It's a tentative idea, but it's been running around my head, so I wanted to throw it out there. (And, as a relative newcomer, I hope you'll excuse me for expressing radical ideas like this).
For this year's Dragonmeet, I think we should consider splitting the stall. Two stalls, both operating under the Collective Endeavour banner, organised co-operatively but separately.
There's a few reasons. Firstly, the practical side: the Endeavour is getting big. We could have, what, twelve people wanting to be on the stall. That's too much but, on the bright side, it's about the right number to be able to fund two stalls.
Secondly, it would bring new ideas. If you split six people off, they'd come up with different ways of doing things. Perhaps one stall would do half-hourly, sign-up-at-the-desk demos, while the other would do demos-on-demand. Perhaps one would be sales-focused, while the other would emphasize the design community aspect. We'd find out which worked best.
Thirdly, I think it'd help the whole mutualism thing. With twelve people, it's almost impossible for everyone to be familiar with everyone's games. But give me five other people and I'll learn to demo two or three, while being able to chat enthusiastically about the rest.
Oh, and finally, if we're to realise our vision of the-Collective-Endeavour-taking-over-fucking-everything-not-unlike-The-Blob-in-that-film, we need to expand somehow.
Anyway, what do you think? It's a tentative idea to kick around, you understand, not a solid proposal.
Graham
Could it cause problems with confusion?
Submitted by Destriarch on Sat, 01/03/2008 - 21:18.
Having two stalls to accommodate more people on those stalls... well, it's not a bad idea per se, but would two separate stalls really provide more space for everyone than two stalls placed side-by-side?
Above and beyond that, might it not confuse people just a tad if we had two stalls providing two completely different sets of product? Might we end up having to turn away interested parties saying 'Sorry, that's on the other stall'? That's not a problem if the two stalls are totally adjacent to one another since it's just a case of pointing them further down the line. If they're at different ends of the trade hall, or worse in totally different halls altogether (note I don't know how Dragonmeet works as I've never been) it'd be even worse.
That said, I do like the idea of having two stalls with two different goals, say maybe one promoting the actual games and the other promoting the Endeavour itself, with stuff about self-publishing, maybe artists doing demos or lightning sketches if there are any from the CE along, offering support services for budding game designers, that kind of thing. I'm just a little wary of splitting it too far appart for fear of sending a mixed signal.
Ash
Cool
Submitted by Graham W on Sun, 02/03/2008 - 20:35.
Thanks, Ash.
I should explain, by the way, that, in the light of recent heated discussions, starting this thread seems less of a good idea this morning than it did last night. I think it's worth discussing, you understand, but perhaps over a pint rather than here.
Do respond if you'd like to, in the spirit of kicking ideas around. Don't feel obliged, though: it's likely that issues like this will eventually be sorted out over pints.
Graham