by Ka'a Acklie » Wed Oct 28, 2015 4:03 pm
Finally found time to give feedback as the organizer of the movie nights.
I really enjoyed how fast this all came together, however Friday night was a bit of a let down.
I waited till 8:30 to start the movie and because the only people interested were over 21 and had booze in hand/been drinking and were a touch tipsy. I let them bring in the booze at 9pm, but no active drinking, and they were told right off the bat if they made trouble I was taking the booze and tossing them out. All went well, though I heard one parent made an official complaint, but they couldn't tell me when or who made the complaint, just that they showed up and took their kid away because they saw booze sitting on a table (which means that it had to have been past 9pm and they were really late).
Saturday night went amazingly! We had half a dozen kids, some adults, and I had a few people poke their heads into the kitchen to chat and see what it was like. Sir Eggman and his girlfriend (Alisha is her real name and I can't remember her Amtgard name for the life of me) popped in to see what we were up to and commented on how amazing it was that I was showing a movie with subtitles to kids. The kids had chosen to watch it in subtitles, which I think is awesome.
In future I think I'll continue to organize these (if allowed to), and that Fridays will turn into an all are welcome (no straight hard liquor, no sex/makingout, no talking, aka no being a basic/drunken pain in the ass). Saturdays will be a kids/under21/sober only night (no booze and if you have been drinking, you are not welcome in the doors). I'd prefer to not hold down the fort Saturday, but will unless we get 2 adults to handle it I shall be there. I'd like to just set up, and make sure no technical difficulties happen, but please understand I do not have kids and belong to a couple drinking houeholds as well as have a belted family that enjoys their mead. We also got a portable firepit to kick the night off with smores come Darkhore.
I want to give a huge shout out to the people that helped me clean up. We managed to do all the dishes, clean and mop the floors, sort the food stuff, get a few people that had lent things to the kitchen their things back, and make it super easy for the kitchen to get closed up in the morning. Sir Blackthorn also donated soda, and we got donations of ice cream and soda for the floats from a couple people.
We're really looking at catering to a few groups with the movie nights:
The kids
The people that are under 21
The people that don't have anyone to hangout with because they are new/awkward
The ones not interested in getting really drunk or hooking up, but might come with significant other and have a beer in hand.
I don't see why these people cannot mingle at something as calm as a movie. Some people do drink responsibly and I'm hoping that Friday night we can invite them to the movie night. Just a personal opinion: I think that it's important for kids to see that you can enjoy alcohol responsibly, not just that alcohol makes you vomit (that means you're doing it wrong).
As for games for kids to play, I'm not willing to organize this. I think it'll be loud and there is potential for people's property to get damaged (sticky fingers, spilled drinks, lost pieces). I'm also hesitant for it to take place in the same room as the movie night, as the movie needs a quiet room. What I suggest is if someone wants to take this up is that they get one of the camping areas marked off for this (could be declared a dry/kids area too) and I can bring my 2 folding tables for them to use. I do not recommend the main area for this as there is loud music, drunk/loud/horny people, and if the goal is to keep kids away from this then the main picnic area is NOT the place.
If you did help cleaning up at the movie night please pm me. I want to make sure I get your name so I can make sure you get the recognition you deserve and so I can say hi when we next see each other (I also get really shy why saying hi and I don't know your name).
Thank you all again,
Lady Ka'a
Fru Squire Ka'a F Acklie
Ego Sum Finis