2007 AC Forum Event Performance

[CJDaley]

Re: 2007 AC Forum Event Performance

So why do so many people say they CAN to go to these events, but don't acutally go? .

One reason I see is the 'registrationitis' that people seem to suffer from.

Event 'A' tells people if you don't register by a certain date, then you won't get in. So Johnny Reb registers so he doesn't miss out, but hasn't checked with Mrs. Reb or his boss yet.

Event 'B' tells people only a certain amount of people are permitted to register. This registration cap scares people into registering early so people register to hold a space, but don't check with the Mrs. or the Boss or to see if it's Father's Day.

Event 'C' tells people that it's only $5 to register before February 28th. So Captain Cheapskate sends in $100.00 to hold 20 spaces for his unit, but hasn't checked to see if 20 of his guys are actually going.

All three of these scenarios have happened to events this year. It's NOT the event organizers fault of course as cut offs, early registration and registration caps are standard practice with every event, but it's one cause for the disease known as 'registrationitis'.

What's the cure for 'registrationitis'?

1) Allow Walk-ons.
2) No late registration fee.
3) No registration cap.

Of course none of these three solutions work for every event and depending on land usage, scenario, NPS regulations and budgets, these cures could be worse than the disease.

[Charles Heath]

Re: 2007 AC Forum Event Performance

1) Allow Walk-ons.
2) No late registration fee.
3) No registration cap.

For the past 10 years, this wing of the hobby has tried very hard to eliminate not only these three issues, but also the 4th issue you mention, which is the nightmare of bulk registration. That being said, we did dabble with walk-ons recently, but the logistics for that event permitted such with relative ease.

Most of the folks on this forum (I hope) can remember when all 4 of these issues were major event handicaps.

[Michael Comer]

Re: 2007 AC Forum Event Performance

I-600
BGR
Shiloh
Vicksburg
Outpost

Chickamauga sounds like a great one but I've got to support our authentic contingent here in Missouri at Pilot Knob. Got to help the home front you know. Also have done and will be doing several good authentic LH's here in the Show-Me state.

[bAcK88]

Re: 2007 AC Forum Event Performance

I-600
Wilderness NPS LH
Vicksburg NPS LH (okay that one's not far)
Chickamauga
Outpost III

Not bad for a starving college kid.....

[Charles Heath]

Re: 2007 AC Forum Event Performance

Micah,

Those folks are known as HMICs, as in "Hey, man, I'm coming." In a previous generation, they were simply written off as "Reenactor Math." When compiling the 2006 "Who is Us?" list, I noticed a number of people who registered for five or six events, yet didn't manage to attend those offerings.

His Herbomanianess has an excellent point. I hope the OCN has noticed something non-Athens in another thread over yonder in the AC Forum events turf, too. Then again, I'm still fascinated with seeing Sinclair gas stations still in business, black soil, Taco John's, windowsill pies & cakes as targets of opportunity, and corn as high as an elephant's eye.

Fetcher of watermelons and chaw,

[DougCooper]

Re: 2007 AC Forum Event Performance

My ability to make it to events is inversely proportional to date and total number but has nothing to do with geography, as I must fly to everything anyway. Sacrosanct dates for me are my 2 kids and wife's birthdays and my anniversary, plus the family vacation. The list is 5 events long this year, BGR, Wilderness, Chickamauga, SG Picket Post and Fredericksburg ATB. That is an unusual number and I don't expect it to be that high again...unless I leave Idaho.

Reenactor math is driven by peer pressure, deadlines, numbers caps, unit druthers...and negatively effected by simple logistics and real life, especially boss and bride. The big difference I see today are negative changes wrought by the internet, distance, unit and schedule.

Distance - Back when both ends of our one hobby were connected, it was a simple thing to attend events within a 1-3 hour drive for most any weekend, and events were spread out well. In year's past, I remember that going to one day was better than missing the entire thing. You did what you could.

Today, the best events are spread all over the country and many events end up being a supreme logistical challenge. Driving all that way for one day is normally not a good choice. Joe Bagadonuts suddenly realizes that the 8 hour drive is way more daunting the night before the event than it was when he registered, and decides not to go at the last minute, or his work and/or family steps in to help make a negative decision. There is a tipping point between letting pards down and making boss and family mad...and it leans toward the latter, obviously.

Schedule - we have so many competing events now, in prime months, that folks sometimes register for events close together and later have to make a decision on which one to attend. Remember when the summer was the season? Today, its mostly Fall and Spring, and it is getting crowded. Another example of global warming's effect on humans. Then there is simple event deconfliction - something we ain't good at. Example: Event B is placed on top of the same weekend as Event A due to a lack of attention to deconfliction. Folks who had considered and even registered for Event A are suddenly offered a good event closer for many...result is dilution, upset pards and another casualty of lack of deconfliction.

Internet - too much information...or more likely, disinformation can turn reenactor math into a geometric problem. Rich Mountain is an OUTSTANDING example of this. By the time rain, heat, mountain death march, bugs, bears and ramrods got through with probably the fastest, most organized registration ever, we were left with over 30% attrition of those registered.

Unit - we have documented the fractioning of the hobby on here ad nauseum, but this has really hurt us. In the old days, you got a committment from the company members then the company commander committed to the battalion and off you went. Leadership kept you on track to attend and folks felt a part of something bigger than themselves. Today, the mess or the individual committs to itself and perhaps an umbrella org (not a real functioning unit) and continually evaluates the options. Now we have individual registration, and the majority of folks are responsible only to themselves and maybe a few pards. Companies used to be companies - now we need to woo 4-5 different messes from all over creation to form a company.

I will never forget the commander of an excellent umbrella org saying to me a couple years ago that he "could not speak for the members" as we discussed events. I am not sure that is a good thing, but it is what it is.

Ditto on the posts by Chris and Charles.

[Dale Beasley]

Re: 2007 AC Forum Event Performance

Vicksburg a.k.a. "Sauna on the River"
Outpost/TAG (working out for it now)

Looks like that will be it becasue Uncle Sam Aint Released Me Yet (USARMY)

[Charles Heath]

Re: 2007 AC Forum Event Performance

Doug,

I find it interesting a fellow from Idaho can score a 4 when a good number of people on the AC Forum score a goose egg year after year. This certainly says something about dedication to the hobby.

[CJDaley]

Re: 2007 AC Forum Event Performance

a good number of people on the AC Forum score a goose egg year after year.

That assumes that the only 7 events on the schedule this year are the ones you've listed. I marked myself down as a "Keyboard Campaigner" because I wasn't able to attend any of the events you listed, but doesn't mean I didn't go to any events at all.

How were the 7 AC Forum Events chosen? I'm just kinda of curious at to what makes the grade and what doesn't and who has the final say. I just don't know.

[Charles Heath]

Re: 2007 AC Forum Event Performance

Chris, if the keyboard fits....

[paulcalloway]

Re: 2007 AC Forum Event Performance

You can find a list of the major C/P/H events for 2007 here:

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=78

[NC5thCav]

Re: 2007 AC Forum Event Performance

I will be going to 2 of the main events listed in the link Paul provided, plus I attended one in the list of threads at the bottom of the page. Does that give me three?:wink_smil

[Charles Heath]

Re: 2007 AC Forum Event Performance

Derek, that gives you a potential score of two (2).

[Rebel Yell1863]

Re: 2007 AC Forum Event Performance

Vicksburg NPS LH
Chickamauga-I want to go to this one, but I don't know if I can yet...
Outpost III-I'll be in Captain Landrums Company...

And one for next year...
"The calm before the storm" -January 18-20,2008.