Has anyone organized a show?

[Cop-Pop]

If you have please please please could you give me some tips please? I've been asked to organize one and I haven't a clue. If you have a check sheet or something that would be ace

Thanks

 

[Penniless]

Well having organised many shows many years ago, we got back on the show organising campaign last week and had our first one in Newmarket of which we are still kna****ed! So what do you want to know and what type of show are you planning on putting on?

 

[BuckingHorse]

Try to get enough helpers that they only do 1/2 day each.
Leave yourself without a job on the day so you can "float" and make sure everyone is OK and things are running well.
Each ring will need minimum of a judge, steward and a helper, show jump rings will also need a couple of pole pickers and a collecting ring steward.
If you are doing pre entry, put a folder together with seperate sections for each class.
Write to judges, helpers etc to confirm what time they need to arrive, if they need to bring anything and also detail any expenses and if lunch will be provided.
Ask helpers to arrive at least 1/2 hour early so you can de-brief before hand.
Remember portable toilets, spare loo roll and refreshments.

Good luck!

 

[Ziggy_]

Design a schedule, work out how many classes/rings there will be, work out approximate times etc. Sorry not much help but no one had mentioned it yet.

If its a big show with lots of classes schedule a break in each ring to allow for classes running over and give people entering the later classes a guidline for what time the class will start (ie. ''the judge will take a break after class 11 and class 12 will not start before 1.30pm'')

 

[Cop-Pop]

It will only be a small local show, probably just jumping, showing, gymkhana and dog show. I was only asked last night - they want it to be beginning of next year so loads of time (need to find a big field!

) but I'm a control freak and like everything to be organized.
I have no clue about where to find judges, insurance, paying people etc so all advice greatfully received

 

[DuckToller]

I started a little show about 5 years ago so know exactly how you are feeling right now! If it's going to be an annual show then keep it simple the first year and build it up, rather than trying to aim for a 5-ring circus first time. I can probably dig out one of my check lists and pm you, but for now I would suggest you sort out the following first:
1. Check to make sure you don't clash with any other local shows that are covering similar classes.
2. Book first aid or St Johns as soon as you have a date - they get booked up very early. They also cost a lot so as our show was for charity and close to the local hospital, we just had a qualified first-aider. But we put a note on the cover to say that is what we were providing so people didn't expect an ambulance.
3. Go for a niche market - ie look at what your local shows provide, and go for something different. We have lots of big venues round here but not a lot for beginners/novices, so we aimed at those riders and started at 1' and stopped at 2'6.
4. We had 4 showing and 5 fun showing classes which was plenty and we were very generous with rosettes so people came back the next year. You will be limited by the amount of man/woman power you can find. People love to judge and a bottle of wine/chocolates should suffice if it's for charity, might need to pay expenses if it's not for charity.

If you are having the show in aid of an organisation, ie for RDA or a school, you might be covered under their insurance, but otherwise you will need public liability for your own peace of mind so get some quotes now.

Will that do for now? I had to do a Risk Assessment for ours, which was a pain but I probably kept it somewhere so could email it if you want to use it as a guide.

 

[Cop-Pop]

Thank you! I can see many sleepless nights ahead

It will be for charity but there is some debate as to which one (I'm not involved in that part) - luckily the woman who wants me to organize it is in the WI and they are doing teh catering