Cecil Harvey (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
paladinlost) wrote2016-07-25 05:21 pm
paladinlost) wrote2016-07-25 05:21 pm
Entry tags:
Voicemail/Inbox
...No, Rosie, I hardly need to say more-"
...No, Rosie, I hardly need to say more-"
...No, Rosie, I hardly need to say more-"
...No, Rosie, I hardly need to say more-"
Text so Cecil can respond at his leisure whenever.
I was wondering if I could ask you some questions about running an Aurora League gym. I'm familiar with the application process and getting the construction started (my own application was recently accepted) but I was wondering if you have any advice for a gym leader to be? Things you may have underestimated when you started off yourself, or things to keep in mind. Anything would be appreciated.
Yours in gratitude,
Armin
Sent at an ungodly hour of the night aka during gym business hours
First of all, congratulations! Designing your gym and waiting for the league's response is, frankly, the most nerve-wracking step in the whole process. What will follow should be a far simpler task!
I do, as a matter of fact, have a few bits of advice to offer, though you may find some of them torturous and unpleasant at first. They are as follows:
1. FILL ALL YOUR PAPERWORK AS PRECISELY AS POSSIBLE AND IN A TIMELY MANNER. You'll thank me later. This is especially important when it comes to expenses that need to be reimbursed. Keep all receipts, separate those purchases from any personal items, and do not wait more than a day before sending them to the League accountants.
2. Becoming a gym leader makes you a public figure, as far as the locals are concerned. This will grant you a certain measure of respect, but also leaving open to their comments and judgements. Behave irreproachably when you are out and about, and make sure to be seen playing an active and positive role in the local community. Any form of charity they cannot witness will not count in their minds.
3. Unprepared beginners will attempt to challenge you, no matter how many warnings you may put in place. It's best to have a gentle but encouraging refusal speech ready, especially if you fear for their Pokémon's safety. As that might still not suffice, a medical kit on the premises is essential, as are a few snacks to soothe their disapointment.
4. Bring a book. Every gym has its slow days.
5. Your Pokémon that are too young for gym battles or that are not adapted to your format may become jealous of their teammates. Be sure to dedicate some time to their training outside of work hours, or give them tasks to accomplish around the gym while you battle. (I tend to put my little ones on garden path-clearing duty. No visitor has yet slipped on a stray leaf!)
6. If you have a specific theme, lean into it. Make it the first thing people talk about when they speak of you. It'll help spread the word about your gym. Also, if I must be honest, watching people's reactions to your performance is also amusing.
7. Lock any room in the gym that is not intended to be open to the public twice over. Thrice over. Travelling trainers are curious and see closed doors as a challenge. Strongly-worded warnings are not a deterrent.
I hope these meager tips will be of some use to you. Should you have any other questions or concerns on the subject, please do not hesitate to contact me. It would be my pleasure to assist you if it is within my power.
Cordially,
Cecil
no subject
I actually do have some follow up questions.
About the paperwork - how much paperwork should I be expecting? Is it the kind of work that can be handled on a day to day base, or should I set aside a specific day fully dedicated to it?
And do have any tips on letting down beginners easy? My gym will involve underwater battling, so many pokemon will not be able to participate. (I really do no want to be responsible for anyone's pokemon drowning!) I worry I might need to let down several challengers, especially in the beginning when my gym's reputation won't be as established yet.
no subject
The exact amount of paperwork will depend on many factors, so I'd recommend taking care of it daily. Dealing with a file or two per day is far less daunting than trying to contact an accountant and a repairman simultaneously during a weekend afternoon. It also ensures you'll not miss any requests or important information that could be time-sensitive.
I find young beginners easiest to deal with, though that may be a side effect of my experience as a parent. By gently reminding them that they do not wish to see their Pokémon harmed, you'll be able to convince most to delay their challenge, if unhappily. After that, by offering a snack or even a tour of the gym (if you have the time), you can soothe their hurt feelings and help them learn more about the gym circuit in general, leading to improved strategies in the future.
Late bloomers are trickier. They tend to be more confident, often to an excessive degree. The format of your gym may be an advantage here, as I've had some success by simply agreeing that they surely knew their limits best, right before asking them to sign a waiver declaring that the gym and the League were not responsible for any injuries incurred by their Pokémon. Wearing the smile I usually reserve for particularly loathsome courtiers. It stopped quite a few in their tracks!
In case it does not, well. Sometimes, giving them just enough rope to hang themselves is for the best, as long as you can avoid greatly injuring their Pokémon. I'd not try it against someone trying to send a Rhyhorn underwater, but using that strategy against a trainer using a full team of level nine Magikarp would send a very clear message.
If allowing them to challenge you and fail is not an option, throw them out. I've sent a few scampering away by treating them with the stoicism and authority of a general facing unruly soldiers, which is admittedly easier with officer training. One memorable time, my Conkeldurr has to physically pick a woman up and leave her outside, but that should only happen after an act worthy of a ban is committed. Exceptional circumstances, and all that.