Sunday Soapbox: Read the rules

Last month, a whole bunch of people from a whole bunch of places painted a whole bunch of models during the inaugural International Model Horse Painting Party.

It wasn't perfect, but on the whole, I think this no-rules version of NaMoPaiMo went pretty well.

That said, I missed the rules.

I also missed the structure, the sign up and the stats.

I really, really missed the stats.

I can't tell you how many times I thought, "This is okay, but maybe I'll just do NaMo again next year." 

Then I remembered exactly what that's like.

Every year, at the beginning of the NaMo period, people would ask what they could do to help. 

Every year, I'd say, "Read the rules."

That usually resulted in a "lol" or laugh react, but I wasn't joking. If everyone would just done that one thing, I probably would have hosted NaMoPaiMo forever.

And let me tell you: Everyone does not do that one thing.

On the one hand, I get it. It's faster and easier to post a question on a Facebook page than it is to find and read the rules. 

Additionally, no one - and especially not me - has ever written a perfect set of rules. There are always going to be things that need clarification, and in an international event, accommodations should be made for for people whose native language isn't English. 

But let's be honest: those situations are outliers. Almost everything you need to know is covered in the rules.  A little effort on your part would literally make a world of difference to the staff.

This goes for live shows, too. 

Or any event that's staffed by volunteers.

If you enjoy an event and want to see it prosper, the best way to make that happen is to read - and follow! - the rules. I promise the staff will appreciate it.

I don't know what will happen next February. A lot depends on BreyerWest, and obviously, I don't have any control over that.

But whatever happens, I hope it will be fun and educational, and everyone will show their support by paying attention to the rules.