[PUBLIC] The Economics of LARP (or, Are We Willing To Pay What LARP costs?)

[bronzite]

This morning I am preparing to go to To Be Continued..., a theatre-style LARP campaign I participate in. Recently, one of the GMs (staystrong62805) has been commenting on social media and in conversation about the sheer amount of effort preparing each session is. There are 45 player characters, each of whom need around 1,250-2,500 words of character sheet each

Comments

[breakinglight11]

It's very thoughtful and considerate of you to even take any of this effort into your mind, when many players don't even think of it. As a GM and writer I'm grateful on behalf of us all. And as somebody who is fairly serious about larp running, and somebody in need of more regular employment with an expensive writing degree, I've been mulling a lot over the idea of how to possibly turn running larp into a real job. As you say, culture changes so slowly that I don't know how feasible it would be to turn it into something supportable, but I do wonder if there is a way. I'd be really happy to take on the burden of major game writing and hosting if the community were willing to employ me that way.

Also, your $100 tip is gentlemanly and kind. Kudos to you for that.

[londo]

I have run through this math several times myself over the last decade, and come to similar conclusions.

But, in my observation, people will do much, much more for no money than they would for a medium amount of money. A hearty thank-you and the social status that comes from being a Person Who Makes Things Happen is (to judge from people's behavior) more rewarding than significant sums of money. Also, IME, when you start paying people for things they were doing for free, "I do this for the love" can rapidly turn into "they don't pay me enough for this shit."

So on the one hand, this is thoughtful of you on many levels. And on the other hand, in a perverse sort of way I'm not sure it's productive.

[bronzite]

I definitely understand the argument, and I think it is applicable to a wide swath of current-generation LARP writers. That said, even if we ignore the time and effort put in to write the game, I'm quite positive that GM's would welcome recompense for the material costs of game. Our hobby slays fel printers, and many a tree in its wake

[elenuial]

Also, IME, when you start paying people for things they were doing for free, "I do this for the love" can rapidly turn into "they don't pay me enough for this shit."That is, in fact, a well-documented psychological phenomenon: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchoring... )

[etherial]

Fundamentally, our system operates on a "Pay It Forward" model. Uncle Don spent tremendous amounts of time and money writing and running games that I played in when first LARPing. Then I spent significant amounts of time and money writing and running games that other people enjoyed. Soon, I look forward to playing in more LARPs and getting back into the writing cycle.

A Thought

[pezzonovante]

I have to wonder what would happen if an organization like Intercon volunteered to print materials for GMs and acquire basic Staples supplies for GMs so they didn't have to bear that cost. If Intercon is about a 300-325 person con, a $5 increase in price could give the con about $1500-$1600 to do this with.

Obviously character props, set design, and the like would still be GM purview, but I'd have to imagine Intercon could manage a wholesale rate for printing the materials and envelopes / painters tape / name badges / etc.

[etherial]

The trick would be doing it correctly at the last minute.