Attending "Good" events

[LibertyHallVols]

Gas price not being an issue, how many events can/do/will/would you attend per year if you needed to take one or two days off of work due to travel to/from the event?

[CJDaley]

Re: Attending "Good" events

What is this 'vacation time' you speak of?

[Texyank]

Re: Attending "Good" events

Salary and 30 days of leave per year = about 8. Would do more but that would put me in extremis with the queen and I would have to alter course and speed.


Jason Hamby

the "livin the good life mess"

[Craig L Barry]

Re: Attending "Good" events

Good question...depends on the event location and the dates. The Watchdog Civil War Quarterly staff tries to attend and set up the "impression improvement tent" at two or three events per year, all those require a substantial drive and vacation on at least one end of the weekend (usually Friday). While technically not an event, I had to cancel out of the planned WD staff meeting in Gettysburg this month because of scheduling conflicts. That seems to be how it goes lately. Not including the local and NPS events/living histories then that is about the best one in my situation could expect (2-3).

Higher priorities too often push the more distant events down the totem pole.

[aetius123]

Re: Attending "Good" events

Most events require a substantial amount of driving. It takes me a while just to get out of the great state of Texas. I usually have to take vacation Friday and the following Monday. East coast events would require at least two days of driving each way. I usually plan on about 3 or 4 out of state events a year. Campaign style reenacting enables me to drive a compact thus drastically reducing the expense of gas.

John Winkler
Co K 6th TX

[VaTrooper]

Re: Attending "Good" events

The Cavalry congress was the only event I had scheduled that would have required time off of work. But it's been canceled and I'm down to none.

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: Attending "Good" events

Thanks for the participation, folks!

The point of this poll is to look at what keeps folks from coming to events in a general sense, not because of particular circumstances this year. So, to what extent does travel (in terms of vacation time required) keep you from attending better events (For convenience, let's define "better" in terms of the schedule here on the A-C... Others throw some kick @$$ events, but I don't want to debate the definition of "Good Event"... start your own thread! :wink_smil )

Looking at events in 2007 (BGR/Vicksburg/TAG/Wilderness/etc) they are a bit spread out. So, nomatter where you live, you're gonna have to take a road trip somewhere (using vaca time, assuming a standard "5x8" work schedule) if you want to go to more than one or two events.

For me, the answer is probably 2.5...
I can manage a couple of 4-day weekends with an additional Friday off or a couple of "flexed" afternoons thrown in for good measure. The earlier an event ends on Sunday, the farther I can drive without taking a Monday off, which means I can travel to more events.

[VaTrooper]

Re: Attending "Good" events

In that case.... I work a 4x10 Mon-Thurs so most events arent a problem. But if they were to far to make it back at a decent hour I'd be willing to take 3 or 4 Mondays off for events.

[Parault]

Re: Attending "Good" events

I try to do six events per year. Like you said though, gas prices will play a contributing factor when the Fall events roll around.
With my job being a Firefighter and the hours being 24/48 and also having shift swap. Getting off on Friday,or even Thursday, and not coming back till Monday has not been a problem yet

[HighPrvt]

Re: Attending "Good" events

Being centrally located ( for AOT stuff) in beautiful N. W. Ga. I really don't have to travel much. However my work schedule can, and does prohibit be from attending some events ( VICKSBURG).
I plan on attending most of the good events that remain ...

[1st Maine Trooper]

Re: Attending "Good" events

I take Fridays off at every event to take care of the time needed to bring in my horse.
Dave Myrick

[theknapsack]

Re: Attending "Good" events

It really does just depend on my schedule... I can take off the days usually no problem, just the time of year that is a problem (because of school). I have attended more than 5 in one year, so my avg. estimate would be around 7. That being said, that is not my schedule this year because I am very busy.
On gas prices, however, I try not to let that stop me, so (money is still a factor) I don't worry too much about it.

[suspenderless pard]

Re: Attending "Good" events

Not having a "normal" work schedule (I work 7-5 M-F and 7-12 sat.) I have to take off a Friday and not take my half-day during the week to cover for Saturday. As long as events are in the fall and not in the spring (I work for a farm supply store and spring is our bussiest time of the year) I can swing it. I try to get a tentative schedule early in the year of things that I want to do and that way I can spread my personal days around to cover those Fridays. I can usually do 3 or 4 no problem as long as they're not from March-the middle of May.

Sean Cooper

[bhutton]

Re: Attending "Good" events

Five or Six Events

Bob Hutton

67th N.Y , 1st Long Island

[BrianHicks]

Re: Attending "Good" events

This year, I've taken vacation for only one event (Banks Grand Retreat) and that was required due to the travel time (10.5 hrs one way) and the fact that the event required everyone to be on site by late Wed. night, and ran through mid morning on Sunday.

All other events, I've simply worked the Sunday prior, and then taken a three day weekend to make it to the event. (It really helps you can make your own schedule!)