Marathon 2011

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Well, I have fired off the e-mail, can only wait and see what the reply is...

[Giannis K. Hoplite]

OK,sorry Stephanos,i didn't realise that wasn't a personal but a Mores representative comment.Nemea,which is indeed an official event can be used for promotion,I had forgoten that!
Mark,as we all know,the HA is one of the oldest and more crouded groups,it would be very important if we had them in the event,and also their support in promoting and recruiting.
And i wouldn't mind becoming the bouckgrand of a documentar,the contrary,if it's gonna make the event a reality!
Khairete
Giannis

[Kineas]

How does August 12-13-14 2011 grab you folks as a starting date?

I recognize that there's a Julian/non-Julian divide int here somewhere, and that September 12 might be a more accurate date (maybe). But the 12-14 August is a weekend, and it is not in the school year. It is in the heart of the Greek tourist season, making the show more attractive (I think my logic is correct here.)

Anyway, we need an "opening bid" date.

[Giannis K. Hoplite]

The date sounds good to me,and better than September. September is a difficult month,that noone really knows the exact schedule of the next season,schools,universities etc.
I'm afraid it wont be us who will decide the exact date though. But I suspect if we aproach the authorities with the idead that the battle took place definately at that date,no one will say different.
Khaire
Giannis

[Kineas]

Exactly. We won't set the date--but it is good to have a date in mind when you start. By the time that the media and the government get involved, the date will change.

Well, cross your fingers. August 12 2011 would allow a really good amount of time for prep and training.

[Idomeneas]

Let me put my ovolos in this.
First of all im working in the advertising field as junior art director in a publishing company specialised in lifestyle and mostly car and motorcycle magazines. We annualy organise various events some of them open air. Due to my close relation with the marketing dpt i have an idea about how things generally work. The latest event we organised attended by 1000+ people costed about 25000 and we already had the place offered by mutual agreement between us and the owner. There are many little things that cost money, plus the advertising costs.

Stage 1
Its needed to have an open discussion here and have maybe a poll about how many reenactors would be willing to travel to Greece and participate. That would provide an estimation of the numbers. If the numbers seem promising we can advance to stage 2.

Stage 2
includes the forming of an organising comitee here in Greece. There has to be cleared also the legal status of it propably since there will be money involved, people getting paid, materials purchased etc. All those require receipts books and stuff for our dear tax servise.

Stage 3
There has to be a nice promotional package about the festival. Since reenactment isnt popular here and there are many misunderstandings thanks to those new age mambo jumbo and various other factors (religious matters are the least imo), there has to be a presentation of what reenactment is and its aims. An overview of what the event will include and as much possible clues about how popular and live it is expected to be. This nice package should be sent all the services and companiew we want to approach. The ministry of culture, the academic community, the city of Marathon, The city of Athens, all the cities of attica in order to get as much official support possible. It should be sent to a group of companies also that would be potential sponsors. Their offer could be financial or by providing products and services. From ads to magazines to soft drinks and tents. It would be good to have a catch for them cause these people understand only figures of money. So there has to be a plan of what they will earn if they help out. Usually a good tv coverage of the event and alot of people are good enough reasons.

Stage 4
When and if there is interest, you can come in touch with tourist agencies trying to get the best possible fees for transportation and accomodation. Promote the event the best way via press, tv if possible, radio and internet.



A good starting point apart the official ones like ministries would be IME (IΔΡΥΜΑ ΜΕΙΖΟΝΟΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ) http://www.fhw.gr/fhw/ . The whole event is within their field of interests i think. They have a good relation with fundings from EU and alot of specialised personel working for them. With alittle luck and lots of organisation they could even undertake the whole thing. But imo it has to be very carefully presented to them

[PMBardunias]

Wouldn't it be odd if there were no Marathon on the 2500 annyversary of Marathon? Does anyone know if there is a race planned and the route? I assume this would be a bigger money thing than our festival, maybe we could be connected somehow for flavor.

An August date surely saves on my panoply, for surely "heroic nudity" is preferable to bronze, linen or leather in the Greek summer. 8)

[Marcus Germanicus Ferox]

Yannis

Good points but I can think of two more immediately.......

1. Accomodation for travelling Hoplites - Plastic camping? Hostel? Living History? etc.....etc...

2. INSURANCE!!!! Remember WE all got sharp pointy things and there is the public to think about to. How does this work in Greece???

Kind regards

Mark

[Idomeneas]

Yannis

Good points but I can think of two more immediately.......

1. Accomodation for travelling Hoplites - Plastic camping? Hostel? Living History? etc.....etc...

2. INSURANCE!!!! Remember WE all got sharp pointy things and there is the public to think about to. How does this work in Greece???

Kind regards

Mark

Insurance is a good point indeed. I dont know how necessary is legaly though. Also the legal status of passing through custom service items that could be considered weapons. Somebody has to look over those things as well.

About accomodation i believe that is the least of the problems. The main problem is to get the needed support from authorities. And the only thing that can do that is a well planned presentation and the ability to present a good estimation of the participants number. If its about 50 people forget it . It wont happen. Having the academic community embrace this effort and support it so that it could be more than a festival but an overall educative experience, is a good way to gain status and bend the ''halloween party'' or ''religious sect event'' reactions. If we are serious, people will see the event as serious. Mind also that there has to be made certain to authorities that reenactors are civilised people, and against any kind of violence. If i was a police commander with absolutely no experience of such events i would be very worried about people with no credentials carrying swords and spears in a public event. Lets try to see it from their view too. What if a nut hack somebody? Remember its an open invitation, who can vouch for anyone apart their own group?

[Marcus Germanicus Ferox]

Kalispera Yannis

Insurance is a MUST not only for participants but also to protect the public. In the UK we have to have "Public Liability Insurance" - Is there something similar in Greece?

Also I have come up with a few things which may help to start formalise the structure of those taking part and therefore give the Event more Kudos with the Authorities. If we show we are taking it seriously and not using the event for a mass Hoplite punch up then we start to pave the way for other such events - no??

[i][b]1. All participants must reach an acceptable standard of dress for the part they wish to portray within the Event. The “Organisersâ€

[Kineas]

Somebody (probably on this group) will need to take Mark's excellent list and deal with the devils in the details--standards, training, etc. My original posting suggested, and I would continue to advocate, a bunch of side topics devoted to establishment of an acceptable standard.

I'm in contact with two decent sized Greek companies interested in providing support, both in structure and, I suspect, financial. As soon as there's a local "Marathon 2011" committee as per Idomeneas last, I'll pass all that to him or Stefanos or whomever is appointed.

Please let me second or third the subject of insurance. Every group needs to have insurance--in most countries, there are groups that insure reenactors. I can help any group in Canada or the US--elsewhere, well, you folks would know your own best.

Also, in Greece, the eventual site will want site insurance--but that will be no different from the insurance you'd get to have, say, a wedding in a a park. At least, that's the case in several other countries.

A further suggestion? Start considering doing national contingents as "tribes" for Marathon, each with their own commander, each organized and insured and trained coherently, so that all the organizer has to do is talk to the commanders. there will come a point--fairly quickly--where the organizer, be it Stefanos or anyone, will be too busy to deal with individual impressions! Running an event like this will, in the end, take about 400 hours of the organizers time...

I've done about 50 of them

D

[Marcus Germanicus Ferox]

Hi Chris

Sounds like we're starting to sing from the same hymn sheet!!

All this takes time but should prove worthwhile and spectacular. I am meeting Stephanos in Athens in July and we will talk further on this then. After that I will talk to my fellow committee members in the Hoplite Association and include it in our event "Agora" meeting - it is possible that we could take the foreground in the UK for training etc..... I feel potential participants would benefit also by joining established groups in their own areas. Authenticity should therefore not become a problem nor insurance.

As ever just the logistics!! :roll:

Mark

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

OK sounds like you don't need any ino from me then ! :lol: 8)

Good luck, and wish I was going to be there!! Where were all you guys 6 years ago LOL :roll:

[Marcus Germanicus Ferox]

Hi Byron

You know me as Verax in the RMRS mate! You at the Lunt this weekend?

The Hoplite Association was there 6 years ago!! Where were you buddy? :lol:

Check www.hoplites.org out.

Mark.

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Hi Byron

You know me as Verax in the RMRS mate! You at the Lunt this weekend?

The Hoplite Association was there 6 years ago!! Where were you buddy? :lol:

Check www.hoplites.org out.

Mark.

No, am offshore right now, not in untill next Friday, but hopefully be at next 2 events, next one for sure.

Wandering up the wrong paths as usual mate, and getting no where! :lol: :roll: (well not quite nowhere, ended up in RMRS)