Totton Flying 22nd March 7.30pm

**ChrisB** · 24-03-2010, 07:52 AM

Cheers for all the info and vids Guys,seems like you all had a good time.

Look forward to Calshot in April,could not make this Totton meet but hope to attend future ones.

I have an MCX and MSR and a 450 Sport and if the Logo 400 is Ok would fly that too

probably best to leave the bigger Logos at home though

**coptermanic** · 24-03-2010, 11:48 AM

I was sorry not to be able to attend, but I don't have a serviceable heli to fly at the moment anyway. Hopefully between now and Calshott, I will be able to rectify at least the mSR, fingers crossed.

**Photex** · 24-03-2010, 04:44 PM

Just realised, this thread is in the wrong section. lol. (;-)) should be in the south east not south west, but who cares. We had a great evening. It was good to meet the faces behind the names. Hope to see you all at Calshot.

Chris.

**kol** · 24-03-2010, 07:35 PM

Thanks everyone for coming again. Glad all had a good time. Need to sort out a couple of things that is best done on-line so people can voice their thoughts and ideas.
Firstly I am finding it a bit awkward walking around asking people who I don't really know for subs to cover the cost of hire. Before posting the flying night on this site/forum I knew everyone and everyone just paid without me having to ask and we split the cost between us. As the club has grown it has reached a nominal £5 which covers my cost when not enough people turn out. I think £5 is very reasonable and as we don't want the club to grow much larger if there ever comes a time of profit I will buy something cool to raffle or maybe try and get a larger hall to accomodate us. I think it is only fair that if you fly then you should pay. If you spectate then there is no need and you are not taking up airspace and flying time. I am not keen on asking people to cough up to start with and even less keen on being told that they hardly flew and don't want to pay. I don't want to sound like I am having a moan, I just want to keep it fun.
Lastly, we have to be out by 9.30pm That is out of the door and leaving the school. Because we didn't vacate til gone 9.40pm I will be billed for another hour, maybe only 30 minutes but either way its a fine rather than more playing time! I had to convince quite a few people including the caretaker, headmisstress and board of govenors that our club would stick to the guidelines, try to do no damage or fix it and be on time and quiet when leaving. Not many people were keen on us using the new floor to crash into etc but we are in now and I hope to not give them a reason to change their minds.

I am really pleased to see all the new faces who have come to the club, 3d flyers and beginners and spectators too. It's a great laugh and a lot of good banter.

Any ideas then please let me know. I can't think of a better medium of throwing up some ideas so go for it.

Kind regards Kol

**davenice** · 24-03-2010, 08:06 PM

Hey Kol,

Firstly I think it's great that you organise the evening, and great for people like me that you advertised it on these forums. I've just got a little heli and wouldn't really be able to commit to a subscription for a club, but I really enjoyed coming along and getting a bit of flying, something fun to watch, and some friendly people to chat to.

I reckon what you've set out is fair - spectating is free, flying a fiver (or whatever you set out in advance to cover the costs). For me as a first timer on Monday I wasn't quite sure who to pay, or when. I knew it'd be a fiver from reading the forum but a few different people have posted about the Totton meets and I wasn't sure who was in charge, who to pay, etc. Wandering round the hall asking if anyone wanted a fiver seemed to me like a quick way to make a fool of myself in front of a bunch of people I didn't know (and who wouldn't say yes to the offer of a fiver!) ;-) Once people started waving money at you I was relieved to have found a place to give my grubby note!

One option (if you don't like asking for money, like you suggest) is some kind of biggish box that's clearly marked - with the £5 if you fly rule. That way when people come in they can whack their money straight in.

Thanks again - I know it takes effort to get up off your bum and actually organise something. That organisation has been appreciated :-)

Dave

**kol** · 24-03-2010, 09:28 PM

Nice one Dave. Thank you for the idea. Sorry I didnt make myself known to you. It's like a new school day, I am one new face and you are all several! I am often trying to help out newbies fix or set up for the first hour so easier to make yourself known to me.

I like fly for a fiver. Easy to remember. How about as an idea that you can fly when you have paid? I don't have to ask and if you change your mind then you can have your money back.

Dave, did you have the blade cx2 or the apache? Trying to remember who you are.
Thank you for the feedback

**davenice** · 24-03-2010, 09:34 PM

Hi Kol,

That's fine - only thing is I didn't know who you were either to say hello ;-)

That's the problem.

The idea of paying first is fine. Just needs to be clear what people should expect and what they need to do, I think, if you don't want to have to ask!

I have an esky comanche which prob looks a bit like an apache. I hid in the far corner hovering around ;-)

Dave

**Gav** · 24-03-2010, 09:37 PM

yes - fiver on entry is good - little table with box of change in it just by the hall door - so you trip over it, to get in.

a bigger hall would be great if you can find one - how much is the Totton hall and hope your not out of pocket for the extra 30 mins you might get charged?

Dave had the apache and mentioned about his living room antics and you made comments about the gashes in your sofa and on the legs of your pet dog lmao - poor mongrel.

**kol** · 24-03-2010, 09:46 PM

Yeah, I remember Dave. I was pretending not to know who he was. I didn't want him feeling all special.
Im off to bring some helicopters down in COD 4 for a while. Speak soon Gav.

**davenice** · 24-03-2010, 10:23 PM

That picture of my sofa is ... uncanny ...!

No more sofa incidents since, thank goodness.

**asomaro** · 24-03-2010, 10:48 PM

Hi Kol,

I know what you mean about collecting the dosh. I've arranged a couple of events now and I always feel a bit daft asking for the money.The thing is that a fiver for an evenings fun and banter is really good value.

It takes time and real effort to arrange, book, chase and police these things and at the same time keep things relaxed. Leaving on time is also difficult, I for one would be happy to have a friendly "shout" saying 10 mins to "chucking out time."

There is no good reason why you or any organiser needs to feel pressured. I know we are all just big kids but we can also act reasonably and fairly.

IMO I think we ought to have an unwritten rule that the subs are paid when we arrive then the "host" does not have to chase things up. If the pilots don't know who the organiser is then all they need to do is ask as someone will know who it is! No probs if you dont want to fly just confirm that when you arrive.

If people like you dont take the time and trouble to arrange these things then we all suffer from withdrawl symptoms! I think it's a small thing to ask that people volunteer to pay up rather than be chased.

I will make sure I pay up when I walk through the door next time. Thanks again for arranging I really appreciate the effort

Cheers,

**kol** · 25-03-2010, 09:08 AM

Thank you Simon. I think going with pay the organiser on entry is best. Trusting people to put it in a box might lead to a place of having to ask if everyone has....
Anyway. Great evening. Hope you didn't mind me playing trumps with our rexes?! I am pretty sure that the 500 is a better helicopter and much, much cheaper if parts are needed. We should be able to buzz around the field there soon when lighter evenings are upon us.
Look forward to seeing you again mate

Thanks for you thoughts

**asomaro** · 25-03-2010, 09:43 AM

Kol,

Yes I think collect at the door on entry is best.

Don't worry at all about trumping my 500 - it was a real joy to see your 600 - really good looking heli mate. I think that the heli line up was a great idea as well, they all looked so good lined up

I hope you manage to get your 600 in the air soon and don't forget the pics!

Cheers,