Is $50,000.00 and a new car for one day's work enough?

[GordonJ]

$50,000.00 and NEW hybrid car. Do you think that is payment enough for one day's work?

OK, I could use some help on this one. CORNHOLE (a game tossing bean bags or corn filled bags at a target) . Ever hear of it as a game? Seems to be pretty big around here. Last year the cornhole champ won a whopping 1500 dollars in a tournament.

I'm working with someone who has created a variation of this bean toss game and wants to hold a World Championships Tournament.

He wants to offer a $100,000.00 in prize money, the Grand Champion to receive the 50k and the new car.

This is part of their marketing strategy to sell the game and to form "clubs" around the country that will use this specific game and host local tournaments.

So, my questions are:

Do you belong to any gaming association, real or virtual? Do you compete in tournaments and what are the prizes? I know that POKER is huge, so, let's look at other areas, but, any online game that is interactive or any PlayStation type game that holds tournaments?

I know that Dart Players do. Horseshoe pitchers. Bowlers, used to be Putt-putt golf, frisbee tournaments, Scrabble, Monopoly etc.

I know that many thousands of people plan their vacations around the National Horseshoe Pitchers annual tournament, and they travel across the country to attend too. OMAHA has committed millions to holding onto the college baseball tournament.

EVENTS like these are great for the communities, often bringing in millions of dollars for a two week or less period.

So my bean bag people want to establish a WORLD championship with huge prize money (I think, maybe 50 grand isn't as much as they think it is)...and regional and district tournaments that local clubs could operate from.

Besides selling the games, other revenue streams memberships in the professional association, club dues and tournament sponsorship too.

IF you have any ideas on this, please post em if you got em.

Thanks,

Gordon Jay Alexander

These guys are already having tournaments.

There seems to be a bunch of manufacturers for game boards and bags, who would all benefit from increased interest in the game. Hit them up for support for your prizes.

Cornhole...I'm beginning to think I have no idea what's going on in the world. They've even got a song.

[Ankesh]

When I was in college I know one guy who used to organize Halo tournaments.

I think he followed the golf / poker model: all players pay a fee to participate. And the winner gets a big reward. He got a lot of sponsors too.

Going after the college crowd maybe a good way to get noticed quickly.

Another game contest holders to learn from is the World Rock Paper Scissors society. http://www.worldrps.com/

They hold a contest every year. But they do one thing very smart: if someone wants to hold a local RPS tournament, WorldRPS will help him.

* They provide all the information and how-to-hold-an-event know how.
* They provide logos and posters
* They also promote the local event on their website
* And the winner of the local event gets a spot on the World RPS event they hold

In return - the local event organizer has to pay a fee to WorldRPS. And mention WorldRPS.com at their location. They also have to follow the rules of the game as set by the WorldRPS.

During these events, the organizer can also sell WorldRPS shirts and other products - giving WorldRPS a commission per sale.

The benefit of sending one of the locals to compete in the World Rock-Paper-Scissors tournament is a very big pull. Big enough to get many local organizers to pay WorldRPS - even though they could organize the event without paying a fee to them.

I play Wii games and I've heard of bars having Wii games tournaments at their bar.

Also is there any cool factor with this game?

In my country we just had huge celebs turn out for a blackjack tournament. So surely the poker surge has been helped because celebs are involved in not just a promotional way but it really seems they like playing.

I'm a city boy so sorry if I am wrong but this game seems to have more of a rural fan base so maybe for publicity purposes makes sense to have this tournament in an odd location like say in Central Park or Dubai.

Is there a website to learn more about the game?

another game of interest is Geocaching

Kind of like a gps scavenger game

This seems hot.

I just got smartphone w gps so this lools fun to checkout.

(no not the yIkesPHONE it's N95 8gb)

Seems like fun way give away product during seminars.

(Wish Phil could help us twist geocahing into our own money making ventures!)

Garth,

Thanks for the idea...

Geocaching why not...

A few Quick thoughts...

Looks like an interesting Trend...

Lots of Good info for Anyone interested in Starting Up a Geocaching magazine, newsletter etc. etc...

Filled with Geocaching and other Creative Advertising...

Geocaching Hotsheet(s) dot com is still available...

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&c...G=Search&meta=
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&cl...-8&sa=N&tab=wn

If you Dig deeper I'm sure you'll Find Lots more Keywords and ways of Developing Geocaching...

Bet the right Geocaching products/ideas into Press Releases will get you a Nice Google Buzz...

Lets see who gets their Geocaching concept Up into Google 1st...

A few Geocaching Keywords to get started with...
geocaching,geocaching gps,geocaching swiss army knife,geocaching australia,geocaching canada,geocaching wiki,geocaching university,geocaching google earth...

Phil

This whole idea of having a local contest using the golf/poker model is interesting. I imagine it could be done not only with games, but hotdog eating contests, best bar-b-que, best wedding dress, best street rod, etc.

Has anyone had experience with other ways to use this model?

Millard

[GordonJ]

Originally Posted by Millard Grubb

This whole idea of having a local contest using the golf/poker model is interesting. I imagine it could be done not only with games, but hotdog eating contests, best bar-b-que, best wedding dress, best street rod, etc.

Has anyone had experience with other ways to use this model?

Millard

Millard,

I was on board and working at SCI in the Special Events division when they held both "The Legends of Country Music" and the "Raise the Titanic Event" and even The Legends of Nascar.

All of these were very high ticket items, very successful EVENTS that brought in huge amounts of money...and HUGE pains in the patoot too...which happens routinely when dealing with Celebs...ONE A-hole (in my personal opinion) was Kenny Rogers {the old one, the one that was aging handsomely, like myself, not the NEW "catman" Kenny)...

who couldn't be bothered by the riff raff who had paid thousands of dollars to "mingle" with their favs...Kenny ran from the stage to his motor home and locked the door.

Anyhow, back on point...

It has been my experience that CONTESTS that are tied into EVENTS have the higher chance of working as a promotion. HOT dog eating contests sponsored by Oscar Meyer or Nathans...or using their products as supplied by a dealer/distributor, something that helps sell more HOT dogs, could have a good turnout.

Eating contests are popular at local fairs and events. Although there are national contests too.

To create a successful EVENT, you have to have a couple of elements...

One: high passion index.
Two: Either exclusivity OR Open to all event.

In 1996, NASCAR was HOT, but not as HOT as today...those that were into NASCAR had a very high passion for it. Same as country music fans. When you got a chance to attend an exclusive and private performance and mingle with the "legends", then you can charge a very HIGH price for the exclusivity.

And of course, you can market the "event" on DVD/Video to those that couldn't make it...and this was in the 90's, before the Internet gurus invented "event" marketing. As I stated, I worked in the Special Events/Special Projects division while at SCI.

My clients, today, are seeking a different type of event...one that "introduces" a product, creates a market and establishes dominance in that market for years to come, all for the sole purpose of SELLING products.

So, in this case, you have to create the Interest, you have to fuel the passion and it may be done with money, prizes, fame...that sort of thing.

I think small businesses have a great marketing opportunity (and we discussed this several years ago Millard)...with the SPONSORING of these local events and contests.

Throw a party. Make it either exclusive or Open to all. Give them a reason for coming. Appeal to either their passion or greed.

Collect the dough...and then NEXT!

Gordon J. Alexander

PS. My clients have a very unique twist on bean bag tossing, an affordable product that can fit on the shelf of WalMart, portable, and a variation that makes it a game that any kid of 5 can play, or anyone 95.

If we held the event during Super Bowl, had a PARTY that combined Super Bowl and "corn hole" then maybe they'd get what they want. That's what I'm getting paid to think about.

Gordon,

Nice thinking.

With the popularity of all the reality show contests seeking talent, someone could put together an event where an area's best talent could perform for a big prize and interview with a top agent, etc.

Even a simple contest that has local underpinnings, like Aunt Martha's Pancake House breakfast cook-off could have wings.

This gets even more interesting!

Millard