “leaving the hobby,” and it becomes terminal when somebody lists their collection of gear in a Civil War forum or other ad grimly titled that way. The sight of that kind of post evokes mixed feelings, at least some selfish, as excellent reproduction material culture items can be found at bargain prices. (An excellent U.S. 1858 tin canteen with a leather sling I recently purchased for $25 would have cost $65 new, and another $20 for the strap. And it would take several campaigns to achieve the look of field use. I knew the fellow leaving and was sad to see him go.) On the other hand, it is always sad to witness that final bridge being set on fire, especially since our numbers seem to be simultaneously graying and shrinking, meaning the loss of a 20-year participant may not be replaced by an enthusiastic young recruit as often as in years past. The most common explanation accompanying the decision to leave the hobby is a statement from the seller blaming the intervention of the “real world” or “life” that resulted in the decision to discontinue participation. To be certain, some priorities will change over time, but both life and the real world were in full vigor when the participant entered the hobby. So the question becomes, what killed it for the person who decided to leave the hobby? What causes burnout? Where are the new recruits needed to replace the “retirees” (burnouts)? According to Greg Romaneck, author of A Civil War Re-enactor’s Guide (Heritage Books 2007), at least part of the blame rests with over-commitment on the part of the participant to an overly full schedule of events. He writes, “Be careful to identify the type and number of events you can handle. The depth of your living history experiences may well be more valuable to you than the number of events you can cram into one season.” If participation levels seem to be on the decline, there is little evidence of it in the form of fewer events on the annual calendar. One needs only to glance at the events calendar section of Civil War News to see all the upcoming possibilities for participation. Granted, it can be hard to say no when your comrades make you feel guilty for missing an opportunity to get together, and every event on the calendar is labeled “maximum effort.” This is a strange phenomenon but some unit schedules have a max effort event every month. The most important variable is a personal commitment to maintaining your interest level. In other words, you must constantly evaluate and monitor your level of enthusiasm and take action to prevent burnout from setting in. At some point in your life, you were excited by prospect of getting out there. What factors caused that to be the case? There are a variety of ways to stay active. For example, a Civil War event does not have to be an “all or nothing” commitment. Consider doing a single day or some part of an event if your schedule does not permit a full weekend (plus travel time). If your family members are not also reenactors they often view your participation as a largely unnecessary expenditure of time and resources. When consideration is given to the needs of the people at home, the tensions caused by your hobby-related absences can be better managed. It may also be possible to change the make-up of some of the Civil War events you do. A one-day living history at a local Civil War battlefield park or school can satisfy your participation needs, cost very little and still get you home for supper. Another factor that drives out participants is the natural Phoenix-like behavior of reenactment units. The egotists, head-cases and politicians take over what was formerly a group composed of happy participants and impose an agenda of “taking things to a whole new level.” You can sit back and watch the disintegration hoping to avoid getting splattered, go solo, find a new unit or quit. Many choose to quit as the “fun” is now out of it for them. This phenomenon is not uncommon and seems to somehow follow the five-year cycle of events. It is nothing new. There is no shame associated with moving on if your needs are not met by one particular group. It is fairly easily accomplished by picking out a few events you enjoy and asking to fall in with other units until you find one that shares your level of enthusiasm. Try some campaigner or progressive events. They will be glad to have you. As far as where the new recruits are hiding these days, there is probably no single answer. The overall health of the hobby is a matter of debate, but nobody with any common sense would categorize it as a fast-growing segment any more. Two main culprits are easily identified. According to IRS figures, AGI (Adjusted Gross Income) had been on the rise from 1996 to 2000. From 2000 onwards it sometimes rose and sometimes fell from year to year. The net growth in income since 2000 is next to nil, or at least very modest. The trend is unmistakable and since AGI does not take inflation or the jobless rate into account, the average consumer has almost certainly lost ground. Compare that to the cost of two basic commodities (one variable, one fixed) that are used in Civil War reenacting: black powder and a reproduction musket. For a variety of reasons the variable (black powder) has almost doubled in cost from 10 years ago. Likewise, the number one fixed cost expenditure (musket) is up about 50 percent, largely due to the decline of the dollar v. the Euro. To summarize, at a time when discretionary income is being pinched, it costs more to get involved in the hobby. The prognosis for Civil War enthusiasts is not all doom and gloom. There is still the prospect of the 150th cycle of events generating increased interest, both attracting new participants and nudging a few retirees back into the game. The economic indicators are steadily improving. The charms of participation in the re-creation of our own history, and the mental escape that it provides, are still viable forms of relaxation. The key is to hang in there, avoid burnout and plan to be around for the coming uptick. The new recruits will need your guidance and expertise.
|
