Convincing Your Parents to Let You Travel to OOS's - a short guide.

[hungrybox]

hungrybox how were you able to convince your parents to let you go to really far away tournies =/

Blackmail.

LOL! J/k

Well, my dad's not around, and convincing my Mom was...well...I can't really remember how I did it...I got A's and B's in AP classes on my report card, and I did chores and stuff...

But the main thing is talking with your parents...Think about why they wouldn't let you go. Imagine your son telling you he wants to travel across the country to go to an event that you aren't even sure exists, or is sponsored, or is run by good, noncriminal people, etc.

So you want to start with proof. An OOS (unless you travel a lot, which most of us don't) should never be your first tournament. It should be like, your tenth or twentieth in my opinion. Why? Because by then your mom or dad (obviously knowing that you go to tournaments often) will know that your have a passion or at least an interest in the game and its friendly subjects at tournaments.

Show your mom or dad the website of the tournaments, and pictures of the venue, or at least the thread. Traveling far should only occur for OOS's, which often have websites, pictures, etc. If your parents are really icky, they can call the phone of the host, who usually is willing to answer any questions.

MAKE SURE YOU DON'T ASK PERMISSION TO TRAVEL A WEEK BEFORE! Last minute assurance is horrible. Like talking about a fragile issue with someone, start out slow, like saying, "you know how I go to these gaming tournaments, right? Well, there's a national one that's going to happen in a few months..." Or start out with the friendly, "What would you say if I told you that I wanted to fly or travel to an OOS tournament?" Make deals and do favors, people. I know, these phrases are probably horrible and are probably not even the ones I used.

But you know your parents better than I do. You know how to talk to them, and how to say the right things. Begging and whining is a no, it just shows desperation, which shows immaturity. Your parents want to see maturity if you are going to travel alone or with other smashers.

Flying to Event 52 was my first OOS by plane, and my 2nd OOS overall. It wasn't just like, "Mom, I'm flying to Kansas tomorrow," and then, "Bring a sweater!" No. Address them early, and look for good times to talk with them about it. Try making good accomplishments, and work around those to get permission to go. When there was a major tournament down here, FAST1, my mom came to drop my brother off, and it was her first time seeing a major gaming tournament. She told me afterwards (in spanish),

"This is more than just brain-dead teenagers playing for hours to get money...this is a community of life and vibrant people."

​

Maybe it takes your parents actually seeing what a tournament is like to convince them. Maybe they are just ignorant to the fact that this is an amazing community. Whatever the cause, respect their initial opinion, and over time their minds will change as long as you say the right things.

PS i love this song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwinvxsih-E&feature=related

 

[Pierce7d]

Great thread. Also, introduce your crew to my family. Whenever my mom comes home and my crew mates are over, she greets them by name. Your parents are probably more likely to let you travel with friends they think are honorable and trustworthy.

 

[Grunt]

My first tourney was OOS.
but i'm right on the boarder of WA/OR, lol.

 

[debaser]

"This is more than just brain-dead teenagers playing for hours to get money...this is a community of life and vibrant people."

​

that is outstanding.

 

[Vyse]

[quote="hungrybox's mom]"This is more than just brain-dead teenagers playing for hours to get money...this is a community of life and vibrant people."[/quote]

Quoted for truthfulness.

(Most) People can't just be going to these events to win money. It's the experience and meeting people. It's just as good a reason to travel out of state as any. After years of wanting to, I'm finally heading out of state for a national tournament. Much fun will be had, and friends and memories made.

<3

 

[rhan]

My mom's cool with me going OoS tourney's. But the only way she'll let me out is that if I have a buddy going along. Also my mom wants me to call her about every hour just to know if I'm doing ok...

My mom's the worry type...

 

[Dark Hart]

My parents always want to make sure everything is planned ahead of time. Plus, my mom had to be a "guardian" over Jubilee this summer, and she was very surprised at how everyone was so nice to each other, how we took care of everything ourselves, and how diverse the place was. So, it's not just HB's mom guys.

 

[Solaris1110]

So what exactly is OOS? Out of State?

 

[Darth Waffles]

So what exactly is OOS? Out of State?

Yes. "OOS's" = Out of State (Tournament)s. And I hope this leads to more tournament participation, even if it is from a younger demographic

 

[ZeroFox]

My parents never really had a problem with me going to tournaments. I won and got money from them after all. Can't go wrong with that.

But good thread anyway, will help up and coming competitive players with making the journey to their first tourneys

 

[kackamee]

The only tourneys my parents will ever let me go to are the weekly tourneys about a mile or 2 from my house. And they are starting to not even let me go to those. They are always trying to tell me that I'm not doing anything with my life and when I actually find something I like to do, they try to take it away from me because they think it's stupid or w/e they are thinking. I asked my dad a MONTH ago wether or not I could go to C3 (I live in Charlotte NC, so it's a pretty long drive) and he said he would take me. I knew he would forget so I reminded him every week. Now just yesterday they all of a sudden don't want me to go becasue they have more "responsibilities" (normally I wouldn't be upset if they really did have other things they needed to do, but they don't really. They just don't want me to go) I'm 12 years old and I know that parents don't really want thier kids playing games competitivly (or atleast my parents don't) but I've tried doing other stuff. I DO enjoy other stuff but they never try to support what I like to do. Whenever I go to the local tourneys I was talking about before, they never even try to come in and meet everybody and see that all we are doing is having fun. I know my dad is just going to be sitting in his room on his laptop not doing anything when he could actually support me and take me to C3.

 

[Sizzle]

Great thread. Establishing good friends to travel with was my first step. My parents got to know the person who would end up driving me. Thats a definite great way. But like you said, ease them into the idea of playing tournaments in general. I started going to weeklies, then was allowed to go to a tournament a couple hours away (still in state), and then later my first OOS tourney. Showing maturity and responsibility is your best bet to go to any tournament in general.

 

[Levitas]

The only tourneys my parents will ever let me go to are the weekly tourneys about a mile or 2 from my house. And they are starting to not even let me go to those. They are always trying to tell me that I'm not doing anything with my life and when I actually find something I like to do, they try to take it away from me because they think it's stupid or w/e they are thinking. I asked my dad a MONTH ago wether or not I could go to C3 (I live in Charlotte NC, so it's a pretty long drive) and he said he would take me. I knew he would forget so I reminded him every week. Now just yesterday they all of a sudden don't want me to go becasue they have more "responsibilities" (normally I wouldn't be upset if they really did have other things they needed to do, but they don't really. They just don't want me to go) I'm 12 years old and I know that parents don't really want thier kids playing games competitivly (or atleast my parents don't) but I've tried doing other stuff. I DO enjoy other stuff but they never try to support what I like to do. Whenever I go to the local tourneys I was talking about before, they never even try to come in and meet everybody and see that all we are doing is having fun. I know my dad is just going to be sitting in his room on his laptop not doing anything when he could actually support me and take me to C3.

lol, you're a bit on the young side anyway. Real competition in gaming didn't really hit me until I was in college, so don't worry about it too much...

 

[XIF]

Hey guys dont worry just grow up little ones.

it just takes time =D

<_<

>_>

in other news.

I just told my mom like that at first

"Hey... I really wanna go to this tournament! pleeeeeease?" (It helps when you were like me and was an absolute mama's boy at the time)

"ok Alex, just let me check it out."

She saw the tournament, laughed because most of the people there looked more thug than nerd, and enjoyed the entire idea somewhat.

So I got her to drive me to about 3 tournaments at first.

Then I had smashfests.

Then I had alot of smashfests

Then I had smashfests twice a week.

Then I had people just kind of walk in without knocking and wake me up from the couch and told me to play.

And then I kinda just started leaving whenever I wanted for smashfests and tournaments and called my mom whenever I left and when I was gonna get back.

...

It helps when your mom is as top tier as mine.

 

[Strong Badam]

I'm 15 and my parents are being ridiculous about just smashfests. They won't let me ride with someone even after they met him etc. simply because of [age johns]. Same thing w/ tournaments, and it's really pissing me off because they keep telling me I need to make friends and have a life (I'm on the computer often) and when I try to do that they cut me off.

 

[Mith_]

Wow this was really helpful.
I guess I should ask if I can go OoC before I go OoS lol.

 

[LooksLikePit]

my dad usually lets me go to tourneys, and take a car ride with a 20+year old guy(I'm only 14) and then stay out until 1 AM and go to denny's with people years older than me. I think he's getting less worried, but one time I didn't answer my phone and he thought I was dead or something. There's no way I could go to an OOS tourney without 5 people closely watching me though(grrrr). I'll refer back to this thread when I'm better

 

[Dynomite]

my mom wont even drive me to 15min away events. so she will never understand. she still thinks that gamers are lazy, high tempured, no lifeing, irresponsible, people who look for fights when they lose and younger people like myself will get caught up in the middle and get beaten up or something like that.. who the f*ck even made up that steriotype.. >_<

 

[Dark Sonic]

^^Bring her to a tournament to show her how nice we are.

 

[Keblerelf]

Thanks hbox this is really useful advice.

I still get really nervous about asking my parents to drive me, even if it's around an hour or less, esp. my dad. I don't think they'll ever let me stay for an entire tourny while i'm still in high school. The first time they drove me they took a look at the venue and said it was really messy and stuff, but my mom still drove me back another time, so I guess she didnt think it was that bad.

Hopefully Ohana will be confirmed so that it can be my first OoS. s( '-')b

 

[Nybb]

Traveling out of shield is so broken

 

[Eaode]

I'm 16 and the main issue is that my mom refuses to drive me to any tournament, anywhere. She'll let me go if my friend can drive me, but only to the one's that are close by (~20 min drive). It's annoying really, because she's quite stubborn about it. I haven't gone anywhere in months though, due to having no money LOL.

 

[Sanzi]

My mom let me go to a tournament once 10 minutes from my house. I went with my friend but we couldn't find it >.> . Ever since that I'm not allowed to go to another one.... =D

cool mom.

 

[~PK~]

I'm going to start out small, with tourneys in my area.
Then.. well, we'll see what happens.

Nice guide, too!

 

[Rudementry]

My dad's so cool hes driving me 6 hrs to go to a smashfest this weekend. The only problem is convincing my mom to let me stay with my dad.

 

[MuraRengan]

My parents are starting to get used to me hanging with smashers. The real problem is my dad, he's averse to anything he's not used to, so with me being a black guy in a stereotypical black environment, he's not fully grasping that gamers are people too. >_> But, he did drive me OoC to a tournament so I guess he's not as bad as I think. My first OoS will probably be in Texas, I go there alot.

 

[ThatGuy]

Mura that is an incredible sig idea.

 

[M@v]

Im trying to make it to my first far away-national tourney(CoT4). Its not OoS, but its 6hrs away(Pitsburgh-philly). Thankfully Ill be about 2hrs closer since Im at state college for, well, college at that time. Im going to bring it up to them over break.

 

[Eaode]

Mura that is an incredible sig idea.

Second'd and Third'd for truth. Over the past three days I've probably spent a cumulative half-hour watching it.

 

[MuraRengan]

Well I guess I'll have to make more of these in the future >_>

 

[indianunit]

God how I hate my dad. I'm 19 and he won't even let me hang with my friends!!!! let alone go to local or out of state tourneys...

If you're like me you'll just leave and not care what your parents think. Yes they'll get angry at you...real angry....but well, with me, I just sort of got used to it. Plus I don't give a **** about my dad anymore.