Why I entered the Pent and what I learned

[mmcnealy]

Now that I'm finally caught up on my sleep, I thought I'd post about why I entered the Pentathlon, and what I learned from the experience. Hopefully this will inspire others to attempt the feat next year and have a good time doing it.

Why I entered
I didn't enter the Pentathlon to win, but rather as a challenge to myself to explore areas that I wanted to get into but scared me silly. Really, it was all about overcoming the fear of new things. I did it for me.

I've always wanted to do woodwork, but have had a fear of cutting my fingers off with a saw. I've always wanted to do calligraphy, but due to a bad childhood experience with trying to learn it, thought it was impossible. But I was able to ask a friend for help with the woodworking and got over my fear of power tools, I also got to try some cool period techniques too. The calligraphy turned out to be a challenge to get up to my exacting standards, but its a difficult hand.

Due to some personal setbacks this Fall, I wasn't feeling that great about my ability to get things done. Research? Sure, but actually working on a project and finishing it? Not so much.

Having the focus of the Pentathlon helped me to buckle down and accomplish things. Yes, it was a bit of a stretch the last few days, but the whole experience really gave me a good kick in the pants and confidence that I could still get things done.

What I learned

- Don't change your persona 3 months before the event and have to start over from scratch. I did this, and although it turned out good and I wouldn't change what I did... I do admit that it was challenging at times to get everything done and it was a bit expensive.

- To find ideas for an entry, determine your persona, then find artwork or text sources talking about people that match your persona. Make lists of what they are eating, wearing, doing, using. Then write down the Pentathlon category they fall into. Try to pick things that make you go "Squee" and "Neato!" and that haven't been done very much. Its the excitement that will keep you going when you run into snags, or your first three attempts don't turn out right.

- Have at least one entry be something easy for you. Not everything should be a challenge.

- If you are doing it on a tight time frame, know the rules and plan for 6 entries in 4 catagories. Yes I know the rules say "5 entries in 3 categories" but you plan 6 in 4 in case one goes kablooey on you at the last minute, or suffers a catastrophic failure or gets ruined. This way you've got a backup that's already done and can just be put in at the last minute. That's what happened with the calligraphy. It was going to be part of the writing tablet entry, but the Stick horse entry didn't get done in time, so I cut the stick horse and separated the calligraphy from the writing tablet.

- The entries do not have to be complicated, they can be simple little things.

- Work on your entries for at least 15 mins every day. Even if its just a few stitches, or a few lines in your documentation, or a few practice letters or sketches, or a To Do list. Do a little bit every single day, and it will get done it time. Yes, you will need blocks of time to work on it, but a little everyday adds up over the long run.

- Budget accordingly. Expect each entry to cost at least $50, even if you think you have everything in your stash, you won't, or it won't work right.

- Expect to get sick at least twice or three times in the last two months before the competition.

- Expect old physical injuries to hurt. My rotator cuff injury and carpal tunnel really acted up during the last month, to the point that I slept in wrist splints every night, gave my hands ice water baths during breaks and did shoulder stretches three times a day. Was it worth it? Absolutely!

- Expect there to be some family drama as your SO may feel neglected the week before the event and may imply that you are more involved in the Pentathlon than you are with them.

- Expect to have a vicious attack of life the week before the Pentathlon. Food poisoning, family drama, friends drama, loss of self-confidence, plenty of doubt, you name it, it will probably happen.

- The competition guidelines that say "1 page of documentation" is false. Have a one page summary and as many pages of actual detailed documentation as you like.

- Have a cheering section of friends who can give you some "Attaboys" and "You can do it!" on the days when it feels impossible.

- Give yourself at least a week to polish up your documentation and plan/build your display.

- Get a good nights sleep the night before

- Give yourself a week off after the Pentathlon to recover.

Plans for next year

I'm already thinking about what I'm going to enter next year, and what areas of fear I'm going to tackle next. Not sure what its going to be, and the list might change over time, but it should be an interesting ride.

Comments

[wolfsilveroak.livejournal.com]

I didn't enter the Pentathlon to win, but rather as a challenge to myself to explore areas that I wanted to get into but scared me silly. Really, it was all about overcoming the fear of new things. I did it for me.


Isn't the the real reason we should enter competions in the first place? }:)

[mmcnealy.livejournal.com]

I think so, but not everybody does.

[ornerie.livejournal.com]

and it so sad to see that happen.

I'm so glad you achieved your goals! and thank you for sharing the process with us!

yay you! *waves pompoms*!

[wolfsilveroak.livejournal.com]

True, but we're the exception to the rule}:P

[rwday.livejournal.com]

May I point my apprentices to this post? I've challenged them all to participate next year and your list of what you learned is a great starting point for some discussion and thought on the process.

Margret

[mmcnealy.livejournal.com]

Sure, go right ahead. There are other lessons I learned to, but not necessarily for mass public consumption.

[lady-guenievre.livejournal.com]

I've entered it before and this STILL has some good advice (that I didn't follow). I'm saving it for next year... :)

[isenglass.livejournal.com]

Thank you for sharing your experience. I'd like to point a few people to this if you don't mind.

[mmcnealy.livejournal.com]

Sure, go right ahead!

[silverstah.livejournal.com]

Brilliant! Thanks for posting this - I'm starting the preliminary planning for my entry in next year's now. :)

[mmcnealy.livejournal.com]

You're welcome.

I'll have to post a few more things that I've thought of since.

[elizabethnmafia.livejournal.com]

I'd also like to point a few people over here. :)

[mmcnealy.livejournal.com]

Feel free to point away. ;)

[attack-laurel.livejournal.com]

I was really delighted by your display - it was a pleasure judging it. :)

[reasdream.livejournal.com]

Thank you for a very helpful post. I was inspired by your entry and am now even more inspired by your post!

...does this mean I can pick you brain when I start my own Pent entry? ;)

[mmcnealy.livejournal.com]

Sure, pick away!

[aliskye.livejournal.com]

Wow! What a wonderful post! The Pentathlon in my kingdom is a little different but all of your advice is totally valid. I've said the last few years that I've wanted to enter and even went so far as to make a list of things I wanted to enter but then.....I never got my ass in gear to do it. I want/need to challenge myself to do something. Thank you!!!

[spranglady.livejournal.com]

Wonderful post! My laurel challenged her apprentices for next year *waving to rwday*, and this is a very good jumping off point when planning what I'm going to do. :)

And congrats on your Pearl! well deserved! :)

[chargirlgenius.livejournal.com]

Mind if I add one suggestion? I think that one of the entries should be something really, really stunning and representative of who you are as an artisan. That’s what *I’d* like to see, anyway. :-)

[mmcnealy.livejournal.com]

Good suggestion!