Postby The CO » Wed Jul 13, 2011 10:19 am
Ok, just thought of another tip that needs to be stressed. I touched on it a couple of pages back, but I've been seeing some of the emails & posts floating around, and clearly it needs restatement.
2 Simple things to understand when trying to join a theme camp:
1-No theme camp worth joining is going to seek you out based on the single eplaya post(probably your first post ever) in which you flailingly ask someone to adopt you.
The exception to this rule is if you start your post with a sentence along these lines:
"I will buy tickets for everyone in the camp that lets me join."
This exception is only valid if you back up your claim.
2-If you are emailing individual theme camps asking to join them, it should be because you love the theme/activities/group of people, not because you want a hotel. Observe the difference in the following theoretical conversations:
Scene 1
-Plucky Newb: Hey, can I join your theme camp? I have a massage table & I know how to juggle.
-Grizzled Camp Manager: How did you hear about us? What is your interest in the theme of our camp?
-PN: Your camp has a theme? Cool. What is it? I have a massage table & know how to juggle. And I'm a DJ. If you get me early entry passes and a ride down there, I'll totally like help you set up and stuff.
-GCM: (ceases all communication with PN, drinks some absinthe, slices ear off to avoid hearing from more people like this, takes another step closer to becoming the next Charles Whitman)
Scene 2
-Smarter Plucky Newb: Hey, I saw your camp listed in the directory. I'm a huge fan of Pokemon as well! I have 10 different costumes I can bring for the camp, and I just got DMV approval for my 6 person art car that looks like a Pokeball. I realize it's late in the game, but do you think I could join up with you guys? I'm set to camp solo already, but I would love to join Camp Pokemon!
-Grizzled One-Eared Camp Manager: Holy crap dude, I saw photos of that car online! Thats you? Nice work. I'll have to talk with my campmates, but I think you would be a great addition to the camp.
Did you see what a difference a little research and genuine interest makes? It's kind of a thing about theme camps; the people that start them typically come together over a common interest (or "theme"), and that shared idea builds into something. When you come blundering in like a loud tourist wanting a free stay at a hostel, it does not endear you to those that have spent a long time working with a group from all over the country or world to make something amazing.
In fact, it kind of pisses us off.
<edited to make it funnier>
Last edited by
The CO on Wed Jul 13, 2011 10:43 am, edited 1 time in total.
M*A*S*H 4207th: An army of fun.
I don't care what the borg says: feather-wearers will NOT be served in Rosie's Bar.
When I ask how many burns, I mean at BRC.