SC - RE: SC-Decline in members signing up for feast.... Opinions?

[LHG, JRG]

Let's make something a tad bit clearer here:

In Ras's neck of the woods they have a few fiscal  things going on:

1) few camps or halls willing to rent kitchens and feast space at
reasonable prices
2) few folks willing to go looking for camps or halls.... 
3) a liking for "traditional" spots, even when the price goes up (the
unknown being worse than the known).
4) Novelty events with great (expensive) prizes (the "draw").

This produces a phenomenom where events  run approx $18 - 22.00 per adult.
If you want cabin space, it's even more! Prices for children tend to be
only somewhat less. I don't know about your areas of the world, but here in
the barony of Endless Hills I can get a heck of a night on the town AND  a
hotel and babysitter for what it would cost the 5 of us to go on board and
stay there 2 nights. I have noticed this trend in other places as well. The
royalty, thankfully, have a reputation for asking that event cost be pared
to the bare minimum. I heartily endorse that. I expect folks to be carefull
with my money!

In good 'ol EH events run the 12.00 to 16.00 range. My scots husband
(chairman of the event-demo committee) pitches a fit if it creeps much over
14.00.   $5.00 a head is the most we have ever paid for the cook to cook a
2-3 remove feast. Lunch cost is added to that (1.00 per head). ditto
breakfast. We also have a reputation for excessivley frugal spending:
donated prizes (or donated labor with the supplies bought),  prizes that
are handed down from year to year,  food shopping at restaurant supply
houses, active cultivation of stores honoring a discount for the 501 (c)3
groups (get a letter from the seneschal with that non-profit number on it),
 buying back the groceries if the spots don't all sell, etc..... You have
to get creative. You have to have someone in the group who is willing to
get creative, and they have to have the time. You have to give oodles of
credit to the folks who donate stuff, and do it out loud, and repeatedly.
You also have to have the odd event where the feast isn't the
focus---that's heresey, I know, on this list, but even I don't want to
spend every event in the kitchen. These things bring the cost waaaaaay
down.

Find the shop-a-holic bargain freak in your group and put them in charge of
vetting event proposals. I garuntee that'll bring the prices down!

Aoife
Barony of Endless Hills
Aethelmearc
N.E PA, USA

PS I confess that I often go to other events and volunteer in the kitchen.
But with my finances, we seldom go onboard anymore. I can see what's
cookin' without a need to pay thru the nose for it. Family discounts are a
good thing. Children's feasts are also a good thing (costs less, seperate
table, simpler kid-friendly menu, etc...).

I think I'll do a little research this weekend, tho.....


Aoife



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