Entertainer Archive
Thread: Theed Starport Jam Results and Revision to Approach
Page 1 of 3
Warryyr
Wed Jun 16, 2004 10:13 am
#1
(I posted this in the Musician Forum, it may be slightly skewed towards Musicians, but thought you guys might wanna read this, too. Sorry to intrude.)
Well, on Starsider at least, the turnout was low. One fella did join up with us, and he left a little while later. We had Tralmak come by, who graciously buffed us up so we could play without stopping. Thanks so much, man
Though there was a low turnout (and to be honest, it was very short notice) we had a great time. There are some things that this experience provided, which are beneficial and bear some examination. See my "Revision to Approach" section way down below.
First off:
Observation: When you complain about your profession's problems, others complain about theirs and start to argue that theirs is more important.
Conclusions: Don't ask for Dev help, or demand Dev attention. It makes others stand around and do the same for their profession, or mockyoufor even bothering to shout for such things. Things such as "get back in the cantina where you belong" were shouted at us just so people could be "funny" in front of their friends. PvP'ers in front of the Starport demanded more Imperial improvements, and GCW fixes. Comments were made we were wasting our time, etc. When PvP'ers needed healing, and we made a point about wanting to be useful outside of cantinas, we got this response, "Well, I'm going to the CANTINA cuz I need mind healing and that's where I go for that. The CANTINA ROCKS." hahaha, and all that. very clever.
Final conclusion: don't mention we want Dev attention - focus on just playing and performing. If you're not talking to a listener, remain silent and say things indicating you're having a blast. Talk to your groupmates, and enjoy yourself.
Observation: Many times this question was asked: "can you heal battle fatigue or buff outside of a cantina? If not, why are you playing here then?"
Conclusions: Shows how, for some, their mindset is stuck that we're only useful in cantinas, thus why are we just performing outside and "wasting our time." When I replied "just for the fun of it" I almost always got the response, "cool."
Final conclusion: Get a group together in front of Theed, and just play. No comments against Devs, or demands for things from Devs. Just play. Get as big of a group together as you can - it looks neat, and crowds really do form to listen and say hey. It reminds people we love what we do, and we play music just for the fun of it - and we're not all Robots. It's also funny to see the NPC's slowly wander by and start clapping, then hang out for hours on end.
Observation: If you play a Nalargon or Ommni box while protesting, it WILL get stolen out from under you.
Final conclusion: Stick to a Chid horn or Bandfill. Don't use a Nalargon or Ommni box. Yes another bug that's exceptionally annoying, but evidently isn't getting fixed anytime soon.
Observation: Playing in a group of musicians, just for the fun of it, with bandflos on, and lighting effects going off is a blast! Especially outside of a cantina, where the pressure to heal someone or buff someone is just not there. It felt liberating, and reminded me of what I love most about Musician.
Final conclusion: Stop by and play on Tuesday nights in front of Theed Starport! Let's remind people we provide entertainment as well as healing and buffs!
Revision to Approach
The player base at large doesn't want to hear us complain - we're not "important" enough for them. Their professions are more important, they actually "do" something and so on. This is the attitude we're dealing with.
Some people were very nice, and fully supported what we were saying. Many former Entertainers chimed in and agreed, AFK'ers suck, not enough songs/dances, etc. But, well, most people didn't want to hear it. That's fine - and it was mostly what I expected. The point of this was to at least throw some of our frustrations out to people, whether they wanted to hear it or not, they know we PLAY our profession, and we care about it, and we're not happy. Mission accomplished. Now is the time to change their minds that we're bound to the cantina or else we're "wasting our time" playing outside - the concept that we'd play where we couldn't heal or buff simply boggled some folks' minds.
I suggest forming a group of Entertainers, and playing Tuesdays in front of Theed. NO COMMENTS ABOUT DEMANDING DEVS ATTENTION ALLOWED. Keep it in GroupChat if you still want to discuss such issues. This gathering is ONLY for playing to play - for enjoying the performance towards our fellow players. Now is not the time to complain, now is the time to make people realize some of us aren't robots, and we like performing. Let's make the galaxies a little more magical again, by performing. Honestly, I can't believe how fascinating it was to actually see all that went on for the hour and a half, where I would usually have stuck inside of a Cantina. The little skirmishes, the conversations. It was fun!
Here's an idea for how to form groups (provided more keep showing up to play). All levels of Entertainers are very much welcome.There could be an all Mastergroup front and center, with mostly Novices and some Masters inanother group- this lets our listeners/watchers see and hear something more than Starwars1 and Basic dancing, if they want. The bandflourishes make everything look organizedand fun. One guy kept lighting off fireworks, which was awesome - unforunately, I can't recall his name right now, and I feel horrible about it - but thank you!!!!! Make it a spectacle as much as possible, use lighting effects, droid effects and playback modules, anything. Have fun! We had quite a large crowd gathered around us for awhile. It was something, let me tell you.
An idea for a future protest - one that's non-confrontational.
This will require a fair amount of players to look good, the more there are, the powerful message it sends.
Gather Musicians and Dancers for a silent protest. Masters or Novices, elite or novice entertainers. Anyone. All you can get. Start writing down names now. Send emails and gather up in front of Theed Cantina's entrance (Theed is best, decent foot traffic - and the cantina is right in people's path if they turn right from the Starport, also has lots of room around the entrance).
Form a large semi-circle in front of the entrance to the cantina, outside of the cantina. Musicians, equip instruments. All entertainers put up their Master or Novice tags. Face away from the cantina, and stand. No music playing, no dancing. Nothing. Chat away in GroupChat. Patrons can run through you to get in, but more than likely they'll ask what the heck is going on. Send them a response ina /tell. Say NOTHING in Spatial. Tell them we want more songs/dances befitting a real Master in entertainment, and leave it at that. If we get a buzz going in the communities, attention will come our way. We need to actively do something, without letting things get confrontational. If we say nothing, the folks who yell "get back in the cantina where you belong" just look like jerks. Not performing should cut down on any lag we produce for them, too.
If there's one thing I've noticed in SWG, it's that large groups get attention. And a large group of entertainers completely silent will get even more attention.
How did everyone else feel about things last night? Thoughts and ideas?
Thanks to everyone who came out to play and to listen, and who said some kind words in passing. It meant a lot to us. Now, it's time for us to focus though - and stay positive. Most important, we do not want to incite confrontation. It's counter-productive.
Balin76
Wed Jun 16, 2004 2:18 pm
#2
I wish you well, my friend. It sounds like you had a great time, and hopefully made a point as well. I'm a former Master Dancer, and I mastered Entertainer as well (to see what kind of cool dances I'd get.) After that disappointment, I ended up dropping Master Dancer a bit later, to pursue other interests. I miss it though. Keep up the good fight, and hopefully all of the entertainer classes will get some love soon...
Tiaga
Wed Jun 16, 2004 4:39 pm
#3
Here's a tip... If you're playing outside the Theed starport.. Use the Nalargon and Ommni Box there. It can't be stolen.
nerfherder321
Wed Jun 16, 2004 9:28 pm
#4
oh and... entertainers have NO RIGHT to complain! you think YOU have it hard? imagine the people for IMAGE DESIGNER, were getting hate /tells people running off without paying, and what about the people that tried to master ID from 0 to max after the patch?YOU dont have it rought so DONT COMPLAIN, if you do get banned, i WILL enjoy it. ITS A POINTLESS PROCESS. what do you want? what makes YOU think YOUR more important than everyone else? commandos have been broken since day 1!, and we were NERFED twice!, do you think its EASY playing with weapons that miss? or having 7 days to grind somthing that takes over 200 hours with a friend? NO its NOT
Blamj
Thu Jun 17, 2004 8:00 am
#5
That has been the fate of all other protest. I still know many master dancers and /ex master dancers running around but they don't go to protest as they left the profession because of AFKers and HOLOCRONers
Warryyr
Thu Jun 17, 2004 8:13 am
#6
Tiaga wrote:
Warryyr wrote:
Observation: When you complain about your profession's problems, others complain about theirs and start to argue that theirs is more important.
(Message intentionally left blank)
See...
Warryyr
Thu Jun 17, 2004 8:21 am
#7
nerfherder321 wrote:
oh and... entertainers have NO RIGHT to complain! you think YOU have it hard? imagine the people for IMAGE DESIGNER, were getting hate /tells people running off without paying, and what about the people that tried to master ID from 0 to max after the patch?YOU dont have it rought so DONT COMPLAIN, if you do get banned, i WILL enjoy it. ITS A POINTLESS PROCESS. what do you want? what makes YOU think YOUR more important than everyone else? commandos have been broken since day 1!, and we were NERFED twice!, do you think its EASY playing with weapons that miss? or having 7 days to grind somthing that takes over 200 hours with a friend? NO its NOT
And I quote from my post above:
Observation: When you complain about your profession's problems, others complain about theirs and start to argue that theirs is more important.
In addition, everyone has the right to complain. You just did about your profession(s), so I can about mine. If you don't like the ID and Commando situation, do something about it instead of shouting at other people who are taking action to improve their professions. And, utilize the forums for those professions instead of bringing your negativity in here.
Now, calm down before I have to bust out my speed-sliced Slitherhorn. kthnxbye sux0r hologrinder.
Warryyr
Thu Jun 17, 2004 8:25 am
#8
Tiaga wrote:
Here's a tip... If you're playing outside the Theed starport.. Use the Nalargon and Ommni Box there. It can't be stolen.
Yes, it can. It was stolen outside of Theed Starport, by some random barker who wandered over and made a snide remark. Suddenly my Nalargon was out from under me. Of course, I still kept doing my best air-Nalargon and played away without it being in front of me
There's a bug that worked out in my favor - didn't miss a note.
I just did a /makeleader to someone who ran more /bandflo's while I switched to my Chid horn, and picked up the Nalargon. I didn't even say anything to the guy - and he quickly ran away (probably remembered that when Wookiees get upset, they pull people's arms out of their sockets).
Vorpaks
Thu Jun 17, 2004 9:31 am
#9
Sorry. Lurker looking in. One observation I have from the Wookiee protest. I wrote a list of the things we wanted in my bio and instead of spamming I would direct people to read the bio when they made comments about us being wookiees so we didnt need armor. I only got positive responses to that approach. Maybe you could come up with a mission statement that you could paste into your bios. Or you could each have a unique argument. Not everyone has the same views on what is needed. It is a good way to get your voice out without having it clog the spatial. 
Then you can concentrate on having fun. Many people are not aware of your issues and so will heckle you for complaining about nothing. If you just direct them to your bio they can read about your issues and be convinced without argument or flames. I had no idea that you could steal instruments for example. That is horrible!
I wish you luck! I will definitely check out Theed Radiant next Teusday and offer my support.
Then you can concentrate on having fun. Many people are not aware of your issues and so will heckle you for complaining about nothing. If you just direct them to your bio they can read about your issues and be convinced without argument or flames. I had no idea that you could steal instruments for example. That is horrible!
I wish you luck! I will definitely check out Theed Radiant next Teusday and offer my support.
Tiaga
Thu Jun 17, 2004 12:00 pm
#10
Warryyr wrote:
Observation: When you complain about your profession's problems, others complain about theirs and start to argue that theirs is more important.
(Message intentionally left blank)
Tiaga
Thu Jun 17, 2004 4:42 pm
#12
Warryyr wrote:
Tiaga wrote:
Here's a tip... If you're playing outside the Theed starport.. Use the Nalargon and Ommni Box there. It can't be stolen.Yes, it can. It was stolen outside of Theed Starport, by some random barker who wandered over and made a snide remark. Suddenly my Nalargon was out from under me. Of course, I still kept doing my best air-Nalargon and played away without it being in front of me
There's a bug that worked out in my favor - didn't miss a note.
I just did a /makeleader to someone who ran more /bandflo's while I switched to my Chid horn, and picked up the Nalargon. I didn't even say anything to the guy - and he quickly ran away (probably remembered that when Wookiees get upset, they pull people's arms out of their sockets).
Reread what I said. You were still using your nalargon. What I said was use the one outside the spaceport. It is part of the world and can't be moved by anyone, but it can be played.
Beery
Thu Jun 17, 2004 10:12 pm
#13
"I suggest forming a group of Entertainers, and playing Tuesdays in front of Theed. NO COMMENTS ABOUT DEMANDING DEVS ATTENTION ALLOWED."
So it's no longer a protest? Whyare we doing it then? I can have fun anywhere. I don't need to go to Theed to do it. I'm perfectly capable of performing on the street anywhere - and I often do. I thought the whole point of this was to ruffle somefeathers soour issuesgot noticed. We canbe meek and mildanywhere, anytime- surely we've proved thatin the past, as we have stood by, holding our tongues for ten months while the developers kept promising the moon and delivering nothing. You seem to be suggesting that more of the same kid-glove treatmentwill get us what we want. It hasn't worked so far. What makes you think it will now?
I certainly don't want to alienate my fellow players, but any playerwho thinks that entertainer issues aren't serious enough to warrant a protest doesn't know the first thing about how theentertainer community has been treated as second-class citizens for nearly a year. Added to that, any player who thinks that entertainers don't count as much as so-called'real' professions has his head up his arse. I'm tired of catering to leet prejudice. We have as much stake in this game as any other players. Entertainers don't get a price break on subscriptions - we pay our $15 just like everyone else. It's about time the developers, and other players, gave us an equal measure of respect. If we're too afraid to stand up and speak out for our rights, no one else will do it for us.
Message Edited by Beery on 06-18-2004 02:59 AM
Page 1 of 3