www.studentbonfire.com

Admission at the gate on a per car basis:
10AM-3PM - FREE
3PM-6PM - $10
6PM-DARK:30 - $20

I think I like this. Encourages arriving early and car-pooling which will both smooth out some of the traffic issues. It will be interesting to see how it affects the overall revenue of the night. On the one hand, if people actually do carpool, Bonfire will make less money assuming everyone paid parking and admission last year. On the other hand, that didn't happen, so paying in one place will make it easier to collect.

Impressive, creative idea.

EDIT: Bad code.

[This message has been edited by agcoop10 (edited 10/22/2010 1:00p).]

How about that!

It sure is nice to start solving this important issue.

Hats off to the Reds for this forward-thinking plan, and a special thanks to Doug Keegan and the others who have offered their advice and solution strategies.



Never mind the mule being blind, just load the god dammned wagon.

Creative solution, glad to see some proactive planning for Burn! I imagine it'll average or exceed ticket revenue for the last couple of years.

Just gotta make sure the news gets out for it to be effective. To that end, what can we do to help advertise about this in the B/CS & campus area?

Awesome! This is great to hear. Even if it turns out to be a little less revenue this year for Bonfire, I think it will turn in to higher attendance/higher revenue over the next year or so.

Kudos to the thinker.

[This message has been edited by earman11 (edited 10/21/2010 5:08p).]

Good idea.

I'll have to remember to avoid the crowd coming at 5:59.

Proud to say I suggested this in the woods to a certain former RedPot who asked for my input.

Someone else probably thought of it first, but I'd like to think I helped nudge it along.


I also suggested taking money - since that's a slow process, and can easily be done in parallel - when cars park instead of at a single gate or gates when cars are trying to get in. Any "choke points" need to be as fast as possible.

EDIT: Just saw Asshattery is Me's post.

[This message has been edited by Keegan99 (edited 10/22/2010 6:15p).]

I know Doug Keegan!!!!

Great idea!

Though this site has sunset listed at 5:30ish

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.html?n=104&month=11&year=2010&obj=sun&afl=-11&day=1

Making dark30 around 7 at the latest not 8. Shouldnt be an issue since its later as opposed to earlier. Will def encourage revenues I would think.

[This message has been edited by OverR (edited 10/24/2010 12:28a).]

Glad to hear it. This has definitely been a problem since '02. Unfortunately I probably won't be able to make it this year to see if it works. The wife being due a week later kind of hinders our travel plans...

Love the idea! I will be bringing both of my boys so that we can continue to prep them to be future RedPots! One suggestion...for those of us who drive in and get there early, give us some "entertainment". Maybe line up a couple of local bands to play on the flatbed trailer, have more than just hotdogs (maybe BBQ, hamburgers, etc). Make up for any potential loss in revenue at the gate by having more to spend our money on once we get there. Remember...Old Ags love to spend on anything Aggie. So have more Bonfire Memorabilia to choose from. Make it an "Event" before the "EVENT"! It's all GoodBull! Jud '90

quote:

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One suggestion...for those of us who drive in and get there early, give us some "entertainment".

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Totally agree.


Talking to leadership, there's some concern about having bands or a concert since that may lead to alcohol consumption.

One idea that popped into my head - though it's too late to do this year - is to have a carnival. Set up deals with the sororities and other groups to run various booths. They get to show up for free and student bonfire takes a small percentage of the carnival proceeds. The rest goes to a philanthropy of their choice.

quote:

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One idea that popped into my head - though it's too late to do this year - is to have a carnival. Set up deals with the sororities and other groups to run various booths. They get to show up for free and student bonfire takes a small percentage of the carnival proceeds. The rest goes to a philanthropy of their choice.

---

Previously, I've always been against making the day about anything but Bonfire, solely from the fact that I'm very much a purist when it comes to these things. But this idea has serious potential. It would give the people already coming something to do, and it would definitely encourage more students who wouldn't be there otherwise to come out.

AgCoop hit the nail on the head (referring to both my former thoughts and what can be done to improve the experience).

Upon thinking about it more, the purists get more of a kick out of building it than seeing it burn. I seemed to be nostalgic and somewhat sad at burn night. However, there is GREAT potential for SB to pull in revenue come burn night. Perhaps in December or January '11 some interested folks may want to meet with the new leadership to discuss opportunities.

AgJud,

The pole is up and looks super right now. Come on out sometime!




Never mind the mule being blind, just load the god dammned wagon.

quote:

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Remember...Old Ags love to spend on anything Aggie. So have more Bonfire Memorabilia to choose from. Make it an "Event" before the "EVENT"!

---

Some thoughts while I'm waiting for class:
-Would anybody buy disks cut from centerpole?
-While A&M may have the licensed trademark of Aggie Bonfire and the traditional stack design, SB's design is different... could models be made/carved/cast to sell in the future?
-Are Benjamin Knox prints re-sellable?
-The large format posters made last year looked high quality. Could more be printed and sold? Same for Student Bonfire bumper stickers
-How about a screening of "We've Never Been Licked" going on somewhere on site for entertainment?

quote:

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One idea that popped into my head - though it's too late to do this year - is to have a carnival.

---

I feel like I've voiced this idea before. I think there are enough people in the area who would enjoy a shooting gallery to justify the work involved.

And a final thought: I know my family will be getting a hotel room because Burn lets out late at night and they don't want to drive back to Dallas. As a source of some extra revenue, could the SB website advertise for hotels in the area for Burn night?

I'm really getting excited about the FIRE! Some good ideas being thrown out here. While I know there's always the fear of drinking on site, if we really tried to have a band or something and get the folks there earlier, maybe they would enjoy being there instead of back at their "pre-Bonfire" parties drinking it up. When they are there, we can maybe have a bit more control.

If there's a chance to meet with next year's leadership team, I would be very interested. I truly believe that Bonfire is one of the few things left that really differentiate the Aggie experience and I want to do anything I can to make sure it stays and grows! The team is doing an awesome job...let's keep the momentum and make it something more and more folks know about and want to experience.

(I live in Nacogdoches and I got to watch them "building" their bonfire for their homecoming last week! OMGoodness! What a joke! They use wooden pallets and there was typically 2-5 people working on it each evening. They got one side stacked really nicely and then just started throwing them up there to get it done. It made me proud of what the Aggies have accomplished.)

Gig Em...BTHO ou this weekend!

Jud '90

quote:

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While A&M may have the licensed trademark of Aggie Bonfire and the traditional stack design, SB's design is different... could models be made/carved/cast to sell in the future?

---

SB's design is very different on the inside (Windle sticks, all logs touching the ground). On the outside, the differences might be a little too subtle.

Do they sell ashes after the burn? I have a Christmas ornament with ashes from Bonfire fom a long time ago. I would buy ashes.

bgrimm05: I know exactly how you feel. My boy was born last year on Nov 25. And will be attending his first bonfire this year!

There's a spirit can ne'er be told
It's the Spirit of Aggieland.

We will never forget 11.18.1999
BTHO Bonfire

A few days after burn, me and a couple of guys from our crew went out to burn site and collected ashes in jars and what not. We just asked the landowner when he saw us if it was ok and if not that we would immediately leave. He was really nice about it. I'm sure you could do the same this year since it's the same burn site.

EDIT: for spelling

[This message has been edited by Salty Chihuahua (edited 11/12/2010 4:14p).]

I'm still a little curious why we make the time & effort to top the Windle Sticks before Burn...

I was an advocate to let them stick out and show someone that might not know yet the difference.

they should stick out just a little this year based on the height of the support braces and the 3rd teir

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n46/yotes80/hi.png

quote:

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-Would anybody buy disks cut from centerpole?

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They did this in the past. I have one from the 06 burn sitting on my mantle.

Just making my "every few year" appearance. I kind of washed my hands of all this when I heard sb was going away from our design & starting to stack logs.

Music is good but people sitting around doing nothing definitely makes them notice the lack of beer in their hand.

My suggestions would be to put together some kind of lunch. That likely gets some people out very early and could help generate more $$ Either do it yourself or find some concession people that will pay a split.

#2 Woodsman type olympics would be good or if you need any ideas visit the Renaissance festival for ideas on simple game ideas. Log toss, hatchet throws etc Team competitions draw college people. Just ask Chilifest.

Its probably too late to promote for this year, but I always knew for longterm success SB needs to be a full day family event. It is the ONLY way to win the broad support to grow into something sustainable.

quote:

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I kind of washed my hands of all this when I heard sb was going away from our design & starting to stack logs.

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WTF?

Every log touches the ground.

[This message has been edited by Keegan99 (edited 11/14/2010 9:32p).]

quote:

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I kind of washed my hands of all this when I heard sb was going away from our design & starting to stack logs.

---

Try again.

AggieStudent,

Please expand on your statement about the SB design changing.




Never mind the mule being blind, just load the god dammned wagon.

Look forward to SB!

[This message has been edited by Rock1982 (edited 11/15/2010 12:22a).]

Judging by Aggie Student's lack of a "Created Date" I'm going to throw out a guess that he was one of those against standing logs at all.

remember, in 2002 the logs were not stacked vertically, but piled around a Centerpole with two smaller piles that tried to resemble a saw 'em off.


Games at Burn would be very hard to do... especially if you're talking about throwing heavy objects with sharpened edges. "Burn went just fine... except for the hatchet that got away from Rock and buried itself in some kid's leg"

As far as things like Chilifest, a large issue is that "teams" will want some kind of setup time and there will be larger numbers of conspiracies to get contraband to the event. (I once took almost 3 gallons of hard liquor to Chilifest... Rum, Tequila, and Bourbon in glass bottles to boot! without the coordinators even batting an eye) It can be done, and the more minds and bodies trying make it easier for some of them to get away with it.

Generally, if you show up early, you end up finding some work to do... which is how it ought to be. With the new parking and admission setup it is even beneficial. Get there early, do a little work, pay no cover.

[This message has been edited by TexasRebel (edited 11/15/2010 1:21a).]

offering a meal special sort of thing might not be too bad of an idea. get a grill some cheap patties, drinks and chips and sell a hamburger chips and a drink for $5. A lot of people would but that and the cost to profit is great for sb.

OCHWFLAKASSOBRTTEFE

OK...I'll go back to my original concept...make it an "early arrival" event.
>Music of some sort (is everyone really serious that we can't listen to music without a beer in hand? Do we have absolutely no control? I know I went through that stage a bit in college, but many of those who I'm talking about are the old Ags and families that will be coming in from out of town. I think...I hope...we have enough control to enjoy the event without alcohol.)
>Maybe some sort of temporary wall put up with a "History of Bonfire" display. Maybe a couple of large screen TVs mounted to the side of the Bonfire trailer with videos from Bonfires past. Something to look through and evoke those strong emotions we, who worked on Bonfires, are prone to.
>Bonfire Gifts/Memorabilia. Last year I bought Tshirts for the entire family and a SB sticker for my truck. Log disks with ATM Bonfire '10 branded into them, pictures of stack, even "Party Pics" people where you can have your picture made in front of stack and then go pay for it and get it printed on site. These are all things we'd pay for.
>Food. Hot dogs and hamburgers are good. But bring in BBQ, Tacos, etc for more choice and higher prices = more money for SB.

Again, Bonfire is as much about the total experience as it is about the burn. Help us get our future Aggies stoked about working on Bonfire when they get there.

Bonfire Forever!!!

Jud '90

My guess is that AggieStudent just really liked the "burning cross" in '02.

Take note from small town Texas county fairs...

-BBQ cook-off
-Washer/Horeshoe pitching tourneys
-Live Music
-Vendor booths

Before burn entertainment isn't a novel idea... a good idea, though. It's high time that leadership start to embrace the concept. I like the changes and it seems that it will make things more efficient.

and regarding this:

quote:

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-Would anybody buy disks cut from centerpole?
-While A&M may have the licensed trademark of Aggie Bonfire and the traditional stack design, SB's design is different... could models be made/carved/cast to sell in the future?
-Are Benjamin Knox prints re-sellable?
-The large format posters made last year looked high quality. Could more be printed and sold? Same for Student Bonfire bumper stickers
-How about a screening of "We've Never Been Licked" going on somewhere on site for entertainment?

---

1) yes
2) not sure I understand this
3) yes - may be a bit difficult to handle on-site. There would need to be good packing to keep it safe. There are also plenty of other artists in the area that could get involved with creating and selling unique aggie art (i.e. jewelry, pottery, etc). Charge them commission or a vendor fee.
4) I would hope they're thinking of this
5) good idea

Umm.....

Its funny how quickly people talk trash.

I was fighting for Bonfire before it was even gone. "Aggies" talked trash about me back then too. If I would just be patient, Bonfire was going to be back in 2 years!

As far as me liking the "burning cross"......From the pictures I saw you're back to building my design this year. The fire in 02 was truly beautiful. If you didn't see that then you probably don't understand what its all about anyway.

What I didn't like was after a year or two of burning off campus I heard that some idiots thought that SB was ready to go back to building the wedding cake. That took a piece of my soul. That moment convinced me that I was completely wrong about Bofire needing to continue. It meant that it wasn't an innocent accident. That maybe we were ALL to blame. It meant that it was true that students couldn't handle the responsibility. It meant that I was wrong in every fight I'd had trying to justify the value of Bonfire. It meant I owed an apology to people like the Kerlee's. They were right and I was too young to realize how wrong I really was.


I've already said more than I meant to.... but in short, you don't know anything about me. Not that it should stop you from shooting your mouth off.