View Full Version : Downgrading an event - gonna hurt us?
I'm getting ready to put on a 3rd annual event. 2 Years ago, we had a couple of monster trucks. Last year, we had 6. But, the main focus of the event is my mud race. The monsters run for about 15 minutes a couple times a day & the mud runs for 6 hours. Well, the promoter we had in the past is out of business & I've had to take on that role. In an effort to conserve costs, we've eliminated the monster trucks. The promoter lost his ass last year with 2,000 spectators at $12 each, and just barely made money the previous year with 4,700 at $10 each (we started later in the day in 2001 and it was 83 degrees, last year we started at noon & it was 102 degrees, so that's probably why we had fewer spectators).
So, with no monsters to take up time, we backed the start time off to 5:00 p.m. since a lot of people work Saturdays, and lowered admissions from $12 per adult to $8 per adult. We now only need about 800 spectators to break even. But, I'm not sure how many came for the mud & how many came for the monsters in the past.
Whaddaya think? Am I gonna get my clock cleaned with no monsters? Or, will I get a "decent" crowd?
TEX
Go2Guy
06-06-2003, 08:46 AM
Tex- I suspect most of this crowd could care less about the monsters, Joe local spectator is who you're after. I know the monsters are big with the kids. Can you get lower budget (80's vintage) Monsters rather than the big names with can'tafforditalloy tig welded chassis??
We have two local guys who over the past two years have w/o a doubt put on the very best show among the monsters. Bigfoot also does a good show (guess you could call them "local" too). The other "name" trucks we've brought in have been a waste of money IMO. They sent rookie drivers & told 'em to be easy on the equipment. Both of the locals are reasonably priced & have up-to-date chassis & engines. W/O a doubt the best bang-for-the-buck in monster trucks. Problem is, it's still going to cost twice as much as the mud race to get them once you add up all the costs. One of the biggest problems is the insurance. Looking at about 10 grand there, vs. $400 to insure the mud race :(
TEX
Go2Guy
06-06-2003, 08:59 AM
IMO, for $9600 + the truck costs you can't afford not to try it, but then again, I've only been on the competing side of events.
Originally posted by Go2Guy
IMO, for $9600 + the truck costs you can't afford not to try it, but then again, I've only been on the competing side of events.
Yeah, this whole promoting thing is a new game to me. Never really wanted to venture into it, but being a "for hire" sanctioning body isn't getting me anywhere by itself, so................:D
TEX
MudzerK5
06-06-2003, 09:45 AM
Could you have a small rockcrawling course and have some of us locals come put on a show? I go to the Indy Jambo - not to see the shiny show trucks, I go for several reasons.
One, vendor relations. I make new contacts and keep up with old ones while at these shows and use this to get prizes for our Annual Events - Midwest Spring K5 Thing.
Two, I go for the rockcrawling competition. Its small scale, but fun regardless. Weve entered several years in a row. This might capture some of the Jeepthing crowd locally as well as some of the other clubs here in Missouri.
Lastly, use your resources. Pimp your events online, post your URL everywhere. Make flyers and post them in every gas station Corkboard you can find. If you made a flier in PDF format you could email it to people and they could print and post.
Get your event on a good radio station too!
Contact Brubaker and see if he will cover an event in the Mag.
Mudzer, I've invited all the JeepThing folks to come out & display their rigs and that includes setting up booths, RTI ramps, etc. So far, haven't heard from anyone. A full-blown rock-crawling course would take a little more planning, but it's something that might be doable for 2004 provided some of the dedicated rock-heads would be willing to take charge of this (hint hint). There is space on the grounds.
Been trying to get the word out online. Have fliers in MSWord format & we are definitely hanging them all over the area. Newspaper & Ad Finder ads are going out next week, and a local radio station is going to run numerous spots as well as a live remote from the event on raceday. Brubaker wants more notice :D
TEX
MudzerK5
06-06-2003, 11:24 AM
You have a PM.
Email me the flyer and Ill circulate it around Columbia. I would be glad to help plan a rock crawling competition. What days of the weekend are your events?
Sunday... SUNDAY.....
Which radio station should I listen for the ad? I will be sure to bring the wife and kids to an event real soon. I'd bring my Blazer, but I dont want to get it muddy (ironic username huh?).
Do you have a certain area that you have competitions - like the same place every Event, or do you travel around? If we were to get the boulders from a Quarry, would they be permanent on your site - or would we pay to have them moved? We would have to work out those details too. I would bet, this could bring in some people.
I'll race wherever & whenever possible. Prefer Saturday Evening events (best chance for a good crowd). The Montgomery City race is a once a year thing. Not sure if the boulders would have to be removed or not. Might be a chance to have an informal crawl during my annual event & perhaps have MOROCS put on a rock-only event at another point in the year??? The ads will be on the Mexico, MO Country station. 95.7????
TEX
hardcore4wd.com
06-08-2003, 08:19 PM
We've been to your events and one of the main reasons we come out is because the kids love the monster trucks (and the monster truck rides). I love seeing some of the faster classes of mud trucks, but it would be a big loss to not have the monster trucks imo...
Kee
i would run without them, sure they bring in the kids and maybe a handful of people that wouldnt naturally attend. In the past, here in australia the monster trucks have been real lame ass and i refuse to go and see them when them come. Which is about once every two years.
Run without them, get feed back and decide what you will do next year.
NICK
Originally posted by hardcore4wd.com
We've been to your events and one of the main reasons we come out is because the kids love the monster trucks (and the monster truck rides).
The ride truck has been a big hit & I think we will definitely try to bring it back for 2004, but the monsters themselves are probably gone for awhile.
TEX
Gordon
06-09-2003, 03:57 PM
To save on the insurance can you let the local monster truck guys enter the mud race in an Exhibition class? If they kind of miss the pit that would be OK.
Originally posted by Gordon
To save on the insurance can you let the local monster truck guys enter the mud race in an Exhibition class? If they kind of miss the pit that would be OK.
LOL, now THERE's an idea :D
TEX
MudzerK5
06-12-2003, 08:34 AM
Just Heard Your Commercial!:D
Originally posted by MudzerK5
Just Heard Your Commercial!:D
Kewl, how'd it sound?
TEX
MudzerK5
06-12-2003, 10:19 AM
Sounded good and professional. Good Job man, I hope it takes off. DOH, just looked at the date. Our Baby Shower is that day, and Im trying to be a good first time daddy. Ill try to send others your way though. I have posted some flyers.
Originally posted by MudzerK5
Sounded good and professional. Good Job man, I hope it takes off. DOH, just looked at the date. Our Baby Shower is that day, and Im trying to be a good first time daddy. Ill try to send others your way though. I have posted some flyers.
Hey, I didn't know y'all were expecting. Congrats!!!! :bounce:
And thanks for helping to spread the word on the event!
TEX
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