Whats with the guestlist and the entry fee, people?
Its starting to feel a little less open and friendly and a little more...
cliquey?

I will be honest.. I am not sure I like the direction the meet-ups are going in.
But hey - that's just my opinion.

The guestlist is there to ensure only Expat in Turkey members and their bona fide guests get in. Given the fact that one of the admins was almost assaulted at one venue when some undesirables tried to gain entry it is a necessary precaution.

Regards the 10YTL entry charge... have a look here Message from the management

JF

understood. and I read the management message. It makes sense to need an entrance fee and such
I guess I am just a little uncomfortable with it..
not sure why..
will have to sort that out on my own.

cheers John

come on Banana, the party wont be the same without your presence

We've nearly always had a guestlist -(i.e. EiT people only in our party area) just not one in advance. That's necessary for the payment side of things as we can't take money on the door. Need the money - so that forms the guestlist.

flattery will get you everywhere starman hahah
oh i am sure i will come out
its just that my friends never plan that far ahead ... and so when i ask if they want to come... they hemmm and hahhhhh
and then you say that there is a 10ytl cover.. and they get all weird about it
and i end up getting stuck with a bill for more than mine
ok
i am being whingy and annoying today
maybe bc the sun is out and i am stuck inside with demon 15 year olds..
arghh
anyways - thanks for sorting me out
see you later

Know what you mean (about the planning and paying for people who are a no-show...not the demon children).
People hate to plan, are more often than not tightarses, unreliable and don't appreciate your efforts! That's why they need friends like you!

what are you talking about charly?
i RARELY bring anyone with me
... maybe i am scared of introducing them to you people...
the dark side of banana's social life hahaah

Gonna have to questıon thıs lıke banana here as well. I'm not a tıght bastard and certaınly wouldn't mıss 10 YTL but just because people say they are wıllıng to pay doesn't mean you have to charge does ıt? If I'm not mıstaken thıs bar doesn't charge entrance normally and I'm happy to sacrıfıce wearıng a name badge ıf they cost too much! I thınk what Banana ıs perhaps sayıng, and I suppose ı am as well, ıs what ıs the 10YTL for?

Havıng saıd that, I'll be there cos ıt sounds alrıght!

wow ... did ian rice just get my back there?
haha
ya.. I guess that is what i am trying to say - and then..
also i guess i there is the feeling that i am paying to enter bc it is some sort of exclusive social club
that being said..
like ian.. i will come anyways...
am just raising an eyebrow
thats all.

Okey dokey, you've got every right to question it if you want, thats what a Forum is for.

We are charging 10YTL in an attempt to offset the cost of Expat in Turkey as a whole. The time and expense involved has got to the point where we can no longer just pay for it out of our own pockets (i.e. Steve, Carlo and me) which we have been doing since day one.

The money we made from the Boat Party last year ran out about 10th October if I remember correctly, the majority of that going on hosting charges etc. I haven't checked the stats for a few days, but our monthly hit rate is now measured in millions, as opposed to the paltry few thousand a month in the old days.

You could then say "but what do I actually get for my 10YTL?".

Answer: You've got it now... the entry fee at the parties is being used to pay for this forum.

We are also paying someone to do a lot of the running about that's needed before a monthly meet up, trust me, they don't happen by themselves and are bloody hard work to organise sometimes.

I could prattle on for ever about this stuff, but I wont.

It's up to the individual; if they think the site and the parties are worth coming to and feel that 10YTL is fair then cool... everyones happy.

If you've got a problem with paying 10YTL to go to one of the meet ups, then my answer there is don't come. You do have a choice... Irrespective, you will still be welcome on here, whether you have helped towards the running costs or not. This forum will always be free of advertising and free to use.

JF

I invited 3 friends to the last party and they were more than happy to pay 10 YTL each for the opportunity to party with us. Most bars/dance clubs have an entry fee so I think it's normal to pay something to get in. Add to that the fact that it goes to offset the costs of this forum and also keeps any non-EiT people (read: creepy, scary weirdos) out of our parties, and I'm all for it! And no, I'm not talking about Maymunn...

My two-cents'...

For me, a 10 ytl cover, even if the venue is normally free, is totally cool, especially if it's paying for the costs of this forum and stuff. What does not work for me, personally, is the rsvp in advance -- my friday nights just don't jive well with advance commitments.

But the way I see it, this forum has become big enough over the past year that now it's got something for everyone. If planning ahead on Friday nights doesn't work for you (as it doesn't for me), don't go to the parties, and use the forum for something else (like playing football -- we need players this weekend, anyone, anyone, bueller, bueller?).

That's a mark of a really good community, when it can sustain different activities for different constituencies, without 100% crossover amongst them.

--Matt

You think we would turn you away?

Come on folks, we do use a bit of common sense when it comes to members turning up who are not on the list...

JF

Oh, okay, cool, now I'm not so intimidated by that button that says "Book Your Place Now" (or whatever it says). Won't be able to make it this evening anyway, but now I don't feel like a deer in the headlights!

Matt