[Cynnabar] events

[Johnna Holloway via Barony]

Are there really too many events?

The big events are well known and they calendar 
at roughly the same time each year. Maidens is in January. Twelfth Nights come before.
Valentine's Day is February 14th and Sometime near that date, there will be held a massacre. 
The border wars, baroness wars, interkingdom raids, crossings, PW practices, etc. follow along
in the good weather. (The established big events offer the intrinsic combinations of shopping, fighting, seminars,
and good company; think about why you attend and plan months out to attend certain events.)
 We also know roughly when the Coronations and Crowns, Gulf War, and Pennsic will be. 
Larger and legacy events are already regional efforts or even kingdom efforts. We just don't see the work of the many individuals
which step up to work for the event. Be they in the kitchen, on the field as extra marshals for archery, youth, retainers, etc. outside people always work those events. We just don't always recognize those efforts.
Kingdom A&S always relies on as many as 60-80 extra people who come to judge and tally.

The basic factors haven't changed. Whether or not someone 
or a family attends any event depends in large part on costs, distance, and advance PR. Will the
Crown be present? Are their friends or household meeting up at the event? What activities draw people?
Will people travel more this summer since the price of gas is down? Or will smaller events suffer because
they are competing with SCA50 Year in June? 
Do we have actual survey information as to who attends what and why? What are the factors? 
If the choice is between two events, why one and not another?
How far will they drive for a day trip? Do events that actively post on Facebook and social media
draw more people these days? 

With all the specialist events these days, it doesn't seem to me the rule needs to change. 
The dance event does not draw the same audience as the rapier event 101 miles away in a 
different state. If they were 40 miles away, they still wouldn't draw the same audience. 
The heraldry event will not interest the families with children who are into youth combat. 
If you are heading to SCA50 Year, you may not attend Pennsic this year and you may skip Crown.
Should we worry about that?

Johnnae