How to Host!  Scheduling your Event
By: Mackie

Hello! It's me! Mackie,   I LOVE to host!  Why?  Because I adore people and I love to teach…  I love to be able to creatively express my outgoing personality thru all kinds of different activities.  I do hope you will have the same pleasure!  There is my escape where I come to have fun with friends I meet along the way.

Starting Out

* Decide the type of event you want to host!

* Determine from the type of Event, where you want to hold your event.. Make sure if you want a racetrack the funzone is built for that in mind some funzones do not have track pieces in their functionalities.  Check out that zone before you schedule that event.

 OK! ... Now to book your event!

 Toolbar:  Activities>Schedule Event> 

 Step 1 of 4: FIND AN EVENT LOCATION

 If you do not know what Funzone you want, you can look at a list  "Go to Funzone List"

 If you aren't sure of their functionalites... move down to the "I Need Help Finding a Funzone"

A.   What type?    Blah blah blah...: D we already covered that  ;)
          1) If you hit *Racecourse*   a side bar pops up.. : select a racing sport:

B.    Where do you want…

C.    When?    *YOUR timezone here

D.   How Long / Prep Time 

          1)  Time:  when you are booking,  you are in YOUR timezone not Pacific. So, be sure you are setting your time that way. If it is on There Central the time is PDT (Pacific)

          2)  Prep Time:  This is time set for you to prepare in the zone but the members haven’t been invited in yet. It is alone prep time to build a track or decorate. You can choose 30 min or 60. (IF you need longer,  just book an invite only event for yourself calling it "Building Time" for example and don’t send out invites ;) ) 

Step 2 of 4: SELECT A FUNZONE

Based on what you chose as criteria, it will search for what is available..

Once you decide on where,(there is a select" button on the zones you are allowed to book in) Funzones are mostly privately owned.  Many do not allow 3rd Party Hosting.  The funzones owned by Mackie will always be open for 3rd party, but you must respect the rules there to protect the other event hosts using the zones)

Step 3 of 4: SCHEDULE YOUR EVENT

Event type: Scroll to find what you want.

Date

Time

Event Title            (Be creative- this is what the invited will see)

Description           (Have fun with this  :D )

Ticket Price           (hosts’ decision)

Category               (Scroll to find what you want it listed under.. these help the Activities pages decipher where to put your event and what skills you will be improving.)

Advanced Options:        

a) Team assignments       (this is where you can decide if you want the members to be assigned a team as they come into the event... I use this for my team races.)

b) Skill Restrictions:         (If you want a particular skill level only in an event)

c) Self Running Event:     (This is for an event that you have set up but will not be attending.. these are controversial.. I try to only use this as a failsafe. If I think I might have to step out of a race event, I will put this so that if someone does arrive to my event they will be greeted as it is self running and not be upset that I wasn't there to greet them.  Rarely am I gone long if I do these, but, as we all know:    life happens!  Other aspect of this is that if you are hosting a track.. members will see it listed. It is hard to know otherwise if there’s a track up and running otherwise.

d) Invitation Only

e) Club Members are co-hosts   (This option is for a club to be able to help in set up and with managing an event.)

Cancel or Schedule (you can do it!   C'mon now hit the shiny button;)  )

Step 4 of 4: CONFIRM YOUR EVENT

This is where you can see what your final event will show up like.. At this point look to make sure it is all accurate (and that in your description all what you wrote fits ;)

Final Touches

Now you've done it! To see your ‘lil  baby, go to your toolbar.. Activities> My Schedule> Events I am Hosting

Find the Event in a cute ‘lil bundle and click it.

Now you will see it as a page.  Description tab and an Invitation tab.

On the description tab:

You can see the details. Cancel or Go. You can also see who has already signed up for this event...

Now, if you click the Invitations Tab...

You will see 2 ways to invite: a box where you can invite manually and below that, a listing of all the clubs you are currently in to invite. WORD OF CAUTION: If you mass invite people (a.k.a. SPAM) do so using only clubs that are for that purpose, for example. I have the "Mackie_Event_Maniac" club for those that want invites to my events. If I am hosting a hoverpack event I only invite the clubs that are geared for that etc and so on. Please do not abuse the power of  the click button : D

Now,  you can VIP a member as well and they get a ‘lil banner flash saying you have made them a VIP to your event I try to reserve this for special guests at the event. Your choice:D

You can also remove, now I have never needed this before, but, I just played with it and found that: I invited, they accepted, then I removed them, and it simply wiped itself off their list

There is more information along your booking way if you need it that There has provided and I will always be glad to help you if you need it.

*One very important thing with an event is that YOU are the host. You should be cordial and welcoming to every pixilated person walking thru your virtual doors... NEVER forget that there are real humans behind the avatars.

Always remember to have fun! If you find yourself fretting that there isn't many in attendance, or there are people leaving, do not take this personally, tough it up and switch gears if you have to, be flexible and be yourself.  Providing entertainment for one person alone makes it a worthwhile event.  Remember, practice makes perfect ;)

Make sure that you are trying to see what the members of the audience see. Do they see just a host going on and on and on about themselves 'Zzzzzz? Or do they see a host working the audience and guest to get everyone involve? Think about what you would like to see if you were in one of the red or blue chairs.

Gear your show to the general audience, not just your friend or the one with the motor mouth ;)

Be courteous. Never ever use voice if there is even just one member in the audience without it not enabled. Ever! They have no idea what you are saying and to them it is a pure disregard. One can only assume it is that you are talking about them. What would you think?   Now, ‘doh.. I am daft and have found that I have done this but, I ALWAYS apologize and switch to text if I see this has happened. They will appreciate your honesty for missing their ‘lil icon rather than ignoring the fact that you did it.  No one assumes you are superhuman. Admit it if you are wrong. 

Now, hosting an event is ever so intimidating to some. I happen to be the outgoing type and my background in teaching surely helps but if you always remember that these avies in front of you are human as well and you don’t take yourself too seriously, they will remember this as well!  One thing I try to always do is greet every individual as they arrive to all events.. I either use the funzone window or my chat bubbles.. depending on the event.  Yes, you might be busy, but this step is important. You have invited these people to come and they are why you are here, right? Yeppers!  I have found that if I have a relaxed atmosphere to go hand in hand with my timeline it lightens the mood and helps everyone relax and have fun.

Ok enough, your momma brought you up right, I am sure, so you know to use proper etiquette on stage as well as any event you host!

Now.. I have lightly touched on the “griefer” situation, I am fortunate to have very thick skin and an insane amount of tolerance, but, I have still gotten “griefed” in an event or 4.. ;) 

You are the Host! Use your judgment. I go with the "3 strikes you’re out" rule. If someone is causing grief:

 1) I pause... try to IM them personally, and let them know I don't appreciate their behavior..

2) If they continue I warn them publicly  and tell them that in case they didn't realize we are here for enjoyment and that I do indeed have a the power to "boot" them from the event.

 3) I tell them publicly that this is the last straw and that my mouse is hovering on the shiny "boot" button.  Yeah, sometimes ya gotta be the meanie, but ya know I have never had a time where the audience didn't support me and try to get that “griefer” to stop.  After the brief pause, I apologize for the interruption and get right back into it.

Hosting is fun! It should be fun for you and fun for the members that attend.