MSB,
It is a double edge sword. You are right, local bowlers NEED to support the local tournament scene on the other hand, folks that run it need to give them a reason to support the tournament. Just because someone is taking they are taking time to run a tournament doesnt mean it is worthy of support. I know I can be called part of the problem because I do not support the local tournament scene much anymore. I have an easier time finding a reason to drive 4-5 hours to Long Island, NY or Bradford, PA or Waverly, NY or Catskill, NY to compete in the Eastern Region than I do a local tournament. Some of the reasons..
1. Gurantees. Which were mentioned in someone elses post. I know I am bowling for atleast 12.5 times my entry for 1st. $400 guaranteed for cashing 33% of the field. When you cash or even when you win, you have a sense of achievment and pride that you did something good. By and large you competed against some of the best the east coast has to offer which often includes at least 5 expempt players or more.
2. Conditions. There are no surprises. You know what you are getting generally a fair and competitive shot whether you are right or left handed. Lanes are done by a "professional" lanesman with a machine that is kept up to spec. Local tourney you will either get a house shot or if they try to put something down, lord knows what you will end up with most the time.
3. Operation of the tournment. A 12pm start is a 12pm start not a 12:20 start because someone is lost or stuck in traffic. It is better to make 1 bowler mad than the 40 who did show up on time.
4. Start times. In the VMSBT case, my opinion, Noon is a terrible start time. This tournament should be starting at 10am.
5. Promotion of the tournament. Some tournaments get higher number of bowlers. Why? Why does the girl who runs the tournament at Greenway in August get more entries, double or even triple the entries of other tournaments? Better promotion? More popular? All the bowlers are friends and family? What is she doing better?
6. If tournaments are going to have websites, they should be updated in a timely manner. Displaying results of the just complete tourament and promoting the next tournament. It is good that you and VMSBT are cross promoting and that you are promotiong other tournaments on your site. It can only help.
7. Sense of achievment. When bowlers when that local tournament, do they feel like the achieved some? Accomplished a goal? Or just meant they won more bracket money today? My guess would be the third. I am not sure how you put the sense of achievment or accomplishment back in to local bowling.
There is a lot to do to fix the local tournament scene. A big undertaking for whomever wants to attempt it. It can be done,I am sure and if done right, it wouldnt even so much depend on the local bowler right. Your doubles tourney proved that with atleast 6 states represented.
Bowl4money, your dad ran a top notch tournament organization. The best this area has seen in my opinion. The end of his club was the end of good scratch bowling in this area in my opinion. It was run like a professional event by a no nonsense guy. I think people running tournaments can look back upon when they competed in The Masters and take the good from it and combine it with what they are trying to do to make a more succesful business model for their tournaments.
In closing, sorry for being so long winded.
