[MR] The importance of pre-reg

[Lady Rhiannon of Berra]

The event Gorm was referring to was a "first event of this type, ever"
for our group.  As the wife of the autocrat and someone who's
autocrated other events for our group; I can answer some of this.

Other than our Last Chance event, this was the first event with a
feast and all of the other "usual" events that occur.  It was a
different site, pretty much a different everything.

At least in "possum hollar" (and for the company we used) you do have
to call and reserve the porta-johns well in advance), but you can
change that number up to 24 hours before the actual event, and payment
isn't required until they're delivered and that payment is based on
the number of johns you use (and that number depends on the people,
and what they're drinking... if there's alcohol involved, it's usually
less people per john, so they say); but it's still a good idea to know
how many we'll need so we're not under and have issues, or over and
spent money foolishly.  The same goes for haybale purchases.  Out here
in the Hollar, we can order them up to the day before and pick them up
then (depending on the number).  IF we're going to need a large
number, it's a good idea to let the farmer know that in advance.
Pre-regs help there too.

We have been known to place pleas for marshals up to the day before an
event.  When we tried earlier, we got lackluster volunteerism.  (I'm
not saying the marshallate are a bunch of slackers... so don't even
think it).  Folks are busy, folks have lives.  For the sake of safety,
the number of marshals does increase in direct response to the number
of fighters attending.

As someone who's worked troll in the past, I have seen those in
service to the royals coming to troll to see if "so and so" has
checked in, or if we know they're coming or not.

It wasn't a matter of an event taking all of the money out of the
coffers, it was a matter of could we afford to have this event and
then have our usual event in a few months after that.  The fear was
that if we lost money it would take resources from the summer event
that was our "usual" event.  Our exchequer was concerned (and rightly
so); that this new event would take resources from the other one.
Thankfully, pre-regs helped allay that fear.

-- 
Gina MacNeill
AKA Lady Rhiannon of Berra, CP

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