[BGB] HAVOC

[Hirsutecjo at aol.com]

All,

       I'll echo everything Pete said, although I don't have his detailed 
knowledge of prior HAVOC history. 

       I'd like to add a couple of considerations based on running Aircon 
(250 people) and some other small cons. At Aircon, the cost of tables was huge - 
approximately the same as the cost of the club (which wsn't a hotel). In 
addition, because it was a multi-genre con, I averaged about 3-4 players per slot 
(2-3 paid admissions for the con) per table. Whether I had 10 players for a CCG 
or RPG, or 4-6 players for a boardgame, or 2 players at 3 tables for a 
miniatures game that didn't fill, the table cost was the same. For an all-miniatures 
convention like HAVOC, the players per table value is extremely low, even if 
all the games fill up. Even an 8-player game is only 2.0 ppt if there are 3 
playable tables plus a table for storage. That makes it relatively expensive, 
and the low table density exaggerates the problems if the attendance dips. I'm 
not at all surprised that HAVOC has been running on the edge.

Best,
Carl
> 
>  
> 
>  When I run games at conventions I am donating my time and effort to the 
> hobby. I go to conventions to both run games and play in them and shop. It can't 
> be zero cost - there is a lot that goes into creating such a gathering. 
> Running games is fun. Cleaning up the convention hall, dealing with the crowds at 
> the front desk, updating the website, creating the program... blah blah 
> blah... all of that is real work and not always a lot of fun. So if you really w
> ant to get in for free, Join the club and become a Havoc volunteer. I was a 
> member from 1990 - 2003 and I always volunteered to help with Havoc. Its a 
> worthy cause. For years they tried to make the money off of attendance but the 
> magic number at which it became semi-profitable (>350 attendees) has to my 
> knowledge never been breached. Now with the GM's chipping in, like they do at all 
> the other conventions from HMGS-* to Havoc to Origins and GenCon it has a 
> chance of making some money. With that money the club can and will turn around 
> and reinvest in the convention. That means they will be able to afford more 
> advertising, better materials, and perhaps not have to have everything done on 
> a volunteer basis. It amazes me how many people think BGB heads to the 
> Bahamas ever year with the "take" from Havoc... I can think of several years when 
> it was "Angel Investors" who chipped in some cash to keep the club solvent 
> after a poor turn out. The 1993 Havoc I believe is a case in point. Rob did a 
> great job running the convention but the location wasn't ideal and attendence 
> was down 40%.
> 
>   
> 
>  I think the Havoc Committee has taken a much needed and bold step to keep 
> the convention alive and I support them.
> 
>   
> 
>  Put me down for a weekend pass.
> 
> 




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