Smaller comp trying to stay around

[roksmith]

Marietta Ohio's Brickstreet BBQ may not be able to continue without some changes. In our 3rd year, we dropped from 40 teams to 26 and because of this, the charity lost money. I'm sure most of you can appreciate the hundreds and hundreds of hours it takes to put on an event, so it's easy to see why a charity cannot continue to run an event at a loss.
In the past, we've always set our prize money well in advance and always paid out well in excess of 100% of the entry fees back out in prize money.
This past year, we paid out (not including people's choice) $10k in cash and only pulled in 26 teams. Yes, we do have the State Proc.
I know the Sam's club event in Michigan our weekend landed several teams that would have otherwise been here, but that was an unexpected event that we had no control over.
We are a small town and pretty much maxed out our possible sponsors for the area, so raising more money that way isn't really an option.
What we are considering doing is setting our prize money smaller to begin with and increasing it based on the number of teams we get.

I guess, what I'm looking for is input on how this will fly.
Are there teams who have been here before or might be looking at a contest that would not return if we started out with an advertised prize money of say $6500 and increased it by $1k for every 4 teams over 25?
Not sure what the exact structure would be and that's why I'm floating this out there. We've got to come up with a plan in the next month or so if we are going to keep this thing going.

Thanks
Dave

[NRA4Life]

I was there this year and will be there next year if you have it regardless of the advertised prize money.

[Big Ugly's BBQ]

We would be there regardless also. Good time, as long as my garnish cooler doesnt float down the street again.............

Seriously, it is a really good time!

[JayAre]

$10000 is a nice purse, but id go either way, breakdown doesnt matter, only that a fair portion is returned to prize money. we all understand that these things have to make money and since there are only 3 in Ohio, id hate to loose this one.

[Slamdunkpro]

A lot of smaller events are struggling with this issue and are planning on posting smaller guarantees for 2012. It's your best solution.

[roksmith]

Thanks all. I assumed we weren't the only ones in the boat.

Yea, that storm this year was freaky!!

While I'm at it. Anybody have a preference whether we hold the event downtown, or move it to our local fairgrounds about 2 miles from the regular spot?
I know the local merchants like having it in downtown as do the folks who have run it for the past 3 years, but we have the option.

[NRA4Life]

That blacktop was hot, but with that wicked storm we had at least it wasn't muddy. If it brings in some business for your local merchants keeping it where it is probably would be your best bet.

[fordfanaw]

well be there no matter what. I think the sams club event is what hurt you the most.I would like if you kept it where it is.

[Big Ugly's BBQ]

If I could have back our spot by the Funeral Home, it would be perfect, but again the idea is to draw crowds and get them into the local businesses. The Mexican Restaurant across got TONS of business, I do know that!! Good Food!

[roksmith]

The advantage of moving to the Fairgrounds would be a much larger area, built in "RV" power and not needing the tents because of all of the fair buildings. I do enjoy the downtown venue myself and odds are it will stay there, just wanted to see what most of the returning teams preferred. It is still about the competition first. Without the teams, there is no event :-)

[Dan - 3eyzbbq]

Originally Posted by roksmith

Thanks all. I assumed we weren't the only ones in the boat.

Yea, that storm this year was freaky!!

While I'm at it. Anybody have a preference whether we hold the event downtown, or move it to our local fairgrounds about 2 miles from the regular spot?
I know the local merchants like having it in downtown as do the folks who have run it for the past 3 years, but we have the option.

I like the current location

[goodsmokebbq]

Originally Posted by roksmith

Marietta Ohio's Brickstreet BBQ may not be able to continue without some changes. In our 3rd year, we dropped from 40 teams to 26 and because of this, the charity lost money. I'm sure most of you can appreciate the hundreds and hundreds of hours it takes to put on an event, so it's easy to see why a charity cannot continue to run an event at a loss.
In the past, we've always set our prize money well in advance and always paid out well in excess of 100% of the entry fees back out in prize money.
This past year, we paid out (not including people's choice) $10k in cash and only pulled in 26 teams. Yes, we do have the State Proc.
I know the Sam's club event in Michigan our weekend landed several teams that would have otherwise been here, but that was an unexpected event that we had no control over.
We are a small town and pretty much maxed out our possible sponsors for the area, so raising more money that way isn't really an option.
What we are considering doing is setting our prize money smaller to begin with and increasing it based on the number of teams we get.

I guess, what I'm looking for is input on how this will fly.
Are there teams who have been here before or might be looking at a contest that would not return if we started out with an advertised prize money of say $6500 and increased it by $1k for every 4 teams over 25?
Not sure what the exact structure would be and that's why I'm floating this out there. We've got to come up with a plan in the next month or so if we are going to keep this thing going.

Thanks
Dave

Wouldn't it be nice if big sponsors like Sam's club would invest in local events instead of competing with them? Wouldn't it be nice if the KCBS board helped this happen. Oh, wait several of them were hired to run the Sam's club events...

[Spydermike72]

I am not sure that the Sam's club event in Traverse City took too many teams from ya. The only ones I know that were at TC and were at Marietta last year were ourselves and Extreme Roasters.

You guys have a great event I hope it keeps going.

[The Pigman]

May make this one the one in Ohio to compete at next year....

[The Pigman]

Do like the charm of downtown like nelsonville