Bitterly Disappointing.

[billymansell]

As someone who is looking at buying their first Bongo and for whom club meets are a new experience, can I just say a thank you to Triple/R for inviting me out to meet him and Christine at the meet on Saturday, to look around his Bongo and introduce me to a couple of other owners.

As an introduction to Bongo meets I can't comment as I was only there a couple of hours, but knowing I would be meeting someone I at least knew through the forum made the experience of going into a new environment a lot easier.

Maybe if the OP was going into a similar situation again and thought they were unlikely to know anyone there they could try introducing themselves to other attendees through the forum before the event so they won't feel so isolated when they get there?

[B*Witched Blingo]

Very sorry to read that your 1st experience of a Bongo Meet was not what you expected.

I'm guessing (Wasn't there) that if your sharing a site with none Bongo attendees' then it is very difficult for all that attend to know who has come as part of the Rally/Meet and who hasn't.

Might it be an idea to perhaps have a small laminated Bongo that can be worn by the rally people. This could be issued with the paperwork when a pitch is booked. I don't mean it as a Label so please don't shout

There are many that are less confident in striking conversations with complete strangers. Maybe if there was some way apart from a card stating "Hey, I'm a Bongo Fury Baby" in the windscreen, people would automatically recognise them as a group member.

Just my two penneth.

[Matt&JoyBongling]

... needless to say we will not be attending another one and regrettably will not be renewing our membership to BongoFury.

]

From my experience, Bongo get togethers can either be great fun or awkward. I think of Bongofury as a website forum for sharing our interests and issues with Bongos. The chance to get together is an option - not compulsory. We all have a common interest in Bongos but that might be as far as our common interests go. Some people attend meets because they want to be in the company of other Bongos (an not the people) and others go as a social event. Conversations with some Bongo owners have ended after my first question of "how are you?" or "how long have you had it". Others have gone on into the night talking about anything and everything.

During a couple of meets, I did feel that there is a general assumption that people knew what was going on, even though we had no idea. We were lucky that we had very friendly neighbours to chat to and we made up our own entertainment. The "organiser" was noticeable by his absence and if it was not for the very interesting conversations I had with him on a 1:1 basis, I too would have been put off going to any other events. He just did not seem comfortable in larger groups of unknown people and he would have really benefited from delegating the social side to a "people person". In complete contrast, I went to an event at Paxon Lakes in Cambs as a day visitor. The organiser was very welcoming, gave us a tel no. to use for info and introduced us to others, ensuring that we knew what was happening.

I do not know whether there was an information board to inform attendees of events in addition to the sheets sent out in the post but it could help in the future.

I would not let this one event put you off being part of the forum and club as the information available is so valuable. In time, you may get regular contact with members that help out with things and arrange to see them on future get togethers but I repeat my message that there is no guarantee that any of us have anything else in common apart from Bongos and a thriving chatty forum like this does not necessarily make the contributors chatty in real life.

[Ian]

... needless to say we will not be attending another one and regrettably will not be renewing our membership to BongoFury.

The "organiser" was noticeable by his absence and if it was not for the very interesting conversations I had with him on a 1:1 basis, I too would have been put off going to any other events. He just did not seem comfortable in larger groups of unknown people and he would have really benefited from delegating the social side to a "people person".

Was that me? It doesn't sound like me...........but perhaps I was a bit busy that day. I've certainly not got a problem talking to complete strangers (even though my mum told me I shouldn't ) although like everyone else, sometimes I need a bit of "me" time.....

Anyway, it's a bit of a difficult one this. I see our role here at Bongo Mission Control as "facilitators". We scout out potential campsites for meetings, we negotiate a discount price and book the dates, we take the bookings, we organise live bands etc at the larger meetings, and we turn up and act as trouble shooters, meeters & greeters, organise and lead walks, and the occassional BBQ or fish and chip night or coach excurrsion. We also "do the rounds" at least once a day (cunningly disguised as a dog-walk) where we are only too happy to have a chat. And when we've done that lot, sometimes we sit down and have a glass of wine. Or watch the Eurovision Song Contest.

If people don't want to take part in the organised activities or talk to others, well, they are quite welcome at the meetings too! Some people just like a peaceful break and like the idea that the club does everything for them. Others use it as an excuse to meet up with old friends.........and catering for everyone's needs is a difficult art.

But we wouldn't do it if we didn't enjoy it!

[dave_aber]

The recent Scottish Bash was, for me, a wee bit similar to the OP's experience.

I'm not backward in coming forward, and the weather wasn't the best which doesn't help. In addition, I had previously met a few of the people who turned up.

However, I didn't meet you personally Ian - I'm not actually sure where you were parked / camped. I don't recall anyone doing the rounds with a dog as disguise!

I had a fine time all in all, but I felt we were a bit scattered around what was quite a large site. Not helped by the number of semi-permanent units there, so we were obviously allocated random 'gaps' to occupy. Not much anyone could have done about that given the layout.

However, over the weekend a local group did appear (nothing to do with Bongos), set up one massive tent and got on with a party / gathering. I did think that if the Bongo Fury 'lot' had done the same it would have been more of 'an event'

I felt that it was more of a camping weekend where some other Bongos happened to be there rather than 'an event' which was what I had expected from reading post-bash reports on here. Maybe my pre-conceived ideas were out of line with reality. That said, these things are very much what you make of them.

Certainly a different sort of meeting to last November in Glencoe. Hopefully the gathering at Loch Morlich next month will be a return to form.

[Dabs]

Having re read all this a few times now I am at a loss as to how its seems to be turning into a "blame the organiser" thread.
I would have thought all Meet attendees bar the kids would be capable of attending and not need spoon feeding "what,where,when" its always in the information either on here for member organised ones or via e mail or post for Club organised ones,surely people can read the details and assess if the planned events are for them or not in my view ALL MEETS are what each individual attendee chooses to make it,if people want to lock themselves away in awnings at 7pm then fine if people want to party a bit and be sociable great but lets not lay all the blame as to not enjoying a meet on the organiser........remember whoever it is has had the guts to get it together in the first place.......its no easy task!!!

Support the organiser Meets are what YOU decide to make them!!

Dabs

[Matt&JoyBongling]

I would have thought all Meet attendees bar the kids would be capable of attending and not need spoon feeding "what,where,when" its always in the information either on here for member organised ones or via e mail or post for Club organised ones,surely people can read the details and assess if the planned events are for them or not in my view ALL MEETS are what each individual attendee chooses to make it,if people want to lock themselves away in awnings at 7pm then fine if people want to party a bit and be sociable great but lets not lay all the blame as to not enjoying a meet on the organiser........remember whoever it is has had the guts to get it together in the first place.......its no easy task!!!

Support the organiser Meets are what YOU decide to make them!!

Dabs

That may be your view but in our limited experience, it is not always clear what the meet is about and what events are planned. Plus, it can be intimidating joining a group of people that you do not know, especially if they seem to know each other already. We don't hide in our awning and can understand why some people may feel as though their presence is not noticed or appreciated. Having someone to meet and greet and introduce newcomers to others would make people feel more welcome.

[Ian]

That's a fair point, and maybe we should make a bit more effort to welcome people. But on a practical level many of our meetings have people turning up over a 2 or 3 day period at any time of the day, and it isn't always feasible to have someone on reception duties 12 hours a day, although we do try!

But there's certainly a case for making things clearer in the "joining instructions" we send out a few weeks before the event, and we will work on this.

As has been mentioned earlier in this discussion, unless we have some organised events like coach trips, bands etc, it's down to the attendees to mix and mingle. We are just facilitators; there is no set agenda at these meets, it's just a case of turn up and see what happens!

At the Little Staughton event for instance we quite clearly stated in the joining instructions that we were having a mass "cook-in" on Saturday night, yet despite us wheeling out our giant gas BBQ, there were in fact only 20 people in attendance, but approximately 80 Bongonauts on site. So perhaps we shouldn't bother next time????

[Harry]

I wasn't going to comment but here goes.

Long long ago (2005 I think?) in the grey mists of time (and also the grey mists of the Yorkshire Dales) I turned up at a meet at 7.30pm to find everyone tucked away in thier vans/awnings. Being newbie to rallies but a sociable soul I accosted two gentlemen as they emergeged for the gents toilet. They turned out to be Dabs and Daveblueozzie. As they had obvoiusly run out of conversation with each other and no other bongonoughts were in evidance (apart fron one very amourous couple demonstating that you really shouldn't get up to that sort of thing with the light on in the roof tent) I offered to take them down to the pub for a noggin.

I decided not to stop overnight but returned on Saturday in the hope of a bit better company than two grumpy old men. Well that didn't work either...back to the pub where we did meet a couple of bongo crews. Turns out that some others were in the other pub.

Well thats a potted history of the first 'comittee meeting of the North West Godfathers. During our not so drunken revels we decided that we should put the North West on the meets map....the rest is history.

We try to:
Avoid having a pub as the main meeting place (expensive..not kid friendly..restricted hours.etc)

Use a large tent/marquee/gazebo as a central meeting point for socialising.

Try to organise a 'Jacobs Join' supper as an icebreaker on the first night. It also saves late arrivals having to prepare a meal when they arrive or stop en route for a meal. Announce any activitiesfor the following day when most peeps are there...and perhaps put up a white board in the marquee.

Pitch party peeps and families with kids (tend to be the same) near to the marquee and quiet life ones well away.

Hold a communal barbie and/or get together most nights.

On the last day don't plan anything.

Always work on the basis that at least 25% of those who said they were interested won't turn up and at least 10% of those who have booked won't turn up.

Over the last six or so years I've organised around 20 meets and attended around 50 (day & weekends). I've had a great time at most.

To anyone who offers unconstructive critisism to a meet organiser... only one reply....CONGRATULATIONS - YOUR ORGANISING THE NEXT ONE!

My next meet is the 5th Annual North West Big Autumn Bash at Silverdale on 30th Sept - 2nd October...why not come and see how it should be done?

See you in a field sometime.
Life is what you make it - don't depend on others.

cheers

H

[Harry]

On meet and greet........

We are all doing this meet lark voluntarily so expecting the organisers to sort out peeps to meet and greet would be totally unfair.

For goodness sake...if you are attending a rally you've already decided that that you want to meet.....now get out there and greet.

10 rally attendees = 10 meeters and greeters
100 rally attendees = 100 meeters and greeters

If you don't want to do that how can you expect others to do it to you!

H

[safehands]

Can i just point out that we had bought our Bongo on the Tuesday, prior to the Devon and Cornwall Meet at Cardinham woods. We had no idea of the meet or the forum or even BONGO FURY. We had gone to the woods for a family BBQ with 6 of our kids and were greeted by a car park full of Bongo's all shapes, colours and kits.... The few people that came over to speak to us where very friendly and gave us lots of fab advice. The few people that we went over to speak to were all very helpful and a lovely friendly bunch... Have since been and joined the Fury club, and even been over to people in carparks and campsites to introduce ourselves and get even more advice as we are novice's ALL HELP GREATFULLY RECEIVED..

It takes one person to make the move, and then never look back we are very greatful to Alan, Dave, Simon, and others whose names i need reminding of to get us on the bottom of the ladder to more bongo fun.

[vicious screw]

just returned from the summer camp(our 2nd) and frankly yes! i can agree with some of the points of veiw the main one is being greeted to the event, but we met a lot of Bongoliers had some good conversations/stories on various topics especially Camron only small but he could tell a tale.
no we had a good time, relaxing, drinking and doing what we wanted to do. yes it was quite, we could have played cricket, football, baseball (the site was that big) but did we want to, no. i am sure Ian will always listen to any suggestions/ideas for things to do, and at what extra cost, to do them, if you dont it ll never happen

[daveblueozzie]

Like Dabs and Harry have said , you have got to make the effort to talk and ask people daft questions.
That meet in Yorkshire that I met Harry was my first overnight meet, only for Dabs and Harry it did seem everyone zipped up the tents by 7.30.
I did make the effort to talk and met Jetskier (i think his tent blew away at one point) and a few other peeps, you have to make the effort to mingle.
Dabs and Harry have organised loads of meets over the last few years and they have been well attended by newbies who are now friends.

[dunslair]

I wasn't going to comment but here goes.

I accosted two gentlemen as they emergeged for the gents toilet. They turned out to be Dabs and Daveblueozzie. I offered to take them down to the pub for a noggin.


H

And so rests the case for the prosecution your honour........


Joking asside Harry, you made some very valid points If I was'nt so shy I would come over and introduce myself.... maybe one day I will pluck up the courage to venture south to one of the North West Meets.... and lurk in the corner!

[Dabs]

maybe one day I will pluck up the courage to venture south to one of the North West Meets.... and lurk in the corner!

What d ya mean me and DBO did that at Kirkudbright.....we are good at lurking!

There must be something in this Meet business that after 5 years and meeting as total strangers Harry DBO me and of course BDC are still good mates.........gee if only I hadnt spoke to them.................................