There have been several posts recently on Facebook regarding the role that Merchants play in the Sca. I’ve seen them praised for their hard work and I’ve seen it said that they are unnecessary and that their presence doesn’t make or break the Society. As someone who has been a merchant in the Sca for just over 10 years I definitely have some feelings about this topic in general. Before getting into this post I just want to clarify that these are just my personal opinions on the subject.
As a merchant I do not see the need for a separate peerage, as has been suggested. However, I would like to see the work put in by many merchants to not only be considered for A&S in the case of Artisan merchants, but to also be able to begin to be considered as Service to The Dream.
I really appreciate that it was pointed out by one of the original posters that merchants do play a big role in the Sca as an organization, especially as I saw several comments in other threads about how they are not necessary and to me these comments felt like we are considered a throwaway. A lot of work goes into a successful merchant’s booth and the marketplace at an event helps to provide an ambiance that it would not have otherwise and gives further life to the Dream of the Living Medieval Village. There are several events that would indeed be lesser without their marketplaces. There can also often be a lot more work going into merchanting at an Sca event versus something like an art show (both of which I have done so I have a good understanding of the differences), though it is not always apparent to the casual observer’s eye.
The first argument that I often see presented is that yes, there are many artisan merchants who have been recognized for their contributions, their research and their work. No, it is not impossible, at least not here in the East from what I gather from these conversations, and from my own personal experience, where being a merchant doesn’t seem to factor positively or negatively into the award discussions. However, there are definitely other things that can make it difficult for an artisan/merchant to be thought of when polling comes around. I absolutely think there is a general Society wide bias, and it does run deep in many places. That is like the folks who say “I have never seen racism so I don’t believe it exists”. In these discussions online I have seen a number of people specifically say that they were told, point blank, that they would never be considered for these awards because they are a merchant. I have also heard it been spoken about by friends in regards to merchants from other Kingdoms myself, and after discussing it with Master Ali, he has come across it many times throughout his 20+ years as a merchant in the Sca. So yes, this bias absolutely exists, and I just want to give a little perspective to the life and work of a merchant.
We are not all just “salesmen out to make a quick buck”, as I have seen stated several times in these conversations. Many artisan merchants BECAME merchants as a byproduct of wanting to take their craft further and became a professional at it instead of a hobbyist. For some reason this makes them lesser in some peoples’ estimation, when I feel that it should be the opposite. The path to mastery does not come from making one thing well. It comes from practice and repetition. It just happens to be that some people use merchanting as a part of that path. It is unfortunate that in many circles this particular path to mastery is looked down upon. That someone should have so much passion for their art that they want to dedicate their life and livelihood to it should be celebrated!
Many of these artisans also became merchants because they saw a need in the Society and wanted to fill it. Master Ali is a great example of this. Back in his fighting days he made a helm. Because of his lack of experience in the craft he was unhappy with the final product. He then decided that instead of dabbling at other crafts, he would dedicate himself to glassblowing and be the best glassblower that he could be so that folks would be able to acquire the items that they longed for to elevate their Game. Also, as he himself had been awed by several A&S display pieces over the years but knew that he could never own such things because the artist only made that one or never wanted to make more or sell them, he also wanted to create pieces that one would might normally only see in A&S displays or competitions and make them accessible to everyone. He saw a need/desire within the Society and used his craft to fill it.
I know that many will throw in the argument about being compensated by the fact that we make money off of our products. Trust me when I tell you that the money most vendors make will never cover the costs of all of the work that is put in. Many of us lug heavy and expensive equipment across the country to provide demonstrations of our work. This adds extra time and energy to our set up and tear down times, often just to have someone watch us and say “I can make that” or “I’m just looking for ideas” and walk away. It can be quite disheartening! Folks give up what would be a day off or what would otherwise be “free time” to do all of the extra research, practice, and promoting so that they can continue to pursue their passions and try to further not only THEIR Dream, but the Dreams of others as well.
It takes heart, dedication, and patience to provide our patrons with quality items and accessibility. Not everyone can or wants to buy everything online and how wonderful an experience is it to be able to hold items in your hand that you may have only seen on a museum shelf! We try to provide an environment that portrays the right feel, often purchasing specialty tents and booth furniture. We travel great distances and set up and break down in all weather, sometimes to the detriment of our wares and/or equipment. We stay open in bad weather and provide a refuge from both sun and rain for any passerby. We donate items to largess, Kingdom baskets, and competitions or tourney prizes. We research not only history, but materials, processes, and techniques to bring our products to life for our patrons. We often must make our own tools because no one makes replicas of the period ones and go through an immeasurable amount of trial and error. Countless hours are spent learning and perfecting. We source materials from all over the world to get *just* the right thing to use for a specific purpose. We are educators about our craft and our wares nearly every time someone comes in to our shop, often pointing folks in the direction of helpful books and research papers to further their own personal studies. At times we even educate our patrons about the things that others sell, assisting them in purchasing the item they want or need, even if it is not from us. What is all of this if not Service?
Another short sighted comment that I would like to touch on is from the folks who try to say “Oh, but it’s so easy to find someone to watch your booth while you go off and teach (or take) a class or go to court (or volunteer, retain, etc)”. One particular poster said to just trade a ride and maybe some food and the entrance fee into the event to some university student, or other such person who may not be able to afford it, and and bingo! Problem solved! Unfortunately real life doesn’t actually work that way. More often than not, that person is more interested in having fun and talking to their friends than helping in your booth and you get someone who is a lackluster addition at best. If you leave your booth you then end up worrying about your shop the entire time you are away and don’t enjoy the time off as a result. There’s also the fact that this person will know little to nothing about the items you sell, your craft, your processes, or even the art of selling itself (because yes, there is absolutely an art to it), and therefore is woefully ill equipped to make sales or educate one’s patrons and instead you and your patrons lose out by having a complete novice in your shop. This, unfortunately is not an uncommon scenario in the slightest and leads to merchants spending the majority of their time in their booths to make sure that their patrons, new and old, are all equally treated to the same quality service and information. This then leads to merchants who are not able to be “seen” as much during events and helps to contribute to this lack of recognition.
I know this is a bit of a rant and it sounds like it’s just one big complaint. It isn’t. It’s pointing out the realities of merchant life and hopefully giving folks a better insight into what we do. There’s a love of our part of the Game that transcends money, because that is not the sole reason that we do what we do. It cannot be if we are to continue to do what we do.
We love seeing someone’s eyes light up when they walk in to our booths and see an item that they have coveted from that museum shelf that they can now own for themselves. We love getting to know the patrons who come into our shops year after year and become wonderful and amazing lifelong friends. Sharing our knowledge and our passion with people who are looking to get into practicing our chosen art fuels us and gives life to a new generation of artisans.
When it’s a hot and sweaty day in the glass shop and I have someone who has never seen glassblowing before exclaim that what they are seeing is magic I can’t tell you how it uplifts and energizes me. It IS a kind of magic! There’s the little girl who sees me blowing glass in a dress and says “Look Mama! She’s doing it too!”, realizing, maybe for the first time, that she could do whatever she wants in life, regardless of “being a girl”. These moments make my heart fill with joy and they show me that what I’m doing matters and maybe, just maybe, I can make even a small difference in someone’s day, as they have made a difference in mine.
It is these moments that keep us doing what we are doing, despite the (sometimes actual) blood, sweat, and tears, and I just wanted to present another viewpoint in the conversations that have been started on this topic. They are important, they are necessary, and it is good that they are being had.
So please, the next time you see a merchant working hard at sharing, researching, and creating, write them in, be it for Art or for Service. Merchants also deserve recognition for their dedication to turning The Dream into A Reality.
