[Bryn-gwlad] A Rebuttal on Drafthouse and Demos

[Corbin O Cathasaigh]

Okay, so everyone's given their thoughts. There are a few things that I'd like to discuss a little further in depth.
   
  The point was made by a couple of people that we owe it to the Drafthouse to do what they want and not try to negotiate because of bad past experience. Let's talk about that for a moment. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Isabelica say that they contacted us about doing this for them? Whatever happened in the past, clearly they aren't nursing any wounds from it. Why then should we?
   
  In point of fact, what I suggested in my early reply which sparked this firestorm was that we do go ahead and do something for them... something piratey. Someone said something emotionally weighty about being "true to ourselves" but listen: if you're really concerned about our relationship with the Drafthouse and how much we owe them for even speaking to us, you know what I think would serve us well in that case? Give them what they want. They asked for color for an 18th C pirate movie. How cool would it be to them to have us ignore that and come out as something completely different? I mean somebody even suggested doing heavy fighting... what??
   
  That is why I advocated, for this movie, not approaching it as an SCA demo. I advocated approaching it as a chance to scratch the Drafthouse's back, to put us in a better position for them to scratch ours later. How is that NOT building a better relationship with the Drafthouse? In fact I think that agreeing to give them one thing and then giving them something else that seems more serving of our own interests than theirs, is more likely to hurt the relationship with the Drafthouse. Think about it.
   
  I mean the position is interesting when you spell it out: "We have a troubled past with the Drafthouse. Even though they came to us, we're still afraid that they don't want to work with us. So, to rectify that, we think it would be best to take their request for piratey color at this pirate movie, and treat it as a self-serving opportunity to do our own thing so that we can hopefully pick up a few interested spectators." Doesn't that sound a little.... skewed, to anyone but me? 
   
  This isn't merely a question of "do or don't do", as some of the replies seem to imply. I don't think anyone has suggested at this point that we don't do something for the Drafthouse. But what we do, how we approach it, what we wear, and whether or not by doing so we are fulfilling the needs and explicit request of the host, that is the real question.
   
  If you're going to use the argument that we need to build or rebuild the relationship with the Drafthouse, then commit to that stance fully and give them what they asked for. Save the heavy recruitment effort for a more period-appropriate and time-friendly opportunity... and, as has also been brought up as a result of this, spend the meantime fixing the recruitment and retention problems at home, in our PiPs.
   
  Because I think ultimately we all want the same thing. We want these problems to be fixed, and many people are willing to jump at any opportunity that looks like it might eke us out an interested nod or two... while overlooking more serious problems internally. Everyone I think has a good idea of what needs to be done to fix our issues, but no one wants to be the one to put the bell on the cat.
   
  -Corbin
   
  P.S. In the needlessly politicized SCA, I take my own chances by speaking up against the status quo. I don't care. I never buy into petty group politics and I won't say the popular thing if I think it's the wrong thing. I hope that there are those who feel the same way and are inspired to do the same... even if you disagree with me. But seriously, people, our pink alligators are filling up our living room and it's time for people to start talking about them.

 		
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