Are you interested in joining a Viking age reenactment group - or starting one - and don't know how to get started? We are asked about this frequently, by people who don't have a group within reasonable distance, or find that the nearby group doesn't meet their needs. After answering the questions enough times that it seemed to be a common problem, we put together this list of things to consider. Check out the list and work through it. It may not solve every issue you'll confront, but these are the things that have worked for us and other groups we've worked with. If you have a suggestion that would improve the list, or a problem it doesn't address, contact us at info@vikingsofbjornstad.com.

• First:
  • Go through The Vikings of Bjornstad web site thoroughly. http://www.vikingsofbjornstad.com/. You'll see what reference information we think is important, which reference books we recommend and what events we've attended. This site is our résumé. Most of our invitations for new events, filming opportunties and presentations come from people who've found us through our web site.
  
  
• Second:
  • Check out this Vikings North America (VNA) web page: https://vikingsna.org/vna-groups/ Check to see if there are groups near you. You may choose not to join any of the groups listed, or the VNA itself, but that's the first place to start, if only to learn what has or hasn't been working near you.
  
  
• Research:
  • Decide what drives you to want to form or join a Viking reenactment group. History and research? Armed combat? Handmaking clothing, weaponry and tools? Role playing? Photography? Videography? Public performance? While The Vikings of Bjornstad members are heavily involved in all of those, our two primary goals are (1) education - of ourselves and our audience members - and (2) fun, sometimes in that order.
  • Check out our recommended reading list: http://www.vikingsofbjornstad.com/Viking_Reading_List.shtm. Get a solid book on Viking history and read it.
  • Check out our Viking trivia pages: http://www.vikingsofbjornstad.com/Bjornstad_Viking_Trivia_Quiz.shtm. Find a few like-minded people and test each other, frequently.
  • Watch as many Dr. Jackson Crawford online videos as you can.
  • Contact another Viking group (even at some distance) and ask to visit them during an event. Learn what they're doing well and what they aren't.
  • Do online searches for the Viking topics that most interest you. There are many online forums and groups available. Once in awhile you find someone who actually knows what they're talking about. Rare, unfortunately. Self-appointed experts are a constant. Present company included...
  
  
• Visibility and Recruiting:
  • Create a handout about where you are with your group, what your objectives are, and, eventually, what events and presentations you've done. Go to places where people who might be interested would be. Hand them out. Update them as your experience and knowledge increase.
  • Build a web site and/or a Facebook page. Find things to add to it that others are interested in. Our web site gets visited over 40 thousand times a month, largely due to the Old Norse dictionary we created: http://www.vikingsofbjornstad.com/Old_Norse_Dictionary_E2N.shtm.
  • Take photos and/or videos of your events and presentations. Post them online. They document who you are, what you've done and what people could expect from you. Caption them to provide historical and/or logistical information for your site visitors.
  • Leverage your skills and those of your friends and members. Photography? Web design? Metal forging? Leatherwork? Woodworking? Historical research? Writing? Creative art? Public presentations? Sailing? Fencing? Military tactics and strategy? Music? Martial Arts? All can contribute to the group in significant ways.
  • Go to SCA events. There are always closet Vikings who want to do something more authentic. Find and recruit them.
  • March in local parades. Get a spear and put a pennant on it. Carry a shield. People love to see Vikings, just about anywhere. Vikings invaded Ireland, so march in St. Patrick's Day parades. Even with a couple of people.
  • Connect with Scandinavian Heritage groups. The Sons of Norway have a ton of chapters throughout the US. Find them, send them a letter and attend a meeting or two. See if there are Swedish and Danish groups in your area. They are a great source for both members and event opportunities.


• Authenticity:
  • Read our regulations: http://www.vikingsofbjornstad.com/Authenticity_Guide.shtm. Check out the authenticity regulations for Vikings North America (VNA), Vikings - Vinland, Regia Anglorum in England, and Jomsvikings.
  • Decide what regs make sense for you now and which provide goals to work toward.
  • Decide what time span, location and profession/social class you, personally, want to represent. Be consistent in your gear- at least individually, if not the whole group collectively.
  • Regularly, take a critical look at your presentation at events. What doesn't look "Viking"? What is your most urgent need to remove or replace? The plastic chair? The folding table? Explanatory cards and easels? Ratan anything?


• Insurance:
  • Investigate liability insurance, and get your group covered, if at all possible. We've incorporated The Vikings of Bjornstad as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and found an insurance carrier for nonprofits. Your insurance should cover you and the public (you know, the people who will trip over your tent peg and sue.)


• Gear:
  • Start simple: tunic, pants, belt and shoes.
  • Then a spear, then a sword, make a shield, and keep going.
  • Patterns and kit vendors are available online, and we have a group of vendor links you can start with: www.vikingsofbjornstad.com/Bjornstad_Kit_Links.shtm. Examine potential purchases carefully and ask questions about the gear's historical accuracy. Many of the items sold by these vendors are not remotely authentic.
  • Buy some leather and learn to make things (shoes, pouches, book covers. It's easier than you'd think.


• Combat:
  • Note that The Vikings of Bjornstad do NOT do formal competitive combat. Our fighting is meant to give the audience an idea of what Viking combat looked and sounded like, while we have fun, safely.
  • Get rebated (round-edged) swords.
  • Buy or make sword-hand safety gloves.
  • Practice at half-speed and intend to hit the opponent's shield.
  • If you help with the expenses, VNA has sent a combat trainer for a weekend. Ask.

Suggestions and additions are encouraged: info@vikingsofbjornstad.com.