1. What to write
Write your real name. When you come to the festival, you will have to show your ID.
2. Sex and role – what for?
These two are equally important. We are interested in statistics – what kinds of participants come to the festival. As for men who cannot take part in performances because of any reasons – for example, drivers (these people must be protected from any possible traumas), tradesmen and underage (under 16 y.o.) or noncombatants due to an illness (remember to notice it in your application form). We also remind you that we will not accept any more such applications if the number of noncombatants is more than 10 per cent of the total.
3. Costume description
Write a short description of your costume: the region, the period and the social status of the costume re-enacted. For example, ‘Birka, the second half of the 10th century, a well-to-do citizen’ or ‘A bodyguard, South Rus, the beginning of the 11th century’ or even ‘A collective Scandinavian costume of the 10th century’.
Before writing the description think about the stuff your costume consists of. There can be things from different periods. But if there are things from the beginning of the 11th century, you cannot date your costume the beginning of the 10th century. Make sure your costume corresponds with your description.
If having any specific tailoring based on your own archeology research or any special trimmings or rare objects (for example, any borrowings from the neighbouring regions) notice all of them in your description. If having a rich outfit it may be necessary to list all the stuff it consists of.
It is not necessary to:
- write a very detailed outfit description. If you want to, you can attach a separate file. Still we remind you to describe all the complicated details so the editor will only have to ask for the source or published article describing where the object comes from.
- list every piece of the outfit, materials or ways of fabric dyeing. However, it may not apply to the outerwear – the editor may ask what your outerwear is made of.
4. Photos
1) How shall I take the photos?
Take your photos standing full length, men with their feet shoulder width apart, women at will, hands down. Look in front of you with your head straight. Don’t take any passionate poses. Hold your close-quarter weapon in your right hand in the position in which its construction can be examined easily. Hold your shield in your left hand, half-face.
The background must be light. In general, the photo must be contrasting, without any shadows or diffusion. No photoshop editing.
Also, you will need 1-2 more photos:
-details of the trimmings if there are any (ribbons, embroidery);
-costume details: belts, knives, bags, beads, bracelets, rings, brooches etc.;
-weapon details with a ruler: the pommel and crossguard of the sword with a part of the blade seen (in this case put the ruler across the blade under the crossguard), the axe, spear, scramaseax, sabre;
2) What kind of photos can be used for the application form?
Can be used:
high quality photos, full height, taken at festivals, in a studio, inside or outside. It is important that your costume and all the details can be clearly seen.
Can’t be used:
- small low quality photos taken with an old phone;
- half-face, back photos hiding behind a tree;
- photos containing other people;
- three-year-old photos and even older. We want to see up-to-date pictures of your clothes with all the new fashionable stuff.
5. To declare or not to declare
You don’t have to take pictures of all the same-type clothes (for example, extra tunics or pants), just notice in your application form that you have them. Still you have to attach photos of clothes with any specific tailoring, unique items with rich decorations. Don’t forget to indicate the source the item is based on.
6. How to take photos of the embroidery, trimmings and belts
Put a ruler across the concerned embroidery, trimming or belt so its width can be clearly identified. There can be several items in a row with one ruler. If having embroidering based on archaeology, indicate the source and the target width in the description of the costume.
7. Photos in a man’s application form
For combatants: a photo in the every-day clothes, one in the warm clothes and one in the armoury. Photos of accessories (bags, knives, jewelry) and shoes separately in case they cannot be seen clearly in the common photos. When it comes to weapons, demonstrate the rounded edges and the length of the spears and broadaxes according to the rules of the festival.
8. Photos in a woman’s application form
One or two photos of the every-day and warm clothes, photos of accessories and shoes (similar to a man’s application form). Don’t forget about the embroidery, trimmings and belts with a ruler across them.
9. Children
Children below 7 years old can be registered with their parents’ application form. Of course, the clothes must be historical, but first of all we pay attention to the fact that the child will be warm. So don’t forget to attach the photos of the child’s warm clothes and shoes. Older children are to have a separate application form according to the rules.
10. You will have one month to correct your application form according to the editor’s comments (or to add extra photos if necessary).