So... here's what's been happening.
Yes, Spotters & Loaders should be scheduled ahead of time. With all my Meets, the loaders are paid and sorted, and they know they'll be getting paid. So, I usually don't have any issue with it. Judges are sorted ahead of time, and they know as well, that they'll get paid.
Apparently, 5 people were scheduled to Spot & Load on Saturday. None of them showed up. 3 judges were scheduled, 1 showed up.
Yes, this is full and well, Gene's issue. He should have called and confirmed and planned for it. That's what a Meet Director does. After the Meet, everyone, except for the Gym owner (and the two guys picking up the chairs), headed out. I can understand that, as they've paid $100 to compete, it was a long day, and as a customer, they can do that.
As most of you all saw, I jumped in to assist as well. Its part of what I do for RPS. Gene does not charge me for sanctioning the Meets I run. The payback, is that I help assist at the big New England Meets, without compensation. In two weeks, I'll be in NJ, sitting in a Judges chair all weekend, and then assisting with Clean-up. Gene pays for my Hotel room, and picks up food & Tolls. He's also compensating me the November Meet. I'll also be there until the venue is packed up and cleaned up.
There's been some talk of "Sponsor" gyms assisting at a Meet, and being recognized as a group assisting the Meet. Which is honestly how it should be. The NJ Meets, are sponsored by Jersey Iron. The Power Challenge up here, was sponsored by TPS (it's now being sponsored by a different gym). The VT/NH Meets are all sponsored by Fair Haven Fitness. It's that gyms responsibility to provided Spotters/Loaders.
I don't know the contract between the Crossfit GYm and Gene last weekend, but it's usually $1000-$1500 to rent the space and provide support. Again, dependent upon the contract they work out.
My Meets, the Venue gets the door fee (and Trev can attest, it's a packed house). That ranges from $800-$2000 depending on Spectators.
At this past Meet, I was there with Sabrina and the Boys, and the I-S crew. I felt I should stay and help Gene clean up, but honestly I'd been there since 7am, and my last Dead landed at 9pm or so. I was exhausted and simply wanted to get home. As it was, we didn't get to bed until nearly 11pm, because the batteries in our hotel room door died, and the poor girl at the front counter had no clue how to change them out. We were literally locked out of our room. She scared up a mechanical key, and was able to get us in, and get the batteries sorted.
In retrospect, if the I-S crew had stayed and all of us had given him a hand, the clean-up would have gone quick and Gene would have been in LaLa Land with I-S. Each of us had been through a long day, and I knew we were all smoked.
Small Secret here, I have my disagreements with Gene, with multiple reasons why. I had a boss years back, that told me two things. Part of my Job, is to make him look good. His job, is to get the next one. If I don't do mine, he can't do his. In this case, with all my Meets, I aim to make the Lifters first, so they enjoy it and want to do bigger RPS Meets. Same boss, also told me, it's not part of my job to like him. I don't follow Gene on Facebook. I do call and review with him on a regular basis. I was on the phone for an hour with him on Sunday evening.
There are changes coming to RPS, and it relates to very much this issue. Gene nearly landed in the ER on Saturday night because of exhaustion. Weekends like this one, put stress on his Marriage, and with everything involved, his doctor has been telling him to slow down for 2 years now.
If there's a Meet where I-S wants to get involved, the potential to have an I-S banner hanging behind the platform, could very well be available.
