Wall of text incoming:
Having finally reached home at 10:30 last night after my own personal "delivery CG" to clear the venue, and had a night's sleep, I've been sitting at a keyboard for two hours trying to think of words to say.
As many of you know, especially those who saw the script for the evening being written right up to the last second, I don't normally have trouble using FAR too many words - so, it's unusual for me!
So, before I do the "formal" write up, I'm going to let my brain just splurge words on a page from a personal perspective.
First things first. Thank you for all the kind words above. I'm at my HAPPIEST when I'm busy. I love it. For those that briefly saw me charging past over the weekend, perspiring like it'd been sitting in the steam room, or cutting conversations dead as someone had a question - you can judge HOW happy I was based on the count of beads on my forehead.
HOWEVER, it wasn't just me by a LONG shot. The event was always going to be a challenge given that normally there's a Mr Kow and a Mr Moof propping up all of my enthusiasm with what they do. It shouldn't be underestimated quite what an impact those two have had on the Elite events over the years. There were some big shoes to fill.
We had a master plan - we always do. But no plan survives first contact with the Thargoids (not that you lot are Thargoids, but you get what I mean). We had a baseline of what we wanted to achieve with the event - then a list of "nice to have", then a wishlist of "probably not going to manage that". We did it. All of it. And more.
And ALL of that is down to the community. We've always said that the community put this event on, not me, not the crew - it's you lot.
Before I namecheck a few people, I'm going to be self indulgent. It's the first event I've taken my son to. He suffers MASSIVELY with anxiety and change but he stepped up as my wingman. Seeing him engaging with all of my funny Elite friends like that, helping rig the gear, checking people in and picking up the things I'd forgotten to do has made me so proud. The man he's turning into is something HE should be proud of, and his mum and I have taken great heart in seeing him step up at the event like that. I BELIEVE he even beat the Hankey at chess once (out of countless matches, but he got one!).
Glen - the young lad who came up during build-up and offered to help. That maturity, at that age - he's a credit to his dad. He took a job away from me and just "made it happen" on the front desks.
Then of course, there's you lot. The community, and I'm BOUND to forget a name somewhere, but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate every single one of you.
The crew - Lithobreaker, Little_Grey, A5ylum, Snos, ZaphodBeeble, Morpheus, Stephen Usher and others....Their generosity and hard work papered over all the cracks in my own work. They were at my left and right hand (and occasionally just over one shoulder) the ENTIRE weekend.
The sponsors - Whilst we don't do the event commercially, there are always some very generous outfits who chuck in to make things happen. We don't ask, but they always offer. Verity IT, Jonas, HCS Voicepacks
The helpers - technically, I ought to credit them as crew. I'm going to start forgetting names again in a minute, but... a few highlights
Chris - who after an introduction when I popped over to say hi to Psykit and friends said "you want a hand?" and then turned my stream PC into a fully capable broadcast rig, working hand in glove with Litho and Little Grey to make it all happen when it became QUITE CLEAR that I'd run out of hands/brain cells/time to do that bit.
Tisdar - who helped get the immensely popular 5 player racing setup going in the corner and was about during build to help everything get set up.
CMDR Blastard - With that epic full motion rig
The raffle team, Culley and Overlight and all the fantastic assemblers and hander-outerers. Steph and the raffle shouting with Norm. Evenstar with his dogtags, Jude with those EPIC paintings. Baz and Ali (we've missed you). DogsbodyD and his magic shanty machine. Mr Shouty and the cast of Dockers. Flossy and her bucket shaking. The Girdlers. 2nd mention for Snos and Alvin for the spinny raffle tumbler. Eve for "mount my friends".
Tracie (Paul Vernon's partner) for the use of the PVMC (Paul Vernon Memorial Collection), Donna and family who, despite having only lost their father 10 days before the event, made sure that HIS collection came down to the event as well to aid the charity.
Mr Hankey for the chess!
I've DEFINITELY forgotten someone. But you. yes, you too. You're awesome. Blame my ageing grey matter and sheer exhaustion.
The venue - Sam (pre event), Nick (build up and breakdown), Neil (the manager on the day) and Tom from food & bar. We owe them some great Tripadvisor reviews! Neil particularly - however crazy busy I was, he was busier. I've often said that the TRUE measure of any good business isn't how few things aren't perfect, it's how you step up when things need sorting. He stepped up.
Norman - I don't need to say much here. Poor chap. Being subjected to us lot with no briefing, no plan and being thrown in at the deep end. TOTAL HERO.
Frontier - Sally's been telling them how much she likes ECM (maybe Dav helped) but Arf and Tom's first ECM (possibly Derin's). Thanks for coming and being part of it. Thanks for doing your stage sketch as a cold read. We love you all to bits and we're glad to have shared some of the "family" feel about ECM with you.
The Hutton Radio Crew - My extra family. My Thursday company. My absolute rock through hard times and fun times.
Our chosen Charities - As for the donations and money raised for SpecialEffect and Hearing Dogs? Once I've had final invoice in, and gone to the bank to put the pennies in, and checked the Paypal, and the card machine and done the sums, as always, will publish FULL accounts so you see where the money goes and then make a donation to the charities. At present we can say "A Shedload". A full T9 full of awesome.
Then there's the community itself. You guys. Your help, donations, prizes for the raffle, games, company, hugs/fist bumps/handshakes (*delete as appropriate). Your warmth and generosity, your company.
So - we doing it all again next year?
We always love our kittehs and doggos
