Actually, it's not all that bad. It seems daunting on the page, but when you lay out all of that stuff on the bed and start getting dressed, it really isn't any more of a bother than putting on a suit and tie (except for the sword, which you have to be careful not to close in the car door). Once you are through the door, everybody else is in pretty much the same sort of rig, and you just enjoy the company. It is surprisingly unpretentious, everyone is really going out of their way to be more than superficially nice, and when it's over, and you are back in your car headed home, you find that you really did have a good time, and you rather wish you could do it again next week.