Stowe,
Let me start off by saying that I of course don't think you are an idiot and I would certainly never call someone something like that as I try to always be respectful towards others. I was simply pointing out that there are many events across the country and as hard as we try, we will never make everyone happy.
I know you didn't say or even imply that I was an idiot. The reason that I stated it that way was because your writing that there are so many pride events and a lot of them overlap datewise is so obvious, that to state it could lead someone to infer that you did not think they were working with a full deck. You are not that kind of person from what I can determine from seeing you interface with models and others on all the BTS videos, but words and how they are used to convey a thought are important.
We have been doing events for years now and we ask members for feedback because we listen to our members and factor that in to our decision making with the statistics that we get each year.
You didn't say that in your original post; you just cited the collection and use of data. Now the question is how do you get members feedback? Is it just from the thread that you start or Mark starts every year asking for recommendations from forumites as to where to go? How about feedback from non-forumite members? Or is there some deeper feedback and from which members do you get that? From year to year some events stay the same where others may fade away. One example is that we will be in Cincinnati this year as well as Los Angeles and both of those cities have never been visited by
Broke Straight Boys.
In regards to your comment on going to a city because it is the right place to be, I feel that we do. We go to places that are selected by the combination of our members info and potential member info. I am pretty certain that when you say "the right place to be", you refer to NYC being the birthplace of the modern gay rights movement. Although I see your point I will say that from traveling around the country each and every single pride event is just as important as the next.
I'm sure that is true. I know here in the 'burgh our Pride celebration is most important to us so I can logically assume that every community feels the same way about theirs; otherwise, why have it in the first place? And you are right about what I mean about the right place to be. New York is the epicenter, without Stonewall there would be no pride events anywhere. In this instance I see NYC Pride as the first among equals, sort of like the Patriarch of Constantinople is in the Greek Orthodox church.
Where being gay has become much more acceptable in NYC, there are cities that have not been as open to the gay community (I like to call those underserved areas). When we show up at these events we become part of that community
When you say "become part of that community", what community, the gay community or the community where the pride event is located?
and we are able to help others
what "others"? members of the non-gay community?in learning how to embrace the gay community
exactly how does this work? You're saying the the presence of Broke Straight Boys at a Pride event is going to get "others" to embrace the gay community. These "others" wouldn't be going to the pride event anyway, so how does our presence have an affect on how these "others" feel about the gay community?
as well as help attendees feel more comfortable with who they are and know that it is ok to be a member of the GLBT community.
Now this makes more sense. Although I would imagine in this day and age you are not going to have any sizable Pride event in a place where intolerance is high. Let's say that the gays and lesbians in Jackson, Miss. decided to have a pride event. It would be so small and fledgling, that Broke Straight Boys wouldn't go even if it could help those g's & l's be more comfortable being who they are and members of the GLBT community because the costs could not be justified..
Even though the movement started at Stonewall in NYC, fortunately it has moved across the country.
Fortunately, it has. But as I stated above, without Stonewall there would be no Pride events and thus NYC Pride should be treated accordingly. If you don't want to go every year, then every other year.
Yes last year we attended NYC last minute after we decided to take the advice of our members and switch events. We had an excellent location and we did ample marketing at the event. I am not saying that it didn't work, I am just saying that when I look at each event that is available for us to attend that particular weekend, NYC isn't the event that makes the best business decision this year. We have only visited DC two times in our entire time touring and it is not on the list this year. We review our schedule each year and as I stated before, some events stay and some go. We even rotate events from year to year. All events are expensive so we plan carefully. Although some may not always agree, we are blessed with a great team that does their homework when it comes to events. I wish we could make everyone happy all of the time but I know that is impossible to do. I hope that you understand where I am coming from. Thanks for your feedback.
Yes, despite my disagreement with you guys on how to treat NYC Pride and going back to some of the same places year after year (admittedly I'm like a dog with a bone on these issues- lol!!), I do agree most wholeheartedly, that you and the models who work the Pride circuit do an excellent job in not only representing Broke Straight Boys, but also in affirming the GLBT community and that porn is part of who and what we are just as in the non-gay community and we take Pride in that.
Despite all this backwards and forward on these matters, Sha, I do want to thank you, Broke Straight Boys mgmt, and the models for doing the terrific job you do. I'm 71 and don't know if I will live long enough for you guys to get back to the 'burgh, but I sure do enjoy watching the BTS videos from where you do go.
It's coming up soon! How excited are you guys?
