Just got an email from Clan MacDuff, which mentioned that the 2011 Houston Highland Games & Celtic Festival in May has been canceled.
There's an announcement at the bottom of the HHGA Web Site (http://www.houstonhighlandgames.com/).
Take Care,
David Baldock
That's too bad. Hopefully this is just a temporary glitch and it'll be back on track next year.
The email mentioned that they've not been able to get volunteers for key Committee Positions, and that Corporate Funding won't generally be available until the 2nd Quarter.
Yep, It's a shame, I'll say this as someone is is not directly involved with the games other than as a volunteer and patron, but I do hear a lot of things; The Houston games haven't really been 'growing' much year to year to start with, and a year with no games won't help at all, unless that year is used to really take a hard look at the event, and how it's run.
I know there are people on the HHGA board who work very hard every year, but they tend to cling to doing basically the same things each year. I know that this last year there were suggestions made to change or improve a lot of stuff, but it seems those suggestions were met with a loud chorus of either:
1. We've never done it that way before; or
2.We tried it that way years ago and it didn't work.
I go to a local SciFi con that's run this way, It's run by a small cadre of hard working like minded folks. They do a great job, but they started it a certain way, and are very resistant to most ideas to change or expand the show.
Oh man, this is a shame. We've been only twice over the years and had a blast. I remember
quite a few hooligans and patrons when we went. Scottish roots helped too (McDaniel).But
now I feel bad we didn't go more. A town as big as Houston, especially on the westside can't
support a festival like this better? Like you guys said, something is wrong underneath. Look
how well towns like Austin and Dallas/Fort Worth do with their Celtic fests.
Have to agree both with the cancellation being a shame, and with the fact that with an area like Houston there should not have been an issue with finding volunteers (meaning something somewhat amiss with the lack of new idea implementation). I've been a member of boards like this over the years and it's a sad fact that anyone/everyone can easily become entrenched in the "we have never done it that way before" mentality. From a personal point of view after attending the past couple of years, I can see several areas which could be addressed. Last year did not help with the drenching rains which had half the festival covered in standing water. The board could learn a few things from the Austin and Arlington festival boards. Simple to attend and ask for ideas.......
I remember the Celtic celebrations that used to go on at Garden in the Heights before they got buggered over badly by unscrupulous contractors and other random arsehattery. Sad, but I think it has a lot to do with a bunker-down mentality a lot of people have right now with things being as tight as they are. Fuel isn't cheap, nor is time, and a lot of folks are just plain worn out from the stress of it all. It will get better eventually, but for now it blows monkey chunks.
Quote from: Zardoz on January 17, 2011, 12:18:13 AMI go to a local SciFi con that's run this way, It's run by a small cadre of hard working like minded folks. They do a great job, but they started it a certain way, and are very resistant to most ideas to change or expand the show.
If it's the same one I am thinking of coming up in May, they've been making a lot of changes of late (I'm a guest there this year as a writer/game designer... long story), and it's been paying off. *crosses fingers*
Quote from: Breandan on January 21, 2011, 09:10:23 PM
If it's the same one I am thinking of coming up in May, they've been making a lot of changes of late (I'm a guest there this year as a writer/game designer... long story), and it's been paying off. *crosses fingers*
May.... Comicpalooza ? No, the one I mean is in June...
Having been a former clan representative, and one who's offered suggestions to committeemembers numerous times only to have them waved off, I think Zardoz has identified the issue to a T. There are also some internal "personality" issues that don't help.
Sherwood Forest Faire will be holding highland games in Sept. 2011. Look at SherwoodForestFaire.com for news, updates, and schedules.
Better than the Houston Highland Games, we have camping for folks who want to come out early, enjoy the games, and socialize in the evenings.