Rougarou Media Day?

Jeph said:

Lastly, to Gonch and Mac: I've repeatedly seen your stance that enthusiasts are generally cheap, terrible customers that are of little importance to the parks. So, why do you think they're inviting enthusiasts to media events? They're trying to make business-forward decisions, so what do you guys think the parks are trying to get out of enthusiasts?

What do they get out of enthusiasts? The same thing they always have. Free work.

We fill seats, look happy riding and give good reviews to the media in attendance...in exchange for some rides and food-service-quality food that's been sitting in a freezer all winter.

You're also part of a group that provides some real world training/pactice for ride and food crews before the park opens.

(Seriously, are my words not like poetry gently caressing the ear and lulling it into a warm sense of comfort and joy. I'm such a romantic.)

You're an extra for the day the same way an extra works in a TV show.

Used to be that parks requested X number of riders for media/commercial shoots from the clubs. (and it worked exactly like Tek mentioned two posts above this)

Then CF did a couple of 'open' events. (Did SF try them too?)

Looks like they're going back to the "we need X people" thing for now. And yeah, no reason to believe it won't/can't open up again to a wider group. Also no reason to expect it to either. It might. It might not. It certainly doesn't HAVE to.

You're right that they wouldn't be inviting you if they didn't get something out of it. You're just a little off in exactly what you're providing them.

Hell, I have a coaster website and social media presence for it and the same for myself personally...and I can't imagine I have the ability to change ANY park's attendance in any way more meaningful than showing up myself with the family and buying tickets.

They're not inviting you because of the hundred people or so that will see your Facebook post, Tweet, Instaram or Vine. Do the math on that and you'll see that one well-placed bit of coverage from an actual media outlet single-handedly beats the exposure of every enthusiast in attendance.

With that said, it certainly doesn't hurt to have you posting online about it. Sure, spread the word! But, realistically, won't that happen all season long as you visit the park anyway? Which leads to...

Goodwill. Why not try to invite the biggest fans, give a little back and have some fun with it? Sunshine and lollipops...until an asshole or two creates a reason "why not".

Kind of on, kind of off topic, but I don't get why enthusiasts get to feeling so entitled. I've been to a few events now (this year and the year before), and I always just feel so grateful that the park does something nice for us (or at least WITH us). Is it cool to come and ride coasters early or even before the coaster opens to the GP? It is SO cool. Swag? Awesome! Free food? Thank you! If you're lucky enough to get to one of these events, why can't you consider yourself just that? It is almost guaranteed you could have a really good time if you'd just chill out and realize YOU ARE AT AN EVENT FEW HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO ATTEND. Isn't that special-little-snowflake enough?

Exactly. Anything I've ever been invited to or any event I've registered for, I've enjoyed. One time, at a park that has since more than made up for it, I felt that a park went a little too far in being cautious (and I understood their reason) and two friends of mine who are very responsible were treated as if they were not. I mentioned my issues with the park, and honestly, its never been an issue again. Those 2 friends haven't had any issues either.

As for media day events at SF, Gonch, I know that Goliath's 'event' that I referenced was basically the park reaching out to ACE for attendees to ride for the media.

It's not just the occasional enthusiast feeling entitled to something more than what they're getting. It seems to be occurring more and more often in more and more places, though that is, of course, anecdotal.

It appears that my previous comment at least helped keep the conversation respectful. It's nothing personal. Peace.

But not peace out.

I've only been to a few events. They were a lot of fun, and I feel most grateful for the free one as well as the paid event I attended.

RCMAC's breakdown is spot on. The only thing I question about his observations is this; just how valuable is the enthusiast when it comes to marketing a new attraction? Does all the free publicity that they give to the park pay for the actual cost of the added staff and goodies given? Maybe Cedar Fair realized that the answer to that question was no, and they adjusted their media event accordingly.

slithernoggin said:

It's not just the occasional enthusiast feeling entitled to something more than what they're getting. It seems to be occurring more and more often in more and more places, though that is, of course, anecdotal.

I tend to think, as with everything, the internet pushes more info forward. Many of the entitled enthusiasses tend to be the ones that have been around for a while. That's obviously not always the case. But now, when they have an issue and act up at a park, they then go home and put the park on blast publicly, where as they used to just complain to everyone that would listen. now they have a much broader audience.

Does anyone besides me get tired of the chore that is social media? Social Media Fatigue? Is that a thing?

And I don't do half of it. My Facebook participation is limited and I pay little attention to Twitter. Maybe I'm missing something on account of it, but I already feel so bombarded as it is. And if I should receive a post related somehow to my hobby, most of the time it's something I already know. Or have seen a hundred times. If I get one more shot of Top Thrill Dragster from the top looking down into the snow... Or the girl that peed her pants... Ot the insane video of the flats that go wild... And it's always, "hey Mac, have you sent this? Thought of you"

So I guess in regard to Social Media, I wonder how many of these enthusiast posts that are so valuable to the industry get ignored or glossed over?. There has to be a saturation point to this stuff, and how many times does a person who isn't that involved need to see "had a great time at Cedar Point. Here are some pics"? They might be curious to see the next new thing, but their actual interest is probably pre-determined. I wonder at what point it turns into us entertaining ourselves?

Easily 70% of my social media time is here and on Pointbuzz. I look at Facebook every day, but don't post there too often. I have a Twitter account but don't tweet, just read, when I'm very bored.