New crew

Introduction

Thank-you for volunteering to crew one of Profound Decisions's games; we couldn't run this event without you. This page is intended to tell new crew everything you need to know about the practical aspects of crewing – and, if it doesn't, it'll tell you who to ask.

Booking

Before arriving at an event that you intend to crew, you need to ensure that you're booked in as crew on the Profound Decisions website. This is important for us, as it feeds into the planning and preparation for the event – preparing crew meal tickets, hiring the right number of radios, and making sure there are enough crew in different departments to ensure the smooth running of the game.

To book in, follow this link to the main website. You'll be asked to log-in and then taking to the events page where you can let us know which events you are coming to.

If no events appear on screen after you log in and you cannot see the "Crewing" option in the "Booking" menu then this is because you are not flagged as crew on the PD database; you will need to email crew@profounddecisions.co.uk to get yourself added to the appropriate department.

If you book for an event and subsequently discover that you cannot attend for whatever reason, please email crew@profounddecisions.co.uk to let us know.

When to arrive

If you are helping with set-up then please arrive on site as early as possible - site crew are encouraged to arrive from Tuesday evening onwards. If you are not helping with set-up then you are welcome to arrive at any point from Thursday onwards.

By prior arrangement, it may be possible to arrange for someone to pick you up from Banbury station if you are arriving on a day where there is no regular mini-bus run for players. Such requests should be sent to the crew@profounddecisions.co.uk email address.

What to bring

You need to bring enough camping equipment to be comfortable overnight, and you need to bring work-clothes suitable for operating for extended periods in potentially unpleasant weather. In particular, sturdy, waterproof work boots with good ankle support are very strongly recommended.

If you expect to be helping with the moving of heavy materials (e.g. if you're helping with site set-up or take-down) then you may wish to bring some work-gloves to protect your hands. If you are helping with site set-up or take-down then bring several layers, including a strongly waterproof layer, as well as a hat to keep the sun off or the rain out.

You will need a tent or similar shelter. This should be able to cope gracefully in storm conditions and be able to resist both strong wind and rain. You will need enough bedding materials to be warm and comfortable. Bear in mind that it can get extremely cold overnight, particularly early in the year where temperatures below zero are not unheard of.

Bear in mind that you will be largely operating out of doors in all weathers without the protections typical of modern everyday life. We do not want you to be cold and miserable! Preparation is key.

You may also want to bring some standard LARP-suitable clothing for socializing on the IC field.