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Post by lisacharlotte on Sept 6, 2021 20:00:44 GMT
I usually go with friends. I’m not a joiner, so I would not participate in any type of contest, dance, etc. I barely talk to my friends when I’m there! I like three day crops as guilt free crafty time. No husband or pets or housework calling me away. The crops I attend start 10a Friday and end 5p Sunday. I live close to the venue so get to sleep in my own bed. Typically I have my AirPods in because I can’t stand the constant talking. However Saturday night is usually an entertaining snark fest via text with my friend. By that time the woman are comfortable and start talking about some seriously personal shit that I was be mortified to be disclosing to 50 strangers.
All I need to be happy is a big enough table with enough room to scoot my chair back without blocking the aisle (this is always an issue), wifi, and power. I prefer to figure out my own food and snacks. Also basic supplies available for purchase (adhesive, cardstock).
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lcomfy
Shy Member
Posts: 33
Jan 1, 2018 17:58:21 GMT
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Post by lcomfy on Sept 6, 2021 23:18:54 GMT
so I used to like going to crops back in the day...20 years later...done....too much work to get there...and then I usually dont get much done...as I have gotten older loving the convenience of my own craft room..and now if i need i can join zoom crops so that is the best of both worlds...also cheaper!! no exposure to covid a plus..
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Post by myboysnme on Sept 6, 2021 23:54:38 GMT
I love this question and I love the chance to vent about it. I posted quite a bit in that crop nightmare thread back in the day. I have years of crop trauma. I agree with all of this from OP with some additions I love: Prize drawings Healthy snacks provided Water/Tea/Coffee provided Organized seating (pref where you get to choose your seat when you make your reservation) Clean bathrooms Basic supplies (and even not so basic) to shop for A "freebies" table, where I can bring stuff I don't want and look for stuff I might! A reasonable price where the person makes $ but I don't feel gouged I hate: Catered lunches or dinners that are included in the price (will all my food restrictions, I seem to always pay for food I can't eat and they can't change it) Prizes based off things like who got the most LO done Too many silly games/getting up to do a dance (looking at you Scrapbook Expo) Terrible chairs Small tables Bad lighting People that think it is okay to bring small children because "they won't bother anyone." The things I hate are: music, especially listening to someone's phone or computer. For God's sake use head phones. And the crop I went to last week was end of summer themed. The host played Caribbean Island music for 12 hours straight. My head almost exploded. No one else seemed to mind. I just love to work in silence and then listen to my own playlist when I want music Listening to people's phone calls and face time. For God's sake, everyone at your table does not need to say goodnight to all your grandkids on facetime. I don't mind someone taking a quick call but the people who have to put it on speaker is appalling. Loud, rowdy incessant chatter. You would not believe the stories I could tell about perfect strangers just being forced to listen to other people. Some strangers I could write their entire life story. And the way they talk about other people. Sometimes I want to interrupt and tell them the person is related to me or something. I did do that one time years ago when a close church member was controversial and I interrupted people bashing him by telling them to please stop it was upsetting to me. Politics and racial insensitivity/ People assume everyone agrees with them so they talk bad about others. In my area there are not that many people of color who scrap, and I am there with my friend listening to people bash Black Lives Matter, bash Democrats, bash vaccines. Just shut up. I went to a crop last Fall and went over to a table and asked them to please lower the volume on their political discussion because I had my headphones in full blast and could still hear them talking politics. They agreed and calmed it down a tad. Last week most of the room launched into a discussion of childbirth stories. Every person in that room had kids and none in the last 15 years. But someone's daughter in law was being criticized for her decisions and that led to a 2 hour round robin of everyone's child birth stories. Me and my friend sit in the back next to the Caribbean music so we were able to avoid participating. I know I sound like I should just stay home, but I get tons done at crops and retreats and having that unlimited time is important to me. I am not asking for anything I think is unreasonable. People can talk at reasonable levels. They can structure their conversation. They can use headphones. They can use common courtesy with phone use. I just really want the crop hostess to make a list of crop rules that include this and remind people. Sleeping arrangements that require anyone to use a bunk bed or have multiple people in a room. I always go with my friend but we each have our own bed nd share a room. We do not do bunk beds and we do not share a bed. A lot of crop retreat houses are like this. No. Requiring me to work by preparing a meal and sharing in food prep or clean up, and requiring me to bring my own tables, carry tables, etc. Yes, at some crops they want help cleaning up and putting tables away. I'm not talking about that. My friend and I would gladly pay to have someone who likes to cook prepare a meal. The crop hostess will say things like, "Oh you can just order pizza and make a salad." No, I can't. Why? Because I don't want to. I will bring my own food thank you. I don't even cook at my house so it's no retreat for me to cook and clean. Forget it. These days with so many food preferences and issues I am surprised anyone provides food anymore. I had gastric bypass and cannot eat more than 2 ounces approx at a meal. I don't want to pay for a huge meal. My friend is vegetarian and dislikes many common vegetarian food so she always brings her own food. So we both prefer a lower price and we provide our own food. As for prizes, I dislike when one prize is an over the top prize like an electronic die cut machine. I think the money spent on that could be used to get more prizes or better prizes for everyone, or reduce the overall crop cost. I kind of hate the idea that one person gets this huge prize, even if it is me, which it never is. I went to an Expo crop and the winner got a wagon full of stuff. Those prizes could have been given out to the others in attendance who didn't win anything. One person doesn't need a wagon full when some people get nothing. I may come back and add and edit.
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Post by riversong1963 on Sept 7, 2021 12:23:13 GMT
I can echo a lot of what has already been said. At a charity crop I used to attend every year, the hostess took an entire hour to read off the raffle winners. All the while, people would complain. Some chanted their numbers continually. Some complained that "it was just one number off." Others yelled "fixed!" Then she would have her kids read off the numbers and names. That only works when the kids can read.
She did get some nice prizes, and there were a lot. I won a few nice things too. It was fun getting together with my friend. I do miss those days.
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Post by amp on Sept 7, 2021 14:16:45 GMT
The last big crop I went to had stupid prizes...one lady won a prize for the most layouts -- she did 53 in a basically a day and a half. But they weren't my style: slopping handwriting with misspelled words, very little embellishments...that's fine if it makes her happy. But then I got the prize for "scariest scrapbooker"...because I only did four layouts. But they were layouts that I enjoyed. Maybe I need to put on my big girl underwear, but I was a little offended at that one.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 17, 2024 1:54:11 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2021 14:44:45 GMT
My friend and I still giggle about Landon 10 years later. Speaking of Landon....I agree w/so many of you above. But that is one of my favorite "likes" - the little in-jokes that you can get w/your friends when you crop together. Like "remember that time we all thought the pillow wrinkles looked like Michael Landon..." etc. (an actual memory of one of our crops)
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 17, 2024 1:54:11 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2021 14:49:30 GMT
got the prize for "scariest scrapbooker"...because I only did four layouts. That's mean and not ok. I would be having a word w/the host about that. Feelings people. Think of people's feelings. Sheesh.
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Post by 950nancy on Sept 7, 2021 15:02:48 GMT
got the prize for "scariest scrapbooker"...because I only did four layouts. That's mean and not ok. I would be having a word w/the host about that. Feelings people. Think of people's feelings. Sheesh. That is a really weird (and inappropriate) label. It goes back to one of my pet peeves where people judge each other. Just enjoy the journey.
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christinec68
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,129
Location: New York, NY
Jun 26, 2014 18:02:19 GMT
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Post by christinec68 on Sept 7, 2021 15:20:40 GMT
amp - that is a weird and offensive prize category. myboysnme - I agree about bunk beds, bed sharing and communal cooking. That's not for me.
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Post by tealpaperowl on Sept 8, 2021 12:36:29 GMT
I love:
Spending time with my craft friends Craft time that isn't interupted Getting away
I hate: Nosy people there Disrespectful people Most games as I don't play them
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Post by Linda on Sept 8, 2021 18:32:37 GMT
The last big crop I went to had stupid prizes...one lady won a prize for the most layouts -- she did 53 in a basically a day and a half. But they weren't my style: slopping handwriting with misspelled words, very little embellishments...that's fine if it makes her happy. But then I got the prize for "scariest scrapbooker"...because I only did four layouts. But they were layouts that I enjoyed. Maybe I need to put on my big girl underwear, but I was a little offended at that one. I'm sorry that you were offended - that wasn't very nice of them to say that. I'm sure your layouts were beautiful. But on the same token - as a simple scrapper who doesn't use a lot of embellishments and can't write in a straight line if you paid me...I felt that "they weren't my style: slopping handwriting with misspelled words, very little embellishments...that's fine if it makes her happy." wasn't very kind either. I know you weren't talking about me but it made me second guess sharing my layouts here and I'm strongly considering not doing so once Sketchtember is over.
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jediannie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,855
Jun 30, 2014 3:19:06 GMT
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Post by jediannie on Sept 8, 2021 19:23:15 GMT
Everyone has pretty much nailed all my likes and dislikes, but one thing I'd really like to see at a crop is instead of people voting for the "best" layout or project, everyone who wants to share a layout or project they like gets their name put into a hat and the winner is just random instead of a popularity contest. Most of the crops I go to are with a lot of the same people and it always seems the same group of people win because their friends vote for them. Plus, since art is subjective, what I think is pretty or well done someone else may not think that and the contest is fair.
I don't really like games at crops because I find them disruptive. If they just draw tickets out of a hat that's okay, but some of the games are so noisy it's hard to get back into my creative groove after being disrupted.
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Post by jacquelinescraps on Sept 10, 2021 18:10:18 GMT
This has been an interesting thread for me to read. I have never been to a crop, but hope to one day. I have been all over the country selling art at comic cons, and have similar complaints such as inadequate table space, crappy parking, food situation,ect.
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Elsabelle
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,612
Jun 26, 2014 2:04:55 GMT
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Post by Elsabelle on Sept 10, 2021 21:35:18 GMT
I don't have a lot of experience with crops but the ones I've been to have been memorable. I liked: Crops in a store so I could easily buy supplies. Spending time with friends. Getting away for a day or a weekend. Basic drinks available. Pleasant grounds or neighborhood for a morning or evening walk. Cleanliness is a must. I didn't like: Loudmouths. Quiet down. No one wants to hear your loud or inappropriate talking. A host with food issues who served food according to her own needs. I like gluten and dairy. Sharing a room with too many people. I'd pay more for my own room. People expecting to share supplies. Loud music. One host played a Neil Young concert on their huge TV. Being expected to bring a "little something" for each person. Games or classes. I think it would be great to have either quiet hours or quiet spaces/tables for people who want to scrap quietly away from louder people. Also, Landon was in kindergarten.
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Post by Linda on Sept 11, 2021 16:57:34 GMT
Everyone has pretty much nailed all my likes and dislikes, but one thing I'd really like to see at a crop is instead of people voting for the "best" layout or project, everyone who wants to share a layout or project they like gets their name put into a hat and the winner is just random instead of a popularity contest. Most of the crops I go to are with a lot of the same people and it always seems the same group of people win because their friends vote for them. Plus, since art is subjective, what I think is pretty or well done someone else may not think that and the contest is fair. I ABSOLUTELY love this idea
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PaperAngel
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,346
Jun 27, 2014 23:04:06 GMT
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Post by PaperAngel on Sept 11, 2021 18:00:38 GMT
I've never attended a crop, retreat, convention, or CM/SU/other craft company party due to a lack of interest. I prefer to scrap alone at home in the comfort, convenience, & privacy of my dedicated room. Your experiences confirm my decision!
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Post by pherena on Sept 11, 2021 18:05:04 GMT
Not having respect (or perhaps, compassion) for those around you. I once sat across from a woman who had recently given birth who was loudly relating some horror story of complications/procedures/outcomes to her seat mate, who was clearly expecting herself. I do not want to hear the details of your private parts and if you'd taken into account the look on the face of your seat mate, neither did she. Some convos are meant for quiet, private conversations, not general broadcast. That was the worst crop of my life. She wouldn't shut the *&^%^ up. Thanks for letting me vent.
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