Rantipants McRant

[hurly_burly]

 

So, we were planning to run an event called Brass Monkey War. We booked a site at which to hold said event. Then we realised that, what with one RL thing and another, we actually didn't have the time to run the event, so six weeks before it was meant to be run, we cancelled it. No bookings had been taken, no other plans had been made, there was nothing to do but inform the Seneschal and B&B that we were no longer going to be running the event, and put an email to that effect on the list.
Two other worthies decided that rather than let the event die, they would assume command and run the event instead. We handed over the site booking details, and thought we'd washed our hands of the whole affair. We went to the feast, which was poorly organised (and I'm being quite caritable here) and attended by about 12 people.

The next week we hear from several sources that certain people (one is a certifiable loon, but the other is a fucking Pel and really shouldn't behave like this) are blaming us for the fact that the event was so dreadful. Wait, whut? Oh, yes, apparently we failed to hand over all the information, and we had an unrealistic pricing structure in our event info form due to the fact that we were going to use our underground network of contacts to get all the supplies for the event really cheaply. We were planning on doing most of the shopping at the local fruit and veg/butcher, who I'm pretty sure sells to other people and not just us, and anyway the new stewards should have submitted their own event info form complete with their own pricing schedule.

So, our fault that hardly anyone bothered to turn up. Our fault that the hall was not decorated, and that it was filled with piles of people's mundane and fencing crap, which I have to say detracted somewhat from the medieval atmosphere. Our fault that almost no-one made an effort to dress according to the theme (or rather, themes, since there were several; our original 14th C time period, plus blue for the Bal d'Azure and Middle Eastern for the feast, what a fucking mishmash!), although nothing else about the event gave any hint as to said themes either (probably also our fault). Our fault that the fencing ran several hours over time and that the feast was dished out and getting cold and the steward failed to actually alert anyone to this fact. Our fault that no-one brought cushions to sit on to add to the Middle Eastern theme for the feast.

That's right, these people are oddly similar to the Australian cricket team, who when they lost the Ashes immediately starting whinging about how it wasn't their fault.

I now feel overwhelmingly disenchanted with the SCA, and really, really, don't feel like running another event while this particular Pelican still roams the Earth. Gosh, she's doing a good job with fostering enthusiasm and encouraging people to run events, isn't she?

Comments

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Oh dear, that's just not reasonable or logical on the part of the critics. Six weeks is more than long enough to bring a plan together, or they shoudl have left it dead. It seems as though the event was near death regardless with no bookings six weeks out. Poor you two. And Not Good Form, Pel! You know they are the crazy order, yes?

[mr-bassman.livejournal.com]

Boo! I think you're both doing fine. You have your feet solidly on the ground and you were realistic enough to interpret the signs correctly.

There are insensitive unrealistic self-centered people in any social group and the SCA has more than its fair share, it comes with the territory.

People can get funny about tradition, sometimes preferring to have a crappy event because it has to be!

Don't beat yourself us about it.

I say do what you need to do to have a good time.

[cinnatart.livejournal.com]

My goodness, I didn't realise they were still stuck in their teenage years. =P

[tyra88.livejournal.com]

having not gone to the event due to commitments at Uni I wish I could have been there to show support to the event (not because it was run by someone new) but to show I supported the barony. Alas, the stories I have heard and the details so well presented in your blog clearly align. I do not know who the Pel you are speaking of is, and frankly am shock and ashamed that someone on that order who stoop so low as to bad mouth an event that shouldn't have been run....

Frankly, I don't feel like playing anymore either because of politics, forms and people crossing unspoken lines but yet everytime I go to an event that was run the way they "should" be run like 12th Night was, it makes me want to stay so much more then 2 or 3 bad ones.

We need you in this barony, if for no other reason then to help keep the B&B sane!!!! Please don't go I'll miss you and the little girl turning up to events! :(

[nymf.livejournal.com]

OTT: have you seen film

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OTT: have you seen film <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0430922/"Role Models</a>? There is some medieval LARPing which you might enjoy.

[snipribbon.livejournal.com]

You've not done anything wrong, nor have you neglected your duties. I'd refuse to take ANY criticism on this one; as you'd both CANCELLED the event and therefore had nothing to to with it. Stupidheads