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Post by Rick Laton on Mar 7, 2008 9:27:20 GMT -5
You know we were just sitting around last night talking about the Get A Grip. You know, it's amazing to just sit there and watch how many people just "Walked By" the man/kid that was working the door. This year I put a sign on the front entrance to the building that said
Admission Fee - $5 Armwrestlers - This will be taken off your entry fee.
There was another large dry erase board that you had to walk right by to get to the man/kid working the door that said in LARGE WRITING, the same thing. Then of course you have the man/kid working the door standing there holding a "PAID" stamp with a "MONEY BOX" on the table. All off this would tend to let a person know that there was indeed an admission fee. I personally saw almost a dozen people just walk right by. Many of who did not pull and did not help with the event. I saw one just put his head back and walk in like he had no intention of paying. Many of these were people that I know very well. I didn't say a word. I now know that these people are willing to cheat/steal/lie, whatever you want to call it over $5. I would hate to think that I would lose my reputation over $5. Then again, if everybody already knows that you are a dirt bag that you don't have anything to lose do you? BTW, this post is not intended towards anyone who may have ACCIDENTALLY forgotten to pay or who came in when we may not have had someone working the door or later on after we stopped charging. This is for those who INTENTIONALLY came in and did not pay. You know who you are. If you didn't get a stamp on your hand when you came in, then you didn't pay. I walked by a couple of you several times just to make sure that I was correct. No stamp, didn't pull in the tournament, didn't pay. Team NC and the Get A Grip will be fine. I just wanted to let you know that you didn't get by with it.
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Post by Johnny Edwards on Mar 7, 2008 9:32:00 GMT -5
Hey Rick,
I paid but i was wondering. Why was there a $5 spectator fee? I mean it's already hard getting people that know nothing about armwrestling interested in watching it. Then when they find out they have to pay $5 to watch it kinda just turns them completely off to the sport. An it did get kinda pricey since you wasn't giving off any money for multiple entries. It didn't seem like we had that good of a turnout this year either. I mean I remember at Kevins tournament there wasn't an spectator fee. Nor at the Florida tournament. Nor at the Tenn. tournament. So i guess my question is how come you have one an nobody else does?
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Post by Johnny Edwards on Mar 7, 2008 9:35:54 GMT -5
Not trying to be offensive but it makes you seem greedy an your complaining about honesty.
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Post by Johnny Edwards on Mar 7, 2008 9:41:59 GMT -5
I bet if you held your tournament an had an overall with $500 prize money you would have a huge turnout. Or at least you would get alot of big names.
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Honesty
Mar 7, 2008 10:29:19 GMT -5
Post by Rick Laton on Mar 7, 2008 10:29:19 GMT -5
Johnny, I was waiting for this response. Most anything that you do today costs. I can't go to a movie, professional baseball, football, basketball or even college sport for anywhere near $5. The tournament lasted for 7 hours. All this for $5. I went through this same discussion with a good buddy of mine that wanted me to give him 5 passes for him and his family to come watch his nephew pull. I told him that I had a lot of friends that would be coming and that if I gave him passes that I felt like I should give all my friends and pullers (Families) passes to be fair. We do not try to make a profit at these tournaments but I'm not really too keen on losing money either. If people aren't willing to pay $5 to see something they are not going to get involved with it anyway. I followed my buddies kid last year as they traveled on the Minor League (Ages 9-10) All Star baseball team. I drove over 1 hour 6 times to watch them play. I paid $20 ($5 per person) each time to watch 3rd and 4th graders play. $120 plus 6 trips worth of gas. I didn't even have a kid playing! You know, I felt kind of the same way that you do. I thought, "This could be done a little cheaper". But it wasn't. That is what they charged and I had to decide if I was willing to pay it. I did. 6 times. I'm sure they had reasons and expenses that required them to charge what they did. As for Kevin's tournament, he had a LOT of money given to him because of the venue. It was a very well run tournament and I had a great time. I choose however, not to hold my Get A Grip tournaments at places that serve alcohol because of the kids. I don't feel that it is appropriate because of them. I think Kevin was given well over $1000 by the bar/beer people alone to have the tournament there. I paid $450 to have it where we have it. That's a $1450 difference. That's 290 people @ $5 to be exact. Let's get back on track with the original post. Hope this explains your question.
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Honesty
Mar 7, 2008 10:48:02 GMT -5
Post by Johnny Edwards on Mar 7, 2008 10:48:02 GMT -5
Well sorta. But when I went to Ray Jenkins tournament he had his at a fair an I didn't have to pay $5 an he gave us passes to get into the fair for free. An I disagree on people not getting involved. I know alot of people that love armwrestling but they aren't willing to pay an watch it. You can go watch Mohegan an not have to pay to just watch it. What made you decide not to give money off on the multiple entries though? I woulda pulled more than just 2 classes had there been money being given off of multiple entries. But I just love pulling. Maybe it's just me but I don't feel it's worth $5 to just watch. Like my fiance Holly's mom an day had to pay a total of $10 to watch. Now they have a pretty tight budget because she is working on a degree an he has a sorry job. An they just wanted to watch their daughter. Now other sports are different though. I have gotten into I can't tell you how many football, soccer, basketball,etc... I have gotten into for free. I mean I just dont' see the point in the $5 fee. I think that charging like that just turns alot of people off from the tournament especially when it's not really a prize money tournament. now if you woulda been paying more out to the opens/pro class then I think more people woulda showed up an wouldn't have minded paying the $5 fee then i can see where it woulda been worth watching an paying $5 if some of the superstars of the sport showed up because there is a whole different atmosphere. Again not downing you personally or anything but I just think not having to pay $5 would be alot better.
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Honesty
Mar 7, 2008 12:06:45 GMT -5
Post by Pete & Tim on Mar 7, 2008 12:06:45 GMT -5
now if you woulda been paying more out to the opens/pro class then I think more people woulda showed up an wouldn't have minded paying the $5 fee then i can see where it woulda been worth watching an paying $5 if some of the superstars of the sport showed up because there is a whole different atmosphere. I do have the "Superstars" at my events and I have never charged anyone to ever watch it. Just my 2 cents.
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Honesty
Mar 7, 2008 12:30:52 GMT -5
Post by Rick Laton on Mar 7, 2008 12:30:52 GMT -5
I do have the "Superstars" at my events and I have never charged anyone to ever watch it.
Just my 2 cents.
You didn't pay to watch this one either. BTW, did you have to pay the club where you had it or did they pay you?
Just MY 2 cents.
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Honesty
Mar 7, 2008 12:56:38 GMT -5
Post by Pete & Tim on Mar 7, 2008 12:56:38 GMT -5
They gave me $4700.00 to put on the event.
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Honesty
Mar 7, 2008 13:00:59 GMT -5
Post by Pete & Tim on Mar 7, 2008 13:00:59 GMT -5
Last year you told us how people didn't pay for their dinners and this year you're moaning about non paid spectators. What's next year? People not paying for the bathroom?
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Honesty
Mar 7, 2008 13:16:36 GMT -5
Post by Elaine Blik on Mar 7, 2008 13:16:36 GMT -5
Okay, I'm going to step in on this one because I feel Rick's frustration! Johnny... it's obvious that you have no idea how much it costs to put on an event such as the Get a Grip WITHOUT the money classes or any kind of money prize for that matter. I don't know what kind of sponsorship Rick gets for his event, but I have a feeling he's in the same position that I often find myself in. You are in perhaps "rural" North Carolina...the economy sucks...you want to offer nice awards on an already tight budget... you are offering kids' divisions which limits you as to where you may hold the event...(ei: NOT in a bar) therefore that perhaps eliminates the possible sponsorship from a beer distributing company... your sponsor resources are limited at best and you are putting up a lot of your own money for the event, hoping to get YOUR money back out of it!... THEN you have to PAY TO HOLD YOUR EVENT in a venue! Given those possible circumstances, if I were Rick, I would be just as frustrated. NOW... Pete... you are one of the fortunate ones who is given THAT kind of money to run an event! It must be a "big city" thing, because that kind of sponsorship is unheard of generally. But, good for you! and you do run a great event. As for paying to enter the venue... Obviously, Pete didn't have to because he was covered and they were making money on drinks, food, etc... and I don't think that having "superstars" has anything to do with whether or not you have to pay to see it! Rick on the other hand was using an organizations' building which there is a cost for clean up, maintenance, etc. and they have to pay someone to be there while the tournament is going on. I would have a hard time paying the $450 to the venue simply because that is money that is coming from what I could offer the armwrestlers in prizes! But... someone has to pay for it. I am currently faced with the same dilema for my Bad to the Bone. The reason I haven't released the information on it yet is that I am trying to decide WHERE to hold it! Where I had it last year, they now say they want $900 for the day and there is NO WAY I am paying that kind of money when everyone eats, drinks and stays there! So I moved on. I run the Bad to the Bone on about $1000 sponsorship as it is and the rest is on me until after the event... so... if I have to charge for the venue I end up in... I will have to do it. That being said... I have vented and I feel for you, Rick!
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Honesty
Mar 7, 2008 13:24:21 GMT -5
Post by Pete & Tim on Mar 7, 2008 13:24:21 GMT -5
Karen, I did not start anything that requires me to stop. Just putting in my 2 cents and not asking for change.
The $5 cover from me to Rick is an issue I have with Rick and I thought it was OK from numerous phone conversations that He and I have had, but apparently it isn't.
Trust me, he has nothing to fear as I will probably never drive 15 hours from home to go to his event in the future, but you never know what the future may hold.
Now come and whoop my butt!!!
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Honesty
Mar 7, 2008 13:56:36 GMT -5
Post by Pete & Tim on Mar 7, 2008 13:56:36 GMT -5
Who gave you a price? Christian?
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Honesty
Mar 7, 2008 14:16:40 GMT -5
Post by CHRISTIAN BINNIE on Mar 7, 2008 14:16:40 GMT -5
Why do you have to get me involved?...Leave me out of this...
Also, Yes WE were/are EXTREMELY fortunate to hold it in a venue where they, the venue, CAN get sponsorship from beer and liquor distributors. And it helps to have, like Rick did, someone filming the event, for the Cos. wanted to have that as part of the sponsorship.....ALL of that money has and is accounted for to the Venue, down to every last penny.....
Charging $5 is NOTHING to help Rick off set his costs...STOP THE WHINING!
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Honesty
Mar 7, 2008 14:44:17 GMT -5
Post by Pete & Tim on Mar 7, 2008 14:44:17 GMT -5
I'm not whining. Johnny Edwards is, I'm just defending myself. And who asked you anyways?
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