Camp TBT vs TBT Fair

[Alolan_Apples]

While the camp activities are going on, I have a question for all. What summer events do you like better? Camp TBT, or the TBT Fair? I also included a third option in case if you preferred Clash of the New Leaves from 2013, the TBT Beach Party from 2014, and the Fire Festival from 2015 over the modern summer events (I’m not sure if anyone misses these events, but I threw them in just in case).

While I liked the concept behind Camp TBT, I still think the TBT Fair is better. Having animated collectible awards and actual traditional contests was what made the TBT Fair more fun.

 

[LateGamer]

I just voted for the camp because that is all I have experienced, lol! So feel free to dismiss my vote.

 

[Millysaurusrexjr]

I love the team spirit aspect of Camp TBT but I think I love the TBT Fair more... there's just so much to do in the fair and in addition to collectibles there are physical prizes which is cool! I always go for the stickers

Both events are very memorable though!

 

[kikotoot]

I voted fair, but truthfully it's very close! I think it depends on my mood quite a bit tbh, but both are incredibly fun. The fair really does feel like a big event, which is always fantastic, and the effort put into each fair is palpable and feeds that wide-eyed excitement. I love camps because you really do get to socialize amongst your team/cabin/crew really well, and the team spirit is something special to those events. I think what edges the fair past camp for me a bit is, I'm a very big team guy, so team events inevitably get more energy from me from that sense of "For the team!". It's a little harder to rest during camps but that does make their culmination that much more euphoric ️

 

[Chris]

I might be biased but I like both equally.

TBT Fair is a classic - it's our biggest event and the concept predates my 9 years on the staff. The reason we decided to alternate between the two events each year is because the TBT Fair results in too much burnout to run annually. It's a lot of strain on our artists, our event hosts, and everyone who helps with picking staff favourites for 15-20 events. We thought of some changes to reduce staff workload, but it was too different from the core concept and took away the essence of what makes the TBT Fair what it is. But we really needed more time between each TBT Fair for us to feel excited about it again rather than dreading the workload (which is how much of the team felt when we came to discuss running a TBT Fair in 2021). So we approached the design for Camp TBT in a way that would ensure it would be easier to coordinate, run, and wrap-up than the TBT Fair. We had been discussing how to organise team events for years and trialled the concept in May 2021 with the TBT World Championships to be sure we were confident in committing to making Camp a reality.

Camp TBT won't ever replace the TBT Fair, it's not designed to do that, but I will say I do enjoy the community aspect. A big pro for us is that Camp TBT gives us the opportunity to get to know users better as individuals and vice versa. Often we're too busy running the event to socialise much. I regret that the summer of homelessness™ while waiting on the mortgage for our house to be sorted is getting in the way of me being able to fully immerse myself in Camp this year!

 

[Aerith]

I really liked last year's Fair because its theme resonated with me a lot, and the physical prize I received (the letter and stickers) gave me the warm fuzzies. But I much prefer a more cooperative forum event because that's what forums are all about, so I voted Camp

 

[Alolan_Apples]

I might be biased but I like both equally.

TBT Fair is a classic - it's our biggest event and the concept predates my 9 years on the staff. The reason we decided to alternate between the two events each year is because the TBT Fair results in too much burnout to run annually. It's a lot of strain on our artists, our event hosts, and everyone who helps with picking staff favourites for 15-20 events. We thought of some changes to reduce staff load, but it was too different from the core concept and took away the essence of what makes the TBT Fair what it is. But we really needed more time between each TBT Fair for us to feel excited about it again rather than dreading the workload (which is how much of the team felt when we came to discuss running a TBT Fair in 2021). So we approached the design for Camp TBT in a way that would ensure it would be easier to coordinate, run, and wrap-up than the TBT Fair. We had been discussing how to organise team events for years and trialled the concept in May 2021 with the TBT World Championships to be sure we were confident in committing to making Camp a reality.

I know another event that takes a lot of moderator energy - Spin the Wheel, from 2013’s TBT Fair. Despite these 12 Days of Christmas raffles, we haven’t had a Spin the Wheel event in almost 10 years, longer than I have been a member.

 

[magicaldonkey]

not participated in a recent fair - i don't remember if i did anything besides get a raffle ticket ( and win ;o; ) for the fresh feather in 2017!! so i reckon for the time being it's the camp TBT. anything with team stuff's rad rad!! i think i had a gander at the fair last year and it did look pretty cool beans

 

[Lancelot]

I voted fair because I feel like everyone’s a lot more trolly and I meet lots of people I probably wouldn’t have met otherwise, but the fair is a classic

 

[idiotdoomspiral]

My preference depends on how active i am on tbt the time i think. Being more sociable with the community id go w camp tbt, on the other hand the fair is more of a at-my-own-pace and free-for-all kinda thing

 

[digimon]

i really really wish i could vote both LOL i love both events for different reasons. i always look forward to any tbt event, but something about summertime events hits differently!

 

[Mistreil]

Both events are a lot of fun from my end, but I'm pretty biased towards more chaotic things, so... april fools events I tend to like team based events more!

From a participant side, TBTWC was super fun and probably when I was the most active on the forums, or it certainly felt that way. On the staff end, team-based events are fun to plan and experiment with -- we can try a lot of different things that we aren't normally able to do with solo events! It's a lot of fun watching how different teams collaborate.

on the other hand, as someone who tends to prefer individual work over group work in general, i totally feel for people that don't like team events as much. but im here to make you all suffer, so...

 

[Foreverfox]

I feel the same, I wish I could vote both. I like camp and the fair for different reasons, but I voted the fair because I tend to like the themes slightly better. Last fair had me ENCHANTED. It was my absolute favorite possible theme ever.

 

[Snek]

I like both but I like Camp TBT a little more. I think its because you are on a team and that aspect draws me in more than the fairs. Team based events are also more exciting because of the chaos and uncertainty that it brings. A team in first place at the start of a team based event can finish last place. That being said, both are great and bring out my creative side thats usually dormant.

 

[Ichiban]

honestly camp is better, never really feel like participating in fairs while camp has a group aspect which introduces you to new people, i made a few good friends in the last camp and you just don't get that with the solo nature of the fair

 

[dino]

i love that this is so perfectly balanced, hahaha

i love camp more, just because it's fun to be in a team with folks and takes some of the pressure off performing well individually, and i love seeing what teams come up with. our collective might is so great!!

 

[Chris]

on the other hand, as someone who tends to prefer individual work over group work in general, i totally feel for people that don't like team events as much. but im here to make you all suffer, so...

That was not in the role description, @Mistreil!

 

[Goldi Locks]

I can't say I know much about either of these things, but I really wish I could turn this space theme off. It's giving me a bad time.

 

[Midoriya]

The Fair for sure! I like being in control of my own results in something like that, plus there's something just magical about TBT Fairs in general. Camp is okay, but definitely not my favorite.

 

[NebulaNights]

I personally like both, but if I really had to choose one over the other, the TBT Fair gets my vote. Doing group things is fun, but sometimes it can be stressing too.