3. Topics
• A judge without a community
• The tournament organiser
• The players
• Keep going
• Stay sane
4. A judge without a community
• How did you get here?
• Where to start?
5. The tournament organizer
• Find a local tournament organizer
• Discuss the plans
• Become an organizer yourself
6. The players
• Create a platform for communication
• Get local attention
• Reward regular play
• Invite for next event
7. Keep going
• The initial hype
• You regulars
• Test panel
• Losing players
8. Stay sane
• Find a partner
• Enjoy your plans
• Reward yourself and get rewarded
• Delegate
– Introductions to magic
– New players
– Annoying players
Editor's Notes
- Who am I. I'm alex and I live in the southwestern part of the netherlands. Altought the netherlands are densly populated, there are still
some area's to go without a decent magic community.
My story today is based on me trying to build a community in Middelburg.
Judge without a community:
What did you do to get here? Did you move? Did your previous community disband? Are the only events in your town a pre-release every 3
months and you're the only judge for that?
- Middelburg's community crumbled over the years and was now only pre-releases and an FNM every once in a blue moon.
Where to start?
[PUBLIC INPUT]
- Find players or find a store, if possible find a TO.
If you happen to live in a barren desert devoid of any magic, go see the next town or state or whatever.
Odds are you'll find players from your own place that surely want to play 'at home'. <Scoured Barrens>
Example: Dronten
It might be neccesary to become a TO yourself, but that is a topic for another seminar.
- If you find something for example a store or a gameclub. <gargoyle castle>
- Find out what went wrong? Did people leave the area? Was there nowhere to play? What happened? [PUBLIC INPUT]
- Listen to what the players have to say. What will it take to get them back at the game.
- Find the local TO (or gamestore and make him TO)
So now you've found a TO and a handfull of players. Where to go next?
- Discuss with the TO what his plans are, what he wants to achieve and what he wants to do to make that happen.
[WHAT FEELS REALISTIC? PUBLIC INPUT]
- In middelburg this was at least 10 players @ FNM in exchange for prizesupport for boosterdrafts without raising the entry fee.
Once you've set clear (and measurable goals) your done with the TO.
On to the players:
[HOW DO WE REACH OLD AND NEW PLAYERS?]
-Create a platform where you can communicate with the players.
+Facebook groups are good for this.
+ Invite everyone who ever had something to do with magic, old players, new players, players of other games.
- Set up some system to reward regular play. A league is a good tool for this. But random boosters @ tables might be more succesfull in
your area. (Try to get the TO to sponsor this from excess promo stuff like shinies and clothing)
- If you use facebook, create events or get the TO to create events.
- Invite all players to every event. Even if you suspect they'll never show up, INVITE!
+People who don't want to be invited can choose to ignore or block you in facebook.
+Example: Legacy player in middelburg, sold his collection. Came one FNM because his GF was away. Now firmly on the path of
rehabilitation.
- Find other media to get attention. Is there a university, high school, college? Perhaps they have a gaming club or newsletter.
+ Example: UCR gaming club digital newsletter
- Find the local newspapers or what's there todo in your neighbourhood
+ Example: Stad Middelburg. <Stad middelburg>
- Invate players for the next event your hosting, and/or the next event of the same type.
+ Example: Standard FNM/Gameday vs. draft/draft/pre-release
Keep them coming:
So there you are. So much attention. So very much effort. Now.. you wait.
Chances are that your first FNM attendence is overwhelming. All those old players showing up, the cool atmosphere, just happiness.
You get congratulated by the TO. Players thank you for organising this. You feel like you've made it.
But next time or the one after that, there are barely enough players to make it a sanctioned FNM.
What happened there?
[DOES ANYONE RECOGNIZE THIS SITUATION? PUBLIC INPUT]
- The initial hype of new events and magic has subsided. Now you'll find out who your 'regulars' are.
+ You must have more then just 8 regulars. Chances are not every player will be around every FNM.
+ Example: Draft player v.s. standard player
- This group of regulars will now be your soundboard.
If you have a new idea: run it by them.
If they have an idea for improvement: listen to them.
Losing players,
You will lose players! To whatever comes up, arguments, study, money issues.
Keeping sane
I've presented you with some idea's and handles to use in your own community.
But let's not forget you own feelings and social life in all this.
- How will you stay happy when it's so easy to lose yourself?
[PUBLIC INPUT]
+ Find someone to share your yourney with. You're not Remi.
+ Enjoy your plans as much as your achievements, doubly so for the ones no one knows about
+ Get a reward system in place for yourself. The TO will get more customers, so thath's worth something
+Example booster per FNM, discount on everything
+ Delegate! FNM's should be happening regardless of you being there in person. New players shouldn't only be there because of you.
+Example: Jan!
+ Don't let annoying players get on your nerves.
+Example: Don't feed the competetive player. Marc
+ Use a buddy system for new players
+ Example ask an experienced player to help a certain newbe during deck construction.
- Keep track of your plans and your achievements for learning opporunities and seminars ;-)
