CONCERNING IMMERSIVE EVENTS

There has been a lot of talk lately about immersion events. What is an immersive (or immersion) event? Let’s take a look.

“An immersion event is like a street theater and is done to recreate a specific historical event, for example, a wedding or a trail that happened. These events are always acted.” and “Creating an immersive event starts with stripping everything back. To create a truly immersive event, you need to get the foundations right. What story are you trying to tell? How can you tell it in an engaging, relevant way? How can you make people feel something”

There are two thoughts. One is that an immersive event is something that is being done for an audience. The reenactors make certain that everything is accurate and are actors, usually but not always recreating a wedding, a battle or some other specific event. I find it difficult to think of this as an immersion event for the simple reason that for any serious reenactor, this is no different from any other event except for the use of rebated steel weapons.

The second thought is the immersive events must be kept totally private. Having persons around in modern dress—even if they are not properly part of the event—detracts from the central theme of the immersive event. In fact, there are those who say that kit must be broufgr into the event ara on participants backs or on the back of a pack animal or via cart. To a great extent, the immersion event becomes experimental archaeology.

Whichever method you choose, your activities should be governed by the tech that is available. This means that your garments should be period in cut and, of course, composition. But there are other matters you should carefully regard:

• No automobiles or any other mechanical conveyances of any kind.
• No eyeglasses, telescopes or binoculars of any sort. (since this is experimentl archaeology, contacts should be avoided too)
• No visible tattoos or piercings (except for some ear piercings on Norse women)
• No electricity should be available.
• Do not bring any historical kit, such as a candle lantern, that cannot be documented for this period.
• Do not bring any electric or butane lanmps or lanterns.
• Do not bring any matches or a modern lighter. Bring a strike-a-light, flint an tinder.
• Do not bring any tobacco. (You can bring marijuana if its use and possession is legal)
• Do not bring a phone or other camera, as well as any photographs.
• Do not bring any firearms.
• Do not bring any pre-recorded music (and of course video) and anything to play it on.
• Do not bring any paperbacks or, in fact, any books in moderen English.
• Do not bring any modern paper or cardboard.
• Period books should be on parchment.
• Do not bring any modern pens or pencils.
• Do not bring any umbrellas.
• In conversation, do not refer to anything post-period.

There are no period recipes, but we do know of foods that were and were not available. Avoid anything that was not available.

Can you think of anything else you should avoid?

An emergency packet—with phone, matches and other forbidden items—should be available but should not be opened unless absolutely needed!