Gather a dozen pilots around you and ask what they like or don't like about balloon events and you are likely to get a dozen different answers. To gather information for this report, Balloon Life accessed one of the fastest growing grapevines in the sport-a balloon mailing list on the Internet. Our thanks to all who posted comments via e-mail. What follows is a summation of those responses.
By and large the most common response received to the question what would you like to see changed about balloon festivals was, in two words, less alcohol, or more appropriately, more non-alcoholic refreshments. Perhaps this is a sign of the times of our more health conscious society. Perhaps it is a sign that as the median age of pilots in the sport gets older we can no longer drink as we did in our youth. Perhaps it is also a reflection of the fact that festivals are today more than ever, family oriented events. Whatever the reason, many pilots and crew mentioned this as a top request, if not for themselves, then for the members of their family.
Another common request was for a standardized entry form. Arlene Osborne put it best. "I am frustrated with every festival or rally asking the same thing, what was your most interesting flight? It would be terrific if you could e-mail one form to a centralized place where it could be kept on file."
Recognition, participation and perks for crew was a popular theme among our respondents. One pilot suggested "cheaper rates or better yet a free room for the crew," noting that he had been to two festivals which actually provide two rooms for each pilot. Others wanted to see more events for the crew, like Pat Moore. "I would like to see more organized events for the crews and recognition of the job they do. I crewed for five year and the recognition at rallies is poor at best. Now that I am a pilot, my appreciation for my crew is very high, especially for those that travel to events with me."
Thomas Bowley of Windsor, Connecticut took that thought a step further. "More activities between flights for the crew would be desirable. Frequently you travel long distances and have minimal knowledge of the area surrounding the festival. To go and sit in a hotel room is not a lot of fun," said Bowley suggesting that organizers might provide more information about attractions in or around the festival location. Over zealous or uninformed security personnel drew the wrath of several pilots. David Buckingham wrote, "One of my big peeves is the police or who ever is directing traffic after the launch. These people need to know that the chase crews take precedence over spectators trying to leave! I've had my crew held up for 5-10 minutes while traffic directors allowed spectators out."
Dan McDonald took the issue a step further. "I'd like not to have to fight my way through an army of rental Nazis and self-important weekend volunteers to get my balloon and my crew onto the field. Give somebody a t-shirt and a radio and suddenly they're the Spanish Inquisition. "Crew passes, vehicle passes, porta-john passes; the whole mess irks me. It's hard enough to get people to crew and a festival should be a good time for them, not an endless hassle of Ôwhere's your wristband.'" Of course, for every opinion there is an opposite opinion as one pilot responded that he actually liked the laminated badges many events now use because they make good souvenirs!
Other comments received included better maps, more tables and chairs at social events and eliminating organizers as additional insured. Finally one pilot, whose name shall remain anonymous to protect the innocent, summed up the entire issue of the changing face of balloon festivals with this note:
"Ballooning used to be for single men only (or maybe a married man wanting to think he was single for a while) and then some of us brought our dogs along. Ballooning meets all of a sudden have become a family affair. Maybe we should regroup, as Las Vegas has, and devote much of our attention to all the members of the family!"