Discussion on the future of the Auckland Gear Library

nzLARPS
#21

[quote=“Mike Curtis”]I agree that there is minimal appetite for liquidating the gear library, so solutions need to focus on meeting our storage needs. Speaking as the original gear officer (I hosted the gear in my shed for 3 years), here are the critical requirements we need to resolve:

  • Continuity - the library has moved multiple times, and is a real effort to move it. We need a long term solution, and I believe that this means a commercial solution.
  • Location - The library needs to be reasonably central. Locating the gear too far from central Auckland will add friction to running a game.
  • Load In / Out - There are multiple times a year in which we load in/out the majority of the library. These include rationalisation days and weekend events. Being able bring in the trailer or a truck to within a reasonable distance is important as it means we can more easily load in/out
  • Working Space - Smaller games require searching through the gear for specific boxes and items. We need to be able to move stuff around to do this, so there needs to be a facility for this. Would commercial operations be happy with us temporarily moving stuff onto the common walkway area, or would they expect us to keep our gear within the confines of our storage space. This has implications for the required size of the storage space.
  • Gear Growth - Many games build new props and costumes. These all add to the storage requirements, so we need to ensure that we can a) increase our storage area and b) cover the cost of the increased storage. Crucible plan on spending $4000 on props for the first weekend game - that’s a lot of new gear. We need to be able to handle this kind of ambition.[/quote]

I wish I could press a like button for this. I agree with everything you are saying Mike, as someone who has had the gear shed on their property for 2 years and been a member of this society since it’s inception.

#22

I’ve scanned replies, most seem to cover the important bits.

However, I’d like to make a point, it might have been covered, I didn’t notice it though.

What about increasing the cost of NZLARP’s membership? i recall its $20 a year, generally, if you play in 2 games, it covers the cost (most NZLARPs discounts are $10?)

I know there are 150 odd people that LARP at Chimera (NZ’s biggest Con), plus those that don’t. If you made the yearly membership $40-50, surely this could cover most of the $3000 a year required?

Some people might not be able to afford an increase, but I probably save 40-50 on game fees a year (At least!) Plus, the ability to borrow NZLARPs costumes for games, If I needed them, probably save me $20-30 per game I borrowed for, rather than hiring stuff. An increase of $15-20, would be affordable and happily paid.

#23

Raising membership fees to cover gear storage was discussed among the committee members backstage.

The trouble is that you still need to get the same amount of money, but now you’re only getting it from members instead of from all event attendees. Non-members get a free ride. Even if you then raise event prices only for members, it’s still just a different way to get the same amount of money from the same people.

A “user pays” system of paying more for the events where the gear is used is simpler and fairer. It could be subsidised a little with membership fees and other sources of funds, and by cutting outside-of-project gear investments down, to help keep event prices down.

#24

Hi Chaps,

Much discussion around this but it really appears to be an all or nothing solution being sought. Either we keep everything or we get rid of it all.

The question I have is, Do we need to keep all the stuff we have at the moment, can we rationalise down to things we really need and use and keep the overall gear to a reasonable level to simplify storage. If it isn’t a weapon, a shield or clothing that fits into a plastic storage box, should we be hanging onto it as part of the Gear Library?

If we can get the gear to fit into the shed does it simplify the problem?

#25

[quote=“Mandos”]Hi Chaps,

Much discussion around this but it really appears to be an all or nothing solution being sought. Either we keep everything or we get rid of it all.

The question I have is, Do we need to keep all the stuff we have at the moment, can we rationalise down to things we really need and use and keep the overall gear to a reasonable level to simplify storage. If it isn’t a weapon, a shield or clothing that fits into a plastic storage box, should we be hanging onto it as part of the Gear Library?

If we can get the gear to fit into the shed does it simplify the problem?[/quote]

The issue isn’t the gear fitting into the shed that we have, although this will increasingly become an issue, but the location it is stored. Its current home is not a permanent solution.

However I think in looking for places its good to be able to accommodate growth and not just remain static. Part of that is growing the gear library, in my opinion.

#26

The type of growth also needs to be considered, though. Large foam things are very bulky, and in the space we can store them we can store boxes filled with costumes much more easily and with less chance of damage.

#27

Just a note on the Crucible side of things. We have already negotiated for shipping container to live at Camp Adair. This would allow us to help alleviate some of the strain on the gear library, at least for the next three and a half years.

#28

Is this confirmed now? Are you guys funding the $3000 container out of your own pockets?

#29

At the moment we are looking at the best pricing for a container, but we will be acquiring it from personal funds.

#30

Good work !

If you get a refrigerated container, then we can finally get started on that Ice Golem :stuck_out_tongue: