[auld argonian]

The Clan Passport idea sounds like a winner...every Games should consider that one.

Best

AA

[Glen C]

The clan passport is a fun thing, the Illinois Saint Andrew Society games have been doing that for a couple of years now. I have two stamps that I use a clan crest, and a fern (our plant badge). I let the kids pick the one they want, they seem to pick the fern a lot because the stamp pad has various bright colored inks. By the way let the kids stamp the passport. The passports brings a lot a of traffic to your tent. Once the kids fill their passport books they get some sort of prize. The kids seem to like it

[Jack Daw]

Julie;

I have been hosting a tent for the Clan MacIntyre Association since 2000. What draws people to my tent?

• A colorful tent banner with your clan name;
• A map of Scotland with the clan territories dilineated (the biggest draw!);
• Flags of St. Andrews, Ol' Glory, Ireland, and possibly your state flying from the four corners;
• A flag or banner in your tartan for the parade;
• A cooler of iced down water for unknown guests and beer for your friends;
• tartan table cloths;
• The book "Tartan for Me" (it shows what surname should wear what tartan), other books, pictures, and tartan samples;
• A Visitor Sign-In Sheet (ask for address and telephone number);
• Application forms;
• A sign showing all the spellings and septs of your clan (VERY IMPORTANT as it's a big attention getter.)
• A rubber stamp and pad for the kids who come around with an autograph book/"passport". For this to work, the clan gathering organizer has to set it up for kids to use the books.

The most frequent question I get is, "My surname is ___; what tartan should I wear?"

[AcuteEnigma]

Thanks guys!

Come on by the Clan Sinclair tent at the San Diego games.

Free beer or shortbread! LOL

I think ultimately what you put into the clan tent is based on you. But there are a few rules of thumb you might want to consider. Especially if you're doing the clan tent alone. I know when I do my first clan tent, hopefully in October, that unless someone volunteers to help me I'm going to be setting it up and running it alone.

As a result everything is going to be packed in one box. If it doesn't fit one box, it's too much. But that's me on a personal level. The exception being the banner. I suggest items that have weight to them or to bring weights just in case. That way in the event that you have high wind, your tent doesn't blow away.

Items that a little water won't harm is also something you might want to consider. Weapons. They are popular. A friend of mine has a William Wallace replica sword and it attracts a great deal of attention at his tent. Especially from the kids. Because it's not sharp it's appropriate for the kids to touch, get a picture of them next to it, etc..

Books, Geneology, Clan Stories and History. All of that is great. A map of Scotland.. you can do it if you want but the last Highland games I went to, I counted no less than 8 maps of Scotland.

[Jack Daw]

Originally Posted by AcuteEnigma

Thanks guys!

Come on by the Clan Sinclair tent at the San Diego games.

Free beer or shortbread! LOL

Yes, yes...beer is, of course, a very big draw, too.

[sirdaniel1975]

I've been going to H.G.'s for almost 10 years now (I know some of you have been going a lot longer). I first joined the Clan Gunn Society in Oct 1998 at the Stone Mountain H.G.'s. One of the things I do is casually walk through the area of the clan tents just to get an idea as to what people are offering, I've attended H.G.'s in North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.

I've worked as a vendor at the H.G.'s and info table at the Taste of Scotland (half the day in 1998) doing the what's my tartan deal. The other half of that day was spent in the gift shop selling and selling...

In Fl, most of the clan and society tents are; come and get your free drink or have your picture taken as a highlander and get a free drink... Actual historical information that is educational is minimal. This isn't true for all, the best tents I've seen in Fl are the Wild Highlander's and the Scottish Confederate tent (Civil War tent). This is mostly why I started the club that I have (follow the link below). We haven't had a tent at the games yet, perhaps this upcoming season in FL.

I've been collecting materials for this purpose and am still in the process of purchasing materials. I've built some display boards with some handy info on them:
-Clan Map
-Generic Scottish Map (cities and districts)***
-Statistical info; Scottish Monarch Time-line, Population stats, 100 most common surnames & stats
-kilt display; measurement guide, how get dressed instructions (belted plaid)

The Surname Reference books I have:
-Scots Kith & Kin
-Surnames of Scotland by Black
-Scottish Surnames by Lommond

The Clan & Tartan reference books:
-World Tartans by Zaczek (has many images of tartan, but does have some errors)
-The Clans & Tartans of Scotland by Robert Bain
-The Scottish Tartans by Johnston & Bacon (has great paintings)
-Clans & Tartans of Scotland by James MacKay
-The Clans & Tartans of Scotland by James Grant
-The Clans & Tartans of Scotland by R. R. McIan (just 40 of the paintings)
-Clans & Tartans of Scotland by Zaczek (some errors)

Picture books (great for showing people photographs of there clan & family lands and of course clan castles), (also good for showing people what Flora or Prince Charlie looked like).
-Highlanders by Fitzroy MacLean
-Over the Ord by Henry Sinclair (about Caithness)
-Scotland by David Lyons (scenic photographs)
-Castles of Scotland by Gambaro

I have an array of historical books as well. A Scots Gaelic dictionary is good idea!

My shopping wish list:
-Tartan for Me by Smith
-Compendium of District tartans
-A book or two on Scottish Regiments
-A book or two on Heraldry
-British Isle atlas book
-Book on Irish Surnames
-Canopy Tent
-tables
-chairs
-chest, for locking up materials

I suggest owning your own canopy tent and tables, some games charge rental fees.

I have flags and we're making banners at our next meeting!

[jordanjm]

First of all Congratulations on this!! Last year was my first year hosting. I am going tomorrow to set up! I would suggest the Scots Kith and Kin if you can find it. Start small, add a little each year, and you will do great!

[Mael Coluim]

Julie,
I asked the same question not to long ago. You might want to read through this thread for some other thoughts. Good luck!

[Balaamsass51]

All the things mentioned so far are good, but I'll let you into a secret.

How do I know this secret?

My wife was one of the judges last year at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games.

Ah, got your attention now I think.

After a while the good tents stand out. But what makes the difference?

Is there ALWAYS someone at the clan tent to greet people? Or are you all sitting down facing the center where the activities are going on, or eating, or talking with each other? Do you ignore the passer by? I know that several tents lost points because of ignoring the people who have come to the Games. What good is a fancy sword or the same books that all the others have or a flag or whatever if the visitor gets the impression that you don't CARE!

Enthusiasm my friends! That's the secret!

See you at the Games!

Matt