Poor Communication Plagued Gathering

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

As I understand it, there was a great deal of concern that if The Gathering was widely advertised in Scotland locals might choose to attend the Edinburgh event over other, local events. Since most local events are on the ragged edge somewhere between success and failure, even a 10% drop in attendance could wipe some of them off the map. Sensitive to the political fall-out ff this was to happen, the organizers (wisely, in my opinion) puled back on local advertising.

Had The Gathering been heavily advertised in Scotland, and if this advertising had been to the detriment of one or two local games, I'm sure there would have been a much bigger row.

(My error-- I had originally written "Homecoming" when I meant "Gathering".

[Jock Scot]

As I understand it, there was a great deal of concern that if the Homecoming was widely advertised in Scotland locals might choose to attend the Edinburgh event over other, local events. Since most local events are on the ragged edge somewhere between success and failure, even a 10% drop in attendance could wipe some of them off the map. Sensitive to the political fall-out ff this was to happen, the organizers (wisely, in my opinion) puled back on local advertising.

Had the Homecoming been heavily advertised in Scotland, and if this advertising had been to the detriment of one or two local games, I'm sure there would have been a much bigger row.

An interesting point there MoR that does indeed hold water, except, until now I have never heard that point of view voiced before. It may have been for sure and I just have not heard it, but-------

[ThistleDown]

Keep in mind that The Year of Homecoming and The Gathering were two entirely different ventures. The first was a publicity effort by Visit Scotland and simply promoted national tourism. It was therefore no different than any other publicly-funded tourism campaign and was as successful as it could possibly be in such a world-wide disastrous economic year.

The Gathering was a private venture that used The Year of Homecoming to further its own ends. Jamie Semple's mission was not to benefit tourism or assist the locals in any way; it was to produce a personal profit. Scots were not generally informed about what was to take place because Semple wanted offshore visitors, not locals, to purchase his product. They did. For those who attended it was successful in that they enjoyed themselves. Semple's bad management of his venture has, unfortunately, included several dips into the public purse and financial damage to small and larger businesses and not-for-profit organisations alike.

Regardless, let's not confuse his failed and costly venture with the successful tourism campaigns of Visit Scotland, Historic Scotland, National Trust and others.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Scots were not generally informed about what was to take place because Semple wanted offshore visitors, not locals, to purchase his product.

Rex, my apologies for having confused The Homecoming with The Gathering in my earlier post.

Not wising to argue with you at all, but it would seem to me that Jamie Semple couldn't have cared less who came to The Gathering, as long as the gate was sufficient to cover all costs and, if possible, turn a profit. That being the case I can't imagine not advertising locally, but I suspect that lack of advertising may have been one of the reasons why The Gathering ended up in the red.

[McClef]

I would think it also likely that the costs of the "passports" would have put a lot of people off to begin with.

[Jock Scot]

I would think it also likely that the costs of the "passports" would have put a lot of people off to begin with.

As "we" did not know about the event then "we" were hardly given the choice.

[McClef]

Of course Jock but for many of those that did know I am sure that would have been a reason.

[Jock Scot]

Of course Jock but for many of those that did know I am sure that would have been a reason.

Could well be Trefor, can you recall how much they cost and just what that actually bought?

[ThistleDown]

Rex, my apologies for having confused The Homecoming with The Gathering in my earlier post.

Not wising to argue with you at all, but it would seem to me that Jamie Semple couldn't have cared less who came to The Gathering, as long as the gate was sufficient to cover all costs and, if possible, turn a profit. That being the case I can't imagine not advertising locally, but I suspect that lack of advertising may have been one of the reasons why The Gathering ended up in the red.

Yes, of course, Scott, but having the locals there was never in the plan. Lord Semple's Gathering group attached itself to the Year of Homecoming and focused on bringing even more tourists in than would otherwise be there that year. In that he was successful.

It was forecast that there would be ten to fifteen thousand in attendance on day one; on day two there would be slightly more because some Edinburgh folk might make it an outing. It was implied but never said out of committee that (1) Scots would not pay the tariff (the "passport" required to walk up the Royal Mile on the Saturday evening and wave to the locals on the sidelines was USD100), and (2) Scots were unlikely to do more than snicker at the Brigadoonism that was bound to take place (and perhaps even be encouraged).

The gate count on day one was something well over twenty thousand and, on day two, even greater. There could hardly have been more in the grand parade up the Royal Mile.

In other words -- and I doubt we will ever know for certain -- revenues quite probably exceeded expectations. It's to the expense lines that sharp looks should be given, and no doubt are.

Spin-off revenues to the businesses of Edinburgh were quite likely as high as has been stated although it is equally unlikely that the rest of the country experienced anything similar. It needs to be remembered that tourism in 2009 tumbled in Scotland, as elsewhere, because of the world-wide recession. It may well have fallen even further, despite the efforts of Homecoming, were it not for Jamie Semple's Gathering.

The Gathering was a private enterprise venture intended to produce a profit for the principals. Its purpose was not to benefit the local economy or to include locals any more than would any other tourist event. Those of us who were involved had that involvement thrust on us.

Lord Semple convinced the clan associations -- mainly those domiciled in America -- to attend in number because this was to be the gathering of a life-time. Those associations, in turn, convinced some (but far from all) of the chiefs to dust themselves off, buy new feathers and come out of their closets for the occasion. There were chiefs who rebelled at the beginning but, as the wave approached, even they were forced to be there or to send their representatives.

In the end there were so many chiefs committed that they were able to assemble their own gathering -- the largest ever held -- to discuss issues of commonality, draw some conclusions and make some decisions for the future.

There was much that was good in Lord Semple's Gathering and certainly there were benefits to Scotland from increased revenues. The exceptionally poor management of the expense lines and whether the nation should have to bail out the venture or those to whom monies are owed is a very complex problem. When the leaders of the financial world are paid enormous sums for consultancy at the same time as their institutions are receiving vast sums of public money who's to say that Lord Semple shouldn't think of himself and his Group as just another collection of snouts at the trough.

But on the subject of poor communication, informing the Scottish population was never part of the plan for this Gathering.

[mookien]

Gentlefolk: I heard a lot about the Gathering and was invited to go along with some Douglas Clan members from California. I was not able to participate, but my brother went and from all reports it appears that they had a fantastic time. They veritably wallowed in Scottish history and culture, not to mention the pints, drams, and haggis consumed.

They stayed in a large house in the country and, later, I asked my brother how they got their food. His reply was, "We did what all good Scots do - hunted the King's deer and slaughtered a few heeland coos."

My ignorant/naive question is "Why didn't Scottish authorities require the promoters/developers to post insurance bonds against possible financial distress, so that local contractors could recover at least some of their costs in the event of financial disaster?"

I realize this question in posed with the benefit of 20:20 hindsight, but certainly experienced organizers would have considered this option. Or, am I wrong?