Crewing

Overview

This information is for anyone who is considering volunteering to crew an Empire event. They explain how crewing works, what options are available and what is expected of our crew.

If you are interested in crewing after reading these guidelines then email us and let us know what areas of crewing interest you.

Enjoyment

Volunteer crew are an essential part of Profound Decisions; the events simply couldn't happen without them. We need a large crew to put on the Empire events, so we are dependent on people to volunteer to take part as crew. Crewing is hard work and may mean that you miss out on the fun of playing but crewing is great fun for those that enjoy it; you'll be part of an elite team of people helping to create a fantastic LRP event for over a thousand players. It's a huge responsibility and very rewarding when you see what you've helped to create.

It is important to us that the crewing experience is enjoyable and rewarding not simply because we depend on our crew for so much but because it is appropriate for us to try to make crewing as enjoyable as possible and because we believe that the best way to deliver a great event for players is if the crew are really enjoying what they are doing. So if you are crewing the event then please remember that you come to events to enjoy yourself and that, as the people who do the work to put the event on, you have more right than anyone to enjoy it!

Commitment

You are welcome to crew as many events as you wish, so don’t feel that you are expected to crew them all. Some roles are only suitable for crew who can make the majority of the events, but there are many crew roles that are useful even if you only make one event a year. Please book for the events that you plan to crew, this will mean that we have a pack ready for you when you arrive.

When you are working at an event, please take care and don’t carry on if you are exhausted or have had enough. Please do not work beyond your personal limits, this is a holiday, you are here to enjoy the event not hospitalize yourself.

We operate a permanent crew system and encourage people to become a full time member of the crew team rather than play some events and crew others. However, you are welcome to resume playing in the future if you choose to do so. Please let us know if you’re not enjoying what you are doing as crew and equally we’ll be honest with you if we feel it’s not working out.

Behaviour

When you talk to players, remember that you will be seen as a representative of Profound Decisions, so be as polite and positive as you can. You are not required to deal with problems or put up with complaints, so if a player brings an issue to you, then bring the matter to Matt as quickly as possible.

Our players are required to be polite and courteous to our crew. If players are rude to you then please report the matter to Matt. We expect you to behave in a respectful manner towards other crew. If you have any problems then talk to Matt or the head of crew welfare.

Crew Facebook Group

We have a Facebook group for all Empire crew. This is a way for crew to stay in touch with each other and plan for the events and discuss improvements. If you're a member of crew who has a Facebook account then please follow the link and join the group. Feel free to visit this forum regularly and share your ideas or join in any of the discussions.

The Facebook group is just for crew, so please don't ask to join unless you've been confirmed as crew by a member of the crew welfare team.

Crewing Logistics

Crewing the event is free and includes vouchers for meals up to £5.50 from the caterers. You will need to bring your own tent, a sleeping bag and something to sleep on. The crew have their own camp, which is designated for use by crew members only. If you plan to share a tent with a player then you will need to camp in the player area.

Hot drinks and snacks are provided in the crew area. If you have any allergies or special dietary requirements then you may need to make your own food provision.

We organize our crew into departments, with crew allocated to departments, based on their roles at the event. Each department has a head who confirms crew spaces for their department. If you want to volunteer for crewing then it's useful to tell us what departments you'd like to help out in. If you are an existing crew member and you want to get involved with the work another department are doing, then the head of that department is the first person to speak to about it.

Some departments, like the red hats (site crew), comprise multiple specialist teams such as set-dressing, tent-erection and sparkies. If you want to help out on any team, just talk to the head of the team involved.

Site Crew

The site crew help us get the event ready by putting up tents, setting up the electrics, maintaining the site etc. Those who are helping with set-up need to be on site roughly two days before time-in. Those who are helping with take-down need to be on site until roughly one day after time-out. We aim to complete take-down by nightfall the day after the event.

If you are part of the site crew then you are encouraged to get involved and take part in crewing the rest of the event, but if you prefer to play then you are welcome to do that instead. Bear in mind though that you might be called on during the event to help with any issues that are relevant to your team.

The site crew are made up of five teams, site set-up, security, set dressing, sparkies, and hygiene. Read the site crew page to find out more about what is involved in joining one of these teams.

Event Crew

The event crew help us to run the event, handling all the necessary logistics to keep the game going. They include the volunteers who man GOD and the referee desk and the weapon checkers, and crew welfare who see to the well-being of the three hundred plus other members of crew on site!

Event crew is a great role for anyone who wants to help players enjoy the event and doesn't mind not being in-character for most of the event. Most event crew need to be on site well before time-in to help get the game ready. It is fantastic if you can lend a hand for a few hours taking down the god tent after the event, but it isn't a requirement.

Other than the weapon-checkers who are needed at set-times, most event crew are too busy throughout the event to get more than a few hours off to play.

The event crew are made up of several teams, god, refs crew welfare, tavern, and weapon check. Read the event crew page to find out more about what is involved in joining one of these teams.

Plot Crew

The plot crew are there to bring the Empire setting to life and try to make each event as dramatic and engaging as possible. Good NPCs are essential, whether playing the same role each event as part of the Anvil field team or playing a multitude of different parts in the skirmish or plot NPC team. The other teams work together to create the plot, get the NPCs briefed and into character, and to respond to the actions of the players as the plot unfolds.

Plot crew only need to be on site shortly before time-in ready for the game. It is great if you can lend a hand for a few hours taking down the monster tent after the event, but plot crew is a great role for anyone who wants to be right in the heart of the game but cannot get to the event early or stay late.

Plot crew are very busy throughout every event. This means that it is impossible to play an event and be a member of the plot crew; although you will get a chance to take a few hours off each event to get out and socialize in-character if you want to.

The plot crew are made up of several teams, costume, make-up, support, skirmish, plot NPCs, field NPCs, and writers. Read the plot crew page to find out more about what is involved in joining one of these teams.