Toronto, ON CANADA June 29, 2013

Today was the 8th CSTS screening in Toronto

Well it has been a trying year but the committee can honestly say this year that us Browncoats are mighty.

First a few members of the organizing committee's lives became extremely busy so they had to cut back their involvement this year. Everyone stepped up to make sure everything was being done.

First off the theatre we were using last years closed down. This was unfortunate as it was a fan friendly theatre. Any other theatre was going to be twice as expensive but eventually one of our members worked out a deal for a theatre.

We started advertising and selling tickets when the second blow came. There was a dispute between the owners of the theatre with both laying claim to the theatre and suing each other. One party threatened to sue anyone renting the facility.

Since CSTS is a charity event and we did not want any chance of being sued, we had to find another theatre. This also meant our deposit was gone as the one owner would not return the funds.

This put us into quite a hole from the start. Also a Sci-Fi convention that happens in the spring did not happen this year. Normally we advertise our event and raise seed money there so that was also gone.

So now we had to find another theatre in a short time.

Thanks to an amazing team member, again another theatre was found but we had less total time in the theatre so that mean less time to sell swag and have our auction.

The change in venue meant a change in date so we had to change our advertising and contact those who had already purchased tickets. This also put us against the Gay Pride Parade which has taken people away from our screening in the past.

Through all of this everything worked out.

People were lined up outside the theatre before the organizing committee arrived to set thing up.
The weather was beautiful even though the weatherman was calling for thunderstorms.
This was very good because the line up outside the theatre was down the block.
The theatre holds 400 and it looked like we had over 300 people as there were not many good seats left when the movie started.
We sold quite a bit of swag before and after the movie.
The auction went well in the time we had.
The theatre owner was happy as the concession stand was quite busy.
The shindig after had around 80 people show up.
Some more flans were added to the verse.

For now the committee is going to take some well deserved rest before getting onto Dr Horrible.

Well done, Toronto!

It was a great event. You'd never know that there had been any problems, everything ran so smoothly.

Congratulations, Toronto! It looks as if you have good team members who pitch in whenever you need them and that is half the battle.

Despite the setbacks this year CSTS Toronto has sent $4400US to Equality Now for the screening and auction. Next up is Dr Horrible.

Congratulations on a successful event despite all the headaches.