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Linda Nyland, Bev Simpson and myself have spoken several times since Westville.
We have also been looking at everyones input and reports rearding the event. I
submit here a list of pros and cons from the event. This list is in no way
entirely complete. It is also worth noting that we had no goal of ever trying to
make everyone happy. It just is not possible. Additionally, we have sorted thru
the realistic issues vs. just minor issues (again, we realize we
can't make everyone happy). But, here goes:
Pros:
- Overall event rating by the particpants survey was 8.9 out of 10.
- Quality first person interactions. I was SO pleased and impressed by the
wonderful, unforced, naturally-flowing first person that occured. I rarely ran
into people failing in this area (usually only for organizational demands).
Participant survey rated firper as 7.7 out of 10
- Event environment very immersive. Lack of modern intrusions really makes the site magical. Modern intrusions (aside from spectators) was kept to a bare minimum.
- Quality impressions (also see cons)
Participant survey rated material impressions as 8.6 out of 10.
- System of "Goals" seems to have worked well again.
- Food groups were successful (also see cons).
- Site surpassed its attendance goals (1500 vs 1100 expected).
- Major vignette schedule successful (see also cons).
- 'Night at Theater' was popular (see also cons).
Particpants surveyed rated the show as 7.8 out of 10.
- Economy and bank ran very successfully.
- Tavern was popular. Some see the celebratory atmosphere at the tavern as
incorrect for the period. I disagree in the case of the time frame we portrayed.
We portrayed the days around the election, which was a time when candidates
would have been 'penning' candidates and plying them with spirits. This also
coincided with planters and farmers in town to sell their cotton and just been
paid. Now I do believe that this atmosphere would have been uncommon, but
logical given the period we portrayed.
- Raised $844 to got towards the 'Save the West cabin' fund.
- The site was very pleased with the result and exceeded their expected attendance by 20%.
Cons:
- A new rule will be added that protects peoples property and sleeping
area/building from intrusion except when pre-scripted.
- The "Goodwill" system seems to have been a distraction. My feeling is that we
can motivate people to good deeds without this system in place. (but thanks to
those who donated some very nice auction items).
- There were too many timed Major vignettes. In an attempt to please the sites
demands for 'timed' and posted vignettes, we met that demand, but also really
over-scripted too many vignettes. In the future, we cans till have a timed,
dramatic event, but it would only occur once during the event. We could add more
dramatic vignettes, but they would happen one time. I really like just keeping
things on-going and spontaneous. Kudos to those coordinators who varied each of
the repeating vignettes to keep them interesting and varied for the reenactors
(i.e. Angela Harris' efforts with the Ladies Food Riot was sponatenous and well
done).
- Food. Bev did a great job with getting the food and handling the food groups
(she did not have but a couple of weeks to pick up that ball). The only issue I
have is that we probably had too much food. We hoped to have just enough, basic
food where everyone had enough to eat, but not enough where people felt totally
satisfied. Thus, we ope dthat would force folks to the black market, Relief
Agents, etc, for more and better goods. Instead they black market only sold just
over half of their goods (the flour, bread, sugar and coffee being the most
demanded).
- Impressions. Overall, I was very pleased with the impressions. But, there were
some small areas where people did not meet the minimum standards posted for the
event. This will be enforced more in the future. Reading the guidelines ahead
of time is critical. Better review by the organizers during the invitation
process will also help. The invitation/registration process will likely be
modified for 2012.
- Docent led tours. These were very successful in 2008, but were not as well
received in 2010. I still believe w eneed to have docent led tours, but maybe
have less of them and not jammed to coincide with the timed scripted vignettes.
Also, the tours went better on Saturday with a voluntary group vs friday where
the audience was more captive and also subject to stresses and distractions of
so many school kids.
- "Night at the Theater". A couple of people were offended by the bawdy nature
of the minstrel portion of the show. We had really created jokes from an early
20th century time frame vs. 19th century (as we or anyone else would have even
laughed at the 19th c. jokes).
- Ladies at the tavern. There were a handful of ladies outside the tavern on
Saturday evening. As they were not in the tavern, I really did not have a big
issue with this, but understand the 19th c. concerns regarding it. This topic
has been discussed ad naseum. I know there are various feelings on this and
despite the event not being 'perfect', I was very happy with the outcome
despite all other minor issues debated.
- School kids on friday. Keep in mind that this was a plus for the event site,
by bringing in needed funds. However, I believe the sheer number of kids (about
900) put stress on our ability to reenact. Many kids were well behaved, but many
were like tornados thru the site and many were not supervised properly. Keep in
mind that we did have authority to ask kids to leave a dwelling or area if any
problem developed.
Overall ratings based on your feedback on thsi site, rate the event about a 8.9
out of 10. I think this is a fair assessment. I believe we know what went well
and what we can improve upon to make the 2012 event even better. But, it always
takes everyones cooperation to make it so. Look soon for a event purpose
statement for the 2012 event.
A mission statement and purpose for the 2012 event 'Surrender of Secession - Westville, GA 1865' will come out soon under that thread.
Thanks,
Jim Butler
We have also been looking at everyones input and reports rearding the event. I
submit here a list of pros and cons from the event. This list is in no way
entirely complete. It is also worth noting that we had no goal of ever trying to
make everyone happy. It just is not possible. Additionally, we have sorted thru
the realistic issues vs. just minor issues (again, we realize we
can't make everyone happy). But, here goes:
Pros:
- Overall event rating by the particpants survey was 8.9 out of 10.
- Quality first person interactions. I was SO pleased and impressed by the
wonderful, unforced, naturally-flowing first person that occured. I rarely ran
into people failing in this area (usually only for organizational demands).
Participant survey rated firper as 7.7 out of 10
- Event environment very immersive. Lack of modern intrusions really makes the site magical. Modern intrusions (aside from spectators) was kept to a bare minimum.
- Quality impressions (also see cons)
Participant survey rated material impressions as 8.6 out of 10.
- System of "Goals" seems to have worked well again.
- Food groups were successful (also see cons).
- Site surpassed its attendance goals (1500 vs 1100 expected).
- Major vignette schedule successful (see also cons).
- 'Night at Theater' was popular (see also cons).
Particpants surveyed rated the show as 7.8 out of 10.
- Economy and bank ran very successfully.
- Tavern was popular. Some see the celebratory atmosphere at the tavern as
incorrect for the period. I disagree in the case of the time frame we portrayed.
We portrayed the days around the election, which was a time when candidates
would have been 'penning' candidates and plying them with spirits. This also
coincided with planters and farmers in town to sell their cotton and just been
paid. Now I do believe that this atmosphere would have been uncommon, but
logical given the period we portrayed.
- Raised $844 to got towards the 'Save the West cabin' fund.
- The site was very pleased with the result and exceeded their expected attendance by 20%.
Cons:
- A new rule will be added that protects peoples property and sleeping
area/building from intrusion except when pre-scripted.
- The "Goodwill" system seems to have been a distraction. My feeling is that we
can motivate people to good deeds without this system in place. (but thanks to
those who donated some very nice auction items).
- There were too many timed Major vignettes. In an attempt to please the sites
demands for 'timed' and posted vignettes, we met that demand, but also really
over-scripted too many vignettes. In the future, we cans till have a timed,
dramatic event, but it would only occur once during the event. We could add more
dramatic vignettes, but they would happen one time. I really like just keeping
things on-going and spontaneous. Kudos to those coordinators who varied each of
the repeating vignettes to keep them interesting and varied for the reenactors
(i.e. Angela Harris' efforts with the Ladies Food Riot was sponatenous and well
done).
- Food. Bev did a great job with getting the food and handling the food groups
(she did not have but a couple of weeks to pick up that ball). The only issue I
have is that we probably had too much food. We hoped to have just enough, basic
food where everyone had enough to eat, but not enough where people felt totally
satisfied. Thus, we ope dthat would force folks to the black market, Relief
Agents, etc, for more and better goods. Instead they black market only sold just
over half of their goods (the flour, bread, sugar and coffee being the most
demanded).
- Impressions. Overall, I was very pleased with the impressions. But, there were
some small areas where people did not meet the minimum standards posted for the
event. This will be enforced more in the future. Reading the guidelines ahead
of time is critical. Better review by the organizers during the invitation
process will also help. The invitation/registration process will likely be
modified for 2012.
- Docent led tours. These were very successful in 2008, but were not as well
received in 2010. I still believe w eneed to have docent led tours, but maybe
have less of them and not jammed to coincide with the timed scripted vignettes.
Also, the tours went better on Saturday with a voluntary group vs friday where
the audience was more captive and also subject to stresses and distractions of
so many school kids.
- "Night at the Theater". A couple of people were offended by the bawdy nature
of the minstrel portion of the show. We had really created jokes from an early
20th century time frame vs. 19th century (as we or anyone else would have even
laughed at the 19th c. jokes).
- Ladies at the tavern. There were a handful of ladies outside the tavern on
Saturday evening. As they were not in the tavern, I really did not have a big
issue with this, but understand the 19th c. concerns regarding it. This topic
has been discussed ad naseum. I know there are various feelings on this and
despite the event not being 'perfect', I was very happy with the outcome
despite all other minor issues debated.
- School kids on friday. Keep in mind that this was a plus for the event site,
by bringing in needed funds. However, I believe the sheer number of kids (about
900) put stress on our ability to reenact. Many kids were well behaved, but many
were like tornados thru the site and many were not supervised properly. Keep in
mind that we did have authority to ask kids to leave a dwelling or area if any
problem developed.
Overall ratings based on your feedback on thsi site, rate the event about a 8.9
out of 10. I think this is a fair assessment. I believe we know what went well
and what we can improve upon to make the 2012 event even better. But, it always
takes everyones cooperation to make it so. Look soon for a event purpose
statement for the 2012 event.
A mission statement and purpose for the 2012 event 'Surrender of Secession - Westville, GA 1865' will come out soon under that thread.
Thanks,
Jim Butler