TMDC4: Barnstorming

[kl0wn]

To those of you not in the know, last year I organized the third annual TMD Championship.

The Announcement
The Aftermath

It was the hotness; we had a championship belt, a full set of Power 9 to the Top 8 (and to one random competitor), the first Day 2 of a non-convention/non-PT event and some bells and whistles. Personally, I thought it was a big success. Except that I lost about a grand. Fortunately it wasn't really out-of-pocket, since I just had to give away more than half of my personal Power set, but a grand is still a grand. It would be a bit higher by today's prices.

So I've been kicking around the idea of holding another one for a couple of months at the request and urgings of the local folk and I'm trying to make the numbers work.

The main thing that concerns me (besides finding a venue that won't break the bank; I'd ideally like to book the Dance Ranch again, but they're a tad on the pricey side) is the prize structure vs. entry fees. My highest priority (after that of covering my ass this time) is keeping the entry fee as low as possible. After that, I want the prize structure to extend as low as possible, ideally to 32nd place. Finally, there MUST be a belt.

The fact is that, expecting around 90 people or less, I can't possibly hope to cover the kind of prize structure offered before. Especially at $25 or less.
However, setting the prizes at "Dependent on Attendance" just makes the thing seem shady or at the least, kinda lame.

So what do I do? I'm looking to the community for help on this one.

What do you want? What would be enough motivation to go?
Do we need insane prize support?
Is a $10 entry fee with DoA prizes enough?
Does $30 make your nads shrink up?
Should the event be focussed primarily on testicular fortitude?
Should I forego scooping up that referree shirt that was on sale at Dick's and hang up my jock strap?
Is it time to pass the torch?
Does someone else want to grab the reigns to keep the tradition going?
Pizza or ice cream?
Do you have 401k? Full benefit?

The prize structure that I was fooling around with was like this:
1st: Ancestral Recall
2nd: Time Walk
3rd: random Mox
4th: random Mox
5th-8th: Italian Mana Drain

The problem is that the approximate price of even this prize structure comes to about $2200. And with an estimated 90 entries at $20 each, that only makes up $1800 of available funds. This also shuts out 9th-XXth place prizes. And it doesn't include the price of the venue, much less the possibility of a Day 2.

[Revvik]

Holy hell, so no one has replied to this?

I do have a few comments:
- Belt has to be there.  I would seriously make any and all attempts to make it out to New York if the belt were cool enough, especially if I can find some shithole hotel to hole up in, or coerce some unsuspecting dork into letting me crash.  We're talking some serious cash even if I only scrub out at x-2 drop, but considering that I've actually done well at the past few events I've attended, I'm willing to risk that.  In short, the Belt would be motivation enough for me to go, prizes to the entire Top8 just kinda sweetens it.
- $25 for a prize structure like that?  You're a nice guy.  Insane prize support in terms of Power cards aren't exactly necessary, but I'm not sure what cutting back on support would do.  We Vintage players are kinda spoiled.

Say you're offering:

Ancestral
Walk
Ruby
Emerald
Drain
Drain
Drain
Drain

Why are you uncomfortable asking $30-35 for entry fee, and why are people today too afraid to pay that?  I'm much more confident in my ability to Top8 in an event than I am of my ability to Top4, much less win out, and it is certainly worth me coughing up another ten bucks, especially considering that the best things in life are free: porn, pizza (for me - girl works at a pizza joint) and anything in a department store window at midnight.

Maybe things could be done like such:
Guaranteed Prizes:
1st: Ancestral Recall
2nd: Mox X
3rd: Drain
4th: Drain
...at maybe 40 people?  Keeping in mind I have no clue as to the numbers and expenses on this thing, but 40 people at $30 bucks each should cover an Ancestral, a Pearl, and two Italian Drains, plus hopefully expenses (correct me if I'm wrong).
100+ people, use the prize support you mentioned, plus something incredibly special for the 9th through 16th slots - even if it's just a shirt saying "I top16-ed at TMD Championship and all I got was this lousy t-shirt", and then packs of 9th Edition to really rub it in 
I'd have to say that a big part of it could be the experience and coolness factor of what they get.  Custom playmats, shirts, etc. 

I do have one suggestion for the TMD Champion's prize, but it would take some participation from this site and the forums - maybe a custom Avatar, Title next to their name, etc.  Something personalized.

Should I forego scooping up that referree shirt that was on sale at Dick's and hang up my jock strap?

Huh?

- Pizza.  NO wait, Ice Cream.  Ummm... Pizza AND ice cream!  Although they'd probably have to deal with the giant five gallon generic tubs of ice cream, because you can't skimp on pizza, man...
- 401K?  Benefits?  Dude, I don't even have dental.

[Necrologia]

I was at the last shindig you ran and had a blast. Giving away the full set of power given the attendance was the greatest thing ever. Kudos to you.

Personally, I absolutely hate based on attendance prizes. I'd much rather see a slightly higher entry fee and weaker prize support to keep the costs to you down. If tons of people show up you could up the prizes if you really wanted to, that way it's more of a pleasant surprise, instead of leaving people praying that 3 more people show up so they can get a lotus or whatever.

That's my 2 cents, but I'll be making an effort to get to this regardless of what you decide. Hope to see you in Endicott.

[iamfishman]

Simply put...giving away prizes that are guaranteed and not breaking your words may cost alot, but is incredibly noble, and crucial to keep players happy.

Accordingly, I can guarantee that I will go to the next one no matter what.  I think alot of people were so impressed by Klowns actions, they would do the same.

[kl0wn]

Say you're offering:

Ancestral
Walk
Ruby
Emerald
Drain
Drain
Drain
Drain

Why are you uncomfortable asking $30-35 for entry fee, and why are people today too afraid to pay that?

The problem is that SCG offers a full set of Power for that price.

Honestly, I think I'll probably be putting this thing on hiatus for the time being. There's just too much going on this summer and within the local community (and in my life) for me to try to turn 1 + 1 into 3 by a certain deadline. I'll keep my eyes out and kick some things around and try to get something worked up over the next however long, but at the moment, it's feeling a bit overwhelming.

Of course, I'll probably change my mind again within the next week or so.

Heh.

I should just hijack this prize structure from Ray's Hadley suggestion:

1st: Library + Belt
2nd: Mana Drain
3rd-4th: Mana Crypt
5th-6th: Underground Sea or Force of Will
7th-8th: Volcanic Island

for the base prizes and then charge a $10 or $15 entry fee. Afterall, the TMD Champs shouldn't be about prizes, it should be about kicking butt, chewing bubblegum and just having an overall good time, right?

[Revvik]

for the base prizes and then charge a $10 or $15 entry fee. Afterall, the TMD Champs shouldn't be about prizes, it should be about kicking butt, chewing bubblegum and just having an overall good time, right?

Yes.  But a lot of Vintage players these days are spoiled as far as prizes go.
And dammit, I'm all out of bubblegum