[MR] On Event fees (and Metalsmith in particular)

[Siegfried]

> As the SCA ages, I found people have changed what they expect in
> event sites. [...] 2) The increase in family participation in the
> SCA has led people to want better facilities, bathrooms and running
> water for example. As a father of a 5 year old, it is much easier for
> me when I have my child if the facilities are better. Again, better
> facilities cost more money. So you can reasonably say our location
> and quality requirements are driving costs.

I can also speak to similar 'enhancements'.  People expect 'shaded feast
& often court space'.  Highland Foorde used to host events where the
feast space was scatered picnic tables in a park, and no shelter was
provided at all.

If it rained, people got wet unless they'd brought their own dayshades,
and back then, people rarely did.

Now, one wouldn't think of hosting an outdoor event with a feast,
without a 20x40 (or larger) pavilion setup to provide shade during the
day, and rain protection during the feast.

Said pavilions are either an expensive rental item, or an expensive
purchase for groups that needs funded, maintained, storage space for
provided, etc.

Siegfried


-- 
Barun Siegfried Sebastian Faust - Barony of Highland Foorde - Atlantia
http://hf.atlantia.sca.org/ - http://crossbows.biz/ - http://eliw.com/