A Thought That Just Won't Go Away.

[ABG0819]

Due to poor planning on my part I will be incarcerated this Saturday...don't stress I work in a prison.

Graham

[azwildcat96]

Have you communicated your desire to the other two festival committees? They may be of assistance in helping you to set up another event (provided that it doesn't confilict date-wise with one of theirs). You may also look at the message board of the NASGA website, to see how much interest there is from other local or near-by athletes. Throwers are a group always on the look-out for new places to compete.

[cessna152towser]

I wish you the very best of luck. As a former Secretary and Treasurer of a Highland Games here in the south of Scotland I have to say it won't be easy. Very hard work but if the event comes off you get terrific satisfaction from it.
You need a good committee and willing helpers (Our Committee started off with around ten people and eventually dwindled to just four, but we got a lot of help on the day from our local rugby club members.)
You need to find a suitable venue that can be obtained at an affordable price.
Caterers - A restaurant, a stall selling burgers, haggis etc. If your games are likely to attract enough people the caterer will pay you rather than you paying them to come.
Transport - If the venue is out of town you need to hire a bus/buses to shuttle people to the games.
Heavy Athletics - Here in Scotland you need to offer good prize money to attract a high standard of contestant, minimum prize for last finisher £50, rising in £25 increments. You also need to pay the referee. Though I believe it is easier to find entrants in the USA.
Pipe Bands - Local pipe bands are usually willing to perform for a small fee. Perhaps you could hold a pipe band competition. Here in Scotland these are governed by the RSPBA and you need to register your competition with them, making the cost prohibitive for the smaller games.
Highland Dancing - Hard Work! You need to hire a stage. Then you need someone with a trailer to bring it to the game site. Then it has to be assembled. And dismantled afterwards and transported back to its owner. You need to pay the piper. You need to pay the judges. If you can afford to be generous with prize money you should be able to obtain a good standard of entries. Best to contract the organisation of piper, judges and the contest to someone experienced. There are people who go round the games circuit organising dance contests but, again they will chrage for their services.
Stalls - Stallholders will offer to come and sell stuff and you can name your price, though if you are an established games and can produce footfall figures from a previous year you are in a better bargaining position. Pitch fees can go a long way to paying for the athletics, pipe bands and dancing, but sadly many games have only survived by turning themselves into weekend markets with the games as just a side show.
Lots more things I can think of but need to go right now. PM me if you want any more advice.

[OC Richard]

Pipe Bands - Local pipe bands are usually willing to perform for a small fee. Perhaps you could hold a pipe band competition. Here in Scotland these are governed by the RSPBA and you need to register your competition with them, making the cost prohibitive for the smaller games.

I'm a pipe band person so not objective perhaps, but it seems to me that pipe bands are always a big draw for Scottish games/festivals, and look good in print ads, and sound good on radio ads.

I scratch my head sometimes when small Games don't put on a pipe band competition, but rather hire bands. Because if you put on a competition the bands come for free, more or less. The pipe band scene is about competition, and good competition bands will show up for the very act of competing. It usually isn't so much about the money; it's a hobby for these people.

For example there was one small Games (which will remain nameless) who said they didn't have money to put on a competition. So they hired three or four horrible street bands to 'entertain'.

Then they decided to put on a competition, and guess what? They suddenly had a dozen bands show up, all of them far better than the street bands they had been hiring, including some of the best bands in the region. One band travelled halfway across the country to compete.

You have to register with EUSPBA and use EUSPBA-approved judges. The expense is hiring the judges and flying them in. The same crew of judges will judge the solo piping and drumming competitions in the morning and the pipe band competition in the afternoon.

For myself, I won't attend a Games that doesn't have a pipe band competition.

[ctbuchanan]

I've never started a games but have been involved with several mostly on the Clans Committee. The single biggest factor that I've always heard about in keeping a games going is volunteers. Not just to get it started and organized but leading up to, the actual day of, and breaking down. These all require manpower in pretty significant numbers. I know that several games have put themselves on college campuses to take advantage of the available number of students who are willing to volunteer.

[KD Burke]

I've been a member of the Committee that stages the Northeast Florida Games for 5 years, and for three I have served as the Clans and Societies Chair.

Our 19th Annual Games has just concluded.

It is with that degree of experience that I say that starting a new games will take a considerable effort, a good number of dedicated (crazy?) volunteers, and a substantial amount of money. That said, it is a most worthwhile undertaking and I wish you success with it!

The number of details to be considered is staggering! You will need event permits from the local authorities. Most likely the local health department and Fire Marshal will need to inspect the facilities and issue permits.

You will need tents. Rent them at first. If the event is successful, you should consider purchasing a few each year to reduce rental costs the following year.

You will need many, many fire extinguishers. (Fire Marshals like extinguishers.) you will NOT want to purchase these as maintaining certifications is impractical for an annual event.

You may not need an attorney on retainer, but they sure come in handy. Having one, or several, on the Committee is ideal.
An accountant, or at least a knowledgeable and experienced bookkeeper, is essential.

Keep ambitions in check. Start small and expand judiciously.

Weather is a major concern. A single rainy day can bankrupt a start-up. Have contingency plans for rain or unseasonable weather.

It's a huge undertaking. I applaud you for considering it. If I can be of help, feel free to PM.

[MacMillans son]

...don't stress I work in a prison.

Uhhhh huh,....making license plates ??

[ABG0819]

Nope. ...in NC the women make license plates.

Graham