bigbisont wrote:
I am curious to know how other fan groups get their 'working the event' participation. I know for us it seems to have been a struggle for some time. Even with the abundance of members in attendance at events like DragonCon, getting enough volunteers to fill shifts manning the table has been a challenge. In fact, didn't we officially bail on the table in favor of a series of roaming groups last year? (I wasn't at that one, don't quite recall the details. How did the roaming group go!?).
Overall, I can't fault anyone for putting time and money into attending an event and then wishing to experience it rather than 'work' it, and I certainly can't fault anyone who's home life has taken priority over attending/working events. I myself do my best to incorporate home life into these events, but that brings its own limiting factors for how much I can do for the 'good of the forum' while making sure the rest of the family is still having fun.
I think the main 'carrot' we can offer is to try our best to make sure "working" the event is as much fun as simply attending it. More interactive tables? Free beer to anyone on table duty from the others in attendance
? I know the Maryland crew and Germans always appear to have good table turnouts and seem to have a lot of fun. Got any tips ladies and gents?
I think I will hit up the GERCM Facebook and see what they say.
I am in agreement free food and refreshments for the table staffers. That I have no issues helping out on.
I am also in agreement that if you staff the table for all days of the event you get help on admission.
I would also advise that as I learn social media promotion more and more, I am finding that staffing tables at events is the number one best way to grow our membership.
From the last event alone our USCM Facebook page grew by almost a 100 members with the way the growth is going.