BARFLEET FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

These are some of the questions people ask us the most.  More will inevitably follow as we get around to it.

FAQ  V1.0 - 06SEP07

Q.        What is Barfleet?

A.        That’s a hard one, which is probably why we stuck it in here at the top.  Barfleet is many things, depending on where you’re looking at it from.

In the most general sense, Barfleet is a national organization whose sole mission is to provide hospitality and throw parties at science fiction, gaming, and other genre-related conventions for adult convention attendees.  Our local chapters also throw several private functions each year that are open to all Barfleet members and their guests.

For members, Barfleet is a reason to throw a party; a group of friends that share similar interests; responsible drinking to excess; and a massive amount of somewhat enjoyable work to throw great parties for people you hardly know at various conventions.

For guests, Barfleet is a great time and great people; music, drinks, fun, and conversation; a place to hang out and meet other con-goers and the occasional Guest of Honor in a casual and friendly atmosphere; and a place where carefully controlled chaos and entertaining mixology come together in ways most small con “room parties” simply can’t match.

For convention organizers, Barfleet is a dedicated group of people whose sole mission at cons is to throw parties.  We’re professionals, and that’s how we handle our parties.  We go to great lengths to avoid hotel hassles, prevent property damage, proactively engage convention staff before and during our events, and make sure that our guests are both well entertained and reasonably safe.  We’ve been doing this for over 10 years, and we’ve gotten pretty good at it. 

For more, just ask.

Q.        What kind of convention parties do you guys throw?

A.        That also varies a bit.  Over the years, we’ve done everything from a single hospitality suite with a folding table as a bar to a full-blown night club with two built-in bars, dancers, and a live band.  It depends on what the venue has to offer, what resources and cash we can throw at it, and how many Barfleet crew members we can bring to help run things.  But at any Barfleet convention party, there are two constants:  There will be alcohol served, and all attendees must be over 21 years of age with proper government-issued photo ID.  Beyond that, we’re pretty much open to anything…within reason, and within local law.

Q.        I’ve heard you’re some kind of swingers group / lifestyle group / orgy club / etc.

A.        So have we, and we’re pretty damn amused every time. 

Barfleet is full of open-minded people, and we certainly have some members whose personal lifestyles are more interesting than most of the general public’s.  But that’s not who we are, and that’s not what we’re about.  The things we promote are entertainment, responsible drinking with proper recovery, and fun.  Our entertainment may involve some pretty interesting and mature elements, but we no more intend to be a swinger’s group than NASCAR intends to be a demolition derby.   

Q.        I hear I need to buy a cup / buy a raffle ticket / tip the bartenders to get into Barfleet parties.

A.        You certainly don’t have to do any of those things.  Barfleet parties are free to attend, and our drinks are free, too. 

BUT…these things cost us money, and we rarely have someone besides ourselves picking up the tab.  A typical “small” party might run us at least $1000, and the big ones can get obscenely expensive.  So we do what we can to get some of that cost back and try to break even.  Cup sales, raffle ticket sales, and bar tips all go back into the coffers so we can keep doing what we love doing:  throwing more parties.  Trust us; nobody is making money off of this.  But if you can’t afford to throw a few bucks our way, we understand.  We’ve been there, too.

But...there are exceptions to every rule.  We do throw some special events that require admission, but in those cases we will let you know exactly what you're getting into well in advance.  Those are typically Barfleet-only events, not held at a convention or not part of a larger event.  And of course, we always expect attendees of our convention parties to be badged members of the convention itself.

Q.        Why do your parties have all these frakking rules?

A.        For your safety and enjoyment, and for ours. 

(The rules in question will soon be linked here.)

Over the years, we’ve seen pretty much everything.  Every crowd has the potential to harbor morons, asshats, and dangerous individuals.  Our rules are there to minimize the danger should someone show up whose intentions are other than good.  We know that some of them seem draconian, but trust us:  every one has been needed at one time or another. 

Our job is to throw fun and safe parties for semi-responsible adults, not to provide an arena for the less savory sort of convention goers to prey upon others.  We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.  We’re just doing all the worrying so you don’t have to.

Q.        How do I join Barfleet?

A.        That’s easy…and not. 

Barfleet membership isn’t terribly exclusive, but it’s also not open to just anyone.  We have some standards and some requirements, and being a member of an all-volunteer group means that we expect more out of our members than the average fan group or gaming club.

Generally, we only consider members who are located geographically close to one of our chapters.  If you don’t live near an existing chapter, then you can either work towards getting one in your area or explain to us what contributions you can make without one. 

All Barfleet members must be over the age of 21.  There are dues paid to the local chapter, usually $20 per year, along with whatever other contributions you can make to our ongoing missions: labor, skills, or simply enthusiastic support.  There is also our semi-loose rank structure to consider, based primarily on Starfleet and the subject of much drinking and amusement during our more private parties.  More about this aspect can be found here (Barfleet Protocols link to be added later).

If you live near one of our chapters and want to join, you can either contact them directly or show up at a party they’re hosting and let the staff know you’re interested.

Q.        So how do I get a Barfleet chapter in my area?

A.        If you live in an area with some decent-sized conventions, or just some small ones that don't suck, contact us and we’ll talk.  If not, it may be a bit more problematic.  It’s hard to create a chapter of a group dedicated to throwing convention parties when there are no local conventions in the first place.

We are slowly expanding from our core area in the Midwest.  Our goal is to expand intelligently from the areas we’re already in.  We don’t think it would be wise or in our best interests to just start throwing chapters all over the country.  We would like new chapters to be within driving distance of existing chapters – 3 to 6 hours travel – in order to ensure consistency and provide proper guidance to new groups.  In other words, we don’t really expect to have a group on the west coast or in the southern states any time soon.

For more information, check the page here (Barfleet Chapter guidelines link to be added later).