Bullshifters Meet Creation Guidelines

[Jamie_WCE]

I had this idea a while ago and even started writing this way back when it was clear we needed this. It may not be as necessary now but is still good to have.
I will add to it from time to time as I see the need. Hopefully it will help anyone that's been wanting to host a meet and not known how or needed a little guidance.  

Recently it has become clear that some updated guidelines are needed in regards to the creation of meets. This post will hopefully serve to do that, including what is expected of the meet host to what is expected of the attendees of the meet.

Meet Creation:

This is the most important step in creating a successful meet in my opinion. It doesn't matter what the meet is, if it's planned well then it should go off without a problem. Meets that aren't planned well will often have confusion might be harder to control for the host. So as a host you can save your future self a lot of pain by spending a little more effort at the planning stage of the meet.

    The Format:

It is important that the meet is clearly set out and all relevant information can be found easily. Design choices are very much personal decisions, for example, the green for titles and headings is currently my preferred design, although I have used light blue in the past as well. Just plain white with a larger font size can also work, just remember that it needs to be obvious enough that if someone was searching for a particular section they could find it by quickly skimming the OP. Ultimately this is up to the host and is only my recommendation, although the following information is essential in every meet post:
- Time and Date (accompanied by a timezone)
- Countdown clock (Optional) Countdown creator (Do it for your own timezone)
- The theme of the meet (what is it all about, car requirements, if any, possibly multiple, one or two sentences)
- What are we doing (The events/activities/meets which are planned, acceptable car list required if specific to each event/activity/meet)
- Where are the things (Include details and maps/screens if possible)
- Comms (How will we communicate? I recommend using our Discord Server. If you have another please include details)
- Rules (Link the main Bullshifters Rules post, also note any specific rules to disregard from the main list AND/OR add to it for your specific meet)
- Attendance list (If nothing else it lets you know the attendees have at least read the meet, and gives you an idea of the numbers to expect)

I have written up my Anything Goes Meetup with these things in mind, if you want a basic outline to follow please feel free to use it. Other good examples include Ed and Milfrah's Muscle meet and Caloco's Finance and Felony meet. To list a few more; Benny's Meetup, Underappreciated Car Meet, Any of Soil's Mototcycle tours and Any No-Shifters meets.

A good thing to think about while creating a meet is, "If I wasn't here, have I given enough information for someone else to be able to take over and host the meet?" If the answer is yes then you're good to go, if not then you might want to add a few more specific details to it.

    What is Expected of the Attendees:

First of all it must be said that the host of the meet is in charge throughout the entire duration of the meet, from setting up the first location to the final drags. If they have planned to do something or ask you to do something it is expected that you follow their instructions. This applies to even higher 'ranked' players in the crew, including me.
Some more expectations include:
- Having read the event post prior to the event starting. (Mostly just respect to the effort put into the hosting/planning the event for you, although it makes life at the meet a whole lot easier when everyone knows what's going on)
- Replying to the forum post with whether you think you'll be able to make it (or not).
- As mentioned above, listen to the host at all times. (They've gone through all this effort to organise this meet for you so you owe them at least this much)

    What is Expected of the Host:

It's not enough to just have an idea and expect 30 people to instantly come around and listen to you. It's the hosts job to organise several activities based on the overall theme(s) of the meet.
- If meets are planned the host should give a clear indication of where it is and what cars are to be included, (This can be aided by a map of the location and/or a list of cars or car classes with exeptions if needed)
- While you don't need to include the exact route of your cruise, you will need to have it planned and driven at least once because it can be embrassing if you forget it during the meet itself, trust me.
- Same with drags although a location can be helpful accompanied with a picture so people can plan ahead.
- You can have as many of these activities as you want in as many different themes as you want as long as they are planned out.