Kat, I'm a fairly new re-enactor, but here goes.

I'm familiar with the Watchdog; it professes to be the Bible of the "Hard-Core" (Authenticity is Everything) re-enactor. To be fair, sometimes one can find some great helpful information in its pages.

Most of the facts in this article have the ring of accuracy, and the author has apparently researched the subject matter well. That said, the *tone* of the article is inexcusably rude (and rather poorly written). I help to edit the newsletter for our company (116th Pennsylvania Company "B") and I recently rejected an article about civilian clothing just because it was rude in a similar way. Reading this sort of things makes people mad, unless they are the very few who can come up to the standard.

None of the musicians I have met or heard at reenactments would come up to these standards, yet most are enjoyable. I don't expect musicians who are guests or hired for a reenactment to be totally authentic; I do expect them to provide atmosphere and feeling.

I don't yet own an authentic looking guitar, so I only bring mine out in the evening after the public has gone. If people seem receptive, then I play for a while. If not, I put it away. I try not to play or sing non-period songs, but I don't mind when others do so.

Amplification? I don't have a problem with it for large events where the public expects a show. For small gatherings, it's inappropriate.

kimmers