[Artemisia] Event Thoughts

[Bruce Padget]

--- Mistress Caointiarn writes:

>     It strikes me as "odd" that people  want more
> events, when the ones
> already scheduled are sparsely attended.  The
> Kingdom Arts & Sciences
> Exhibition did not break even because the gate was
> less than 75 people.
> Yet here was a good opportunity for talking,
> catching up with old friends  &
> smoozing the day away.  Unless you were pressed into
> service to judge,  the
> whole day was there. {Sister Mary Pelican says: if
> everyone did one small
> task, then everyone could spend the majority of the
> day in play)

As to my specific case, I've been working weekends. 
That is changing within the week, and I've mapped out
30 events for 2005.  I intend, as in times past, to
attend every Artemisian Crown event.  Think you're
sick of me now....  

However, as to Arts and Sciences Competitions in
general:  Does the ambience of the Competition lend
itself to "magic?"  And this isn't a finger pointing
at any branch or event staff -- attendance is a
perennial problem at Competition, no matter where it's
held.  The Competition lost money when it was held in
Loch Salann, during my Baronage.  Yesterday Elyn
brought up that she has been fortunate to experience
many "magic" moments.  Every single one for her has
involved Arts and Sciences.  None of them happened at
a competition.

It's a bit beyond the scope of the discussion thus
far, but if an optional event consistently
under-draws, the event itself may need re-thinking.  
 
>     Crown Tournaments have been just as woefully
> neglected.  32 entrants?

Entrants, not attendees.  Many folks (I'm one, tho I
don't do chivalric fighting) believe that one should
not enter a tourney where the victor undertakes
duties, unless he/she intends to undertake said duties
-- no matter how unlikely victory may seem.  If only
32 are ready, willing, and able to assume the throne,
I'd call that the right number for the list.  

I don't know how Crown attendance has been.  However,
throughout Artemisia, top to bottom, side to side,
I've been noticing that events are, more and more
often, presented thus:  Get thru the day's mandatory
business, pack up, go home.  In short, a job.  And as
a job it pays lousy.  (As a hobby, it pays great!) 

I fully realize event staff are volunteers.  But so
are attendees.  Niccolo attends events as a matter of
duty.  But there's this guy named Bruce who drives
Niccolo to the events...but more about him below.

> Any event can be unstructured so long as you do not
> commit yourself to being
> at a certain place at a certain time.   Traveling to
> events means the
> "event" can begin the minute your car leaves the
> driveway  --  listen to a
> book tape, singing songs,  getting that hem sewn. 
> It's all in the mind set.
> I HATE rushing to an event!  I want to enjoy the
> experience/anticipation of
> getting there. Then, the return drive is spent
> recapturing the best of the
> day(s) you have experienced.
> 
> More events may be better for the higher populated
> areas, and I understand
> the mileage can seem so isolating, but that  is not
> the best solution for us
> smaller branches.

Travel is certainly one way to get more event time,
and what you do on the way can be pretty fun and
rewarding.  Take it from a bona fide event travel
freak.  (With a 3 1/2 year interruption as a
truck-drivin' travel freak.)  (A certain Pelican on
this list can vouch that I once sold plasma to get gas
money and site fee. :D)  The flip side is that
everything I can do en route, I can also do at home
with the same folks, without a $6/hour gas cost, and
without dividing my attention with driving.  So it's
still the event at the end of the drive that
ultimately decides whether one bothers to make the
drive.

I've driven 16 hours one-way for 12 hours of event on
several occasions.  Drive 16 hours for 10 hours of
event? For 8?  As the ratio of eventing time to
driving time shrinks, the calculus only makes sense if
I have strong reason to believe that it will be
quality eventing time, or at least eventing time of a
nature that I can't get within a 1-hour drive.

Fact is, I'm a pretty easy sale when it comes to
attending events.  Go back through this thread and see
the selling that's been going on.  Obligation and
diminishing expectations aren't exactly key selling
points.  I particularly suggest re-reading Lord
Morgan's post -- he's selling an event concept, and
believe me, I'm buying.

Regards,
Niccolo
Abbastanza Buon Non E Abbastanza Buono
bapadget at yahoo.com