The hardest thing usually when one joins a group is finding that niche to fit in. I didn't become a full member of BCOTS till 1999, or was it 1998, up till then I was taking it a year at a time. The most memorable thing about my first year was probably also one of the saddest times for BCOTS. Why I said that is because Queen's Progress will fluctuate between 4 to 6 pikemen, and to me that was a sorry sight. Rebel and Ray Bruno were still around then, along with Larry Willis, who were the corporals. In short, we had more chiefs than indians. The only time we actually had a decent number was when Battle Pageant came around and we'd get 4-5 guys, mostly boothies, join us. At the end of the Pageant, they'd go back to whatever they were doing or wherever they came from. Another memory that brought a smile to my lips was noticing AJ for the first time. Here was this giant of a guy, which I perceived to be 7 feet tall, 300 lbs and waving a flag about as if it was a toy banner. Of course AJ kids everybody and till today his handshake is still a damn bone crusher. I've just kinda gotten used to it.
By the time my second year rolled round, BCOTS had a small influx of people and our numbers grew ever so slightly. There was Christophe, Chris Barringer,Shaun (ultimately both got kicked out of Faire) and one or two others. I was thinking seriously about becoming a full member, but still hadn't made up my mind by the end of faire. My biggest surprise was on Memorial Day when a lot of the old members and members who had been absent, returned; people from Northern faire came down and joined in and were present during Battle Pageant. It was an awesome sight to behold. There must have been at least 20 or more pikemen on the field and I can still remember looking down the line and saying to myself, "Now this is an armored porcupine; this is the way it should look at all times."
Little John has always wanted to build the numbers up so we would have enough pikemen on the field and then start up another group/company. A company of halberdiers. While I loved the idea, it would only remain an idea. Since joining BCOTS as a full member, I've always wanted us to be more aggressive in recruiting new members. I was hoping for an average of 16-18 pikemen on the field or doing progress. Making a statement was important to me, and what is a better way than to have a long line with at least 3 files of pikemen marching around at faire.
Special effects is one of my many passions and it is also my job working in Hollywood as a special effects artist. I made good use of it when R.A.S.H. rolled around at faire. I got a really good kick out of it when I went to FOF to participate in RASH and turned up with half my arm mangled, dripping blood and sliced open. Even the veterans thought it was real until I assured them it was my own doing and it was just simple prosthetics.
Since my second year with Stoddard's the numbers within the ranks has grown considerably which I am very happy about and I have taken a more permanent position with BCOTS as the Editor in Chief of the newsletter.
While I had fleeting moments of wanting to leave and join another group or just try out different things, those moments were usually brief and I find myself thinking almost out loud, there's no place like home. Home with friends I come to love and respect, friends that work and play hard together and friends that seriously support each other in almost everything. I doubt I'd be leaving any time too soon.