SN10 After-Report

Well hello there folks! It's been almost two busy months since I got back from Scorched Nuts in the back country of Eastern Ohio. If you've made it out to SN the within last two years you know how beautiful the land is and what a gorgeous view of the stars it provides. I've heard it referred to as the Playa of the Midwest several times by various participants; lots of open space just waiting for the next art piece, the next theme camp, the next performance, all surrounded by lush green foliage. The sun beats down just as hard, but with added humidity, and sadly (and thankfully) no dust storms. No electric. No water. Just space, trees, and imagination. And that's all before the participants arrive! Participants added active, attention drawing, interactive theme camps, of which we there were several, colorful costumes, and art abounding on the blank green canvas that is Reclaim. This year there were more multi-media camps than we've had since the days of electrical service. Proving that just because there's no electricity provided that there are still ways to share your music, movies, and lights. Also on the rise this year was art! Between our Art Grant Recipients, theme camps where you could make your own art, and folks who just decided to bring their art along, our sights were filled with an array of color, form, and creativity.

All in all I would say that Scorched Nuts 2010 was the best one yet! (of course I think I say that every year and I'm never fibbing) Thank you for making another wonderful event!

Cheers!
April / Poosie Kat

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~~~~~~~The short of it: ~~~~~~
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Volunteers - THANK YOU!!!!
SN10 Attendees - Attendance numbers and survey answers.
Financials Overview - Where the money went.
Talking about it - Medic calls and staying safe.
Connect - Connect with other local burners.
Other Local Events - There's more than one game in the area.
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~~ Volunteers!!! ~~

To everyone who volunteered their time and efforts before, during, and after the event: THANK YOU!!!! Scorched Nuts couldn't have happened without you!

This year saw more participants volunteering than in years past. Gate volunteers did a wonderful job of welcoming folks home once again this year, in a lovingly surly way with a generous dose of laughter, requests for bribes, and survey questions. Ranger volunteers walked the grounds around the clock, to be there in times of need, mediate disputes, and share information. Medics worked around the clock ensuring that participants had the medical attention they needed, and a couple of you needed it. Lamp Lighters lit the way of the land every night, seeing in the dark isn't as easy as cats make it seem. Earth Guardians roamed picking up MOOP to ensure we left no trace, thankfully they had little work because SN participants are super on top of potential messes. Effigy involved so many hands of the community who worked on everything from design of the structure, decorating, and of course, putting that sucker together. Interactivity was tops at night...so cool. Organizers worked year round to make sure infrastructure was in place, venue secured, insurance procured, and potties would be on-site. It takes a lot of planning to create a black canvas on which participants create an event.

Volunteers are the backbone of Scorched Nuts and similar events. Without them there would simply be no event at all. If you haven't volunteered at an event before, please consider doing so. Some positions require more on-duty time, while others are more leisurely. Ask yourself what you feel your time and effort contribution could be at the event. What are some skills you possess? What department would you LIKE to spend your time in helping? Volunteering feels good, makes the event run smoothly, and helps foster community growth. Please think about volunteering at the next event you attend. You're likely to find it addicting. Plus, some of the departments have handmade, special, just for the volunteers, SCHWAG!!!! This years SN Medics were sporting lovely, hand beaded, syringes. How's that for cool and enticing?

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~~ SN10 Attendees ~~

This year saw a small increase in attendees, from 98 to 130 (ticket sales) this year, most of which were old faces from events past. Of the 130 participants, only 112 of you filled out your gate entrance surveys. I'm surprised Gate missed a single soul, they were quite diligent about their work.

Since Gate Lead Charlie the Unicorn spent so much time writing up the surveys and making everyone fill them out, I thought it only right that some of the statistics be included in this after-report. Unfortunately it's just the stats, not the run down of all the funny things participants wrote down. Some of you are pretty sick. In a good way of course.

Pets - Yes with 43% (11% = no and a whopping 39% don't care....beware kids, apathy kills) Seems many of you are all for little four legged children running around. This was the first year we've actually allowed dogs and had tags for them and everything. Upside: folks with dogs didn't have to find a sitter, and fun with puppies. Downside: not everyone was prepared with dog-poo bags or to take responsibility for their baby, even when REALLY out of their gourds. Special THANKS!!! to Bill for bringin' extra poo-bags and extra love to his dog buddy for being so well behaved.

Under 18 - No with 43% (16% = yes and 33% don't care) It looks like another year without the added benefit of those young artists that fall just below that so-so age of 18 or the added hassles for parents with smaller children to be responsible for their tykes at all times while running around like children themselves. Most the participants who were for pets weren't for children, which I found odd in a fashion. Upside: no lost kids, no worries about 'adult content', and no irresponsible parents at the event. Downside: we don't get to share our culture with the next generation, we miss out of some really great young artist who are just a year or two too young, and no great times being a kid with a kid.

Bribery - Yes with 86% (anything else isn't even worth mentioning) The Gate volunteers did a great job getting almost everyone to consent to bribing them with a $1. We'll be getting on that. NOT! Jokes on Gate, there will be no monetary bribery. Suckers.

Of the 112 participants who filled out the survey, 39% were male and 28% were female. Most (36%) were in favor of sex...all yes, please, when and where. Some were in need due to a lack there of. And some of you...well...it's the reason I say you're sick. You know who you are.

With a whooping 36% SN10 participants were young, falling into the 18-25 years old category. The runner-up with 17% was the 26-30 group, all others were low single digits. However, we had participants of every age out from 18 to the 66-70 category. With 22% of you abstaining from answering it looks like numbers may be skewed. No matter what, we were all young at heart that weekend!

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~~ Financials Overview ~~

Here's the low-down on the SN10 numbers. Everything is rounded and put in general categories for easy reading.

$ 100 - Advertising
$ 10 - Shipping
$ 35 - Tickets
$ 63 - Paypal fee
$ 150 - Effigy
$ 25 - EG
$ 50 - Rangers
$ 160- Lamp Lighters
$1500 - Venue
$ 350 - Insurance
$ 530 - PortaJohns
$ 256 - Other (awards supplies, wood for camps, art grant round out)
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$3229 - Total spent on SN10

$ 954 - Start-up funds
$3755 - Ticket sales
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$4709 - SN10 funds

Difference of $1480 into the community coffers for community events and next years start-up funds.

For the complete run down, line by line listing of SN10 purchases, please follow the link below or click the 'financials' link on our website.
http://www.scorchednuts.org

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~~ Talking about it ~~

This year medics noticed an increase in medical incidences due to drug/alcohol use, the mixing of the two and the novice use of drugs in general.This year had 6 medical runs in total, the most we've ever had in 4 years. Out of that 6, 5 were drug/alcohol related. SN does not condemn or condone the use of drugs but realizes there needs to be more information available to those who are imbibing on new and different things. Again, it comes down to communication. Talk to your camp mates, have a buddy, and be willing to take input from other sources. Information will set you free! Thanks to all the medics who helped out this year and rocked out!

Due to incidents in other communities I thought here might be a good place to remind folks to watch your drinks being made and not to leave your drinks unattended. We're a trusting group of people and that usually pays off for us in more closeness and sharing, however, we all need to be aware of our selves, our surroundings, and others. If you get a bad vibe off of someone, go with it and just walk away, but if you see something DO NOT hesitate to talk to someone, including Rangers (that's part of their job), event coordinators (they'll want to know to ensure the community's safety), or the authorities. This is true if you're the victim of or saw something wrong. If you don't speak up, who will?

"With absolute freedom comes absolute responsibility" - $teven Ra$pa

For information regarding festivals and 'responsible' drug use. This is not to be seen as SN condoning recreational drug use, simply more information to make smarter, more prepared
choices. Be smart. Be safe. http://www.dancesafe.org/

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~~ Connect ~~

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