How to get a new games going?

[Doug A.]

Hi guys,  I may have told some of you already but we bought a camper down at Atwood Lake (near Mineral City, OH).  We've been spending a lot of weekends down there and I was looking around at all of the available parking, open fields, and picnic areas and started thinking that this would be a great place to host a Scottish Games event.  I spoke briefly with the events coordinator and he said that he thought something like that would be great for the park and the local community.  I'd still have to speak to the park director but now I'm starting to think "How in the world do you try to put one of these things together?"

I know we can get the athletes there but how do you get the vendors, a pipe band or two, and maybe some dancers?  The big question... who provides the liability insurance?  I'd like to approach the park director about doing a games there next year but I'm not sure how it all works.  I'd be willing to put in the effort to get one started here.  Any advice on how to approach the park or suggestions would be very much appreciated.

[S. McCracken]

Start with the local Scottish Society there is probably one near there, need to get them interested to make sure there is enough interest on there behalf to bring a budget and spectators to the event. Once you have that get ready to start making phone calls and stopping door to door to raise more money for pipers and athletes, pipe bands are expensive and Pro's are $$$$$ alot. Need to also have funds to pay for the liability insurance, most likely your going to have to pay for it out of your budget as well the park will more than likely get on board but the park funds are going to be min or none at all. Parks have yearly budgets and they are for taking care of the park, and they will most likely want some of the revenue generated as well. Dont let all of this get you down and Good luck keep us posted on how its going.

[OhioYeti]

Good to hear that you're looking to get something new started. It actually can take 2-3 years to get a new festival established, and there is a ton of work that goes on in the background. If you dig through the NASGA board, I believe there are some posts on the subject, particularly in the A.D. section. You are looking at the major issues, which are funding, insurance, and community involvement, but there are a lot of little things to consider as well. I would suggest either tagging on to an existing festival, like John did with the Blueberry games, or starting very small. That may mean simply doing an Amateur comp without a festival or with just some support from the local clan chapters. As interest grows, you may be able to attract vendors, pipers, dancers, and expand the games in years to come. The Beltane festival has been like that, with things being added each year to make it grow bit by bit.

Good luck, and let us know if you need any help along the way!

[Sleeping Dragon]

It's an interesting challenge!  If I can help in some fashion please let me know!  What time of the year?  Fall? (hint)  Being a campground I'll bet their insurance would probably cover it.  Maybe not call it a festival per se but a campground event?  I dunno but I bet they would jump on that.  For vendors maybe contact the guy that runs Beltane for a list of folks?

pipers and athletes, pipe bands are expensive and Pro's are $$$$$ alot.

No disrespect to the pro's at all, not even close, but they are going to fade out if the economy keeps going the way it is.  As far as paying a pipe band goes...why?  There are musicians out there that would do it for free just to have a forum.  Personally I cannot tell a "good" piper from a "bad" piper.  But I know who Roddy Piper is.  As far as the dancers go I have no idea how they are judged.

[Doug A.]

Thanks everyone.  Atwood already has their "Fall Festival" every year on the first weekend of Oct.  I'd like to see if we can piggy back on that next year.  That would be the easiest thing to do.  I know that if they'll let us throw we can get a good group of guys to come out and compete, then if there's enough interest maybe it could spawn into it's own event someday.

Rowdy Roddy Piper was my favorite wrestler when I was a kid!

[S. McCracken]

i loved the HOT ROD

[neocrerm73]

sigh Im going to keep looking for designers.
Please note- we want a complete  style; header, forum icons- everything.
We want the works- lol

Aaron

[Rich McClain]

Scottish Highland Games. Large men throwing heavy stuff like branchless trees. It reads like you are looking for a forum web designer. We're a group of Athletes who toss 16# rocks for fun.

[Brian Hall]

they are douche bags that are testing their acounts to peddle their spam. Like  I am really going to buy medications from these guys. All they are doing is wasting our time.

[Brian Huntley]

Hall +1