Site crew

Revision as of 00:19, 14 August 2015

Overview

The site crew are responsible for preparing the site before the event and for clearing the site afterwards. This job includes erecting and dropping the scores of tents that are deployed as well as numerous other jobs like collecting benches and rubbish bags. There are also specialized teams for some jobs like electrics, toilets, and set-dressing. We have a good sized team, but the more people we have, the faster the work goes, so if you're interested in getting involved in helping out with the physical side of Empire then we're keen to talk to you!

Most of the site crew wear distinctive red crew caps, so the department is often referred to as the "Redcaps". If you need someone to help you with logistics at an event, you will often be directed to "ask for a redcap" - which means finding a member of crew wearing a red crew cap.

Why Get Involved?

Behind every Profound Decision event is a small army of guys and girls who give it their all to prepare the site for the players to trash in their desire to murderise orcs or each other. Without the tents, cool sets, toilets, power cables, bins, benches, tables and yet more tents there would be no game because there would be no game environment . The site crew - otherwise known as the Redcaps - are responsible for all aspects of site set up, maintenance and take down.

Being part of the the Redcap Team is extremely good fun and you’ll find a team of volunteers who are skilled, supportive and able to make a lot of fun out of hard work - but it isn’t for everyone. You don’t have to be very strong to be useful, but you do have to have a degree of stamina to keep going, especially when the weather is terrible and the work just keeps on coming. This means emotional, as well as physical stamina. It might sound odd, but morale is important and everyone on the Redcap Team shares the job of being committed and focused.

Before time-in and after time out, being part of the Redcap Team is a full time job. This means arriving on site and ready to work on Thursday morning (or earlier if you can make it) and finishing at whatever time the job gets done on Friday. This might be on or after time in, and might mean you are not able to be in character at the start of the game. Take down begins shortly after timeout and normally continues the following day.

It's hard work but it’s also tremendously rewarding to be part of the team which makes the game site a positive, fun environment - it means so much to the players that attend and it means a lot to the Redcaps too.

Teams

There are four very distinct teams that form the site crew. The largest and most prominent is the site set-up and take-down team. This team is perfect for anyone who would like to get involved with crewing an event but doesn't have any experience or special skills. The other three teams - set dressing, hygiene, and sparkies - are more specialized and better suited to crew who are able to carry out that dedicated role.

Site set-up and take-down

Head of site set-up: Tom Butterworth

The head of the site set-up and take-down team is Tom Butterworth. He is responsible for organizing and deploying everyone in the team before and after each event. Much of the work begins before the event. We have a big list of jobs to do, most of which involve putting up or taking down tents of all sizes, up to the larger marquees.

With all that work it’s really important that we know when you intend to arrive on site – what day and also, if possible what time, so that we can put you in a suitable team with a list of jobs to do.

Training is on the job. Don’t worry, we’re all volunteers and every event poses new challenges and learning experiences for all of us! Your team leader will have a list of jobs and, if you’re new to the Redcaps, he or she will ensure you are trained up on all the different jobs you’re expected to do.

Set Dressing

The set dressing team is led by Terry Laverty and Lolly Rimmer. They are responsible for set-dressing the main game areas, the tavern and the senate building as well as the Hall of Worlds. Some of the set-dressing is the same each time, and the dressings need to be carefully packed away at the end of each event, but there are usually new projects to work on each time as the team strives to improve the look of one or more game areas.

Crew on the team need to have a good eye for dressing a set, but experience is not required provided you can follow direction. Anyone who has a good imagination or some artistic skills is welcome. You need to be able to get to site early to get the tents dressed or be able to stay after the event has finished to help put everything away as a minimum, but if everyone is done on time then you won't be called on during the event.

Hygiene

The hygiene team is led by Zoe Houghton. This is the least glamorous job on crew, but also one of the most essential! They are responsible for cleaning the toilets and restocking them with paper every day. Without the team keeping the facilities serviceable, the event would soon grind to a halt.

We use chemical recirculation toilets which must be cleaned careful to avoid contamination with the wrong chemicals. You don't need any previous experience of cleaning but you will need to be able to follow directions carefully. If you are a member of the team then you don't need to arrive early or stay late but you will need to be up early each day to join the team as they service each unit.

Sparkies

The Sparky team is led by Ara McBay. The team run out the cables that provide the power to GOD, monster, caterers, traders and the various game areas. The work is surprisingly physical, drums of electrical cable are heavy and they need to be painstakingly rolled out and rolled back in again for every event.

The team work to a plan laid down by trained electricians, so you don't need to be qualified to help out but you do need to have a good understanding of practical electrics so that you can spot potential issues before any problems develop. Like most other members of the site crew you will need to be able to get to site early to get everything ready and ideally be able to stay after the event has finished to help take everything down but unless you are a senior member of the team then you won't be called on during the event.

Time-off

If everything goes well then most of the site crew's responsibilities are discharged by the time the event starts. Only the hygiene team need to do their job during time-in every day and even then only for a few hours each morning. Once the work is complete, members of the site crew can choose to carry on crewing by playing a role in plot or event logistics, or they can stop crewing and join the player base, playing a character for the weekend.

Whatever you choose to do there may be times during the weekend that we need your help to work on site issues. This might just be for a few minutes helping with rubbish runs, repairing a damaged set or restocking a toilet but it may be for longer to help resolve a problem. So if you join the site crew and play then please understand that means you are Redcap first and a player second.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ==Overview==
-The site crew are responsible for preparing the site before the event and for clearing the site afterwards. This job includes erecting and dropping the scores of tents that are deployed as well as numerous other jobs like collecting benches and rubbish bags. There are also specialized teams who arrange the electrics, clean the toilets, We have a good sized team, but the more people we have, the faster the work goes, so if you're interested in getting involved in the physical logistics side of Empire then we're keen to talk to you.
+The site crew are responsible for preparing the site before the event and for clearing the site afterwards. This job includes erecting and dropping the scores of tents that are deployed as well as numerous other jobs like collecting benches and rubbish bags. There are also specialized teams for some jobs like electrics, toilets, and set-dressing. We have a good sized team, but the more people we have, the faster the work goes, so if you're interested in getting involved in helping out with the physical side of Empire then we're keen to talk to you!
 Most of the site crew wear distinctive red crew caps, so the department is often referred to as the "Redcaps". If you need someone to help you with logistics at an event, you will often be directed to "ask for a redcap" - which means finding a member of crew wearing a red crew cap.
-The head of the department is Tom Butterworth. He is responsible for organizing and deploying the teams before and after each event.
+==Why Get Involved?==
-{{CaptionedImage|file=Tom Butterworth.jpg|align=right|caption=Head of site set-up: Tom Butterworth}}
+Behind every Profound Decision event is a small army of guys and girls who give it their all to prepare the site for the players to trash in their desire to murderise orcs or each other. Without the tents, cool sets, toilets, power cables, bins, benches, tables and yet more tents there would be no game because there would be no game environment . The site crew - otherwise known as the Redcaps - are responsible for all aspects of site set up, maintenance and take down.
-==What do the team do?==
+Being part of the the Redcap Team is extremely good fun and you’ll find a team of volunteers who are skilled, supportive and able to make a lot of fun out of hard work - but it isn’t for everyone. You don’t have to be very strong to be useful, but you do have to have a degree of stamina to keep going, especially when the weather is terrible and the work just keeps on coming. This means emotional, as well as physical stamina. It might sound odd, but morale is important and everyone on the Redcap Team shares the job of being committed and focused.
-Behind every Profound Decision event is a small army of guys and girls who give it their all to prepare the site for the players to trash in their desire to murderise orcs or each other.
-Without the tents, cool sets, toilets, power cables, bins, benches, tables and yet more tents there would be no game because there would be no game environment . The site crew - otherwise known as the Redcaps - are responsible for all aspects of site set up, maintenance, site security and take down.
+Before time-in and after time out, being part of the Redcap Team is a full time job. This means arriving on site and ready to work on Thursday morning (or earlier if you can make it) and finishing at whatever time the job gets done on Friday. This might be on or after time in, and might mean you are not able to be in character at the start of the game. Take down begins shortly after timeout and normally continues the following day.
-It is hard work but it’s also tremendously rewarding to be part of the core team which makes the game site a positive, fun environment - it means so much to the players that attend and it means a lot to the Redcaps too.
+It's hard work but it’s also tremendously rewarding to be part of the team which makes the game site a positive, fun environment - it means so much to the players that attend and it means a lot to the Redcaps too.
-Being part of the the Redcap Team is extremely good fun and you’ll find a team of volunteers who are skilled, supportive and able to make a lot of fun out of hard work - but it isn’t for everyone. You don’t have to be very strong to be useful, but you do have to have a degree of stamina to keep going, especially when the weather is terrible and the work just keeps on coming. This means emotional, as well as physical stamina. It might sound odd, but morale is important and everyone on the Redcap Team shares the job of being committed and focused. We start work before other teams get to the site and may not finish setting up until time in, at which point you may be wet, sunburned, cold or grumpy  - perhaps a combination of all four.
+==Teams==
+There are four very distinct teams that form the site crew. The largest and most prominent is the site set-up and take-down team. This team is perfect for anyone who would like to get involved with crewing an event but doesn't have any experience or special skills. The other three teams - set dressing, hygiene, and sparkies - are more specialized and better suited to crew who are able to carry out that dedicated role.
-==What will I need?==
+===Site set-up and take-down===
-Be prepared physically – a waterproof layer and solid footwear are essential. Gloves are also likely to be very useful and we don’t provide those. Bring sun-cream. You’ll get a red cap of course but you might want a better hat for protection against the sun if you’re worried you might burn!
+{{CaptionedImage|file=Tom Butterworth.jpg|align=right|caption=Head of site set-up: Tom Butterworth}}
+The head of the site set-up and take-down team is Tom Butterworth. He is responsible for organizing and deploying everyone in the team before and after each event. Much of the work begins before the event. We have a big list of jobs to do, most of which involve putting up or taking down tents of all sizes, up to the larger marquees.
-==How much time/work is involved?==
-Before time-in and after time out, being part of the Redcap Team is a full time job. This means arriving on site and ready to work on Thursday morning (or earlier if you can make it) and finishing at whatever time the job gets done on Friday. This might be on or after time in, and might mean you are not able to be in character at the start of the game. Make no mistake, when it’s not in-character time at the event, you’re expected to be available to work on the Redcap Team.
-During the weekend we’d love you to join us as full time crew playing roles for the plot team, but you are not obliged to do so. However, whatever you choose to do there may be times during the weekend that we need your help to work on site maintenance. This might just be for a few minutes helping with rubbish runs or repair a damaged tent but it may be for longer to help set up fortifications for a battle. So if you join the team then understand that means you’re Redcap first and a player second.
+With all that work it’s really important that we know when you intend to arrive on site – what day and also, if possible what time, so that we can put you in a suitable team with a list of jobs to do.
-Take down begins shortly after timeout and normally continues the following day. It involves not just taking down the tents and packing them away, but also clearing up the site of benches, tables and litter.
+Training is on the job. Don’t worry, we’re all volunteers and every event poses new challenges and learning experiences for all of us! Your team leader will have a list of jobs and, if you’re new to the Redcaps, he or she will ensure you are trained up on all the different jobs you’re expected to do.
-We’d always prefer that you are able to undertake set up and take-down... if only so that you can stay and enjoy the staff party that takes place on the final night of the event! However, if you can only stay for set up please let us know.
+===Set Dressing===
+The set dressing team is led by Terry Laverty and Lolly Rimmer. They are responsible for set-dressing the main game areas, the tavern and the senate building as well as the Hall of Worlds. Some of the set-dressing is the same each time, and the dressings need to be carefully packed away at the end of each event, but there are usually new projects to work on each time as the team strives to improve the look of one or more game areas.
-==How does the Redcap Team work?==
+Crew on the team need to have a good eye for dressing a set, but experience is not required provided you can follow direction. Anyone who has a good imagination or some artistic skills is welcome. You need to be able to get to site early to get the tents dressed or be able to stay after the event has finished to help put everything away as a minimum, but if everyone is done on time then you won't be called on during the event.
-Much of the work begins before the event. We have a big list of jobs to do, most of which involve putting up or taking down tents of all sizes, up to the larger marquees.
-You will be part of smaller team of 4 Redcaps. Each team of 4 has a Redcap Team Leader, to whom you’ll be assigned before the event. You’ll be informed of who your team leader is before the event, either via the Empire Red Hats group on Facebook, via email or telephone.
+===Hygiene===
+The hygiene team is led by Zoe Houghton. This is the least glamorous job on crew, but also one of the most essential! They are responsible for cleaning the toilets and restocking them with paper every day. Without the team keeping the facilities serviceable, the event would soon grind to a halt.
-This means it’s really important that we know when you intend to arrive on site – what day and also, if possible what time, so that we can put you in a sutable team with a list of jobs. Obviously this system won’t be perfect – traffic problems, transport problems, and other real life problems can and probably will get in the way of some people arriving on site when they say they will, but if we know what to expect we can plan for those problems.
-Your Redcap Team Leader will have a list of jobs and, if you’re new to the Redcap Team, he or she will ensure you are trained up on all the different jobs you’re expected to do.
+We use chemical recirculation toilets which must be cleaned careful to avoid contamination with the wrong chemicals. You don't need any previous experience of cleaning but you will need to be able to follow directions carefully. If you are a member of the team then you don't need to arrive early or stay late but you will need to be up early each day to join the team as they service each unit.
-Training is on the job. Don’t worry, we’re all volunteers and every event poses new challenges and learning experiences for all of us!
+===Sparkies===
+The Sparky team is led by Ara McBay. The team run out the cables that provide the power to GOD, monster, caterers, traders and the various game areas. The work is surprisingly physical, drums of electrical cable are heavy and they need to be painstakingly rolled out and rolled back in again for every event.
-It is your responsibility to make yourself known to your Team Leader as soon as you get on to site, and to find them and report for duty as quickly as you can after time out is called.
-Your Redcap Team Leader will have a radio and your be working with other teams to complete bigger jobs, such as the large marquees  or the larger sets.
+The team work to a plan laid down by trained electricians, so you don't need to be qualified to help out but you do need to have a good understanding of practical electrics so that you can spot potential issues before any problems develop. Like most other members of the site crew you will need to be able to get to site early to get everything ready and ideally be able to stay after the event has finished to help take everything down but unless you are a senior member of the team then you won't be called on during the event.
-==When do we work?==
+==Time-off==
-We generally work from around 9am till dusk on Thursday and from 9am until work is completed on Friday. Take down runs from time out until dusk at the end of the event and starts again the following morning until completed.
+If everything goes well then most of the site crew's responsibilities are discharged by the time the event starts. Only the hygiene team need to do their job during time-in every day and even then only for a few hours each morning. Once the work is complete, members of the site crew can choose to carry on crewing by playing a role in plot or event logistics, or they can stop crewing and join the player base, playing a character for the weekend.
-But we keep going until everything is done!
+Whatever you choose to do there may be times during the weekend that we need your help to work on site issues. This might just be for a few minutes helping with rubbish runs, repairing a damaged set or restocking a toilet but it may be for longer to help resolve a problem. So if you join the site crew and play then please understand that means you are Redcap first and a player second.
-PD provides food, snacks and soft drinks throughout set up as well as food tickets during the event. There is also a staff party at the end of the event.
 [[Category: Crew]]