Article on the aging SCA membership

[callistotoni]

Apparently this is not just a Western problem. I think the idea of posting on Craigs List is interesting. My gut feel is that, around here, there would be a fear of such a posting (a la "We want to stay safe by not inviting any crazy-types"). But people have to know the SCA is an option, so is it so dangerous to publicize? Or do we believe that "Those that want to find the SCA will"?

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local_state/story/302747.html#storylink=addthis

Comments

[aastg.livejournal.com]

What problem are we trying to solve, exactly? Is it a problem of perception?

I notice that people are always saying that attendance is down without checking out the actual attendance numbers. From what I've been seeing in the Mists, numbers have stayed steady over the last 3 years. I bet the same is true at the Kingdom level, too.

Our numbers ebb and flow according to many more factors than where we advertise/recruit. Speaking from a service perspective, it's better if we don't get a big spike all at once: it strains what we laughingly call an infrastructure until some few of the noobs can percolate into the service track.

In Cynagua

[hunrvogt.livejournal.com]

What I have seen over all is that revenue is down. In some cases this is because cost for privies and trash are way up. In others, it is a function on not having the same attendance we used to (not making minimums at sites where it wasn't a problem before). Nothing insurmountable - excess costs can be controlled once identified.

Now that being said, I don't think we have had a decrease in folks that identify as SCAdians, and we are seeing a resurgence in local activity with most of our local groups out of abeyance at the same time - that never happens.