Economy vs. Fencing

[swordwench]

I'd love to buy a new sabre lame - one whose zipper doesn't keep breaking apart when it gets hit - but can't afford one.

I don't get a private lesson or two every week like I used to, and when I do, I often dip into the grocery money, the kids' Xmas money (shh - don't tell them!), the credit card that doesn't get sent to the S.O....

I really wanted to go to the Cherry Blossom Open this year. When I brought it up, he asked how much I'd be getting paid for it. No, I want to FENCE it, not REF it. "Uhhh... NFW. It's all expense." Sad here.

So yes, the economy has hit my fencing hard. I need a rich parent or something.

[catwood1]

I'd love to buy a new sabre lame - one whose zipper doesn't keep breaking apart when it gets hit - but can't afford one.

I don't get a private lesson or two every week like I used to, and when I do, I often dip into the grocery money, the kids' Xmas money (shh - don't tell them!), the credit card that doesn't get sent to the S.O....

I really wanted to go to the Cherry Blossom Open this year. When I brought it up, he asked how much I'd be getting paid for it. No, I want to FENCE it, not REF it. "Uhhh... NFW. It's all expense." Sad here.

So yes, the economy has hit my fencing hard. I need a rich parent or something.

Then hey, go to the Mr. Ma Cup. Stronger event, and a couple hours closer.

[Lemonaide]

I'm posting retroactively. I was more active fencing when things were tight. It was more edgy.

[telkanuru]

I'm fencing more, but that's a false positive since I came back from a 2 year hiatus 10 months ago.

[Redblade]

I'm fencing more, but that's a false positive since I came back from a 2 year hiatus 10 months ago.

... Due to the economy?

[Rockstar44]

As has been pointed out, what's "expensive" is relative, depending on one's circumstances.

Fencing is not all that expensive, but the travel associated with it is.

Cutting back on NACs has helped a lot, but if lots of people do that, will it have an impact on the USFA, and consequently, on all of us?

[davesaint]

On the cost issue, The recent Div2/3/Vet/Wheelchair attendence was down about 11% from last year. I think that is a pretty good indicator as far as people watching their budgets these days.


Dave

[Redblade]

On the cost issue, The recent Div2/3/Vet/Wheelchair attendence was down about 11% from last year. I think that is a pretty good indicator as far as people watching their budgets these days.

It's difficult to assess the myriad factors involved in annual attendance fluctuations at any particular event in this sport. This is probably an example of economic impact, but we can't assume without picking it apart.

[telkanuru]

... Due to the economy?

Due to the fact that I was playing WoW.

[oiuyt]

Due to the fact that I was playing WoW.

Admitting you had the problem was the first step towards recovery.

What step was getting back into fencing?

-B

[swordwench]

Admitting you had the problem was the first step towards recovery.

What step was getting back into fencing?

-B

Tough call. I'd say either #2 (believing that a Power greater than himself - i.e., fencing? - could restore him to sanity) or #7 (humbly asking Dave to remove his shortcomings). He's going to get stuck on #8 until he truly understands why one of his comments to me over lunch was so infuriatingly insulting. (Hell, even epeemike81 understood!)

[telkanuru]

What did I do this time?


And it wasn't a recovery, it was replacing one addiction with another.

[dharmaqueen]

The way I have worked in the ability to spend on fencing is by budgeting more towards fencing and less toward other things like new clothes, shoes, dinners out. It means more to me to be able to fence, so I will go without other things for now.

[Fencergrl]

For me, my business is better than last year. I don't think the economy changed it, I think I just got a little more consistent with marketing and I've been spending less money on equipment (as I have everything I need).

Our non-fencing business is also really busy (which surprises me). If I had time to fence, the economics wouldn't affect my fencing (or equipment buying) decisions.