Only Chess
02 Jan 09
02 Jan 09
Hey,
I've been asked to design a flyer/poster to promote our Junior Chess Club.
Has anybody got any experience on this, and what works to attract young players to a chess club?
I was thinking of putting a simple tactical puzzle, (solution provided along with explanation of tactics used, etc) to get kids interested and looking at the flyer/poster along with details of what we do (coaching/tournaments, etc), where we meet, etc.
We are also expanding our club, whereby adults will also be welcome, probably after the kids are finished.
So just looking for general tips, especially from people who may have promoted a club before. What are the big no-no's for a poster trying to attract secondary level kids?
I also have studio lighting available, do you think it would be unethical to include an image of our one female member playing our U14 and U1400 regional champ? Let the kids think we're 50/50, when we're actually more like 30:1. 😉
D
05 Jan 09
At risk of speaking out of turn, ask Renegade Hotspur User 394096 about your recruitment issues, I think he will have some suggestions for you.
05 Jan 09
Originally posted by RagnorakI would include some photos of people of all ages playing chess (and NOT frowning.) 😏
Hey,
I've been asked to design a flyer/poster to promote our Junior Chess Club.
Has anybody got any experience on this, and what works to attract young players to a chess club?
I was thinking of putting a simple tactical puzzle, (solution provided along with explanation of tactics used, etc) to get kids interested and looking at the flyer/poster al ...[text shortened]... gional champ? Let the kids think we're 50/50, when we're actually more like 30:1. 😉
D
06 Jan 09
1 edit
Originally posted by SuzianneCheers,
At risk of speaking out of turn, ask Renegade Hotspur User 394096 about your recruitment issues, I think he will have some suggestions for you.
I remember he contributed to a previous chess club thread I started.
Anybody else got any comments/thoughts?
D
06 Jan 09
Originally posted by RagnorakAn all-comers, open tourmament in your local shopping mall. With lots of decent information boards explaining about chess, how it works, how your club works etc. If it's a tournament have running commentary and above all, information boards showing who's coming where. In other words try to be very open and welcoming. Too often, these appear to outsiders to be very exclusive, "clubby" events.
Cheers,
I remember he contributed to a previous chess club thread I started.
Anybody else got any comments/thoughts?
D
Have a King of the Board competition running alongside - five minute chess like RHP's siege game. Win prizes if you hold the board for (say) three games. After a certain number of successful siege games, you automatically retire and play off against another siege game winner. Why not have your club champion take on anyone (5 min.), with prizes for beating him?
Make it fun and inclusive.
06 Jan 09
I remember our local chess club. A friend and I started it. We put an ad in the local paper. The two of us and two of our friends showed up. Other than that, we had one newcomer. He was just learning how the pieces moved. hehe Even with a picture of us playing on the cover of the local paper, we had no more inquiries. It was the birth and death of the chess club in one sitting. You'd think hey that's just small town U.S.A., but there is a college in the town !!!
Chess just doesn't have a good following in the United States.
06 Jan 09
Originally posted by paulbuchmanfromficsthat's a shame!!!
I remember our local chess club. A friend and I started it. We put an ad in the local paper. The two of us and two of our friends showed up. Other than that, we had one newcomer. He was just learning how the pieces moved. hehe Even with a picture of us playing on the cover of the local paper, we had no more inquiries. It was the birth and ...[text shortened]... is a college in the town !!!
Chess just doesn't have a good following in the United States.
thank god it's a bit different in Germany.
07 Jan 09
Originally posted by buffalobillThat's an excellent idea. And something we should be able to sort out.
An all-comers, open tourmament in your local shopping mall. With lots of decent information boards explaining about chess, how it works, how your club works etc. If it's a tournament have running commentary and above all, information boards showing who's coming where. In other words try to be very open and welcoming. Too often, these appear to outsiders ...[text shortened]... champion take on anyone (5 min.), with prizes for beating him?
Make it fun and inclusive.
Re: overall marketing/promotional strategy... It's something we're working on putting together as well. We have money to spend, but we're just not sure what will be effective.
D
07 Jan 09
1 edit
Originally posted by RagnorakThpse were some quick ideas and I can think on it some more, but really you've got to attract new players to the club and then to keep them there. To do so, there's got to be space and place for the social players, the absolute newbies and the serious players - and they all have to feel welcome.
That's an excellent idea. And something we should be able to sort out.
Re: overall marketing/promotional strategy... It's something we're working on putting together as well. We have money to spend, but we're just not sure what will be effective.
D
Edit: But you can't rely on a one-off event, the marketing plan has to be staggered over a period of time to be effective.
08 Jan 09
Originally posted by buffalobillWe're looking at a few things...
Thpse were some quick ideas and I can think on it some more, but really you've got to attract new players to the club and then to keep them there. To do so, there's got to be space and place for the social players, the absolute newbies and the serious players - and they all have to feel welcome.
Edit: But you can't rely on a one-off event, the marketing plan has to be staggered over a period of time to be effective.
1. A flagship open day, heavily advertised, at our local shopping centre. The plan is to just have some tables set up so that passers-by can get a game, and then have a quick tournament towards the end of the day. Also, a "beat the champ" table, with anybody beating the champ getting 10 free visits to the club (token prize as we only charge €1 per night).
The purpose of this is to show people that there is a healthy chess community in town, to promote the club and to promote chess in general.
Knowing the shopping centre manager, he may be happy to provide a couple of tables on a permanent basis.
2. Update and revamp of the website
New website to include an opening explorer ala eudesign, an engine to practice basic endgames on (with explanations of the basic mates), recommended books with links to silman's reviews and a link to amazon, youtube chess instructional videos, tactic of the day from shredder chess.
We don't have huge amounts of time to invest, so the aim is to try to use other's content (eg: youtube) to beef up our website.
3. Purchase a book library
Looking to purchase a few books, namely the Seirawan Winning series, Silman's Amateur's mind and Endgame course, Avarbahk's Advanced Chess Tactics, Weteschnick's Understanding Chess Tactics and Polgars Chess Tactics for Champions. We already have a number of kids books.
The purpose of the books would be to get the kids reading them, as well as to provide material for us the coaches (hence some advanced books)
3. Remove the Junior from the name, as once the kids reach 14, they pretty much stop coming. We plan on trying to entice more adults.
4. Change the timing of the meetings. (currently 7-8)
7-8:15 for kids, allowing 30 minutes coaching (we have 2 coaches and a beginner's coach) and 45 minutes playing.
8-9:30 for adults
5. Try to entice teachers of local schools to promote the club by promoting the free coaching aspect. Schools currently pay for coaching at certain times of the year for Community Games preperation.
6. Use local media to continually promote the club via "Tactic of the week" in the fun and games section.
7. Put together a calender of events for the club, so that the kids will know when tournaments, etc are coming up.
8. Provide more incentive for learning by giving the kids tests, and when they pass them, giving them certificates.
9. Investigate moving location to a local hotel as our current meeting point is very cold and uncomfortable.
Again, we don't have huge amounts of time to invest, so we're trying to think of simple initiatives.
Any thoughts appreciated?
D