Category Archives: Mind’s Eye Society (AKA the Cam)
Script for the upcoming MES Video on “Retention”
My Invictus (I did NOT make that dress, it was however a gift from an awesome girlfriend in NorCal)
These scripts go through a number of revisions, but in general I have to try not to be wordy and use run-on sentences with these things, as I’m writing to read these aloud, on camera, and in as little takes as I can manage. This often proves a challenge. One of these days I’ll post production photos to show people what it’s like to shoot them.
Each video I do is around 20-30 hours of work, but it’s a labor of love. If I can touch just ONE person with each video it’s a win. If I can make a difference in ONE domain, that makes it all worth while. As for this piece, it’s really pretty close to my heart as my own home domain is undergoing some of these symptoms. As I was writing this script I actually realized that I’m not doing enough personally to help my own domain retain members. Talk about a revelation!
Fortunately I think my domain is going to be okay and the people who need some time away from game will get that. It just really made me feel like I wasn’t doing enough for my own domain while writing this. I’m dedicating this video to those storytellers and coordinators out there who work the thankless jobs and day in and day out give their domains love, support, and time/energy.
Thank you. You are loved.
Below is the script. As I’m filming in a few hours here, the script is of course subject to change
Videos, Vegas, and Vampires
Pointy Things
As most folks who read this know, I’m from Las Vegas and was out there last week to see friends and family. I managed to get to do a little bit of photography while I was out there, including the shot to the right out at Red Rock National Park. It’s an area worth seeing if you enjoy desert landscapes and hiking. I do however recommend going either in the morning during the summer or in the non “OMG why is this city on the surface of the sun” months. Also bring water.
The trip was a much needed break from work, and I managed to have a few adventures while I was out there as well as sit back and give some thought to my most recent upcomig video for the MES/Cam – Retention. I chatted with several friends here in Denver as well as in Vegas (and abroad) about retaining people to a gaming organization. Recruiting is arguably the easier part. Things are sexy, flashy, and there’s a lot of burying the dirty laundry of the group. I’m not talking about genuine skeletons, but more about the problems that all gaming organisations face :
- Apathy
- Location Problems
- Burn Out (which leads to Apathy)
This list isn’t exhaustive but I think it’s a good start for me. Bringing in a wet behind the ears newbie at a gaming convention isn’t too hard – they’re excited, they’re already engaged and really they bring a lot of energy. The problem comes when you’ve got a veteran of 10 years who has given their time, love and money to an organization and they’ve seen and done everything. How do you keep that person from staggering out into the proverbial sunset?
Pointy things and Rocks
If you’re looking for the silver bullet – I don’t have it. (Trust me if I did I’d be running a national LARP).
But that’s just it – it isn’t any ONE answer, it’s many answers. Some of us have this weird undying sense of commitment to the organizations we belong to because well – this is our family. The orgs (NERO, the Cam, RoC for me) have been there for us when we needed them. So I feel a sense of responsibility to be there for the org when it needs me.
Retention takes patience, commitment, and a willingness to try and turn the tide. So what did people say when I asked them “How do you retain players?” I got a lot of interesting responses, but here were the top things I and those I asked believed could make a difference :
- Making an old character new with new ties into the game
- Hanging out OCly once a month (these people ARE our friends)
- Learning better conflict resolution
- Knowing when to give help and when to get it
- Finding new locations
- Saying “Thank You” to those who have to manage the insanity
A lot of these may sound obvious, but I think we get so ingrained in the rut of our own habits and behaviors that we forget about things like this. I know I had a revelation recently in my on gaming life that there was something very wrong, and I believe that my lack of action may have inadvertently adversely affected my own local game. Inaction is often more dangerous in the long term then action. However that’s an entirely different blog post.
So where does one start to change things. As with all my commentary on these communities - change can start with just one person. While recruitment is about smoke and mirrors and glam, retention is about trust, friendship, and investment. Sometimes saying thank you to your storytellers, hosts, and the people who actually produce your gaming environment goes a long way. Most gamers are long past the honeymoon period with their hobby so a little romance there can go a long way.
I’m not saying buy them flowers, but giving them a smile and a hand here and there makes a big difference. Is one of them moving? Lend a hand. Love people? Host a BBQ with plenty of advanced notice. Want to spice up the RP? Offer to help decorate the space you play in. Get creative, but most of all remember this hobby takes all kinds – not just hot chicks in leather.
Vegas from a distance, home of hot chicks in leather.
I’ll be posting the script from this upcoming video when it’s done, which should be shortly. Remember, you can always see all of the videos I’ve produced for my gaming communities by checking them out on YouTube. This video should be done in the next week or so, just in time for the MES/Cam Q2 newsletter.
Mind’s Eye Society – MST Address/Q&A from SWRE
Jesse Answering questions from the audience about the reset
Jesse Robbins (the MES MST) was kind enough to humor those at SWRE with an open Q&A session, providing those in attendance an open forum in which to ask about pretty much anything. Almost all of us took this as an opportunity to ask questions about the next chronicles.
You can find all the latest about from the MST office on their website which seems to be up to date with the latest reports and info from the various venues.
Most of us present asked questions about next chron, when it would start, what it would look like and how to
A Captivated Audience
get involved. The audio is extremely interesting and I recommend giving it a listen while playing your fav MMO. However if you’re looking for some fast bullet points of interest -
- Yes, this will be an open development and your input is requested
- Custom stuff will likely be rare
- End of Chron plots are in or about to be in flight
- The end will not be in Armageddon/Year of Fire style
- There will be MC bennies, but likely no longevity XP
- How long will next chron be? (Possibly 5 years)
The real thing I took from this is the we as an org will have a say in how the chron ends, and how it restarts which is encouraging and refreshing. Much of what lies ahead will have an open source “wiki” feel to it, and there is a lot of room for growth as well as story.
The audio is really quite good, Jesse is an excellent orator and took all the questions in stride. If you’ve never met him he’s super chill and awesome to bounce ideas off of. I’m really excited to be able to provide this kind of audio to the Cam at large! (Anytime I head to a con expect this kind of coverage btw).
Please note that I had to toss the audio into a video in order to host it on my YouTube Channel, but at least this way you can listen in from your mobile device! (My apologies for the quick job on the video, I just tossed a few pics up there). Most of which are of Jesse himself, but I grabbed a few of the audience as well for flavor.
Without further delay – Jesse Robbins the MES MST :
Home again from Reno
My Invictus
There’s something about coming home from a convention with nothing but gamers that both makes you appreciate cons as well as appreciate your own locals. SWRE was a great convention, and I wanted to take a moment to say thanks to those who threw it.
THANKS!
Seriously – I had a great tiem and things were really seamless w/ checkin as well as the other non-game stuff (a credit to the staff!). Here’s a look at the massive amount of pictures I took.
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| SWRE Reno – March 2012 |
I also managed to record the MST (Jesse Robbin’s) speaking about the reset. I’ll be posting those here on this blog as well as I presume they will be posted on the MST site.
Convention Packing
Seriously, my living room is worse right now.
If you’ve been to a gaming convention you probably know a lot about this topic – PACKING.
I am in a household of 2. We’re both going to the convention, and we both have 3 bags filled with books, costuming, paperwork (global chronicles require a lot of paperwork), clothes, shoes, makeup, hair crap, oh and a flask. Everyone needs a traveling flask.
However conventions are a great opportunity to reconnect with the community, share old war stories, and of course – make new friends! Camarilla/MET cons are some of my favorites because its more like a vacation then work. Granted many of the cons I go to I’m media so I tend to work my tail off and party at night and by the end I’m ready to tap out. These are a little more relaxed.
I’m hoping to get some good photography of people’s costuming, as well as maybe get some video for future projects. Not having any B-roll for my various video works is really starting to be an issue, so this weekend is my chance to fix that! Expect some kind of post upon my return!
How to recruit to your gaming organization
After 20-30 hours of work, this is a sneak peak on my recruitment project for the Cam/MES. Special thanks to Andrew and Lance for helping me on the day of shooting! If you’re a member of MES/The Cam and you’re curious what this was all about – be sure to get the latest from the General OOC list when the newsletter launches next week (I think it’s next week). This sort of content will be available from me once per quarter.
The Recruitment Manifesto Script
So I’m working on the Newsletter Video for Q1 of the Mind’s Eye Society (one of the Live Action groups I belong to) and I wanted to post the script from it because it might be useful to someone out there.
This will be a 15 minute long video (much longer then I had originally intended) and I’m hoping that domains around the country take it to heart (or any other Live Action group really)
Its pretty long, so I’m putting it behind a link. Comments are welcome! (Also apologies for the odd formatting)
