Instilling a Passion for History in Future Generations
I was asked to give a presentation at the 2023 Kalamazoo Living History Show about the work I’m doing to grow the community and instill a passion for history in future generations. Since I Love Muzzleloading started, I’ve had a lot of great conversations with people inside the muzzleloading/living history community and outside our community. These conversations have and will continue to fuel this kind of study for me because I’m interested in it.
All my life I’ve heard that this community is dying, together we can make sure that never happens.
The full presentation, outline, and video are listed below. The entirety of the Q&A will be available in audio form as well.
Disclaimer
This is something I’ve been thinking about for years and I don’t think it’s finished, your feedback and questions are crucial to further defining this discussion.
I’ll be speaking in a lot of general terms, painting with a broad brush for much of this talk. If I don’t speak to or cover your specific area of interest, it’s not intentional. Nothing in this presentation is meant to degrade, demean or dismiss anyone or any method, this is just how I’m looking at things from my perspective
This presentation is online for you to reference anytime. Please feel free to take photos or screen captures of the slides to use on your own. I will retain a “master” copy in case anyone tries some tomfoolery to make it look like I’m saying naughty things when I’m not.
Thesis
By using modern tools and decentralized networks, muzzleloading and living history enthusiasts can affect change and preserve their passion on an individual level. When we share our passion using modern tools, each and every one of us can do our part to make sure our love of history, its people, its stories, and its crafts are passed on to future generations.
What does that mean?
The future of the hobby, craft, or sport (however you describe what we do) is in our hands right now.
It’s our job to see that it continues and take ownership of the community so future generations can have what we have and more. It’s the individual’s responsibility to make this happen.
// Ownership not in the sense of “I’m in charge”, but in taking personal responsibility for the community and actively working to see it grow and improve.
Yes, there are organizations and clubs and groups that are and will continue to do this, but I believe there is a level next to the clubs and organizations where the abilities of the individual can make an incredible impact.
In short, the “Someone else will do it” mentality is no longer helpful.
That’s not to say that you have to take up a second job promoting muzzleloading/living history. I mean this as a presentation on how to find ways each and every one of us can help at our own pace.
If you start off by saying you are going to do all these things, you’ll wear yourself out.
My goal is to present some ideas on how you can utilize what you are already doing to help preserve and promote this community.
Strategy
ML/LH Culture
To talk about this idea and this era of the community, I think it’s good we frame ML/LH culture in the contemporary era. This outline allows us to study and acknowledge those who came before and build off of what they left.
For the purpose of this presentation, we’re going to stick with the post-popular use of muzzleloaders in 1900.
1.0 - Early 1900s: History/ML Sport shooting as a hobby popularized. Great Depression leads to economic class divide in shooting sports.
2.0 - Mid-1900s: Reintroduction of hunting game, Fess Parker and the Bicentennial bring a boom of interest/Manufacturing
3.0 - 1990s: Hollywood adaptations, academic research push to new levels of representation
4.0 - 2010+: ML/LH connects to the internet en masse
Academic/private research is more accessible than ever before
More information= more engagement: Research pushes historic accuracy and the depth of the community further
People are connecting with experts 1:1
Niche communities form around very specific topics
Niche communities push research/information further as resources are shared
Influx of information pushes historically entrenched experiences
Immersion events: Multi mile, multi day period trips
Immersive crafts using period tools, making period art and equipment
Geographic limitations are minimized as a decentralized network of community members begin to connect
Someone with no events, no clubs, no shops can participate and engage with like-minded folks more than ever before
We’re focusing on ML/LH Culture 4.0, where it can take us and how we leave a foundation for 5.0.
Why 2010?
To frame culture 4.0 a little bit I want to dive into the 90’s and why I think the 90s are different from today. Growing up my father built the ISP for our little farming town of 800 people. I grew up with Dial up and still remember my Windows 95 and later 98 computer in our family library. What we’re doing on the internet today is not the first time our hobby has connected with the internet. There are dozens of forums and message boards still around that started in the “early consumer internet of the 90s. However, in my experience, we didn’t see the popular adoption of the internet in our hobby until the 2010s.
I mark 2010 as the base date for this shift because of a couple of things
Social Media began to ramp up
This is when the Townsends Youtube channel started. Townsends did two major things with their channel very early on
They exposed the public at large to the enjoyment of the 18th century, more than attend all of the events we attend each year
They altered our own perception of our community from an events first outreach mindset to a 24/7 365 outreach mindset
That 24/7 outreach mindset is what we are talking about here today. Nearly each and every one of us has the access and ability to preserve and share any aspect of this community, and we should.
The mindset of 4.0
It’s easy for me to point to the tools that we all need to be using and so “Go do that”, but it’s important to break down the core of what is effective when reaching out to newcomers.
The first and best thing we can do is show how much fun this all is.
No matter the platform, no matter the niche, and no matter the gear you are using, the fun of this is what spreads.
ML/LH is at its core, really cool. The old guns, old gear, and old clothes great an atmosphere most people have never engaged with, or have via movies and don’t know how to get more.
This atmosphere can be described as an “Aesthetic” or “Vibe” in internet lingo. The aesthetic of muzzleloading/living history is the key to reaching newcomers.
No matter a newcomer's niche interest in this hobby, everyone is looking for that vibe.
Chris anecdote - zombie tv show
The vibe is the hook. At its most basic level, that hook is what keeps people coming back. That hook is the thing that instills interest in what we do.
Examples of the 4.0 Vibe
When I’m talking about this “vibe”, I’m talking about the moments we enjoy.
Camp life
Connecting with history
Peace outdoors
Camaraderie
Craftsmanship
Studying, researching
A sense of community
We all enjoy what we enjoy about what we do here, but put yourself in the shoes of a young 20-something who is searching for our community but doesn’t know what they are looking for. More often than not, it’s going to be those little moments that you cherish, the newcomers just don’t know what they are looking for.
Something as simple as sharing photos of a hanging bag, a fire pit, a tent, or your buddy shooting a woods walk, all of these little moments are a window into our community that newcomers can connect with. Each time we share a window, someone new gets to look in and see what it’s all about.
Many of us are very private people, I’m very private myself. I love coming to these events and chatting, but I also love my quiet time. There are things we do that are just for us, and that in itself is so important. I don’t want you to feel like you have to overshare, I want you to share what you are comfortable with and feel good about it.
Steps to joining the community
Passing interest
They like seeing photos, they like history, they like the movies, they like the books, they watch the videos
Hearing the call (How do I get involved?)
They are looking for guidance on “1st steps”. Often times a club, clothing, gun, etc
Active member
They have a focus; Hunting, sewing, research, traditional crafts, etc
Deeply involved
They are researching regularly, seeking out primary sources, or have a specific area of focus
Ambassador (Not necessarily the ‘final tier’, but an important one for this discussion)
They are active in the community, be it through club leadership, event organization, promotion, or advocacy of the community.
Tactical
The Tools of 4.0 or “How do I do it?”
As a start: Consider sharing what you do and what you love about it to ‘normalize’ it. The #1 thing I hear from newcomers is “I thought I was the only one”.
When these people find you, because they are looking, they are hearing a call; they just haven’t found you. You are an ambassador for our community, you have a responsibility
This comes down to a personal preference and will vary depending on your skill level. As a young man and a beginner in many things myself, my focus is ‘onboarding’ and making getting into the hobby as accessible as possible.
To do this:
Think like a newcomer, what questions do they have? Think beyond safety and typical “how to”, while important, there are other questions out there that better help engagement and onboarding.
There is a Venn Diagram of “what I like/want to do/learn” and “What questions are people asking
What is your “Why”? Why do you do what you do? Why do you focus on the niche you do? Don’t make it a ‘me me me’ show, but share some personal “whys” to help your audience connect and understand.
Something as basic as how you balance your day job with your side gig or your interest in the hobby is huge to newcomers.
My ‘why’ is “I Love Muzzleloading”, I simply love it. I’m able to keep a connection with my family, my family history and all the friends I’ve met along the way. I want my kids and their kids kids to have the same. That’s why I’m doing this.
In a weird way, I want to do this so that if my great-grandkids want to get into muzzleloading and they don't have anyone to show them, they can find my website and my videos and learn how to do it, just like I did from my parents and grandparents.
Share events, share club details, share classes, SHARE SHARE SHARE. Get active in spreading the good word about what you or your club or your business is doing.
Direct Action Examples:
Camp life
Share how you camp, what you eat, how you pass the time
Share the gear and clothing you use, its the purpose and its origins
Connecting with history
When able, share research, sources, interpretations
Share what you’ve found and how it relates to what you do in the community
Peace outdoors
Share snapshots of the outdoors, of your adventures. Modern life is busy and it’s nice to escape sometimes
Camaraderie
Share club or group activities related and unrelated to the hobby. This shows that you can find friends/like minded people.
Craftsmanship
Share projects, reference, tools, resources, classes and educational materials
Share the process of your work, taking photos along the way. Document your work and share the documentation you are working from as a data point for others to reference and learn from
Studying, researching
Share those primary sources in context with what you are working on or doing
A sense of community
Welcome newcomers, follow up with them along their journey answer questions,
Content Ideas
Interview your friends, club members, mentors, and craftspeople
Preserve those stories so they can’t be lost
Document document document. You are preserving the primary documentation of right now.
Ask questions a newcomer may have
“How did you get started in muzzleloading/Living history?” is a great one. It connects all of us and shares important personal and cultural history.
“What tips would you give a beginner today” is a direct benefit to anyone listening
Platforms
Instagram
Younger demographics - 18-60yrs
Active audiences that want to DO.
People on Instagram like photos and videos, but they like getting outside even more.
Instagram is the home of the individual in culture 4.0 in my opinion
Youtube
Massive audience
Pioneers laid the groundwork, the interest is there
The term “18th century” is the key to connecting to the audiences here
Ability to have some monetary return
Facebook
Business/personal growth is stunted by the algorithm
“Groups” are a game changer
Niche interests and primary source research is abundant
Alt Tech
For large-scale reach it’s difficult. Currently dominated by politics/economics- not much traffic for hobbies and interests, but still worth trying
Video
Utreon - Private funding, dedication to mission
Rumble, Odysee, etc
I recommend you use these in conjunction with Instagram/Youtube. Utron will auto-update your videos from Youtube to Utreon to ease the work.
Forums - old school but still so useful
Some ‘best’ practices
Don’t argue or get involved in arguments
Answer crass with class
Treat everyone as you would like to be treated
Study what others are doing
Look at what I’m doing, how to speak, and what I share, and use it as a basis for your niche, club, group, or event.
The Gemmer Muzzleloading Club in Missouri is a great example of this. Bob Vogt is the club secretary and he is out there beating down doors promoting muzzleloading and living history and his club is growing because of it.
Don’t simply copy, it won’t feel authentic. Use research as a framework to support your voice
Put support first and benefit second
In one sentence this can all be summed up as “Education before return”.
In some ways, this is a bet.
We are betting that by being open and welcoming people will return and be a part of the community. I’m wagering my time on answering questions, being welcoming, and providing resources without an ask.
I try to look at things strategically. People are going to come and go, and there are different levels of involvement, but each level is valuable and important when we are talking generationally here.
When and if you are able, focusing on supporting newcomers should be a first priority before benefit. Say you are a club or a group that is sustained through dues, by educating and helping openly, you will find new members are more willing to join and support your efforts.
By sharing your own passion and the passion of others in your club or area, you become a resource for those around you. That resource is the first step in onboarding someone to being involved in your club/event/group.
Equipment
Like in any hobby, it’s easy to buy the gear. Don’t stop at best buy on your way home and buy this stuff because I’ve listed it out for you. This will be a waste of money unless you’ve thought about the ‘what’ and ‘why’
Modern phones are incredible
Photo and Video are great on any New-3 year old phone
Audio
Audio quality is a deal breaker for content, especially for newcomers. You could be the leading expert and if the audio is bad, people won’t listen.
If you are looking to do video, before you buy a fancy new camera, buy and learn to work with a microphone of some kind.
Zoom H1 ($100)
Rode Videomic 2 ($150-$300)
A simple lapel mic into your phone ($15-$50)
Find something that works with what you have first. If all you have is your phone, find something that is plug-and-play and keep going
Obstacles to overcome
Changes in popular culture
Platform restrictions and censorship
These are changing times and it will continue to effect this community in different ways. I’m a positive person so I believe we will work through these changes and this great community will persevere.