I understand completly!!!!!!
i have been going at this 3 years ( 2 as OutPost) and i still get deer eyes becuase of this.....
what helped out is that i use and throw in the word "Artisanal" (sp??) alot. i also carry event pics and the little swag i have with my around ( Lapel pin and 501st wacth)all the time and that gets ppl asking. for me the many thing was not exploding (trying to explain everthing) when askd waht is that by ppl that dont care or find it silly. but the ppl that are intrested i cover more groud with them.
try and think big when u have your first solo troops, talk to hospitals,schools etc etc and really make sure your troops are charity oriented at first to get the word out that we do good and not just nerds. "Nerds that do Good" lol
and look around there has to be other ppl like us around just may be its more of a underground thing try comic stores etc etc