Captain Jim

Thinking on the silent auction, the biggest drawback that I can see is the shipping of items to those not still in the park. It might save actual "live auction time" but you lose that and some of the proceeds to processing and shiping costs as well as collection of bids or bids not honored. A live auction has a certain finality to it, zippo for paperwork and follow-up. Of course there was this one guy that went around the gun shows for a while auctioning off a highly collectible rifle for a charity. He would inform dozens of people that they had won, collect their bids and...do it again at another show. My understanding is that he did this for about a year and a half before he ran into one of the "winners" who promptly had him arrested. I dnon't know but it seems pretty foolish to tick off people who are known to carry guns...

I was thinking along the same line...Perhaps a rope-line and fishing nets beyond that to keep people off the table, or to ensnare anyone who ventured too close. An unmanned table would need some sort of signage to explain what all the loot on the table was about. On the other hand it would be nice to let the prospective victi...uh, I mean bidders...handle the goods to be sold and a live body being enthusiastic about the sale goes a long way toward sparking interest. Or a laser intrusion alert system...pressure-sensitive table pad...holographicly projected Pyrate giving the speil...What's our budget again? Oh, yeah, never mind.

Welcome to the pub, lass, and I'll have a rhum on yer tab.

Exactly, no time like the present...

Welcome to the Pub, mate. Now post an etchin' o' yer mug so we can put a face to the name.

Uh-oh...another one who thinks he is beginning to understand...the first sign of PiP insanity...

I hereby nominate Stynky's hat...damn Buzby Berkley hat-dance producin' git!

I'm in. Spread the load, says I, and at least one of us might remember what was said...Besides its the best time to catch Hairbone and Spike on matters concerning the auction.

Aye, and any loose bottle that ye find layin' about as well...Again happy birthday, mate.

So! (That was damned easy) (how firm is the "nice" rule? I thought pirates were supposed to play dirty!) Told ye it was easy. And we are only required to play nice with other pyrates (they have guns ye know); anyone else is fair game!

As it was I had the last dram (a trade for a Smithwicks, as I recall) and it was excellent. More next year iffen ye please!

Yes it had ambiance, only it is the worst place on the planet to sing in. Move the rhum and the singers to the beach, says I, and all will be well. You can still do ghost walks in the fort...

I want to go back. To the islands. Where the shrimp boats tie up to the pilin's...Damn I miss Key West... Mind you my first trip was in 1963, on the old bridge that you now see as a wreck on the way down. I didn't miss a year untill 1989...won't miss another, now that there are pyrates about...

"Ye best be believin' ye have a crew, lass: yer in one!" to paraphrase that movie thing. The Mercury is the greatest pick-up crew on the planet (of course we may be the only pick-up crew on the planet), made up entirely of people who have no "official" crew affiliation. We have no officers save Quartermaster William "Red Wake" Brand (my "title" is part o' me pyrate name, based on an old James Taylor song.) We have no dues, no meetings (except Key West) and no rules save "Play Nice!". So, if you want to be listed among the Mercury crew, just say so. Of course ye can always jump ship to another crew later (traitorous wench!)

Survived, home last night at Nine o'clock. No incidents to report, just a routine seven hour drive. Shower at eleven. PiP doesn't end until you get the shower. Truck still not unpacked. Brain fatigued. Rum supply holding out. I will survive to go again next year.

For the Mercury Crew: Captain Jim X Patti X Morgan X Tommy (pyrate name to be determined) X Natalie (tentative) X (The family will come this year if I have to drag them kicking and screaming. Plans and actions already being taken. We had nine junior pyrates there this year and I want that number doubled!) And the Souris would be most welcome t' join the crew! Great balls o' fire,man, yer already in the crew! The Mercury is, after all, the greatest pick-up team in all of Pyracy!

Which day, Dogge? Diosa? I know it's early, but we can adjust the first post as time goes on.

Is there any chance we could get the camping dates extended for the whole thing? Some of us can't afford the hotel fare. I mean, I could buy a full-scale 3 pounder or a pair of blunderbusses for what I would spend on room and board that I don't provide myself.

and i disagree with not letting him wear a chemise, I think it should be mandatory...showing a little leg never hurt... "sell it baby!!" It's not his legs that disturb me, frighten children and send vicious dogs running; It's his cleavage! Did you know that Madd Dogge is a professional pole dancer?

First a report on this years auction; It went well in spite of being rescheduled on the fly at least 3 times. As I have posted elsewhere $813 was raised and given to Friends of Fort Taylor. They were surprised and quite grateful. Thanks to Captain Bo for the the idea, the chest and all of the swag he put in to kick off the project. And thanks to all of you who contributed, who I will not enumerate for fear of leaving someone out, a flaw that will be fixed next year. And speaking of next year, I will act as coordinator of this event if that is acceptable to the crew. Some thoughts on what went wrong, right and sideways. What went wrong mostly involved the scheduling. It was a pick-up event this year, with no set schedule and was delayed about four times. When it finally went off it interfered with other events and the Pig. It was also held after dark, so visibility was less than ideal: if the bidders could see us we couldn't see them. Next year it will be printed up in the program as an official event with a set time and place, that being Saturday and Sunday, Four o'clock til park closing or 15 minutes to sunset at the latest. Lots of items were hand-delivered and no record was made as to who contributed what. And, being slightly rhum-soaked on occasion, I simply don't remember everyone. Next year there will be an official tally so thanks can be distributed to all. What went right? Lots of people contributed. Money was made. But we will do better next year. Sideways? A lot of non-period items were contributed. Mouse pads, signed prints, a picture of that naked pyrate wench bending over with the parrot on her shoulder (wait, there's a parrot in that picture?) No-Rhum Charlie contributed a Callahan print with the promise to sign it (I didn't ask "with what?") Is that good or bad? Whatever they were they raised money for the Fort and were pyrate-related. If we need to make a rule about contributions staying true to period we need to do it now. So on to specifics. The schedule will be Saturday and Sunday at Four o'clock until all items are gone or until 15 minutes to sunset. In the daylight. So we can see. The auction items will be on display Friday, Saturday and Sunday. A fly, table and space will be provided by Harry. Perhaps adjoining the dining fly so the auction can proceed rain or shine. All items will be tagged with "provided by [the contributors name]." If it is made by the contributor, that will be included as will a (very) short description and an identifying lot number. As each item is tagged a corresponding identifying "auction slip" containing the lot number and description will be made and collected for the auction itself. During the auction we will need the following volunteers: An auctioneer. One for each night, two total. Or just Spike. (Oh Spiiiiike?) Two shifts of two people each day to man the display table. This will mean a commitment of about three and a half hours. If there are no repeat volunteers we will need 12. Two "spotters" to help the auctioneer keep track of bidders. In the light it might not be so hard, but we failed to hear a few bids this time and some people were disappointed. Two "Vanna Whites" who will take turns showing the merchandise as well as the auction item and running the auction slip to the winning bidder. Now the Vannas can be male pyrates as well, but Madd Dogge will not be allowed to wear his chemise. The auction will run in this manner: The auctioneer will pull one auction slip out of the pile, which will be stacked in a certain order. That item is taken by one of the Vannas out into the crowd and bidding begins. The two spotters and the other Vanna will spot for the auctioneer. At the fall of the gavel (or whatever we use; ship's bell?) the winning bid will be written on the auction slip and taken by Vanna 2 to the bidder while Vanna 1 takes the item to the Collector of Funds (likely me). This way if there is more than one bidder waiting to pay the CoF will not have to remember the bid (not easily done what with rhum in the air and all). Also this way a bidder can continue to bid and pay for everything at the end. Or run to the ATM machine (there was one inside the Fort this year; sweet!) This will also create a record of what sold for how much and who contributed. To volunteer state what slot you want to fill and what day (for table guards add morning or afternoon shift.) I would like to get more than the required and make final assignments in KW, so if a position is filled volunteer anyway. Auctioneer (Need two slots filled): Chrispy (Rusty said so) Table Guards (Need 12 slots): Vanna Whites (Need four slots; that's s-l-O-t-s): Saturday Diosa Sunday Diosa Spotters (Need four slots): Loose Pyrates (Not with loose morals, just available to take assignments): Rusty Nell Sheila Sterling (as Quartermaster [Collector of Funds])

There is a movement afoot to get the "merchants" and taverns, ordinaries etc to all be grouped together, town center style, with the various camps set up around them. Dibs on beach-side!

The tally for the right to cut hair came to $255; Spike for $100 to cut Madd Dogge's hair, Edward for $95 to cut Lilly's and Mae and Brig went in together and cut off Patrick's for $60. The rules were these: The three top bidders win, with the highest getting first pick on whom they wish to cut, the second highest gets second pick. It was the fastest and most spirited bidding of the night from an opener of $15 to $100 in about 60 seconds. Most of the crowd dropped out at $40 and Mae and Brig at $60. Then it was just Edward and Spike. The bids were coming as fast as cannonballs in a broadside they were, but Spike was just not going to be outbid for the right to cut off the Dogge's hair. I have to wonder just how high he would have gone...Now if I had thought of it, I could have started bidding with the $813 we got from the Dead Man's Chest auction just to see how high he would have gone. Oh yeah, the DMC auction brought in $813. Two vendors from this year have already pledged donations for next year and plans are under way to have two auctions (on Saturday and Sunday) and earlier in the day. Details will come when I get around to starting the 2009 Dead Man's Chest thread. And since this is the kudos thread, special thanks to Mae and Brig for acting as our "Vanna Whites" and displaying the wares during the auction. They also showed the auction items... Also Spike for lending his inestimable crowd skills as the auctioneer. Lilly and Edward for fussing over all of us in the Mercury camp. And for coffee. Must...have...coffee...! Harry for, well, being Harry and providing us with a big-arse Pyrate sandbox to play in and keeping the figurative cats out of the sand. The Callahans et al for the 19,000+ pictures that they shot this year (and,no, that's not a typo, I meant 19,000+) Silkie for the Extraordinary Ordinary Sealkies Hyde that became the focal point of the camp, especially at night. Great meals were had there, too, as I can attest. More Kudos to come...

Reporting in, home and safe. By the way, Whoooooo Hooooo!/ What a PiP! Late at night so I have to go sleep. Will find the appropriate thread and post on the morrow. Did I say "Whooooo Hoooo!" yet? Oh, yeah, I did.

Arrggh! I've struck a reef! but not to worry mates, I'll be off at the risin' o' the tide. Meant to leave midnight last night. Leavin' at about 3:30 PM instead. So I'll be arivin' in the dark. See you all soon!

Dear Lady Seahawk, that is precisely the sort of information that I need. And when I say "wet" I simply mean working pliable, as it comes in the package.