[Cynnabar] events

Wed Jan 27 17:02:46 UTC 2016

Some thoughts:

Initially, I tend to agree with Godaeth and Ermenrich's position that we
can vote with our feet, instead of more rules.

If we want fewer, but still quality, events, then having teensy tiny groups
running small events doesn't seem like the way to make that happen.  Not
that small groups *can't* run great events, but they have less manpower,
and I imagine less experience, to be able to pull it off in a way that
keeps people coming back and make it profitable.  This could be way wrong,
though.

Tiny SCA groups should be able to exist.  Being able to have regular fight
practices and A&S meetings and the regular lifeblood of our hobby nearby,
in your town, is important, because I wouldn't want to drive an hour or
more on a weeknight regularly to have to get to these things.  But these
things can also cost money: to keep up a website, to keep up loaner gear,
etc.  So small groups need a way to pull in some funds.

The main way we have right now to get money is events.  Small groups need
money, but I'm hearing they have a harder time running events that are
profitable.  *Maybe what we need to be discussing, instead of more rules
restricting events, are other ways for small groups to have access to
funds.  This seems to be the sticking point coming up in these arguments.*

Access to funds other than running your own event:
- Like someone mentioned: running a lunch tavern or other money-making
thing within a larger event
- Perhaps there should be a new fund created?  Like the Kingdom Travel Fund
and such?  A kingdom or region level fund that small groups can apply to
for the funds they need to keep up their loaner gear and website and other
things?

Question: How much money are these small groups needing to be able to run
effectively and keep the dream alive in their area?  Could they be carried
by occasional funds given to them through a Kingdom Small Group Fund,
donated to by larger groups?  Is it not in everyone's best interest to do
this?

I have no idea what kind of money problems we're talking about here, having
never been an Exchequer or Autocrat or paid close attention to how much
money is needed outside of events, just for the regular running of a
group.  But this seems to be a legitimate issue coming up in these
discussions, so I'm pointing attention towards it.

~Bikre

On Wed, Jan 27, 2016 at 11:08 AM, Elizabeth Calhoun via Barony <
barony at cynnabar.org> wrote:

> Sir Gregoire thank you --
>
> I'm afraid that I am saying exactly the OPPOSITE of what I mean, then:
>
> I fear that this rule change will work *against* smaller groups, not in
> their favor.  If Three Walls -- 106.9 miles away -- wants to have "I Shot
> the Norman" on the Saturday of GDoT, an archery event (let's say), then a
> *fighters event* "gets to" squash that.
>
> IF Three Walls gets the bid in first :)  then a long-standing fighters'
> event gets squashed (theoretically). Will the 150 GDoT fighters go there
> instead?   Is Three Walls obligated to have fighting?  BUT there's no
> reason to not have both.  And should the archery event not pull the archers
> who are fighting at GDoT, well ... then that's THEIR choice to fight.
> And yes, Three Walls might not get that attendance.  But forbidding GDoT
> does not ensure success for IStN.
>
> On a weekly basis I am confronted with the choices of adult life: work,
> aging-parent concerns, my own predilection to not be a courageous highway
> driver, etc.  THAT is more likely to have primary say in whether or no I
> attend an event.  I am much more likely to attend something at a 50-mile
> location than at a 150-mile location, knowing that I can, comfortably and
> safely, day-trip it.  But that's me and my preferences and priorities: I
> would not make a rule that would so impose my conditions on others.
>
> I still think I'm missing something.
>
> Thank you all!
>
> --Godaeth
>
>
>
>
>
> On Wed, Jan 27, 2016 at 10:56 AM, Greg Less via Barony <
> barony at cynnabar.org> wrote:
>
>> Hi All-
>>
>>     I sent the following to Curia:
>>
>>
>> *   There is currently some healthy discussion happening in Cynnabar
>> about the proposed change to the 100 mile rule. I know it was brought up at
>> the last Curia meeting and discussed there, but I was unfortunately unable
>> to hear all of the details. *
>>
>> *    It's been asked "What's driving the initiative? Who are the primary
>> stakeholders [for the change to a 150 mile radius]?" *
>>
>> *   Can anyone clarify that for me?*
>>
>>
>> And the reply from the Kingdom Seneschal:
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *Honestly, event attendance is being cannibalized due to too many events
>> on the calendar being too close together.  It is impacting smaller groups
>> to the point that some have very small allotments for operational costs
>> because of little to no profit for their events.Stakeholders are smaller
>> groups that are getting tromped by larger groups (baronies mostly) having a
>> more than two events annually.One of the other things that we started
>> talking about were "minor kingdom events" being bid in advance too.   TOC,
>> Rose Tourney, RUM, Regional A&S, etc having a more defined and regular time
>> frame so they can be tacked on to an existing event bid, well in advance,
>> so other groups in the area avoid the date.  That is just beginning to
>> coalesce and will take a lot more hashing out to make it feasible.  If
>> smaller groups can take some of those "minor" events, then it can be growth
>> opportunities for the group.*
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks,
>> -Gregoire.
>>
>> On Wed, Jan 27, 2016 at 10:34 AM, Johnna Holloway via Barony <
>> barony at cynnabar.org> wrote:
>>
>>> 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
>>>
>>>
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>>>
>>
>>
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>>
>
>
> --
> Elizabeth Calhoun
> University of Michigan Law Library
> Ann Arbor, MI 48109
> (734) 764-9330
>
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>
>
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