Seeking sponsors for vugraph

[fred]

In most cases the vugraph broadcasts that we produce do

not cost Bridge Base any money. That is because we have

always either had local volunteers who were willing to work as

operators and/or tournament organizers who were willing to

pay our operators' expenses (and sometimes salaries).

 

In June we will be producing one of our most ambitious

vugraph projects yet - the entire 16-day European Team

Championships will be broadcast live. This rates to be an

amazing event, but it is going to be expensive to produce.

 

The reason is that there we do not have any volunteer

operators who live close to the playing site in Malmo, Sweden

and the Swedish Bridge Federation (who are in bed with one

of our competitors) will not provide any funding.

 

If nothing changes then Bridge Base will have to pay the

roughly $5000 that it is going to cost to pay for our operators'

travel, hotel, and food in Malmo. We are prepared to do this

if necessary, but we would like to find an alternative.

 

Several of our members have graciously offered to make

personal donations to help finance our vugraph broadcasts

(as well as other aspects of BBO). While the generosity of

these people is greatly appreciated, I do not want to become

a charify - especially considering that there is a good altnernative

method of funding our broadcasts.

 

As you have no doubt seen, the BBO software is capable of

displaying advertising in various prominant places. Given the

extraordinary number of people who log in to BBO these days

(especially during vugraph), I am quite certain that we can

provide real advertising value to a company that is willing to

sponsor our vugraph broadcasts. Besides that, the appreciation

of many 1000s of bridge players from all over the world would

certainly generate a lot of good will for potential sponsors.

 

$5000 means almost nothing to a major corporation, but the

problem is getting our message across. I have learned the hard

way that your average person (like me) cannot just phone up a

big company and have a realistic expectation of receiving money

from them. There are professional people who make their living

putting together corporate sponsors with people who run events.

I have no idea what skills, contacts, and techniques these people

have, but I know that I don't have them!

 

My feeling is that the whole process is a lot easier if you have

an easy way to get in the front door. I suspect that we have a

lot of members who are executives with major corporations and

that these people may be in a position to help us out.

 

The purpose of this post is try to find such a person. If you think

you might be able to help, please send me an e-mail:

 

fred@bridgebase.com

 

Feel free to post general suggestions about this subject here in

Forums if you are so inclined.

 

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer!

 

Fred Gitelman

Bridge Base Inc.

www.bridgebase.com

[slothy]

FRED!!!

 

I have quite an illuminating idea on how to raise revenue for VuGraph. I haven't thought thru the logistics, but, on the surface, it seems quite feasible!!!

 

I RARELY have a good idea (about as often as spwdo submits a post that has no spelling errors in it ;) ), so please put down your cheque-book to write your cheque to sponsor yourself for $40,000 in Calcutta pool and give me 4 mins.....

 

As an idea VERY SIMPLE:

 

Run a tourney on BBO, or series of tourneys, an individual and INVITATIONAL say, somehow simulating the auctioneering principles of the Calcutta pool.

 

Members of the BBO community can use BBO$, or any other form of feasible on-line payment, to sponsor who they believe will win - or come placed to make it more interesting and provoke more of a response. Basically run along the same principles as a 'book'.

 

Of all the winnings generated, a certain % (substantial and as long as people know how much and why it is done and where the proceeds are going i am sure they will not object) of the winnings of each is top-sliced to be put in a VuGraph fund.

 

So, for example, i will be quite willing to put a $30 bet (i aint that rich and all these dermatological creams i use for my scaly, sloth-like skin can be quite expensive) on a player, not to mention names :), who i think will win. If this person wins i get say my $30 back and lets say 35% of my original bet on top. The % decreases maybe, the higher the bet you make.

 

I am sure a lot of people, more wealthy than I (some i know even can afford 3-button mice) , would fancy a flutter on a player they believe is a fair bet. To make it more interesting, a handicap system can be introduced, to encourage people to participate and for the more adventurous betters to bet on less likely winners??

 

JUST AN IDEA. Perhaps against your philosophy as to the ethics of the site but it is all in a good cause :)

 

NOW INCENTIVES????

 

Perhaps throwing in a FREE holiday to Malmo (for all those living in a 45 mile radius, hee hee, or get an airline to sponsor a free ticket there??? will cost them NOTHING!! in real terms and they get free publicity). All those wishing to add a bet contribute a flat $3/$5 that goes towards a lottery for the FREE holiday??

 

ON TOP OF THIS, 30 runners-up in the lottery, say, get either BBO$ and full usage of 2/3/4 series of ON-LINE masterbridge???

 

NATURALLY, if you win, than you can dispose of the winnings how you wish :)

 

Alex

 

PS Tried to make this as serious as possible :)

 

PPPS Do i get intellectual property rights if it goes ahead?? :)

[mrdct]

It would be great to raise some money to help cover the cost of producing the online vugraph presentation for the European Championships and I hope that some sponsorship can be secured.

 

As a complimentary strategy, it may be possible to remotely train some local operators by having some experienced vugraph operators logged in at the same time to supervise some test sessions and immediately deal with any problems that arise.

 

Having done it a few times now myself, I can honestly say that anyone who is comfortable playing on BBO shouldn't really have any difficulty working as an operator. It really is quite good fun and you are right in the box seat in the thick of the action.

 

So please, if any BBO users are within commuting distance of Malmo and can spare a few days during the European Championships - put your hand up and get involved.

[spwdo]

I RARELY have a good idea (about as often as spdwo submits a post that has no spelling errors in it ;)

hi

 

dear alex ,try typing my name correct for a chance, :P

[Erkson]

Hi, Fred.

 

I know that you talk with Bill Gates, who is a manager that I admire and respect. I can't imagine that he didn't offer to sponsor that vugraph and invite BBO operators in the best hotel in Malmo, and I can't imagine that you prefered not to accept because I don't see any justification.

 

So, what was the issue ? Maybe you only asked for $5000. Call him again and ask for $50.000.

 

Erkson

[fred]

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

About Bill Gates. He is my friend and sometimes bridge partner.

We do not have a business relationship in any way. I have several

other friends who, while obviously not as wealthy as Bill, could

part with $5,000 without any pain whatsoever.

 

If one of these people mailed me an unsolicited check to help

cover vugraph expenses, I would use it, but I woul not feel

comfortable asking people like this for a donation.

 

I *could* ask Bill for the money, not as a donation, but to make

Microsot a sponsor, but I do not think that this would be appropriate.

One of the reasons that Bill is a great manager is that he does not

micro-manage his company. He has employees that deal with things

like sponsorship and I am quite sure that Bill would not be willing to

go over their heads and get involved in how they do their jobs.

 

As for the concept of raising money through BBO (perhaps as a %

of revenue from certain pay tournaments), this might work, but it

is not that much different from simply setting up a mechanism by

which people can donate money. As I said in my initial post, I want

to make a real effort to see if I can get a company involved and I

do not want to become a charity.

 

If it turns out that my hope of attracting a corporate sponsor is not

realistic, then I will have to consider other options. For Malmo I will

pay the $5,000 myself if necessary, but is unlikely that I will be willing

to do this sort of thing again (unless I start making a lot more money

than I am making now).

 

Thanks all for your input.

 

Fred Gitelman

Bridge Base Inc.

www.bridgebase.com

[slothy]

As for the concept of raising money through BBO (perhaps as a % of revenue from certain pay tournaments), this might work, but it is not that much different from simply setting up a mechanism by which people can donate money ... and I do not want to become a charity.

 

With due respect, Fred, what i was suggesting was NOT a philanthropic gesture on the part of the BBO community in the slightest!!!

 

Far from it!!! People would be participating in a venture not very different to one were they to go down-town and put $100 on a horse in the Kentucky Derby, just perhaps with smaller returns.

 

They would be indulging in a 'high-risk' transaction with some probability of getting a return on their investment, whilst simultaneously ensuring that they would be coming onto BBO to watch VuGraph sometime in the future by supporting the organisation which runs it!!

 

Although some people may decide to bid out of a sense of support, many, i am sure, would participate with the possibility of getting some money out of it. (And, of course, the PRIZES) If they lose then at least the money would be going to a better cause than if they went to the betting-shop.

 

I do agree that having a corporate sponsor is better (excuse the pun ;) ) and would have some kudos. But this way, it will generate income, involvement by those who use your creation by watching the tourneys, betting on the players and some people will be made slightly richer :P

 

Personally, i do not perceive it any differently than going down to the betting-shop. The only difference being - besides being run less professionally maybe - that the people benefitting will be ALL those who participate, at all levels, and most of the money not going into the pockets of a couple of men in striped jackets who dropped out of Oxford and couldnt think of anything better to do :) [history of Ladbroke's (betting cartel)]

 

Alex

[Mirjam_3]

Hi Fred,

 

I see your point. I think it would be a good idea to generate this money through BBO without getting it from you and/or a sponsor. You should be able to stay independant without putting in own money.

 

I have an idea to collect the money through BBO but as you know i am very untechnical so you or uday has to tell me whether we can do it this way or not.

 

What if we make paid tourneys to collect the money?

 

I am willing to create and host tourneys for this purpose.

 

We call those tournament Vughraph Malmo and let those who play in it pay 10 dollarcent.

I can handle a tourney untill 60 tables .. that is 240 players, if they all pay 0,10 dollar.. we will have 24 dollar, let us say 100 dallars for 5 tourneys since they will not all be full.

10 times is 1000 dallars.... so we sd be able to make 5000 dollar before june...

 

U just have the system that way that we can use fee and i think you should be careful which td's u invite to participate... Well, i am prepared to do 5 tournaments a day for this purpose untill Malmo. I would make them 8 boards, swiss, mps. Of course they must be hold regardingless the tournaments in schedule since there wdnot be enough spots in it to do it on other times. So, plse no crying other td's... and there is no need for since the regular tournaments wd be free, only the vugraph tourneys not.

 

Another advantage wd be that you can see whether BBOplayers are willing to pay for tournaments.

 

;)

[Erkson]

If it turns out that my hope of attracting a corporate sponsor is not

realistic, then I will have to consider other options. For Malmo I will

pay the $5,000 myself if necessary, but is unlikely that I will be willing

to do this sort of thing again (unless I start making a lot more money

than I am making now).

To find a sponsor may require a little more time.

 

In the meantime you ought to accept sponsoring by us. I would feel more confortable watching the vugraph after having sent my $5 share than knowing that you paid yourself $5000.

 

Erkson

[mrdct]

I must say that I prefer the corporate sponsorship model (nice if you can get it).

 

One of the beauties of BBO vugraph is the community spirit of the organisers, operators and commentators who give of their time freely to be part of something for the genuine benefit of the game we all love.

 

A move towards "pay-per-view" for BBO vugraph presentations, may have an indirect effect of disuading some people from volunteering their time and resources for these events.

 

I also have some trepidation about the implications of there being gambling on BBO tournaments.

[DenisO]

I think Corporate Sponsorship is the best way forward - However time is getting short. Perhaps the appeal should be put back on the main News item and occasonal appeals made to the lobby - that would widen the receiving audience as only a relatively small number of members read the forum. Another idea would be a post to RGB -just might get somebody interested.

 

I would hate for you to fund this yourself Fred - if it comes to that please let those that enjoy BBO so much help by making voluntary donations - I certainly wouldn't think of it as charity - more as as a way of playing a greater part in BBO

 

Deniso

[Erkson]

I am happy to read that the Italian Bridge Federation (FIGB) will sponsor BBO vugraph broadcasts of the European Team Championships in Malmo.

 

Congratulations and thanks to BBO and the Italian Bridge Federation.

 

http://www.federbridge.it/news/2004/news.asp?cod=70

 

Erkson

[EarlPurple]

How would corporate sponsorship work? How would the company name get "seen"? The company I work for might be interested (though it's not my job and they might not be). But obviously you'd have to work these things out first.

[fred]

We can place "banner ads" in various locations on BBO and

pretty much guarantee that these ads will be seen several

million times a day.

 

Consider the current ACBL ad in the "Play Bridge!" area as

an example.

 

Also, our vugraph commentators will thank corporate sponsors

at the end of each segment of vugraph.

 

Finally, we can ask journalists who use our site in order to

gather data for match reports to include mention of our

sponsors in their magazine/newspaper articles. Hard to

ensure that they will actually do this, but most bridge writers

are good about such things.

 

Fred Gitelman

Bridge Base Inc.

www.bridgebase.com

[Deanrover]

What about if the actual tournament had a sponsor? This might make things much easier.

 

e.g. the Generali Invidual Championships is coming up soon.

 

This would make a perfect vugraph broadcast. Same simple system played everywhere, so commentators do not have to endlessly search for and explain the system. Great players (including Omar Sharif) etc......

 

If you could get hold of the Generali sponsorship co-ordinator for this, and pointed out that you could advertise Generali on the back of cards etc. it may well be possible to get a couple of extra though from them.

[Deanrover]

I reckon I can possibly get you sponsorship for future events.

 

Do you have any sort of figures available that I could sell to the company? Number of unique hits, no. of vugraph watchers etc.

 

D

[scoob]

advertise...on the back of cards

now that's an idea