Should event organisers be more enterprising?

Rosiefan

Rosiefan

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Some of the answers on the 'eventers - what would you change?' post have got me thinking. I'm wondering whether organisers are wasting opportunities to make money.

Of course their core business is running the actual event but are they missing a trick by leaving it at that? Opinions anyone?
 
Rosiefan said:
Some of the answers on the 'eventers - what would you change?' post have got me thinking. I'm wondering whether organisers are wasting opportunities to make money.

Of course their core business is running the actual event but are they missing a trick by leaving it at that? Opinions anyone?
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I've often wondered whether they would benefit by running a clear round ring - not for horses entered in the event, but for youngsters or that 'extra horse on the lorry'. I think lots of people would like to take a baby horse to an event for the experience and perhaps jump a round of fences. Lots of people commented on horses learning naughty behaviour by having to leave the ring after being eliminated, this could also be useful to them too? Wouldn't take up too much room and perhaps you could get charity volunteers to man it if their charity was going to get a percentage of the takings?
 
There are many many things that could be done BUT you need bodies / volunteers to actually run them.
 
Definitely.
One example local to me is Church Farm. Andrew and Haidee don't have acres of land but they make every square inch of it pay on show days. The always run and put a huge amount of effort into being innovative.
Many years ago (1995 in fact!) they caused a furore with the BSJA by running an unaffiliated Masters/Grand Prix/Derby Show, with £50 for first in the big class. They were AFAIK the trailblazers with the unaff derby and they constantly come up with new fun ideas.
As a result even the Weds night SJ gets 100 plus entries!
I think everybody who runs affiliated events etc should perhaps attend a 'marketing' course courtesy of the bodies they represent. Everyone's a winner!
 
icestationzebra said:
I've often wondered whether they would benefit by running a clear round ring - not for horses entered in the event, but for youngsters or that 'extra horse on the lorry'. I think lots of people would like to take a baby horse to an event for the experience and perhaps jump a round of fences. Lots of people commented on horses learning naughty behaviour by having to leave the ring after being eliminated, this could also be useful to them too? Wouldn't take up too much room and perhaps you could get charity volunteers to man it if their charity was going to get a percentage of the takings?
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I've never seen clear round rings at events, although I have seen PC jumping, run by the local Pony Club. As someone said you need volunteers to run them, when many events are struggeling to get enough volunteers. Also would they take enough money to cover the cost of hiring an extra set of show jumps, I suspect not.

SJ at BE events is monitored by the BE steward to ensure everything is safe, e.g. practice jumps not overheight and jumped the right way. The judges monitor dangerous riding and overuse of the whip/spurs etc., none of this could happen in a clear round ring without a BSJA judge present - more expense.

On saying that I think you have a good point and I think some organisers are starting to go that way, but it seems to be the bigger events who are putting on attractions to try to entice more members of the public.
 
jemima_too said:
There are many many things that could be done BUT you need bodies / volunteers to actually run them.
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I was thinking more about things they could do which would make a profit and would cover actually paying people to run them. For example, many farmers have had to do a bit of lateral thinking in order to make their core business viable.
 
susie2193 said:
I've never seen clear round rings at events, although I have seen PC jumping, run by the local Pony Club. As someone said you need volunteers to run them, when many events are struggeling to get enough volunteers. Also would they take enough money to cover the cost of hiring an extra set of show jumps, I suspect not.

SJ at BE events is monitored by the BE steward to ensure everything is safe, e.g. practice jumps not overheight and jumped the right way. The judges monitor dangerous riding and overuse of the whip/spurs etc., none of this could happen in a clear round ring without a BSJA judge present - more expense.

On saying that I think you have a good point and I think some organisers are starting to go that way, but it seems to be the bigger events who are putting on attractions to try to entice more members of the public.
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I *think* Stafford did this last year. They had two arenas anyway as one was set up for the BE80T, and they ran it as a clear round when the BE80 sections were not running. It seemed popular. Those events run at the big equestrian centres will have more than one set of showjumps so I wouldn't expect them to hire equipment at cost. Would a local RC or PC run an additional activity at an event to give their members experience of running an event, as well as something for their members? Local colleges? I remember doing something similar when I was a student and it was pretty good fun - it would have been even better if there had been some eventing to watch! It's like everything, it relies on a bit of goodwill and people having some get up and go to make it happen.....
 
A CR ring would be a good idea - I know off unaff events who run CR rings and the rings tend to be man-ed by PC/RC members taking a share of the money to either to go charity or a gap year or towards a trip to a teams comp etc. That way the volunteers are getting something out of it too.

I am sure the cost of a set of SJ hire cant be that much and some events must be located at centres with their own jumps?? If they let the local PC/RC do it they could use their SJs meaning no hire? Involving local RC/PC would also attract members of the clubs along to the event to use the CR and/or even lead to them entering and/or volunteering in future years.

I also think people would def use it as a warm up rather than braving the practice arena - as thats what I always do when there is an option of a SJ CR! you pay your money and jump what you like do some circles etc and not have to worry about the warm traffic.

**Just posted same time as ISZ! seems we agree on a few things! ***
 
It seems to me that there is lots you could do if you put your mind to it....

just think how many people would buy a 6min movie of their dressage test if it was recorded. If you had a laptop and bought a job lot of usb sticks/dvds you could video it and sell them off at £5 for a stick/dvd and 1 test

so say that's about 30-45 peeps per section, that's a possible £225 to be made per section by the savvy organisers!

I also think I would get the local community involved when it came to the xc fences. I would offer the fence sponsorship in material costs. I would ask the sponsor to design a fence then cost it up they would then just have to pay for the raw materials, and then year on year pay for the creosote/repairs needed.
This would get the local community much more involved, and if they feel attached to a fence they have designed they are more likely to remain sponsors year on year.

I would also target the foot traffic, get out and about advertising to the locals. Their are trade stands, food and a spectacle to watch, so get more people in and charge them a minimal fee/donation to enter.

there's so much they6 could do it's unreal, but as said it's having the skills, bodies, and time to do it
 
C_GHE - love your idea about the XC fences! made me think of a charity XC near me where each fence is made by the local people and companies. I am sure this is something BE could do too. Great idea.
 
Ems207 said:
C_GHE - love your idea about the XC fences! made me think of a charity XC near me where each fence is made by the local people and companies. I am sure this is something BE could do too. Great idea.
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and just think how much more fun and interesting the courses would be rather than just roll top after roll top!
 
They are far more interesting - the one up my way has something completely different for every jump! I think its become a creative contest amongst the local comunity as much as it is a jumping comp. One jump was a giant haggis with a neep and carrot at each end acting as wings - now thats creative!
 
Ems207 said:
They are far more interesting - the one up my way has something completely different for every jump! I think its become a creative contest amongst the local comunity as much as it is a jumping comp. One jump was a giant haggis with a neep and carrot at each end acting as wings - now thats creative!
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See I think that's fab not only is it really fun to ride round but it would make great viewing for the paying spectators! and would be a great talking point in the local community....
 
Chloe_GHE said:
It seems to me that there is lots you could do if you put your mind to it....

just think how many people would buy a 6min movie of their dressage test if it was recorded. If you had a laptop and bought a job lot of usb sticks/dvds you could video it and sell them off at £5 for a stick/dvd and 1 test

so say that's about 30-45 peeps per section, that's a possible £225 to be made per section by the savvy organisers!
Click to expand...

Ohhh I'm so going to be looking into that!!
 
I have noticed that many aff SJ's go to unaff events just beacuse their friends are going and aren't BSJA members, for example, is this a case to hold aff and unaff clases at the same time at show centres that can cope with this?

Do you think this could work??
 
BSJA intro shows often hold unaff first before moving onto aff.
 
local show to me runs BSJA, UA showjumping, UA dressage and UA showing. Its a great show that is always well supported its just a shame it only runs once a year.

The prob within intro shows running the unafil first is that if your travelling buddy is doing the last two classes and you the first two you have a very long day ahead!

If you have two rings running side by side one with unaffil one with affil working riders have better chance to 'co-ordinate' with their travelling buddy!
 
Yes for example had Hutton held some BE90/100, alongside the 1* and 2*, I think they wouldn't have had to cancel. Though they did do a good job of incorporating other events with the first event of the season which got lots of spectators who weren't 'horsey'.
 
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