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Motorcycle Club 101 Label “Freeloading at MC Annuals”

It happens way too often among MCs and goes against all MC etiquette. I call it the “Yearly Freeloader Syndrome” and ask club presidents to stem this rising tide as they see what happens to their members…

Some simple background information:

In the old days, when clubs practiced discipline (not like now), there was a simple protocol that MCs followed. “You attend our annual celebration and support our club and we will attend yours and support your club!” It can’t get any simpler than that, right? And all sorts of traditions developed to encourage this participation, like trophy counts, for example, where the host club would award trophies to participating clubs for things like: most members in attendance, longest distance runner, the club with the longest distance, the most female attendees. club, busier social clubs, etc.-you understand where I’m going here. The intention was to attract as many MCs as possible so that a club could earn money and the trophies were symbols of honor that clubs could use to show that they were supporting other MCs by winning these trophies. Since an annual is one of the biggest MC booster events, it is vitally important that the annual be a success. An annual is held once a year (usually on the anniversary of a club’s founding) to help earn money for the MC so they can continue that year and most MCs invest heavily in their annuals. They cater food, hire DJs, rent out party rooms, rent out spaces in larger MCs, some bring entertainment, offer camping facilities and the list goes on and on.

Enter the annual Freeloader:

So it really sucks when the annual “weevil” shows up and commits the ultimate sin. The annual freeloader usually stops their bike somewhere in front of or near the event and just sits outside on their bike and doesn’t buy a ticket. Booooo! And you see these freeloaders all the time sitting in front of the party giving it their all to everyone, patting people on the back, hugging and hugging all the “fam” they know…heck, they even become the life of the party. outside the party the only thing is that they NEVER DO IT INSIDE THE PARTY and buy a TICKET!!!!! Unfortunately, you usually see these idiots taken advantage of by the dozen, camped out in front of MC Annuals doing it to everyone who walks by. After having fun and partying with everyone they meet on set, they round up a group of people who were spending money at the annual event and take them to another MC or biker bar to buy drinks there for the rest of the night! You can hear the freeloaders say, “Hey, this party is boring, let’s all go to the XXXX place and party with them. You know they’re doing something tonight too!” And they left with people who were buying and sponsoring the annual of the host club. I get mad when I see these freeloaders sitting in front of the annual event without wristbands. I always ask them, “Why the hell would you flash your ass at someone’s annual event and park it on your bike without buying a wristband and rooting for your clubmate?” And MC presidents should ask this very question when they see their club members violate MC etiquette.

How to fix this troublesome trend:

Presidents! Don’t let your members charge free at MC annuals. The annual is important to the life blood of an MC. It is the oldest tradition among MCs and if you are starting or running an MC, you must respect the traditions and norms that have made MCs successful over time.

Ought:

1. Inform your members of the importance of supporting their fellow MCs

2. Tell your members that if they’re broke and can’t afford admission, don’t go to the annual! The annual event was designed to make money for the host club, not to provide a personal parade for the club member who wants to take advantage of the scene and say hi to everyone.

3. Make sure all your members buy a ticket and get a wristband once they arrive at the event. Some clubs simply take all the money from their members and present the funds to the president when they get there. That’s the cool way to do it with the biggest impact.

4. Instruct your members to tell their free rider friends from other clubs and independent cyclists they know to buy a ticket if they see them loitering outside without a wristband.

If you are the host club: You must:

1. Consider holding your event inside a fenced area and ask people to enter the fenced area so that even if they loiter outside the event, they have paid to be there.

2. Consider monitoring parking lots and instructing loitering freeloaders to buy a ticket or leave your event.

3. Consider having your DJs make announcements during your event to tell chairpersons not to let their members sit out without paying.

Remember friends, love and respect each other and try to do the right things. Taking advantage of other MC’s parties is totally unfulfilling and goes against all MC etiquette. That’s my opinion. Black Dragon National President Black Sabbath MC