Marathon Planning and feels

With Marathon 1 behind us I can look back at what was done and see how I can improve, what didn't work, and how soon can we do it again.

Marathon Planning is no joke.

The Marathon we just did was in the planning for a couple of months; every time a new idea came to me I would write it down onto my mess of a paper pile I keep on my desk. I wanted to start grand! I wanted to be able to reward our amazing community! I mean we just hit 1k followers, How could I marathon like I have never marathoned before.

For Starters I started looking around at what amazing places would be able to chip in, help with the giveaways and such because that’s expensive. So I got to planning. My first thought is I have to sit there for 12 hours what am I going to play? So I picked one game for myself, that’s what I was going to start with. But I wanted to leave it up to those who donated to Extra Life to have more control over the stream. I mean they are already heroes right? Let them choose what the next game was. And if no one donated well I get to play my game all day. Win/win.

Games: Check

Now I've given them a small incentive to donate to extra life...hmm..Wasn’t good enough for me...I need to do more... So I scratched my head and tried to find cost effective ways that when people donated I can send them a personalized thank you but something that won’t break the bank. So I created a Reward/gift system. The more they donate the more I thank them.

Gifts: Check

Ahh damn still not enough...somethings missing...Events! Let’s make check points so as the community works together we have quests! I love quests! I sat there and created different events we could unlock throughout the stream to help push us forward.

Events: Check!

Ok Ok I think that will do. Now how do I get people to show up? Oh crap. What if I throw together this big ol planned marathon and no one can make it that day?

People: ???

So after all that planning, I needed more planning. Planning if people show up what do I do? I used this scenario to make sure my bot was ready so I wouldn't sound like a broken record. Let the bot explain over and over what we are doing today. Then I started to think well what if no one shows up? Surprisingly this did not put me in a funk. Because so what if no one shows up, I got the game I want to play and I am going to enjoy myself with my window open and if someone trickles in, just like every other day yay I have someone to keep me company.

Because at the end of the day it’s not about how much you raised, it's about how you feel about it. Did you have fun? Did you meet new people or hang out with friends? Did you enjoy the heck out of your game(s)?

I get past all that and start up the stream, I’m still thinking I picked a bad day and if I get any donations for extra life it’s going to be a family member who feels bad for me. Hey good news is, if we don’t hit our goal I get a nice hair cut from my favorite local barber.

Did the games I played affect the audience, Yes Very much? The whole marathon there was a core group of people who were sticking through it with me no matter what. Then there were the people who were there for certain games. Once that games time was up they got bored and left. I can understand, If I showed up to the theater and they are showing a superhero flick I’m in, then it changes midway to a horror flick I’m out. I came for capes not blood and sorrow.

I could tell my emotions took a toll on the crowd at times too, certain games my excitement started to dwindle as time went on. I'm trying to smile but this game just isn’t my cup of tea, people can smell that. Why isn’t he excited? I dunno just not in the mood to do this? Luckily I limited each game to max of an hour so right when I was getting to that "Why am I still doing this point" New game!

Giveaways: They are fun; is there going to be that one person who wins and runs? Always. But were there those amazing people who support you winning the stuff and smiling. You bet!

Events: Events were a lot of fun; I hoped others enjoyed them as well. But just like game changes, it turned some people off. They stopped in to watch us punch people in the face. When that stopped for a man wearing makeup or a head shaving some people were out. And that’s ok. If they want to punch faces again hopefully they will return.

The stream was a huge success and I was not expecting it all. Let me tell you why I felt like it was a huge success. For 12 hours I had a blast, my day flew by. We had tons of fun, played a lot of games and I couldn't have asked for more. You want numbers? Meh that’s not what’s important. Did we help Extra Life, yup. We were there, we were showing the world who we are and what we are about. That’s priceless. Did we recruit so and so members? I have no idea. Did we meet some hospitals dream goals? I have no idea either. We tried and had a lot of fun. That’s Success. You make your own success. Don't let numbers weigh you down.

I remember my first Extra Life Marathon, what’s funny is you won’t. lol. I tossed up the stream feeling the same way I did about this last one. "Oh man what’s going to happen?" My friends and I played Destiny all day. My family donated to Extra Life for me to support my efforts. My friends that were playing with me and like 2 family members had my stream up. I got excited if my stream went over 4 viewer’s cuz anything over that was someone completely new! Was that stream a success? You bet! I had a blast and I let the world know what I was trying to do!

The most important thought: Never forget why your marathoning in the first place.

Why are you doing this? Check

Never Give up, pave your way to your own success. (Insert Cat Poster Here)