Events on a small budget

We all probably started out in the hobby at club style events, maybe a University group, maybe a larger site that ran set linears - such as the "Basic" dungeon! These used to be no cost or very low cost, say £10-15 and we scraped dodgy kit from charity shops and learned to sew and leatherwork, even learned how to make weapons! In this way the hobby turned into careers for some and even the poorest student or unemployed yoof could participate in the hobby.

Many of the sites closed, Treasure Trap at Peckforton, The Mill, The Keep. This left us (particular those of a more Northern habitat) looking for something to fill the gap. We moved on to fests like The Gathering and travelled a long way to Dumnonni to get our hobby fix.

A few inspired folks started running their own events, that fulfilled their own internal "wish list." But the need for the perfect site, with perfect monster kit and great catering etc etc steadily made the cost of the events increase. It is rare these days to get a player place on an event for less than £50, fests cost around £60 and some very prop intensive events cost over £200. Where does this leave the financially challenged?

1) Crewing - most events this will be free, but some sites charge a price per head, so this has to be spread out. Event organizers may also have to also charge for catering. When travel has to be paid for too,  that can rule out an event for many.

2) If you have skills in creating props or weapons, you could exchange some work for a place.

But many of us that have run events (small scale) often find that money is lost from their own pockets due to the challenges of finding a site and encouraging crew by charging them very little.

I also think events standards have increased over time and most now expect more outlay, both in terms of crewing and playing on their kit. Perhaps only the university clubs and a few others, maybe the Gathering would still cater for these folks?...

We have run Conan events in the past and this was recently restarted in 2013, there were plans to run each year, but the efforts and costs involved are delaying further events. It is planned we might revert to a "club style" event. Everyone pays the same , a minimal amount to cover site. Food is brought by everyone to share. Friday night everyone gets into costume and socialises in character. Within the whole, a few people come up with plot.  Saturday we run one linear for half the group, the other group is crew, more socialising in the eve and the second half get a linear on the Sunday...

Conan event at Duddon Valley lake District 20 years ago. Rights Tina Kinnar.

Do you think it might work? What would you do to keep a campaign or genre specific events going without organizers having to take up a lot of personal money and half their life? Is the hobby turning into a rich mans game?