How to make money hosting tournaments?

[Spazzy]

I was thinking of hosting a biweekly whenever summer starts but at the same time, I want to also make some money doing so. What would the best strategy be for this? I was thinking just rent out a place at start and see how it goes from there. Any ideas for what type of venues to look for?

 

[20YY SS | Saiblade]

I was thinking of hosting a biweekly whenever summer starts but at the same time, I want to also make some money doing so. What would the best strategy be for this? I was thinking just rent out a place at start and see how it goes from there. Any ideas for what type of venues to look for?

The point of a tournament isn't to make money for the TO, unless it's a cheap, self-centered TO, it's generally looked down upon, but you could put the venue fee a bit higher than it actually is and tell them you'll spend it on equipment (which is what I hope you'll actually do). For a venue, you can use anything really, a house, an apartment, a convention center, a local game store, a library, anything.

 

[Strong Badam]

It's perfectly reasonable to expect to make a chunk of cash from running a well-run and well-attended event, but it's probably a poor mindset to begin TOing under. I ran about half a dozen events before I made any cash off of them. By then I had learned the process and they were efficiently ran, enjoyable events so I didn't see a problem with it. For now I'd be looking to break even if you can and try to grow your local scene, growth will eventually lead to profits.

 

[Temkin]

Put out a donation jar of some sort. If people like your tournaments and what you to continue I'm sure some people will contribute and give you some money here and there.

 

[Vestboy_Myst]

It's perfectly reasonable to expect to make a chunk of cash from running a well-run and well-attended event, but it's probably a poor mindset to begin TOing under. I ran about half a dozen events before I made any cash off of them. By then I had learned the process and they were efficiently ran, enjoyable events so I didn't see a problem with it. For now I'd be looking to break even if you can and try to grow your local scene, growth will eventually lead to profits.

absolutely 100%. there are so many new TOs getting into it for money / ego instead of actually wanting to run an efficient / enjoyable event. its enraging and usually results in a bad event

in over 7 years of running bi/weeklies of one game or another (non-smash in the early days) the most I made was free snacks/sodas from the venue if they had them. A few times the venue owner gave me a $20 but on the whole it is volunteer work. TOs dont (or at least generally shouldnt) make money unless its a large monthly / regional or larger