We try really hard to balance it out. This year has been our big push more towards charities and stuff. We went to our friends that own a haunted house and we pull the car up take pictures and have fun, then the next week we did a car show charity.
But we are never treated like employees (at least I’ve never felt like that) But more like guests to help promote there charity and raise money.
We’ve been a group for eight years now and we still love it. We always have fun no matter what we do. But I know how people can get overwhelmed.
I think it sounds like Chris is just at that starting point we all go through when we finally get our groups up and running.
Stage 1 - Build shitty gear and car, get blind-sided by how well it is generally received
Stage 2 - Realize, probably too late for your first season, that you could do extraordinary things with your gear and people
Stage 3 - Put a lot of effort into making your gear, car, and people look “professional”, whore yourself out to every possible venue and location, trying hard but failing to get the word out on your group through any available media outlet
Stage 4 - Realize through tough experience that there are only certain situations in which your stupid car and silly costumes will be appropriate or wildly successful
Stage 5 - Ease back, attend only the events where you fit in, have a real good time
Stage 6 - Get generally sick of Ghostbusters, start wearing other costumes but still drive the car, get new friends to wear the packs and suits so you don’t have to pose for pictures anymore
We do a lot of events around this time of year (which I feel is the norm for most groups on here) and drawing a crowd and having people want pictures like crazy is the norm. You’re dressed up like a Ghostbuster. It’s one of the most recognizable franchises out there. People see your gear and they get pumped, they’re going to want a picture.
We did the Pittsburgh Zombie Walk and we took every bit of 1000 pictures over 10 hours. The only time it was a bother was when we were eating, and that’s when you put on your professional pants and politely ask the people to wait until you’ve finished taking a break or eating or whatever. That’s all we said when people asked for pictures while we were eating and people were more than happy to wait.
We worked at a haunted house for two years and at first we got absolutely nothing from the organizer. Free water, yeah, but no food or soda or anything like that. We came back next year and we were allowed some amenities. Things don’t always pay off right away, and you really can’t go into it with a sense of entitlement.
And as far as people thinking your stuff is real? THIS IS MY FAVORITE THING about going out in gear. Roll with it! See how long you can keep them going. Throw technical jargon at them about photons and muons and how you tried to drill a hole in your head. They’ll either keep believing and you can have a discreet laugh, or they’ll get that you’re messing with them and appreciate the joke.
I for one know that I’ve put alot of time and money into my gear. Being swamped for pictures and creating that general chaos when we’re at big events makes it worth it because i know that all of those pictures being taken and all of the mobs we draw come from people thinking “What they’ve done there is cool”
The thing about recognition though, it’s a double edge sword.
-If your group is known, advertising a groups appearence can draw people out to a charity event. We were rather touched last year when a kid came out to a toys for tots collection in December wearing his own home made proton pack.
-On the other side, it can also result in kickback of being too well known and loosing your novelty.
Great point, I did enjoy this. I think after hearing it for the 10,000th time this month, I just need a break for it to regain it’s novelty.
The best thing though, try to explain the relevance of electromagnetic fields to “ghost” sightings to a kid. 3 out of 4 will glaze over and run away.
This is actually a pretty awesome topic for the post Halloween season. I only wish I weren’t on my cell when replying.
The entire “feeling like a job” attitude rings true for me. I love doing it, but after the fan film, the website, the multiple news stories in New England’s biggest papers, the ABC story… we had over two dozen event requests in one week. Saying no thanks to most of them certainly resulted in some annoyed organizers, but what can you do? You’re a non profit with your own job, schoolwork, wife, kid, mortgage, etc.
We actually lucked out when a few of us got sick after New England Comic Con. It gave us an excuse to bail on three events we were dreading due to travel and time. I agree that fewer, better events is the way to go.
Get ready for Halloween 2012 when gb3 is out… have the masues ready.
My time is spread pretty thin as it is, Between work, being a paranormal investigator and a Ghostbuster is hard, and I also have to be a father and husband too. So I try really hard to balance everything out. So far it has worked but I think when my next baby comes (march) I’m going to have to re-evaluate everything I’m doing and create a new balance with the inv part of me taking a long break. (I can never stop doing the GB thing)
Time will tell. My plan for 2011 is a charity a month at least with some cons in between and if time ever slows enough finally get that fan film done lol. (doubt that will happen)
Just sounds like you spread yourself a little thin is all.
Quick Solutions:
1 - Set a policy that a Donation of “X” must be made to your charity before you’ll appear at an event…or at least during peak times. It’s not selfish to ask and it’ll thin the requests depending on what you ask. Remember, when you go out to an event that Time is money, and that just going out there is costing you fuel and time that might be better spent elsewhere.
2 - We ask for a donation when folks take pictures of us if they dont’ put something in our charity jar before taking the pic. We don’t insist on it. We don’t even solicit it before the picture is taken, but that moment is when we open a dialog about why we’re there. That nets us about 50-100 bucks per hour in cash to send up to whatever charity we’re working.
If it stops being fun, it’s time for a hiatus. You don’t want to become a hater of what you love most.
We’re going on hiatus starting this Monday until 2011 to enjoy family and the holidays. We MAY try to appear at one Christmas parade, but that’s it until we reappear at the end of January at a Con.
Remember, it’s just a hobby! Don’t let it become a job! You are a volunteer, not a ward of the state of New Jersey!
Congratulations on your popularity!
I was worried about you guys when you mentioned 27 events in October. Glad you survived it, but don’t let it destroy you!
