Kilts are still stuck in the Highland Games/bands slot (I love Highland Games/bands) we need to get kilts free of that.
I agree with & disagree with this statement at the same time. Whilst games are certainly not the only place to wear a kilt, games are also a good place to recruit new members into the fold. Think about it: the games are one of the few "safe" places for new "recruits" to feel safe & confident, since there are hundreds of other kilted lads walking around as well -- it is a saftey zone that gets one ready for the real world.

Any publicity is good publicity.

Bands also serve as good publicity, even though we all get tired of being asked constantly if we play the pipes and/or in a band -- but the key is that at least folks are putting two and two together. It's kind of like when I do Spanish-American War reenacting. Even though I do an impression of an infantryman from the 20th Kansas Infantry, people will always say "look, a rough rider!" or something about Teddy Roosevelt -- at least they know enough to identify the right war, and a quick chat soon explains the impression and that other units fought in the war besides TR and the Rough Riders. I know that's not really "germane" to kilts, but we should be using the games.

How, you ask? Simple. The games can promote kilt wearing by having "fashion shows" and seminars on Scottish attire (many already do) to explain that kilts are everyday garments. Invite the "neo-kilt" folks to participate as well to show the modern side of the kilt.

The St. Louis Scottish Games holds kilt nights to promote the games in the months before the event, and to raise awareness of Scottish culture -- this gets the kilt out in the open, and away from the games, whilst at the same time promoting them.

I don't think we should dismiss the value of the games as a recruiting tool for kilt wearing and for attracting new blood to Scottish cultural groups, etc. For most of the general public, the local games will be one of their only exposures to our wee sub-culture -- let's use them to our advantage.

Cheers!

T.