Skip
is Blowin Smoke!
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2007
- Location
- Wantagh, NY
As I understand it, the contest is close to being sold out.
I think it's not the organizer that's causing the weird costs and issues, but the fact that they are using a venue controlled by the city, and with city control comes all kinds of government red tape.
Charlie Meyer has been responsive to me when I have asked questions. PM me if you want his email.
Sled, I got the same speech about being dropped if they find teams willing to do PC. I think the time slots, timing, and volume requirements make PC a bad option here. (Plus it's open People's Choice - which is nothing more than a crap shoot anyway. You just know some Hartford team throwing a party or a local restaurant that's been advertising the event for days is going to win it.)
Yeah Chris I didn't think it was the organizers just dumping on fees but the fact is that the fee issue was raised back in February. A change of venue was suggested. A meeting to hash out the expectations was suggested. When the cost of ice was pointed out and the opportunity to get ice donated was offered they never pursued it. When options were given to alleviate it they weren't heeded. When suggestions were made they were misunderstood and changes were attempted that didn't need to be. I have worked on the organizational side of it so I understand there is a textbook way and then the "discussion and compromise" aspect of any local government. Rules and regulations are written to a generic umbrella. That umbrella may not be necessary in individual instances and thus can be waived. Also the city if Hartford is not that large and a simple move of a couple of miles could have changed a lot of the byzantine type legislation. This reminds me of the event in CT by the water. It had a great prize pool and an established event but in the two years it ran there was nothing really good about it and it went away. Maybe its just frustration in seeing another contest basically ignore the competitors suggestions and convey an attitude of not caring. This was the impression that was received from the contest I mentioned above as well. It seemed there that because they offered a good prize pool they didn't need to listen to the teams because "we'll get the teams no matter what because of the prize pool". It worked for 2 years at the other contest so maybe they'll get 2 years from this contest.
As we can see from the comments and suggestions here the prize pool isn't the only draw to a contest and dare I say its never the most important one either. Many new organizers think that the only way to lure a team is money and for the most part that isn't true. a 7500 dollar prize pool will draw the same teams as a 20K prize pool. When the contest falls in the schedule is much more of a deciding factor than money and yes two contests inside the same travel circle with large variation in prize pool will sway some. But if the more lucrative contest has a multitude of questions raised about it by competitors you will see seasoned teams choose the safer less lucrative contest to avoid issues they have seen before.
As I said before I hope this works out and these red flags are nothing more than party favors. I want this contest to do well but I think the organizational staff should look at other contests and pick the brains of other organizers and listen to the teams. I am still considering it and I am searching for some solace in it all. I hope all those who choose to compete are pleasantly surprised not scared to death by what they find.