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Add a bunch of event documentation
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# Beat Making
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Beat Making Sessions are a creative event format we’ve explored to give students a chance to unwind, make music, and learn something new — no programming required.
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We first hosted a session in **January 2023**, inviting students to come experiment with beat-making software in a relaxed, collaborative setting. 🔗 [View the event listing](https://ccss.carleton.ca/events/2022-2023/2023-01-25-beat-making-session/)
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## ⚠️ Things to Consider
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Our first run **wasn't heavily attended** — possibly due to scheduling conflicts or poor promotion.
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It is also worth noting that this format **requires** someone comfortable with beat-making software who can guide others
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# Game Night
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# Game Nights
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**Game Nights** are casual, on-campus events where students can hang out and play a variety of board games, card games, and party games. They’re a great way to relax, meet new people, and enjoy some screen-free fun.
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**NOTE**: We have a seperate documentation page for **External Game Nights** — which involve outings to places like The Loft Board Game Lounge.
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## 🧩 Games & Setup
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There are a few different ways we source games for these nights:
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- **Borrowing from the MacOdrum Library** — Carleton’s library has a board game collection available for students to borrow.
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- **Club Connections** — We’ve teamed up with other campus clubs (like board game or tabletop groups) to borrow additional games.
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- **Personal Collections** — Sometimes attendees or organizers bring their own games to share.
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It’s good to aim for a mix of quick, easy-to-learn games (like _Codenames_ or _Uno_) and longer strategy games (_Catan_, _Secret Hitler_, etc.) so there is something for everyone
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## ⚠️ Things to Consider
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Before running a Game Night, think about:
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### Timing within the term
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If an **External Game Night** (e.g., a Loft trip) is already planned for the same academic term, try to **space them out**. These two formats appeal to similar audiences and offer a similar vibe.
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### Timing with other board game events
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If other adjacent clubs are already hosting a game night, we should **avoid overlap** or schedule too closely to the existing events.
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Instead, we can look for ways to **collaborate** or space out events to keep interest high and avoid event fatigue.
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### Have someone capable of explaining games quickly
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Many board games are complex, and it is not fun for casual attendees to spend more time learning a game then actually playing it.
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### Game availability
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Make sure someone is responsible for gathering and returning any borrowed games.
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### Room setup
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Pick a room with moveable tables and chairs so groups can form naturally.
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# Movie Night
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# Movie Nights
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**Movie Nights** are a laid-back, on-campus way to bring students together for a relaxing evening of popcorn and film. They're a great low-effort format that works well as a social or wind-down event — especially during midterms or near the end of the term.
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## ⚠️ Things to Consider
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Before running a Movie Night, think about:
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### Content Appropriateness
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Make sure the movie is **appropriate for a wide audience**. Avoid films with excessive violence, explicit content, or potentially harmful stereotypes. When in doubt, opt for something PG-13 or lower, and look up community reviews or content warnings.
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### Audience Appeal
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Try to pick a movie people are **excited to see** — recent blockbusters or under-the-radar hits often perform better than classics that have been seen a dozen times.
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### Room & Equipment
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If possible, **book a lecture hall** for better acoustics, seating, and projection. Make sure A/V equipment is tested in advance — sound or resolution issues can quickly kill the experience.
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# Online Game Sessions
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**Online Game Sessions** are a fun and flexible way to connect students remotely. These events work well during breaks, off-terms, or when in-person gatherings aren’t possible.
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## ⚠️ Things to Consider
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### Game Accessibility
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- Choose games that are **free** or very affordable so everyone can participate.
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- Prioritize games that run in a **web browser** or have **low hardware requirements**.
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- Avoid games with large downloads or steep learning curves unless you're targeting a more niche audience.
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### Multiplayer Support
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- Pick games that are **designed for group play** (ideally 4+ players).
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- Avoid games that are mostly solo or have long wait times between turns.
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### Consider Scheduling On Breaks
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- We've found online events get better attendance during times in the year when students are not active on campus, like reading week.
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### No Hosting Required
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- Stick to games that offer **built-in online lobbies or matchmaking**.
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- If a game requires self-hosting (e.g., a Minecraft server or custom Codenames board), ensure someone on the team knows how to handle that reliably.
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### Group Size Flexibility
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- Have a few game options ready in case turnout is higher or lower than expected.
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- Choose games that scale well, or plan to split people into smaller lobbies if needed.
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# Paint Night
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# Paint Nights
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**Paint Night** is a relaxing, creative event where students can unwind and leave with their own painted masterpiece. It's low-pressure, low-tech, and a great way to encourage destressing — especially toward the end of the semester.
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## 🧩 How It Works
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- We **put on a Bob Ross video** (or another easy-to-follow painting tutorial).
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- We **provide paint, brushes, and canvases** for students to use.
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- Everyone follows along at their own pace — no experience needed!
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## ⚠️ Things to Consider
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### Timing in the Semester
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Paint Night tends to work best **later in the term** — around **November or March**, when students are looking for ways to unwind and take a break from academic stress.
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You could run this anytime in the semester, but it's worth noting that it's achieved decent attendance in what are normally dead zones for event participation.
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### Supply Costs
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- **Art supplies can get expensive**, so buying materials in bulk or looking for deals ahead of time is a good idea.
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- Consider **reusing leftover supplies** across multiple Paint Nights or similar arts-based events.
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### Cleanup
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- Paint can be messy. Be sure to **bring tablecloths or garbage bags** to cover tables and make cleanup easier.
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- Having **paper towels, wipes, and a few garbage bins** nearby also helps keep the space tidy.
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---
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Paint Night is easy to run and always appreciated. It’s a great way to add some color (literally) to your event lineup and give students a creative outlet.
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# Coffee Socials
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Coffee Socials are one of the simplest and most effective events we run — a casual gathering with free coffee, snacks, and good conversation.
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**Coffee Socials** are one of the simplest and most effective events we run — a casual gathering with free coffee, snacks, and good conversation. These events are perfect for building connections between students, staff, and faculty in a relaxed setting.
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## 📍 Location
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## 🧩 How It Works
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If you're hoping for staff and faculty to attend, it's **crucial** to host these events **close to where they work**. Proximity plays a big role in making it easy and worthwhile for professors and staff to stop by.
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- We set up a space on campus with **free coffee, tea, and snacks**.
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- Students and staff drop by, chat, and hang out — no speeches or presentations required.
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This is why we typically host these events in **Herzberg Laboratories (HP 5345)**.
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## ⚠️ Things to Consider
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## 🕛 Scheduling
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### Location
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We usually time Coffee Socials to overlap with **lunch breaks**. This makes it easier — and more enticing — for **professors and staff** to join in and engage with students.
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- **Proximity matters**: If you're hoping for professors or staff to attend, host the event **close to where they work**.
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- We typically use **Herzberg Laboratories (HP 5345)** because it’s near most faculty offices and familiar to CS students.
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### Scheduling
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- **Overlap with staff lunch breaks** — this makes it much easier for staff and faculty to casually attend without rearranging their schedules.
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- Avoid peak class times so that students are more likely to drop by.
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### Room Setup
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- If no effort is made, students will crowd around the entrance of small spaces like HP 5345. Consider setting up the tables in such a way it encourages students to go further into the room.

docs/initiatives/events/cs-and-society-lecture.md

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The CS & Society Lecture is an annual event hosted by the Carleton Computer Science Society (CCSS) in collaboration with the **School of Computer Science (SCS)**. The goal of this lecture is to explore the broader impact of computing on society.
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## 🤝 Finding Speakers
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## 🧩 Finding Speakers
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This event is made possible through ongoing support from the School of Computer Science. In particular, **Michel Barbeau**, Director of SCS, has regularly helped identify and recommend potential guest speakers for the lecture.
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# Game Night
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# External Game Nights
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**External Game Nights** are off-campus social outings where students gather to play board games at local board game cafés. They offer a fun, relaxed environment to socialize, try new games, and take a break from school.
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In the past, we've hosted events at venues like **The Loft Board Game Lounge** and **Level One**.
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## 🧩 How It Works
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- We **call the venue in advance** to reserve a block of seats for a specific time.
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- We **create a ticket** on our Shopify store that students can purchase to claim one of the reserved seats.
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- On the day of the event, we **commute as a group** to the location and spend the evening playing games and hanging out.
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## ⚠️ Things to Consider
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### Group Dynamics & Game Selection
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- Start with **quick, casual games** — people may arrive at different times, so easier games allow for flexible group sizes and quick swaps.
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- Choose **simple, easy-to-learn games** to minimize explanation time and get people playing quickly.
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- Take advantage of **staff at venues like The Loft or Level One** — they can explain rules and recommend games for your group.
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### Managing Payments
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- Attendees are typically responsible for their own food and drink orders.
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- **Watch for walkouts** — we've had issues in the past with students forgetting (or neglecting) to pay their tabs. If you see someone heading out, it's okay to **kindly confirm** they’ve paid.
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### Communication & Coordination
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- Let students know the plan: where to meet, what time via our website or event poster.
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- Assign someone from the exec team to arrive at the venue before the main group to confirm / setup the section we've reserved.
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- Assign someone from the exec team to **keep track of tickets and headcount**, and to check in with staff at the venue upon arrival.
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# Hiking
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# Hiking Trips
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**Hiking trips** are a great way to get outdoors, take a break from screens, and enjoy nature with other students. These events are simple to organize and can work well as casual, low-cost outings — especially in early fall or late spring.
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## 🧩 How It Works
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- Pick a **local trail or conservation area** that’s beginner-friendly and transit-accessible or carpool-friendly.
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- Promote the hike in advance with clear details on **meeting points, time, and what to bring**.
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- On the day of, gather as a group and hit the trail together!
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## ⚠️ Things to Consider
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### Water & Supplies
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- **Remind attendees to bring water** and wear appropriate footwear.
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- It’s a good idea to **bring a few extra bottles of water** just in case someone forgets.
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### Weather & Backup Plans
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- Keep an eye on the **weather forecast** leading up to the hike.
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- Have a **backup plan** in case of rain or extreme weather
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### Trail Safety
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- Choose trails with **low difficulty** unless you're specifically targeting a more experienced group.
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- Make sure someone has **cell service and a basic first aid kit**, especially for longer trails.
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- It helps to have one or two people who are familiar with the route ahead of time.
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---
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Hiking events are easy to run and offer a much-needed change of pace for students. With a bit of planning and good weather, they’re always a hit.
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# Laser Tag
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**Laser Tag** is one of our most active and high-energy event formats. It’s a great way for students to blow off steam, compete in teams, and bond in a fun, off-campus environment.
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We typically host this event at **LaserMaxx Ottawa**, a local laser tag venue with a large arena and great group rates.
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## 🧩 How It Works
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- We **call LaserMaxx in advance** to reserve a block of game slots for our group.
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- We **create a ticket** on our Shopify store so students can buy in and reserve a spot.
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Depending on group size and venue availability, we may split into multiple teams or rotate rounds.
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## ⚠️ Things to Consider
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### Booking & Communication
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- Reserve **well in advance** — LaserMaxx can fill up quickly during evenings and weekends.
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- Communicate clearly about **meeting points, what to bring**, and what’s included with the ticket (e.g., how many games, whether snacks/drinks are available at the venue).
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### Arrival & Coordination
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- Arrive early to check in, collect waivers if needed, and get organized before game time.
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- Designate someone to **track ticket holders**, confirm attendance, and act as the main point of contact with the venue.

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