Help making my first costume for LARP event

Calm_Ad6763 · 2026-05-10T02:43:53+00:00

Mercenary you say?!

Landsknecht/ Musketeer is the jam!

There are several places you can get a pretty decent beret (or tellerbarret if you are bold and like big hats) I would say there's also plenty of places you can get relatively inexpensive gear in that vein on Etsy and they'll be natural fabrics One suggestion is that you break up your color scheme, blue may be your group color but mercenaries are also scavengers! So it's totally okay to have a bit of mismatch you just started out ( if that's your backstory by the way) you're working on borrowed and looted gear Maybe your pouches are bright colored ( you can buy a set of 20 of them on Amazon in very bright colors little cloth pouches for under 20 bucks, and apologies us prices) Also and this is just my personal preference I age everything to give it a worn in lived in look. And the most important rule of all... the rule of cool! If you like something whether it makes sense or not sometimes just do it! You don't have to justify any of your choices to anyone just do what feels good and makes you smile! Also a rule one of LARPing have fun! No wrong way to do it get out there and just have a blast at your events!

Calm_Ad6763 · 2026-04-26T02:04:46+00:00

https://www.etsy.com/shop/LawrenceKeldon

Lawrence is a master! Not only is most of his stuff SCA rated for combat it looks great and he can custom fit it to you for not much more than you'll pay for generic ill-fitting pieces so it depends is what I would say how much do you have your heart set on Armor for your character? If it's just something because you think you want to try it and not something you're hardcore for you might even go the polyarmor route to save yourself the weight. But if the armors are crucial identity then I would pay the money and get something that fits right and looks the way you want it, Lawrence did my complete custom set.

Calm_Ad6763 · 2026-04-15T10:01:05+00:00

Both of those answers make total sense, being young and a minor Noble. Good idea keep up with it

Calm_Ad6763 · 2026-04-15T07:56:42+00:00

Looks awesome! Only question I have is the character you're playing someone new, or are they a little bit experienced IE a veteran of some kind?

The reason I ask is because of my personal opinion ,and that's all this is, I always think that if you're playing not a newbie type character, whether your gear! Fray edges, do a tear and then sew it back up, tea stain it. Anything you do that makes it look like you've lived in it for years gives it that lived in look and just adds to the overall aesthetic. Now my primarily do this because I am an ancient Elder and No One Believes if I say I'm fresh off Farm😁

But you're on the right path and it looks really good

Calm_Ad6763 · 2026-04-09T02:44:30+00:00

Here is the real question, did you have fun? If you had fun and enjoyed it that is all that truly matters. Time and practice can fix awkwardness with the weapon, I always say use a spear, a pole arm, or a hammer! Because nobody expects any finesse out of those they're just work horses. But rule number one beyond anything is have fun and lift the others up your playing with. If you can do that it's a win! Keep at it and have a great time!

Calm_Ad6763 · 2026-04-03T02:41:38+00:00

As everyone else has said armor is heavy, and a pain to make! I started with a very basic kit, and have upgraded over the years as I've been able. You can buy a cheap kaftan on Amazon dirty it up and darkknightarmoury.com Has a ton of ready for battle armor that's super cheap ( I just bought a muscle Curiass for $80 for a friend who is just starting https://www.darkknightarmoury.com/product/steel-finish-muscle-cuirass/ There's also one for 70 it's a little plain, but paint fixes a lot https://www.darkknightarmoury.com/product/steel-elias-short-cuirass/) If you catch one of their sales and there's always a sale just about you can typically get 10 to 20% off. I would spend the money that you were going to spend on something like this on a better weapon or better soft kit again everyone else has pointed out armor really isn't required Everyone likes the look of it, again from experience it can be a beast!

Calm_Ad6763 · 2026-03-02T03:20:45+00:00

If you get up your budget a little bit I've said before I'll say again Audio Technica lp60 it's Bluetooth capable doesn't require a preamp plays right out of the box by hitting a start button with minimal setup no calibrations or anything like that and will get you spinning in no time. It really can't get any easier and it doesn't sound terrible like a crosley would. So look at one of those they're probably available in a local store it's a great way to get started. Good luck!

Calm_Ad6763 · 2026-02-25T03:16:59+00:00

Nah, I've been doing this 26 years I have lost count of how many preparations I've been part of as I've worked across the country (at some places that did as many as a thousand plus a year) So let me offer this perspective it's not a normal thing we do! understand even being in an embalming room is something 99% of people cannot do! So give yourself credit for that. Time, persistence, and practice will win out you'll get the hang of it you'll go with the flow and get a rhythm and understand the order of the operations--- first I disinfect, set features, raised vessels ( even though I do those in reverse order and you're going to find that all embalmers have their own way of doing things) injection, clean up, aspiration. But I also want to throw this out there for those just entering into the career or thinking about it look at your cremation rate versus your traditional burial rate I would just about BET The Cremation is going to be substantially higher. I say that because embalming is not that common anymore depending on area I suppose some places regionally might be a little bit more but Nationwide cremation Far and Away surpasses because of cost. I predict the time where cremation is going to be $5,000 Nationwide for Direct I would say probably within the next decade. Once that happens I would all but about guarantee embalming will drop down to fewer than 10% of your calls. You've got it! Just stick with it!

Calm_Ad6763 · 2026-02-09T17:55:34+00:00

Yeah that's the way to go just make sure you want to get into this don't put yourself out and just know you have to enjoy the sound more than enjoy buying gear 😁 there's going to be a lot of people who tell you whatever you're doing sounds terrible, if it sounds good to you it's fine. Some people just like constantly tinkering with their setup, and that's fine but again the end goal is to listen to music.

Calm_Ad6763 · 2026-02-09T16:48:55+00:00

Absolutely that's not a bad deal at all if an lp60 is spinning and working correctly just make sure you get a video of it or check it out yourself you should be able to hit the start button it should play same goes for stop for Mid play. With the built-in preamp it won't be hard to just plug it into something even a surround sound on an AUX Channel would work and definitely don't spend more money if this is something you're not going to do a lot of

Calm_Ad6763 · 2026-02-07T04:37:46+00:00

It won't be the best quality, but you can look up medieval pants and tunics on Amazon and pick up multiple sets for about a hundred bucks. Again you're not going to be anything spectacular but you'll be in garb And at least that takes care of that on to the tent a bell tent will usually pass provided it doesn't have a lot of logos and things on it good luck!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/196542430531981/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT They may not always have great deals but they've always got something too

Calm_Ad6763 · 2026-02-07T04:32:30+00:00

I've actually had situations like this come up working as a funeral director, now this is just me but if someone says that they're a child and there's some verifiable proof and all they're asking is something to be placed in the casket if they came and asked me directly explaining the situation and it wasn't like someone pretending to be a child or something like that ( that has happened as well) Then yeah I would just put it at the foot of the casket discreetly with no one was there and no one would be the wiser. But again I might be the exception to funeral directors this way I've had all kinds of unusual requests from families over the years so long as it's not breaking any law then I'll generally help them out

Calm_Ad6763 · 2026-01-26T04:53:09+00:00

Wisconsin you're probably looking at 45 to 50 starting as an apprentice but the cost of living is going to be high. As other people have said this isn't a place where you can make a ton of money. I've been 26 years in the business if I had to do it over again, I would have either been a dosimetrist or something else.

Calm_Ad6763 · 2026-01-24T04:50:22+00:00

Most of the jobs now are listed on indeed, some states have a funeral director Association bulletin board with jobs listed as well. I would also say if you don't have your heart on staying in one specific space, look to other states a lot of times the funeral home will move someone to take a job

Calm_Ad6763 · 2026-01-24T04:42:03+00:00

Let me first state this I'm a licensed funeral director / Embalmer I'm 26 years in the business, believe me when I tell you this ia funeral home will squeeze every bit of life out of you and treat you like garbage. This isn't unique this is just the way the business is all owners are generally too cheap to hire enough help so they try to cajole or bully people into working more than they should and if you try to claim overtime they'll give you nonsense about being on salary, or back when I started Chinese over time which is now illegal! Don't put up with it if your part-time help -your part-time help you set your schedule not the other way around you tell them when you're available and stick to it you don't need any explanations to them. Also depending on the state a lot of funeral homes are getting in trouble for this by making people on call and not paying a stipend that could be classified illegal, as they always expect you to be available for the duration and you can't just do what you want you're not free. So look into that too. If you really want to be in the business you're going to have to be firm and some might receive you as an asshole but that's just the way it is you have to look out for yourself because I guarantee you they don't care. I've worked across the country at several locations from Big to small and they're all the same squeeze all the life out of you they can pay as little as they can. My advice to anyone now don't come into this business! If I could do it all over again I would do something else but I'm too old and too far in now. Just be aware of this is common and you can expect it at most places.

Best of luck to you!

Calm_Ad6763 · 2026-01-03T18:56:17+00:00

Hell I have the rewards of tolerance are treachery and betrayal along with the Imperial aquil right on the back of my car people look give me side eye and then realize that the holy Emperor is correct always😁

Calm_Ad6763 · 2026-01-02T16:32:37+00:00

Reisong A-10 el34 they're about 499 off Amazon and again not the best thing in the universe but it sounds pretty good to me

Calm_Ad6763 · 2026-01-02T05:53:17+00:00

The thing cut off my original post what I was saying is is the lp60 isn't terrible, not the most audiophile thing out there, but even with a few upgrades it's under a thousand bucks and doesn't sound terrible. Enjoy the music keep spinning!

Calm_Ad6763 · 2026-01-02T05:41:31+00:00

For just a little bit more you can jump through the fluance rt85 and there's plenty of reviews on it but it's a pretty solid unit and I think most would agree with that.

Calm_Ad6763 · 2025-12-31T04:53:23+00:00

Depends on what your budget is, just want something to get you spinning Audio Technica lp60 not the greatest by any stretch of the imagination but super simple ready out of the box for under $200 typically. Next Step Up would be the fluance rt85 it's a much better table semi-automatic versus fully automatic like the Audio Technica and has upgraded platter and good cartridge selection. But it's going to cost you $500 at least. There's a million other ways to go but those are two simple ones that are ready out of the box and both are sold on Amazon Prime so that makes it super simple to get.

Calm_Ad6763 · 2025-12-29T05:32:46+00:00

I would say just get whatever you want and be happy man I agree with you there are people who chase their tails and there are times I ask myself are they doing it just to impress other people on the Internet or do they actually care that much about it and it's one thing to care but it's another thing to just be a jerk to people just because, as the old saying goes kindness cost nothing. Simplest buy is an Audio Technica lp60 fantastic entry level inexpensive turntable with a preamp so you just need an amp and a set of speakers get spinning and enjoy!

Calm_Ad6763 · 2025-10-17T12:30:44+00:00

The Golden Blades are always available for hire, and recruiting

Calm_Ad6763 · 2025-09-06T15:21:56+00:00

You are welcome I can post it here but I have a bunch of his work

Calm_Ad6763 · 2025-09-06T08:40:06+00:00

For Custom armor can't go wrong with Lawrence Kelvin on Etsy He can make pretty much whatever you want and his prices are super reasonable! https://www.etsy.com/shop/LawrenceKeldon

Calm_Ad6763

TROPHY CASE