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<blockquote data-quote="Reynard" data-source="post: 7626687" data-attributes="member: 467"><p>Lots of good advice about types of games to run, so I won't rehash that. But I have run a lot of public D&D, at cons and game stores and bars, and here are some things to remember:</p><p></p><p>Use your stage voice. Convention halls and breweries are LOUD places and you will want to be heard without having the scream the whole time. Speak from your diaphragm. If you have never used stage or public speaking techniques before, look them up. it's easy but might feel weird at first.</p><p></p><p>Check in visually with all your players regularly. I always stand when I run public games because it keeps me from getting lost in my notes behind the screen. Plus, if you are standing and they are sitting, it raises their attention up toward you. You will be able to tell who is looking at their phone or trying to figure out what their character sheet means or whatever. Since these will be random folks at first, you need to stay on top of their responses to the game.</p><p></p><p>Which leads into this-- be prepared to adjust things on the fly to keep the game going and keep everyone engaged. These folks sat down for a length of time to be entertained. It's your job, much more so than at your home game, to entertain them. Treat it as such.</p><p></p><p>A final thing to consider: if you are doing this for free, ask yourself why. Are you doing it to have a game to run? It doesn't sound like it. Are you doing it to expand your pool of regular players? Are you doing it just for the pure joy of running D&D? Are you doing it to hone your skills? OR are you doing it for the benefit of the brewery? As D&D becomes a thing people see as legitimate entertainment, DM's are being treated like artists asked to "work for exposure" more and more. If what you are doing is primarily to put money in someone else's pocket, consider asking for appropriate compensation (even if it is just a complementary growler). DMing is hard. DMing in public for strangers is harder. DMs should value their effort. The guys that umpire my kids baseball games make $60 for a couple hours work doing something they love. Why shouldn't you?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Reynard, post: 7626687, member: 467"] Lots of good advice about types of games to run, so I won't rehash that. But I have run a lot of public D&D, at cons and game stores and bars, and here are some things to remember: Use your stage voice. Convention halls and breweries are LOUD places and you will want to be heard without having the scream the whole time. Speak from your diaphragm. If you have never used stage or public speaking techniques before, look them up. it's easy but might feel weird at first. Check in visually with all your players regularly. I always stand when I run public games because it keeps me from getting lost in my notes behind the screen. Plus, if you are standing and they are sitting, it raises their attention up toward you. You will be able to tell who is looking at their phone or trying to figure out what their character sheet means or whatever. Since these will be random folks at first, you need to stay on top of their responses to the game. Which leads into this-- be prepared to adjust things on the fly to keep the game going and keep everyone engaged. These folks sat down for a length of time to be entertained. It's your job, much more so than at your home game, to entertain them. Treat it as such. A final thing to consider: if you are doing this for free, ask yourself why. Are you doing it to have a game to run? It doesn't sound like it. Are you doing it to expand your pool of regular players? Are you doing it just for the pure joy of running D&D? Are you doing it to hone your skills? OR are you doing it for the benefit of the brewery? As D&D becomes a thing people see as legitimate entertainment, DM's are being treated like artists asked to "work for exposure" more and more. If what you are doing is primarily to put money in someone else's pocket, consider asking for appropriate compensation (even if it is just a complementary growler). DMing is hard. DMing in public for strangers is harder. DMs should value their effort. The guys that umpire my kids baseball games make $60 for a couple hours work doing something they love. Why shouldn't you? [/QUOTE]
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