University Club Days

nzLARPS
#1

Hi all,

Not sure where to post this but I have been considering future dates and times and March is an important month.

Myself, like so many of us started LARPing at Uni. Many Universities have a Clubs day for associated clubs to advertise. So can be capitalise on this?

Last year I did a last minute rush to get a stand for Knightshade at Waikato University (and nzLARPs by association). While interest seemed fair on the day, only a couple of the people who signed on have come to games. There are untold factors which might have contributed to this which I won’t go into (somewhat to do with my rushing no doubt).

It was an exceptionally busy day! It did have some success, as the articles on LARP in Waikato Nexus Magazine stemmed from our presence at the Uni.

The point is, would nzLARPs have an interest in getting some people to get the LARP message out there? I am keen to try again at Waikato but really need a few more people to come down and sell the LARP idea to people. As always, one person alone can’t do enough.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

#2

[quote=“Jared”]would nzLARPs have an interest in getting some people to get the LARP message out there?quote]

Thats kinda one of the reasons nzLARPs exists :stuck_out_tongue::slight_smile:

You have the full support from the marketing department of nzLARPs to go ahead with this :smiley:
I would suggest talking personally with people that are in Hamilton or goto Waikato University for your best success at getting people to come.

Something that I thought about from experience with the Armageddon flier run is trying to get peoples email at least so we can contact them for extra marketing omph.

P.S. you’d be surprised what one person can do. If you were to talk to a handful of people on a personally level during a day about Larp, that chances they will come to an event is dramatically increased.

#3

Then again, as we learned from our experience at Armageddon, one person is okay, four is sufficient, and 8 makes life easier, so I back Jared’s call for more volunteers. But I also agree with Muppet that you should draw on the Hamilton pool of people.

Auckland in turn needs to look at promoting it at our own university O Week, and maybe liaise with Wellington about getting something set up for the Victoria University equivalent? If we develop a solid system, it’ll just be a matter of trotting it out once a year, drumming up some volunteers and away we go.

#4

I’m more then willing to lend a hand for Waikato Uni’s O week.

#5

I agree I should draw from our existing pool in Hamilton but to be honest, thats not many. The further issue is that a week day outing will cost us working types annual leave… I am happy to do so but not everyone. So by mentioning it now, maybe I can get some help.

As to getting those LARPers going to Waikato Uni to participate, well thats another step again.

But as Anna has picked up on, this is also about nzLARPS having a strategy to improve membership via the Universities. Recent movies, articles and TV news pieces have raised our profile, so when March 2010 rolls around, some people will know who we are when we turn up.

Last year I did spend some time talking to individuals in detail and a few have come to games… just not as many as I had hoped.

The next issue is, will nzLARPS associate itself with student organisations such as the WSU? We can get some small benefit from being associated with them, like having our free stall on the day, having an area roped off for some combat and they will also cover some photocopying and stuff.
I sent information through last year about this but didn’t follow up, however next year they might require it before hand.

#6

Unless Auckland and Waikato Orientation weeks are on different dates both cities will have the same problem.

One way to do this is to run a small larp near the end of orientation week. Something that people can easily get in to like a murder mystery. Provide some simple props and get it going.

Personally I think just being near the people and going up to talk to them is much better than having a stall in most cases, but with the recent exposure on tv I think at least a sign saying ‘Larp’ would be a good idea.

#7

This sounds like an excellent idea. It’s much easier to enthuse people to come to a specific event than to start a hobby. If the event is good, people will be interested in what else is available.

#8

soooo jared… O week is coming up… anything happening? lol

#9

Sadly no, I have no leave to take at the moment. I can’t afford a day off unpaid (again) so unfortunately I cannot spread the word of LARP at Waikato Uni this year.