Codgers

[msmemory_archive]

Color me Old Codger. I'm having sticker shock today over the prices of Twelft [sic] Night and Birka. Yes, I know that each is charging just a smidge more than a first-run movie ticket, and I couldn't eat anywhere nicer than Friendly's for a sum like that feast fee, but I am unused to these numbers - or to the notion that advance registration doesn't give a discount.

(If anyone knows for sure that the 12th Night feast is sold out, let me know so I won't bother sending an onboard reservation.)

Comments

[herooftheage.livejournal.com]

On the other hand, I haven't gone to Twelfth Night for years because it was massively overcrowded - enough years that it might not even be true anymore. Higher prices are a very good way of thinning the crowds down, to the point where it is once again a reasonable sized event. (And yes, "reasonable-sized" is certainly point-of-view dependent.)

[vynehorn.livejournal.com]

A few comments about the 12th Night pricing, from someone in BBM (but is not involved in running the event):
--We had considered incorporating dayboard into the site fee, but felt that more people would rather have the option of paying or not paying for it, as they preferred. The busy schedule of 12th Night (order meetings, etc.) does mean that many people might miss the dayboard, and if you pay for it and don't get it, that's just really annoying.
--This is being held at a school that is 1)in Fairfield county and does not consider the SCA eligible for its "community group" prices and b) charging us hourly rates for 1 kitchen worker and 2 janitors (which really adds up
--Yes, the feast price is higher than many feasts, but as someone who regularly cooks feasts in the SCA, I can tell you that the price of food has skyrocketed in the past year. Energy costs and corn shortages (due to ethanol) have spread higher prices to just about every form of food available. I know that the feast will be a very nice one (at least three courses), but it takes more money now to put one on, compared to even two years ago. It's unfortunate, but that's the way it is.
--And yes, bad weather is always a concern for 12th Night...:-)

[hfcougar.livejournal.com]

And I was worried that my event was too expensive. The whole day cost $17!

Here I am angsting over reducing the feast price, and planing to give up the Weston site...

I'm only willing to pay that much for feast and site combined about once a year, and I expect it to be a weekend event if I do. I know 12th Night is one of the Big Ones as events go, but still... ouch.

I'm slightly miffed about the no-pre-reg discount for Birka, but I'm trying to look at it as: How much money do I make per hour? How much standing-in-line time will I save by doing pre-reg?

[msmemory.livejournal.com]

I didn't mean to make you, or BBM generally, apologize for the event's budget. I'm sorry.
Heaven knows I've willingly enough coughed up real money for an anticipated excellent feast, including the one by lucianus1 a few weeks back.

[vynehorn.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know that you didn't mean it that way! I was just trying to explain the reasons behind it. We're all aware that it is an expensive event, especially coming right after the holidays.

[rosinavs.livejournal.com]

The dayboard as concession is fairly common in Meridies, as I recall from my four months in the SCA there. Most events had a dayboard run by another group raising money to get funds to run their next event.

[lumineaux.livejournal.com]

He is an awesome cook.

[lumineaux.livejournal.com]

And his almost-a-Laurel scroll, signed by his friends rather than the Crown, remains proudly displayed on his wall to this day.

[lumineaux.livejournal.com]

And our events aren't quite big enough to make "event insurance" against bad weather cost-effective. Almost, but not quite. I looked into it when I was autocrat of Mudthaw (of the huge, gorgeous $4500 site).

[duchessb.livejournal.com]

Sorry, that wasn't supposed to be anonymous...

[msmemory.livejournal.com]

Bad weather is always a worry in the East. I can think of one particular Twelfth Night (1994) when we got a foot of snow on Friday, and I and much of Carolingia bailed en masse.

[(Anonymous)]

What "number" are you referencing?

I am guessing you mean the Carolingian baronial account.

I was *not* referencing Carolingia in my comment. I didn't want to be specific, but I meant a prior barony.

I also know from being a regional seneschal, that there are a number of places that have very high account balances.

[liamstliam.livejournal.com]

Clearly, we are all having "anonymity" issues.

;)

Again, I just want to be clear, I was not thinking about Carolingia at all in my comments. I do not know at all where that balance is.

[liamstliam.livejournal.com]

The discount is that you don't have to stand in line.

;)

[dreda.livejournal.com]

(I bet this is you, Liam. ;)

I meant the Baronial checking account balance. And I didn't actually think you were talking about Carolingia, but I think we're not alone in this situation. Moreover, I think it is a bad situation for us to be in. It is all very well to be egalitarian and principled and have donation only events, but it doesn't matter if you lose blood from a scratch or a hemorrhage - if you don't do anything to address it, you'll still run dry.

[silme.livejournal.com]

I'm one of the signers. Laurels signed first, then other peers, then the rest of the populace. I was one of the many who talked with the king that day. What an event1

[artisticphoenix.livejournal.com]

Actually, there is a big difference between running dry and having over a couple of thousand in the bank, which is what the situation is with many Baronies. Carolingia is many times that as they run more events, but again, I don't think they are in any danger of running dry.

I'm in favor of sound fiscal policy, but I am also for making good sound decisions with regard to event financing. It is perfectly okay for an event to break even or only make $100.00. Most events make much more than that, including the big buck events.

[dreda.livejournal.com]

I think we are not disagreeing. But I do know that, in the time I have been paying attention, it seems to have been more common for local events to lose money than to break even, much less make a profit. That is the cycle that I do not think can last.

(Nor do I think we have more than a couple thousand in the bank, although I would be delighted to be proved wrong.)

[kls-eloise.livejournal.com]

One of the other things to keep in mind about the "catastrophe planning" mindset for midwinter events like 12th Night is the affect it has on future planning. If you don't plan *very* conservatively for numbers, Fimbulwinter does indeed descend, and the event finances tank, it could wipe out the ability of a group to hold a future event. I'm down in BBM, but not on staff for 12th Night. In a scenario where the site cost had been projected over larger numbers, the weather turned ugly, and the event tanked, we would have been looking at cancelling the event planned for next summer because we wouldn't be able to pay for the site.

Lest anything think I'm over-reacting, the last two times that I stewarded an event in the winter in CT, it snowed to the point where the Governor closed the highways to anything but emergency vehicles. Those events were complete losses, but luckily they were very small.

I think it's how you have to plan when the Kingdom takes half the profits, but leaves the local group with the entirety of any losses.

[artisticphoenix.livejournal.com]

well and I have suggested that the Kingdom should step up to the plate and help groups out with this scenario. The Kingdom is in a much better financial place and should assist a group that goes out of its way to make a reasonably priced event for something like Twelfth Night.

[katherine-barr.livejournal.com]

Kingdom could volunteer to cover any losses up to the amount of the budget in case of inclement weather. Just sayin ;

[shalmestere.livejournal.com]

His focus in the East has been different....

He still cooks :-)

[kls-eloise.livejournal.com]

That would be lovely if were ever to happen. It also might help ease the lack of bids for these events. I know that one of MY big apprehensions about a 12th Night bid is the fear that if we get the event and CT gets hit with an ice storm that weekend that it would wipe the barony out. That's a powerful incentive to say "let some other group do it - we'll offer to help!"

[nazrynn.livejournal.com]

Considering the double-whammy we're getting as of tomorrow (2nd storm in 3 days), I'll keep my fingers and toes crossed that winter blows itself out this weekend and stays dry at least until after 12th Night.

Scary to think that the event is sneaking up quickly.

[silme.livejournal.com]

Good to know! I didn't think he'd stopped, but it sounds as if he's not as known for it in the East as he was in the Outlands. :)